Patriot7

When are you going to rename this section of the Philosophical Forum "Ask a Christian whatever you want and he has to respond until we like his answer?"

Diogenes the Cynic

I haven't said you have to respond. I'm just observing that you haven't been.

Odemus

The advancement of skepticism. The unapologetic destruction of superstition.

Those things don't wage wars or cause people to strap bombs to themselves. They don't teach people that humanity is inherently evil, or that this life is meant to be endured rather than enjoyed to the fullest. They don't play on fear or traumatize children and adults alike with the threat of eternal hellfire. They don't invade bedrooms of consenting adults and condemn them for whatever sexuality people want to practice.

Patriot7

What would happen if I assumed your goals and waged a war of unapologetic destruction of pure naturalism? We'd be in Afghanistan would we not?

I'm perfectly happy living in a pluralistic society as long as one opinion or view is not enforced by law of the state. The culture war that is occuring can only be considered a war, because recently Christians are fighting back. We didn't for the past 50 years and effectively surrendered the culture.

I don't blame the media, the government, the gay and lesbian action groups, or any other organization besides the Church for the moral decline of our society. As a Christian I have no other place to look except squarely in the mirror and the eyes of my brothers and sisters for answers to the "why" question.

Please explain to me how the Bible teaches any of those things.

Odemus

Only in the sense that religion holds back progress.

I'm not an advocate for legal enforcement of any world view. You asked what the purpose of this site was.

By the way, Christians have been waging war and legislating their brand of morality for two thousand years.

You mean how does it teach that man is in a sinful fallen state and doomed to judgement apart from god's intercession?

That this life is a constant struggle against the forces of Satan?

That fornicators and homosexuals will face god's wrath?

Do you not know your own Bible?

Patriot7

You must be joking. My kids can't even pray in school, by FORCE OF LAW. The list could go on and on....not the right place for this though. Suffice it to say, I vehemently disagree with you.

I don't think we need the Bible to tell us that men are evil do we? A quick perusal of human history or just the evening news would do that.

It depends on which side you're on doesn't it? In this life, especially in this country, there is no struggle if you go with the flow is there? Tell me how you're not free to indulge almost any selfish pleasure you could imagine in a country founded by Christians?

I don't think the Bible teaches that Odemus. I mean it certainly does teach that those who are fornicators and homosexuals will face God's wrath, but clearly they won't face it alone will they? Because we have this overwhelming fascination with sex in our culture, I think the reaction to that is blown equally out of proportion. Sexual sin is clearly not something the Bible is silent about, but it is not presented with a different degree of gravity then any other sin. It's certainly not comesurate with our culture's magnification of it.

Diogenes the Cynic

This is false. There is no law from forbidding any child from praying in school anytime he wants.

Toto

Mod note: can we stay on topic? The culture wars, prayer in school, etc. are a bit outside the scope of this forum

Odemus

My apologies. I'm no Bible critic as far as the intent of this forum is concerned, but sometimes I get the overwhelming desire to throw in my two cents.

cognac

Not only have I read the Bible through many times, and some books as many as 100x (Psalms), I also went to seminary and obtained a master of divinity degree. I've studied Greek and Hebrew, have read the biblical texts in the original languages and have done my own translations.