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MikeH106
Phoenix
Joined: May 20, 2006
Age: 26
Posts: 1103
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 Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 2:46 pm Post subject: Christianity as a Tool of Oppression (new essay) |
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I finally finished my seventh essay. Here it is: Christianity as a Tool of Oppression Against the Romantically Unsuccessful
"It is my aim in this essay to present a quite different view, namely, that Jesus and his teachings serve only as a temptation to the poor, a desperately-chosen alternative to more fulfilling activities, and that many, if not most, Christians merely enjoy the servitude of these oppressed followers."
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ikorack
Pileated woodpecker
Joined: Mar 16, 2009
Posts: 189
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| Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 5:49 pm Post subject: Re: Christianity as a Tool of Oppression (new essay) |
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| MikeH106 wrote: | I finally finished my seventh essay. Here it is: Christianity as a Tool of Oppression Against the Romantically Unsuccessful
"It is my aim in this essay to present a quite different view, namely, that Jesus and his teachings serve only as a temptation to the poor, a desperately-chosen alternative to more fulfilling activities, and that many, if not most, Christians merely enjoy the servitude of these oppressed followers." |
Why did you write this?
going to go read it now. |
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Awesomelyglorious
Destroyer of worlds, reaver of souls
Joined: Dec 18, 2005
Posts: 9141
Location: Omnipresent
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| Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 8:41 pm Post subject: |
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Basically all of the things you have argued against Christianity in the past, just now in an essay. That being said, I consider it wrong-headed for most of the same reasons I considered those past arguments wrong.
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MikeH106
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Joined: May 20, 2006
Age: 26
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| Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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I wrote it in part because I was grotesquely insulted by some of the things I read in the Scriptures.
Awesomelyglorious: What does it mean for a theory to be 'wrong-headed'? Is that the same as being false? How do you refute a theory like mine?
And remember, it's at least a theory if nothing else.
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zer0netgain
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Joined: Mar 03, 2009
Posts: 1902
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| Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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If that wasn't so full of venom, one could almost take it seriously. 
Five months makes you and expert on the Christian life? Talk to me when you have at least 5 years. |
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Awesomelyglorious
Destroyer of worlds, reaver of souls
Joined: Dec 18, 2005
Posts: 9141
Location: Omnipresent
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| Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 10:10 pm Post subject: |
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| MikeH106 wrote: |
Awesomelyglorious: What does it mean for a theory to be 'wrong-headed'? Is that the same as being false? How do you refute a theory like mine?
And remember, it's at least a theory if nothing else. |
Well, for one, if the basic foundations you are arguing from are false or problematic, then the theory is itself to be doubted.
"Wrongheaded" doesn't mean false, it means that the theory appears to go in the wrong direction on the basis of the facts.
I don't refute your theory, it becomes absurd once one examines the foundations and finds them wanting.
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Awesomelyglorious
Destroyer of worlds, reaver of souls
Joined: Dec 18, 2005
Posts: 9141
Location: Omnipresent
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| Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 10:24 pm Post subject: |
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| zer0netgain wrote: |
Five months makes you and expert on the Christian life? Talk to me when you have at least 5 years. |
Given how many Christians don't do a lot of research, and the ability of a person to possibly study their brains out in a 5 month period, I wouldn't put much emphasis on this, so much as the depth and breadth of knowledge.
Really though, I think our poster was looking for something and then reinterpreted Christianity to fit his idea, as none of the categories placed upon Christianity seem like categories that naturally exist, seem historically likely, or exist in any mainstream theologian's perspective. I mean, the word that comes to mind is eisegesis.
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Mike61290
Raven
Joined: Oct 05, 2006
Posts: 108
Location: Mercury
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| Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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i knew more about the bible in one month of study than someone who had been a christian for 45 years (grandpa) this was when i was around 8.
The time spent on a subject does not matter, the amount of knowledge of the subject of which you clearly understand.
I could give someone with an IQ of 80, 15 years of medical training and he still wouldnt be as good as a half trained medic with an IQ of 100.
Your essay was long-winded and had too many negative comments, any believers would get agitated and easily miss the point of the message you were trying to convey (already proven with a few posts) the points you make were made well but were clouded in all of the extra stuff you added in.
I can easily see where some may thing you are going off on a tangent when its just a mild rant thats not part of your arguement, be careful, your ranting and their lack of comprehension may make you a few enemies.
also the pope is rich, by the bibles own verses he is going to hell for he has had his fill. minor annoyances within religion >.<
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zer0netgain
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Joined: Mar 03, 2009
Posts: 1902
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| Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 10:21 am Post subject: |
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| Awesomelyglorious wrote: | | zer0netgain wrote: |
Five months makes you and expert on the Christian life? Talk to me when you have at least 5 years. |
Given how many Christians don't do a lot of research, and the ability of a person to possibly study their brains out in a 5 month period, I wouldn't put much emphasis on this, so much as the depth and breadth of knowledge. |
Reading and studying the Bible does not reflect what comes from actually living the life. I learned things after 5 years, 10 years of living the life that I should have understood from studying the Bible, but it took LIVING what the Bible said for me to truly appreciate it.
I don't dispute that Christianity (like ALL religion) is frequently abused by some to control the masses with empty promises while those in power run amok, but the abuse by some does not equate to the illegitimacy of the faith. |
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Ancalagon
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Joined: Dec 26, 2007
Posts: 957
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| Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 10:39 am Post subject: |
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My general impression after skimming it -- you quote snippets of scripture out of context so you can twist them to mean something they don't, often the exact opposite of what they do mean. You then make general assumptions about Christians based on your misinterpretations, always the worst you could possibly imagine, don't check them with reality in any way, and then insult all Christians based on that.
I won't waste time with a point by point refutation, but I will mention one specific point that you quoted in the OP: enjoying the opression of others is the sort of thing that Christianity forbids, so suggesting that that is what Christians do is both silly and insulting.
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ruveyn
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Joined: Sep 22, 2008
Age: 73
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Location: New Jersey
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| Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 1:02 pm Post subject: |
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| zer0netgain wrote: |
Reading and studying the Bible does not reflect what comes from actually living the life. I learned things after 5 years, 10 years of living the life that I should have understood from studying the Bible, but it took LIVING what the Bible said for me to truly appreciate it.
I don't dispute that Christianity (like ALL religion) is frequently abused by some to control the masses with empty promises while those in power run amok, but the abuse by some does not equate to the illegitimacy of the faith. |
The bible is a traditional collection of made up stories. You could learn as much by reading the novels of Tolkien which are better written than the Bible.
ruveyn |
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Awesomelyglorious
Destroyer of worlds, reaver of souls
Joined: Dec 18, 2005
Posts: 9141
Location: Omnipresent
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| Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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| ruveyn wrote: |
The bible is a traditional collection of made up stories. You could learn as much by reading the novels of Tolkien which are better written than the Bible.
ruveyn |
No you couldn't, and that is indisputable due to the massive influence of the Bible compared to Tolkien. I mean, the last 2000 years or so have had heavy influence upon them due to the Bible. This includes the philosophy of Aquinas and Augustine and many others, the thought processes of the religious right, religious themes in music and literature and even in modern philosophy, etc. Tolkien doesn't lack influence, as he is important for most modern fantasy works, but that is less than the Bible.
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Chibi_Neko
Want a Cookie
Joined: Oct 24, 2007
Age: 27
Posts: 1816
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:44 pm Post subject: |
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| ruveyn wrote: |
The bible is a traditional collection of made up stories. You could learn as much by reading the novels of Tolkien which are better written than the Bible.
ruveyn |
I like to call the Bible the Mother Goose of the Bronze-Age.
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MikeH106
Phoenix
Joined: May 20, 2006
Age: 26
Posts: 1103
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| Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 7:39 am Post subject: |
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Do you all have anything else besides ad hominem attacks?
First of all, the five-month period was a trial of continuous labor in which I worked all day. I didn't just read the Bible during that period. I literally worked my ass off. That was five years ago.
Second, to attack someone's character to discredit his theories or arguments is an act called Poisoning the Well. Curiously, the 'venom' here is yours, not mine.
Third, I've made no assumptions about Christianity as I've stated time and time again in the essay (if you read it without skimming) that my account is just a theory.
Fourth, yes, the theory can be doubted, but you haven't explained what it means for the theory to be 'wrong-headed' or to 'go in the wrong direction.' Until then, they will just be meaningless ad hominems.
Chibi Neko: LOL 
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cognito
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Joined: Apr 12, 2009
Posts: 675
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| Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:26 am Post subject: |
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the bible has alot of errors, take the story of judas, in one of the books of the bible, he bursts into the flames, yet in another, he hangs himself, despite being an orthodox hew, whose beliefs said sucicde was an unforgivable sin.
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