Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Kosh · 06-03-2004, 07:09 AM

In the "Genesis" thread, Mageth wrote:

Quote:

In the second place, the majority of Christians, and virtually all Jews, don't interpret Gen. 1 literally. Some do, yes, but most don't.

Mageth, I have to disagree with you here (that's a first!). My experience is that while most American Xians will claim to be "liberal", when pressed on the matter, most of them will adopt a rather fundie stance. That is WRT to the Genesis creation, Noah's ark, the Exodus.

From what I've seen, it's as though they want to avoid the [negative] connotations of the label, but still hold firm to the childish idiocy.

No Magus, don't post.

MonCapitan2002 · 06-03-2004, 07:19 AM

[removed]

Godless Wonder · 06-03-2004, 07:21 AM

I have seen some of this too. I know a few who say they're "liberal Christians", and that they know some fundies that they can't really talk about religion with, but then you press and you find out they believe the Noah's flood story literally happened! And these people aren't stupid... Well, not when it comes to other topics anyway. They know it's indefensible, so they don't bring it up, but it's there if you press them on it.

I don't have enough data to be able to really say how common this is though.

Mageth · 06-03-2004, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kosh

Mageth, I have to disagree with you here (that's a first!). My experience is that while most American Xians will claim to be "liberal", when pressed on the matter, most of them will adopt a rather fundie stance. That is WRT to the Genesis creation, Noah's ark, the Exodus.

From what I've seen, it's as though they want to avoid the [negative] connotations of the label, but still hold firm to the childish idiocy.

I see your point, and tacitly agree, but in that thread I was specifically referring to the "days" of creation. In my experience, most Xians, even in America, don't hold to a literal interpretation of that passage as six literal 24-hour days. But yes, I see where you can argue that Gen. 1 is accepted by most American Xians, when pressed, as a more or less "true" account of how God created things, though most of them don't limit God to having done it in six 24-hour days.

Mageth · 06-03-2004, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonCapitan2002

[removed for consistancy]

Sure, why wouldn't I?

Faith · 06-03-2004, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mageth

In my experience, most Xians, even in America, don't hold to a literal interpretation of that passage as six literal 24-hour days. But yes, I see where you can argue that Gen. 1 is accepted by most American Xians, when pressed, as a more or less "true" account of how God created things, though most of them don't limit God to having done it in six 24-hour days.

Some of us Christians even believe the earth is more than 10,000 years old!

MonCapitan2002 · 06-03-2004, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mageth

Sure, why wouldn't I?

[removed]

CX · 06-03-2004, 07:42 AM

Great thread, but not for BC&H how 'bout GRD?

Mageth · 06-03-2004, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonCapitan2002

[removed for consistancy]

[removed]

Starboy · 06-03-2004, 08:21 AM

Let's face it, just about every Christian to some degree or another allows for magical things to happen. Once that option becomes available then, the great flood, genesis, parting the Red Sea, and on and on are now placed in the realm of the real. The train of thinking goes like this, "there is more to existence than we could possibly know" and then from this admission of ignorance it makes a leap to "miracles can happen", from there it opens the door to "maybe miracles can happen for you and me" and then you have all the nonsense regarding supposed miracles and getting a miracle to happen in ones life by praying or getting in with the grand miracle maker of the universe (god). These people are not will skilled in basic cause and effect, honesty, logical thinking or skepticism, let alone science.

Starboy

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06-03-2004, 07:19 AM	#2
MonCapitan2002 Contributor Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: --- Posts: 10,496	[removed]

06-03-2004, 07:21 AM	#3
Godless Wonder Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,197	I have seen some of this too. I know a few who say they're "liberal Christians", and that they know some fundies that they can't really talk about religion with, but then you press and you find out they believe the Noah's flood story literally happened! And these people aren't stupid... Well, not when it comes to other topics anyway. They know it's indefensible, so they don't bring it up, but it's there if you press them on it. I don't have enough data to be able to really say how common this is though.

06-03-2004, 07:42 AM	#8
CX Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Portlandish Posts: 2,829	Great thread, but not for BC&H how 'bout GRD?

06-03-2004, 08:21 AM	#10
Starboy Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tallahassee, FL Reality Adventurer Posts: 5,276	Let's face it, just about every Christian to some degree or another allows for magical things to happen. Once that option becomes available then, the great flood, genesis, parting the Red Sea, and on and on are now placed in the realm of the real. The train of thinking goes like this, "there is more to existence than we could possibly know" and then from this admission of ignorance it makes a leap to "miracles can happen", from there it opens the door to "maybe miracles can happen for you and me" and then you have all the nonsense regarding supposed miracles and getting a miracle to happen in ones life by praying or getting in with the grand miracle maker of the universe (god). These people are not will skilled in basic cause and effect, honesty, logical thinking or skepticism, let alone science. Starboy

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