Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Dargo · 01-09-2004, 10:02 AM

God gives believers divine guidance to tell them which passages of scripture are to be interpreted literally and which can be disregarded. Sometimes other denominations may have a different interpretation of scripture but that is because they have not sufficiently studied the Bible or have been deceived by Satan. If you ask god to guide you to the correct denomination, he will. If you chose the wrong denomination, you were misled by Satan.

Gothic_J · 01-09-2004, 10:31 AM

I keep giving bible literalists the mark 16:18 challenge. no takers, yet.

Aravnah Ornan · 01-09-2004, 11:30 AM

Much to my amazement, I once heard a preacher tackle this verse. She said that that's the way it should be. She never did explain how the Bible supports that reasoning.

It just goes to show you that Biblical literalism works like this.

Godless Wonder · 01-09-2004, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gothic_J
I keep giving bible literalists the mark 16:18 challenge. no takers, yet.

I don't think I'd issue the challenge. The possible outcomes whcih are bad are too probable. Don't think there are NO takers. This is a bit scary, for instance.
http://www.dtl.org/e-mails/mark-16.htm

Quote:

My name is Peg. I was raised in a rather unique church very similar to Pentecostal with the added primary focus being on Mark 16:16-18--proving one's faith. I was never allowed to be baptized because I was unable to prove my faith by taking up the serpents or drinking deadly poison without harm--I got very ill after drinking strychnine at the age of 6.

Prodigal Son · 01-09-2004, 02:51 PM

Quote:

God gives believers divine guidance to tell them which passages of scripture are to be interpreted literally and which can be disregarded. Sometimes other denominations may have a different interpretation of scripture but that is because they have not sufficiently studied the Bible or have been deceived by Satan. If you ask god to guide you to the correct denomination, he will. If you chose the wrong denomination, you were misled by Satan.

So, in order to be saved, you have to throw aside the (supposedly) God-given gift of reason? Ir reason is what leads us away from God (and it often is) why did God give us reason?
I'm confused.

MysteryProf · 01-09-2004, 04:28 PM

One of my two grandmothers (not the superfundie, the charismatic) actually buys that stuff -- it's really scary. I don't think she's ever had the guts to try it (since she's still alive and all). But she definitely takes the bait when the lunatics at her church start speaking in tongues and fainting everywhere. ::shudder::

~MysteryProf

Sensei Meela · 01-10-2004, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Marduk
There are Christian sects that play this to the max (mostly in the South) they handle poisonous snakes and drink strychnine as part of their service. However there must be a reason they always use strychnine as the poison of choice, I have NEVER seen or read about any group trying this stunt with cyanide.

I had to read Dennis Covington's Salvation on Sand Mountain for a Religious Studies course I once took. It lends some much needed and useful insight to the people behind the Holiness tradition (snake handlers of Appalachia).

In particular, it speculates that handlers...the older ones anyway...don't suffer much from any of the (more uncommon than you'd think) snake-bites because they've built up an immunity to them. Probably the same reason they use strychnine. (Yeah, I doubt they'd be able to build up a tolerance to cyanide!)

Doctor X · 01-10-2004, 09:53 AM

As a child I read a book on cults. I recall a picture of an old preacher holding a snake with wide-mouthed/eyed worshippers around. The caption noted that just after the picture was taken the snake bit the preacher and he died.

That rather did it for me!

--J.D.

Marduk · 01-11-2004, 03:36 PM

I saw a show on TV about snake handlers & their church service, when some members of the congregation are moved by The Holy Sprit they touch a snake, some of them just gave the snake a quick pet on the back of the head, others held them and a few guys took a swig of strychnine.

Doctor X · 01-11-2004, 03:46 PM

It is a "no lose" situation. If you die, you just did not have enough faith.

--J.D.

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01-09-2004, 10:02 AM	#11
Dargo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 713	God gives believers divine guidance to tell them which passages of scripture are to be interpreted literally and which can be disregarded. Sometimes other denominations may have a different interpretation of scripture but that is because they have not sufficiently studied the Bible or have been deceived by Satan. If you ask god to guide you to the correct denomination, he will. If you chose the wrong denomination, you were misled by Satan.

01-09-2004, 10:31 AM	#12
Gothic_J Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: New England Posts: 1,290	I keep giving bible literalists the mark 16:18 challenge. no takers, yet.

01-09-2004, 11:30 AM	#13
Aravnah Ornan Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Alexandria, VA, Faith-Based States of Jesusland Posts: 1,794	Much to my amazement, I once heard a preacher tackle this verse. She said that that's the way it should be. She never did explain how the Bible supports that reasoning. It just goes to show you that Biblical literalism works like this.

01-09-2004, 04:28 PM	#16
MysteryProf Regular Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 301	One of my two grandmothers (not the superfundie, the charismatic) actually buys that stuff -- it's really scary. I don't think she's ever had the guts to try it (since she's still alive and all). But she definitely takes the bait when the lunatics at her church start speaking in tongues and fainting everywhere. ::shudder:: ~MysteryProf

01-10-2004, 09:53 AM	#18
Doctor X Banned Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: USA Posts: 3,794	As a child I read a book on cults. I recall a picture of an old preacher holding a snake with wide-mouthed/eyed worshippers around. The caption noted that just after the picture was taken the snake bit the preacher and he died. That rather did it for me! --J.D.

01-11-2004, 03:36 PM	#19
Marduk Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: the 10th planet Posts: 5,065	I saw a show on TV about snake handlers & their church service, when some members of the congregation are moved by The Holy Sprit they touch a snake, some of them just gave the snake a quick pet on the back of the head, others held them and a few guys took a swig of strychnine.

01-11-2004, 03:46 PM	#20
Doctor X Banned Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: USA Posts: 3,794	It is a "no lose" situation. If you die, you just did not have enough faith. --J.D.

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