Radorth

It's not retaliatory as you probably mean it. I'm happy to put the mirrors down any time and in fact have decided in some cases, it's not even worth it. If it was simply retaliatory, I would be more likely to hold them up to the worst offenders, which is not the case. I'm not saying my motives have always been what Jesus wished however. I don't know that, and you do not know for sure either.

Well yes, it appears less in his teaching than his example, but then, depending on if we have the same motives he did, we may follow either. The question for me is whether holding up a mirrorprevents some people from kidding themselves and remaining hypocritical forever. For that answer, we may have to wait a long time I expect. I clearly stated my rationale ages ago at the end of the "Problems with Radorth" inquisition thread many months ago.

Rad

Radorth

Don't be inane. I was referring to the ability to grasp a paradox and how some here might come to grasp some of those in the NT, which appear to simple-minded skeptics as "contradictions." Of course, that is all they are looking for.

Rad

Rhea

But you're not fat!

braces_for_impact

This thread is an exploration about hypocrisy. In your previous posts you mentioned other threads, apparently having to do with the U.S. penal system, since this was not related to the comments at hand, it was deemed of no value by me in relation to this conversation.

No this very fact alone (which YOU state) only reinforces the subject of this thread.

My point here is that Christians seem to follow an ideal of Jesus, not the actual Jesus as described in the NT. From what I have seen of your posts on these boards, you do indeed seem to strive to imitate the Jesus as depicted in the gospels, one who is contradictory in action and words.



I do not claim to know your thoughts or feelings. I can only observe your behavior. By doing so, I find it difficult to believe that you even try to live up to this standard of loving everyone. Also, does it not seem hypocritical to you that you accuse me of not being able to know this information about you, yet you claim to know how Jesus really felt about the pharisees, regardless of how he spoke to them?

This may come as somewhat of a surprise to you, but I do not follow you around on these boards. And I would like to see what 'sweeping assertions' I had made about YOU in my last post. It may come as a surprise to you, but you are not the focus of our dismay Rad, you are sometimes outdone by others here.

Rhea

Just KIDDING!

Rhea

Radorth, I think you are leaving the rail of the thread.

The point is what Christians claim about themselves.
That is the basis for using the word hypocrisy.

They can't follow their OWN rules that they claim they ARE following. That's the point. Don't be a deraileur.

1. Christians claim that Jesus asks them to love others with patience and forgiveness.
2. Christians claim that loving Jesus makes them better able to do this
3. Because Jesus gives them special powers of love.

When Christians are no better able to do #2 than anyone else, it sort of proves # 3 wrong.

Of course, since you're claiming that #1 is wrong then you deny the possibility of #2 and you are clearly not going to gain anything from the knowledge that this is self-contradictory.

Mageth

Don't be inane.

I wasn't being inane, I was asking a question.

I was referring to the ability to grasp a paradox and how some here might come to grasp some of those in the NT,

Well, why didn't you say so? It sounded like you were referring to Zen as a way to find out something about the Christian God.

BTW, if you study Zen, then you should know that many of the core teachings of Jesus (e.g. the Golden Rule) predate Jesus.

which appear to simple-minded skeptics as "contradictions."

To whom is this mirror being held up?

Of course, that is all they are looking for.

I doubt that, and I don't think you can claim to know it for a fact.

Queen of Swords

Originally posted by Radorth
I'm not asking for a comparison. Just a fact or reference.

But you did use the word "compare", did you not?

No,

If Christians are not encouraged to compare, why did you ask for comparable insults?

we merely ask you to live by the same standards, demands for facts and rationales you employ.

Just as I merely ask Christians to live by the standards supposedly set by their god.

(not that you are capable of it though you claim so)

The same goes for some Christians.

You should probably get out more,

You too.

but no one here has called you that,

Does the Christian in question have to be "here" for the insult to be a valid one?

so untill you post Magus' insults, we have little to go on.

I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

Seriously, though, I am not interested in rehashing what Magus said to me or what anyone else might have said to you. If we have little to go on, hasta la vista.

You apparently disagree with Ashaman though. (I'm afraid "apparently" is the operative word for some reason).

You apparently disagree with everyone.

Eh? I can see why you would avoid a question which tells us what's really going on here.

I can see why you would avoid my question too.

I do hope no one will accuse me of that after I've honestly referred to people here as "fellow hypocrites."

If you include everyone here as that, I would accuse you of faulty generalization.

No, all those who start threads and make comments directed at their fellow hypocrites, which is clearly the case here.

Yes, that would be Magus.

Queen of Swords

And yes my name was mentioned, and this thread has me as one of it's primary subjects. It is truly hypocritical to pretend otherwise.

Radorth, have I ever interacted with you prior to this thread?

If so, I don't recall it, but I am open to correction. I did not have you in mind when I began this thread. Therefore, I don't know when your name was mentioned until after you joined the thread.

Edited to add : never mind, I see where your name was mentioned. Right after Magus's, too!

Rhea

That would be me he's referring to, I think.

Oh those atheists, they all look alike.