STRATEGY - Weaponizing Scripture quotes - for OUR side:

[calimary]

Last edited Fri Jul 7, 2017, 01:29 PM - Edit history (1)

The bad guys push the Bible in our faces all the time. Another way of declaring far and wide the old "God is on OUR side" thing.

Well, I've got news for all those modern-day Philistines and golden calf-worshippers (money and power, and false "gods" like trump). According to the contents of that holy book they wrap themselves around all the time, it would seem very clear that God is not on their side. Doubt He'd take sides anyway, but if He did, the indications we have strongly suggest He would not give His Endorsement to these mammon-loving heretics.

You NEVER hear this passage quoted by ANYBODY on the right/center right/far right, or ANY of these professional holier-than-thou's claiming exclusive "rights" to the Almighty. So, for reference, here are OUR weapons. Here are YOUR weapons.

JESUS AND THE RICH YOUNG MAN (I defy anyone to find me one of these professional so-called "Christians" who preaches this one)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+10%3A17-27&version=NASB
Mark 10:17-27New American Standard Bible (NASB)


The Rich Young Ruler
17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But at these words [a]he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

23 And Jesus, looking around, *said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus *answered again and *said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were even more astonished and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Looking at them, Jesus *said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

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THE WIDOW'S OFFERING (Your wealth means nothing in the eyes of the Almighty. Money can't buy HIS Love.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+12:41-44
Mark 12:41-44New International Version (NIV)


The Widow’s Offering
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

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WHEN YOU PRAY, DO IT IN SECRET (Those self-congratulating holier-than-thou's looking for fame, fortune, and ego-strokes need not apply. You're NOT supposed to do stuff like this because you can get some good PR out of it, like washing already-clean pots and pans at the local food kitchen long after dinner's over, Paul Ryan)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A5-6
Matthew 6:5-6New International Version (NIV)


Prayer
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

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THE ULTIMATE TRADE-OFF (The “Deal with the Devil”. Do you want your reward here on earth with all the cameras and microphones and wall-to-wall coverage and Barnum & Bailey Circus thrown in, or in Heaven? Humility much?)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+8%3A36&version=KJV
Mark 8:36King James Version (KJV)
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

---------


ST. PAUL'S EPISTLE ABOUT LOUDMOUTH PHONIES AND HYPOCRITES (Wonder if Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson ever took this one to heart, or today - Mike "everybody-watch-me-shove-my-religion-down-your-throats" Pence)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+13
1 Corinthians 13New International Version (NIV)


13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

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THE BEATITUDES - FROM THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT (I defy ANY of these so-called "Christians" to find me the passages that say "Blessed are the war-makers..." or "Blessed are the bullies..." )

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5
Matthew 5New International Version (NIV)

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount
5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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AND THE BIG ONE - THE "WHATEVER YOU DO TO THE LEAST OF THESE, YOU DO TO ME" (My own personal favorite. I've NEVER heard ANY politician quote, or express mindfulness about this one, certainly not a single GOPer. With one exception: the former GOPer Charlie Crist of Florida, a few weeks ago, who's now a Democrat.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A35-45&version=ESV
Matthew 25:35-45English Standard Version (ESV)


35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[a] you did it to me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’

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Have any of these "Prosperity gospel" preachers or those thirsting for power and influence (and of course, the wealth that accompanies that power and influence) EVER mentioned any of this? Or do they mostly fall back on their irrelevant Old Testament pal, the Book of Leviticus?

If anybody comes at you and calls you a faithless heathen, or questions your character because you aren't harassing or trying to bomb Planned Parenthood clinics, or you object to funding cuts to food stamps or Medicaid, or other programs that assist the poor and hungry and needy, or you're filling a woman's legally-obtained birth control prescription, or you're willing to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple, these are for YOU.

[KPN]

1. Good news/stuff! Thanks calimary -- that's a keeper.

[exboyfil]

2. Also lots in the OT that can be extrapolated

The bitter waters - Forced induced abortion because your wife is carrying another man's child. Sanctioned by God

Fetus death treated as a property crime and not murder

Property returned after fifty years during the Jubilee - an economic reset

Mandated gleaning (welfare)

And of course the scary stuff (slavery sanctioned, genocide sanctioned, rape sanctioned)

[calimary]

4. I added a note about how you DON'T do this alleged "morality" stuff for the cameras.

Like when Paul Ryan dragged the family to a local soup kitchen, tied on an apron, and grabbed a pot to scrub. Except all the pots and pans had already been washed. Dinner was over. Everybody'd gone except for a few staffers. But ALL THOSE NICE CAMERAS certainly were there!

[exboyfil]

7. Also Christians do the one week mission

trip thing to foreign countries supplying unskilled labor and quite possibly hindering the actual mission of the organization they are visiting. My daughter did one to Mexico, and I told her to become a nurse first and then go back for an extended time instead. Actually try to make a difference.

[octoberlib]

3. FDR did this exact thing when he was trying to get the new deal passed.

He used the social gospel against them.

[gratuitous]

5. The Bible's pretty rough on self-satisfied wealthy folks who deny succor for the poor

But it's long been my position that if your takeaway from reading the Bible is "Me first and fuck you," you're practicing bad theology.

[calimary]

8. Absolutely! If that's your takeaway, then you're worshipping a false prophet.

Or more accurately, you're worshipping false PROFIT.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. Yes. Have to appeal to RW emotions with strategies like this. Facts are not enough. . . nt

[progressoid]

9. That's great for some debates.

You might eventually sway some people.

But most bible beaters have already cherry picked the passages they need (and deliberately ignored the ones above) to rationalize their hatred and malice.

[gratuitous]

13. I'm usually satisfied . . .

If the discussion ends with a begrudging concession that, "Yes, the Bible says thus-and-such," I'm usually good. I've had folks try to rationalize away their own selfishness and prejudice, but as an initial conversation in an ongoing discussion, at least I can present something besides the standard batch of narrowly-selected bias confirmation verses. What strikes me most often, though, is when I say, "Well, I read the Bible and come away with a very different conclusion," and the other party doesn't want to know anything about what I read there. That's a tip that (1) they're really not interested in a fair discussion (they just want to evangelize); or (b) they are acquainted with that other stuff in the Bible, but don't want to risk their position or concede that a biblically-based position doesn't necessarily come down where they are (dogmatic).

[angrychair]

14. It's more than that

They take what fits their narrative and disregard the rest. In their head they have created a hierarchy of passages, the words that fit their agenda carry more meaning and are more relevant. The words that do not are nice but either are "not relevant in today's world" or superseded by the passage that fits their particular world view.

The vast majority of Christians use the Bible as a tool to justify their hate, racism and bigotry and hide behind that book and call it "love" to ease their troubled soul.

[calimary]

17. Well, I'll bet they totally ignored passages like these!

That's why I listed some of my favorites here.

OUR SIDE has 'em, TOO!

And beware the new twist to their message of "love." Mick Mulvaney came out with one he probably thinks is a total mic-dropper: compassion towards taxpayers. Of course, he's MOST compassionate towards those who pay the most - MAINLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE MOST!!! He still misses the point. It's NOT about money - the hoarding, worshipping, or sanctifying of same.

[angrychair]

33. I agree that most pick and choose

As an atheist I am more analytical in my approach. I am not beyond using the Bible, Quran, Torah, Bhagavad Gita or anything else to get the point across.

The caring for the poor and need to purge racism, sexism and xenophobia and promoting the sciences and education are critical to the survival of the human race.

Unless we can move past our simplistic perspective of the world and universe around us, we will slowly but surly die off and our memory will fade into obscurity to a universe we barely understand and know almost nothing about.

[TomSlick]

56. Most? The vast majority?

I was raised in the Church. I've been in the Church all of my life. Certainly, some Christians fit in your generalization but (in my experience) not most or the vast majority. Most Christians that I know have actually read the scriptures and have a passing understanding of the meaning.

One of the DU terms of use is not to disparage other DUers. Jumping to generalizations that most or the vast majority of Christians are hypocritical right-wingers disparages other DUers. More importantly, such posts suggests that Christians are not welcome in the Democratic Party.

Remember that people that are not DUers will stumble on this site to see what Democrats are all about. We do not need to be telling the world that Democrats are anti-Christian.

[angrychair]

60. With all due respect

There is an atheist group here and even a religious group that has on many occasions shared much harsher criticism than I have here.

I didn't start as an atheist. I have also had a very broad education and graduated from a Catholic university (though to be honest I have never been Catholic either but I found the experience interesting and insightful). I am likely far more versed in religious text and history than the vast majority of Christians.

Given that a Christian church is on almost every corner, "in god we trust" is on our nation's money, the president is sworn in on a Bible and Congress starts with a prayer to a Christian God I think Christianity is far from being persecuted, here or anywhere else in America. It is hard to persecute the majority with all the power.

As someone that has been on DU for a very long time, you should not quote TOS to other members. If you feel my OP violated a rule than ask for it to be reviewed.

I honestly do not mean this to be rude or mean. I appreciate the criticism but I also am not going to refrain from sharing my opinion, which is as valid as anyone else here.

[sprinkleeninow]

64. 💓 That is all.

(no text)

[TomSlick]

65. With all due Respect?

I'm not arguing that Christians are persecuted in America. If anything, some so-called Christians would persecute others in the name of "religious freedom." I'm also not interested in ratting anyone out for violations of the TOS.

What I am asking is that we realize that non-DUers read our posts. If the Democratic Party wants to win on the national level it must not start by telling Christians they are hateful or ignorant.

There is a difference between what we have the right to say (or post) and what we ought to say (or post). If we are working for a country that is more inclusive and nonjudgmental, we must be inclusive and nonjudgmental. It is inconsistent to criticize right-winders for lumping all Muslims together as violent and then lump all Christians together for being ignorant, close-minded, (insert your favorite pejorative).

Given the frequency of posts that denigrate Christians as a group, it may be that I'm pushing a losing point. Maybe it is simply the case that liberal Christians are not welcome on DU. If we were really welcome here, there would not be daily posts telling us how unacceptable we are.

So, as an long-time DUer, do you think that liberal Christians ought to be welcome - and welcomed - on DU?

[Dave Starsky]

38. This does work with some people.

I have used this strategy successfully with some of the right wing.

But there are a great many people who view the Bible as some sort of magic book with spells and incantations. You just pick and choose the text that you need to try to convince someone to do what you want.

The language in the Bible is complicated and boring. If you read the whole thing, though--and I mean really READ it, like you would any book that you had to write a report on--you understand that it's not just a book full of magical words. It tells an important story.

[melman]

10. The problem with all that

is that you have to buy the premise that what it says in the bible is important at all. And I'm not going to do that.

No bible stuff for me, thanks just the same.

[calimary]

15. That's okay. I get that.

But this can add to the arsenal of anyone who decides they're tired of having somebody jamming their bible down their throats. This lets you fight fire with fire in case you need it. Or, putting it just a little differently, fighting fire with Hell fire.

The holier-than-thou crowd has been at this for a long time. We all know 'em, and I named a few in the OP. I enjoy turning their own arguments against them. Because, seems to me, it's not about building TV empires. It's not about building Bible-themed amusement parks. It's not about running your own cable kingdom that brings you so much money you're even investing in diamond mines on a faraway continent. (And maybe laundering money for some fiendish off-the-books friends you're now in bed with, or pushing messages and policies that do nothing but hurt the most vulnerable while eagerly comforting the already QUITE comfortable?)

You don't always need guns to be well-armed.

[Dave Starsky]

41. I would ask you to just read it.

Just read it, cover to cover. The way we counterculturists all read House of Leaves, which so many people think is the greatest book ever. If you never read House of Leaves, I will understand.

[calimary]

11. Forgot one! Added, above. What you might call "the Deal with the Devil."

THE ULTIMATE TRADE-OFF (The “Deal with the Devil”. Do you want your reward here on earth with all the cameras and microphones and wall-to-wall coverage and Barnum & Bailey Circus thrown in, or in Heaven? Humility much?)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+8%3A36&version=KJV
Mark 8:36King James Version (KJV)
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
---------

[retrowire]

12. I miss life being simple. Nt

[Plucketeer]

16. Indeed!

This here atheist believes there's worth in those words. Yet we have leaders who crow about their Christianity while they obviously have NO understanding about it's foundations OR.... have blinders on attuned to seeing only that which paints them as caring and dutiful.

Imagine a world where NO ONE had a god to trust their fears, their hopes and aspirations to! A world where all of us had only the option of communicating with one another to settle disputes and solidify unity as a means of addressing worldly woes. It's a tough image to get your head around - especially if you've been indoctrinated since birth that there's a "place" you can easily dispense your fears and foibles to so as to ease you with yourself.

[calimary]

19. Gee... sounds like you're referencing one of my favorite songs.

"Imagine," by John Lennon. WELL worth adding in here!

Imagine
John Lennon, Plastic Ono Band

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace, you

(Chorus)
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world, you

(Chorus)
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one


This song just makes me ache. I get such a sense of yearning whenever I think of these lyrics, or find the song running through my head. To this very day.

[Rural_Progressive]

24. This here animist will see you and raise you this

Imagine a world where everyone understood that the spirit is in everything and everything is the spirit.

Now suppose you take the word "spirit", that can have negative, who-do, new agey, wonka wonka, connotations for many and put "energy" in its place. Suddenly you don't even have to believe anymore, all you need to do is head over to the "Quantum Physics for Dummies" interpretations for those of us not versed in things like multivariable calculus. There you will find out that experiments being done in quantum physics are proving that those old time, indigenous, savages have been spot on for millennia.

I believe it was Einstein that explained that all matter is just really slow moving energy.

So like it or not, everything is part of everything and everything is truly in this together. As terrifying (and non-profit) as that fact is for many, it appears that is just the way it is.

[sprinkleeninow]

61. I will say something here. It comes across as harsh.

Some branches of what is named as christianity has an aura of bastardization.
I take my chances positing that.
Sure, the Christian Faith has metamorphed through the centuries since inception. But quite enough of it (as practiced) would be unrecognizable and foreign to the early church Christians.

[Plucketeer]

67. No doubt about it!

Today's "Christians", and the first of those to call themselves such, would consider one another as Charlatans!

[Cryptoad]

18. Stick with only the Words Jesus spoke,,,,,,

and u can't go wrong! Gateway is great resource ,,,,

love the Mounce Reverse-Interlinear New Testament (MOUNCE) greek to enlish.

[calimary]

22. Man, you could make days-on-end of study just of the translations.

All the meanings and connotations of the words as they're translated from the original to, well, in our case, English. It's really fascinating how the meanings change sometimes, ever so slightly, and the subtle differences in the wording and the phrasing, and the bridging from ancient to modern.

[safeinOhio]

29. Get a Red Letter Bible. All the words spoken by Jesus are in red..

Amazing how Christians love to quote OT. When they do to me, I'll ask if they are Christians and then refer them to Christ words. Not one word about abortion or gay marriage.

[Moral Compass]

20. Old Testament Christians

I call them Old Testament Christians. The Bible they quote is the Old Testament where punishments are defined. Leviticus and Deuteronomy for the most part.

The New Testament? Not so much. They don't seem all that interested in the New Testament. Doesn't offer them cover for abusing the poor, minorities, LGBTQ--really anyone who doesn't belong to their church.

I've always found that those that make a show of their faith are the ones I can rely on to lie to me, try to cheat me, and try to pull cons on anyone they could take advantage of...

This isn't new is it? Note that Paul addresses the fundamental self serving hypocrisy of the members of the church back in the first century AD.

[calimary]

35. When I was in Catholic school we paid far more attention to the New Testament

in catechism class. For the most part, so do the readings in the Mass. Or they did while I was a regular attendee, and things do change. Like popes do!

But somewhere along the way I read that the Book of Leviticus was a set of guidelines aimed directly at the Levites - the priestly class. THEY were the ones who had to be mindful of dictates like "don't touch the flesh of a pig" (good-bye NFL!) and "you can only sell your daughter to countries that border yours" (Canada or Mexico?).

I guess that's why these people gravitate toward the authoritarian. Dictates. Decrees. Edicts. Being told what to do (and what not to do) - especially when there's an overlay of God or Christian connotations worked in there. Seems like way more GOPers lean this way than there are Dems who do. But then again, aren't these the same people who are always in your face with their "DON'T tell ME what to do!"? No regulations! Get the government off yer back! Then the same people turn around and try to legislate it that very same dictatorial way for everyone else.

Irony much?

Hypocrisy much? Speaking of which - so many more people seem not to mind hypocrisy in our leaders anymore. Anybody notice? Or is it just me? Yeah, there's always been hypocrisy in the pursuit of power (hello Machiavelli!) and it's mostly just shrugged off - "everybody does it, both sides-both sides, meh - whatcha gonna do, 'eh?" But I've never seen a climate of "it's okay when it works in your favor" as extreme and spectacularly flagrant as it is these days. Hell, we've had trump still ignoring and downplaying and muddying-the-waters the whole Russian election scandal that he's mired in. It's okay when it works in your favor. I wonder how long it'll be - how much it's gonna take - before people start realizing that they actually DO mind hypocrisy in our leaders, the current one in particular.

[Vogon_Glory]

21. Don't forget Leviticus 19:34

It ought to be pulled out regularly and used to thrash the hypocrites who like to bash immigrants.

[calimary]

25. OMG! Even in Leviticus. Added! Heck, gonna have to do "part 2"!

EMBRACE THE “OTHER” (ANOTHER version of loving thy neighbor as thyself! You can’t avoid this message even if you’d rather cling to the Old Testament. Even the dreaded book of Leviticus concurs!)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+19%3A34&version=KJV
Leviticus 19:34King James Version (KJV)

34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

[Vogon_Glory]

23. And don't forget Proverbs 12:22

OT verse. The Big Guy doesn't like liars.

[calimary]

27. STRATEGY - Weaponizing Scripture quotes - for OUR side: FIRST ADD

EMBRACE THE “OTHER” (ANOTHER version of loving thy neighbor as thyself! You can’t avoid this message even if you’d rather cling to the Old Testament. Even the dreaded book of Leviticus concurs!)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+19%3A34&version=KJV
Leviticus 19:34King James Version (KJV)

34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

------------------


GOD DOES NOT LIKE LIARS. (We do know of quite a few of the sanctimonious self-anointed in this day and age, 'eh? They speak with forked tongues.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+12:22
Proverbs 12:22New International Version (NIV)

22 The Lord detests lying lips,
but he delights in people who are trustworthy.

[usaf-vet]

26. Great post... but the repugs have proven they have to be reduced

to one liners. Bumper sticker thoughts.

[ismnotwasm]

28. Jonathan and David

2 Samuel 1:26

I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

[Roy Rolling]

30. Sorry

Using religious faith to gather political power is a dead end, even for the hypocrites who currently practice it. Why copy them? Their gains are short-lived and soon to come to an end, falling under the weight of their own hubris.

The tactic of cherry-picking Bible quotes to support my own political leanings is distasteful to me.

[Are_grits_groceries]

32. Meh.

I'm not gonna let them get away with their hypocrisy. It's not about political power to me. It's about not letting them use religion as a shield. I don't cherry pick little known verses either. I go after them with what Jesus said.
Pointing out their hypocrisy in their religious beliefs cuts them deep. You go ahead and and be purre. I'm gonna give them every type of hell I can.

[calimary]

39. There's not much even the hardliners can say when you confront them with the Words

of Christ Himself. It allows you to play the highest ace in this proverbial poker game with the self-anointed. I'd offer, too, that most of the ones cherry-picked here are probably familiar to most Americans. Hell, any time you mention "the Golden Rule," you're really referencing Matthew 25: 35-45. Church-goers proliferate everywhere, even while statistics show an overall decline in church going. There's evidently still staunch faith that fires the believers, though. And if the kids weren't already in Catholic school or some other religious-affiliated institution, they got it at Sunday school, temple, or the "kiddie Mass".

MOST illuminating reading here, from November 2015:

U.S. Public Becoming Less Religious
Modest Drop in Overall Rates of Belief and Practice, but Religiously Affiliated Americans Are as Observant as Before
http://www.pewforum.org/2015/11/03/u-s-public-becoming-less-religious/

[Maraya1969]

50. It is about pointing out their cherry picked Bible quotes not your own.

Look at how much horror has been committed by them in the GLBT community by their cherry picking bible quotes.

[Are_grits_groceries]

31. I have been flinging scripture at family and friends for months.

I had to go to church and it's coming in handy. I remember a lot.
I call them Leviticans and not Christians. I told them they used Jesus as a hype man.

[ismnotwasm]

34. I like reading the Bible sometimes

I'm not religious, but it's an interesting book. You know all those "beautiful scriptures"? Almost all of them surround a horror story when put into context.

[Mickju]

36. Thank you for this

I have many fundies in my family who ignore these inconvenient passages.

[calimary]

43. Welcome to DU, Mickju!

I've found sometimes that it's a really useful practical tool when you're having an argument with somebody who wants to throw "the Good Book" at you to prove some regressive and ill-informed point. It helps to have ammo with which to rebut with unimpeachable credibility. Seems kinda like a judo-type tactic - where you use their force and momentum against them. They CANNOT argue when reminded of some of the real stuff. When you put an exclamation point on your sentence with the actual Scripture address, it puts brass knuckles on your verbal jab. I decided it made loads of sense when mentioning "the one about 'whatever you do to the least of these'" if I could include Matthew 25:35-45 in my counterpunch.

It's also psy-ops in a way. You throw the chapter-and-verse in there and instantly you also make clear to your opponent that you know a shitload about this - profoundly more than they do. You are a master of this. They'll get the uncomfortable feeling that they're arguing with someone WAY out of their league who will verbally put them on the ground before they finish their second sentence. They will be forced to concede, reluctantly, and you'd know it because they clam up or change the subject, or go directly to the "whataboutism" because they know they've lost the point. Now for all those who DO quote a passage like John 3:16, you make it clear that you debate at a peer level. You are their equal at this game. Maybe more than their equal. They haul that one out and you've got SEVERAL others in your bag of tricks for response. It telegraphs that YOU'RE the one with the credibility, because YOU know your stuff. You don't fit their misconception of "stupid libtard", either.

HAH!!! My autocorrect just tried to make "libtard" into "library"!!! Fancy that!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_3:16
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"3:16" redirects here. For other uses, see 316 (disambiguation).
John 3:16 (chapter 3, verse 16 of the Gospel of John) is one of the most widely quoted verses from the Christian Bible,[1] and has been called the most famous Bible verse.[2] It has also been called the "Gospel in a nutshell", because it is considered a summary of the central theme of traditional Christianity:[2]

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (KJV)

[GallopingGhost]

37. The Bible means nothing to the

hypocritical fake Christian fundamentalists.

They don't know the Bible at all like they claim to, because if they truly read it, understood it, lived by it, they wouldn't act as they do.

They are impervious to having scripture flung at them because they see what they want to see. I confronted a so-called Christian ex-friend of mine about Trump's many lies, pointing out what the Bible says about lying and liars, and what will become of them.

His response was that God would enter Trump's heart and show him the light. :eyes
They are hopeless, hopeless, hopeless.

Anyone who thinks this man is God's savior is beyond help.

[sprinkleeninow]

45. Next door neighbor qualified my observation re: the (dirty disgusting)

utterance of p**** grabbing (when the fake one was installed) that it was locker room talk.
Her deceased husband was a preacher for umpteen years, she's in church singing and whatnot several times a week. Then she said maybe he'll get saved (thru Pence).
Yes, I 'm a Christ follower and this mindspeak makes me violently ill.
It's gonna take a sea change to undo this which has been growing like a fungus/mushrooms in the dark.
These brainwashees are hard to reach. It 'may' take a personal disaster or a hit on the head by a divine two by from the Deity to change them.
I am not nasty to them unless they push the wrong button. My husband told one 32 yr. acquaintance to quit emailing us rw rubbish. He sent derogatory s*** for 8 years of Obama and now his tables are turned on him . How does he like them apples???!!! Wormy, sour and rotten.

[HenryWallace]

40. "Most Evangelical's understanding of Christianity is a mile wide and and inch deep."

At the end of Upton Sinclair's Jungle, one of his characters (a Socialist) quotes several pages worth of scriptural admonitions.

All puns aside, in regard to the trajectory of Christian doctrine....., its the elephant in the room!

[Xolodno]

42. It's good that you are "arming" yourself up, but...

They choose the verses they want to justify their hate, selfishness's, etc. And fire away at you if they think you don't know enough to counter them.

But the minute you do, they abandon the approach. They will still "justify" their view and use that justification for others who think like them (group think) via some sort of dismissal, for example "he's a liberal and therefore can't divide scripture appropriately and is influenced by the devil".

So in the end, they basically avoid discussing/using Biblical scripture with you, as one, they know you can school them, and two, by debating you they are causing you to commit heresy and are jeopardizing your salvation...so less scripture is good for you unless of course, you come around to their "view".

Crazy isn't it? They really are that messed up in the head.

[calimary]

44. So mess 'em up in the head - some more!

[Maraya1969]

47. I've done it and it works. Not for everyone but it works so please don't try and

disparage it. Plus the more it is done the more chance some real Christians will take head and that is what we want. The Democratic party is where the real Christians should be

[calimary]

52. One other benefit, seems to me. I get a distinct impression that some of them regard

some of us as almost literally godless. Heathen. Anything but Christian.

Seems to me if you have an arsenal like this at your fingertips, you blow that erroneous impression straight out the window.

[Xolodno]

62. Wasn't desparaging....

...but, setting realistic expectations. Note your words "real Christians", that's a term the right wing uses a lot to describe themselves. Some are willing to change their perspective, others, well, I have a better chance of selling them junk bonds.

[Maraya1969]

46. EXCELLENT! I have been hyping on this - throwing their own bible verses

back at them to show what hypocrites the are for a long time.

They are written about in the bible. They are called the Pharisees and Jesus explains how they are just a bunch of fakes

Do it on Twitter, especially to those #GOP fakes who use the Christian right as their voting block. #Christian #Jesus #JesusIsLord

[Duppers]

48. Excellent compilation of verses!

If they could think for themselves, independently of peers, it would work. But most of them live and breathe cult-thinking.

Many years ago I tried to convert my racist, fundamentalist mother into being a more compassionate, less judgemental person using buybull verses. She wouldn't listen to her atheist daughter. She has to hear this from the pulpit and from her churchie peers, i.e. her cult. And there's not a snowball's chance of that happening.

Back during Shrub's reign, I embarked on a letter writing campaign to church preachers in the South hoping I could get thru to them, using buybull verses and all the tact I could muster. Heard back from only one church: "Don't bother us any more." They are just closed assholes.

I am not saying folks shouldn't try - we must! There are likely to be folks who can be reached.
So... for a great post, Calimary!

[calimary]

53. All I got is what I learned in Catholic school.

Speaking of faithless heathen, Warren, my experience has taught me that one goes to Catholic school to generate material (among other things). I can't tell you how many times I've "dined out" on stories from Catholic school. Whether it's the stunts we pulled or the sneaking around that we got away with, or the first primordial dirty jokes we started discovering and sharing (started, in my class in 4th grade), I've got a million of 'em.

We used to have a routine on Mass day, when we'd line up to go into church. There was a chalice set out on a little side table as you entered, filled with those little hosts for Communion later on. They weren't yet consecrated. You were supposed to take one and drop it onto this gold dish next to the chalice - for when you went to Communion. We'd do that, but we'd also take a couple more. As snacks. Gave us something to nosh on during the quiet parts before it was time to go line up for Communion.

Btw - I have it on very good authority from one of the kids in our carpool, who was an altar boy, and informed us all that he and his buddies had a name for those little hosts: "Jeezits"!

[calimary]

55. We studied the Tao Te Ching in karate class.

Our sensei had made a life's work of it. Each candidate for black belt had to choose a passage and memorize it, to recite on black belt testing night.

Really good stuff. Lots of wisdom in there. Character-building. It was a wonderful teaching supplement to the kids working toward black belts of their own.

[sprinkleeninow]

59. Faithless heathen as a complement.

Alongside the sacred runs the profane.
Please, noone take that as any personal affront.
It's the way of the world since time immemorial.
One never knows where they will witness the sacred. Many times in the most surprising of places.
We judge not lest we be judged.

Peace be unto all.

[Ilsa]

51. Great Scripture collection. Learned most of it in Sunday School.

Observed unwavering faith of the poor, bereaved, and "simple-minded" while I grew up, too.

[WePurrsevere]

58. Excellent work! I've been doing much the same for a few decades...

and it actually can help. It sometimes takes time to sink in but I've seen it change quite a few people's perspective.

[nikibatts]

63. Don't forget, Jesus paid his taxes too and admonished others to do the same.

[Voltaire2]

66. No thanks. Bad strategy anyway.

They have a vast network of rabid right wing churches brainwashing people on a continuous basis. You aren't going to win the messaging.

We don't need a cherry picked liberal Jesus anymore than we need a cherry picked conservative Jesus. We need to get Jesus out of politics.

[Bradical79]

68. I had a little success with a co-worker with this

The camel fitting through the eye of a needle quote got through to him on some issues of wealth inequality and conmen like Trump, mega church pastors, and other wealthy Republican religious leaders. Felt good about it, as he's a 70+ year old Republican from one of the most red racist counties in Ohio.

[loyalsister]

69. My God can beat up your God, because I know the truth

That strategy is still failing as it has for centuries. It does not help and it is not possible to support separation of church and state or religious tolerance from a platform of rigid religious ideas.