How do you respond in discussions with people when they have a view about something but when questioned about why they think that claim it's not really their choice because the "Bible tells me so"?
I ask them to explain about Easter. Jesus rising, leaving the darkness and coming up out of the cave . . . and does that mean we'll have six more weeks of winter or nah . . . . ?
Look around for hidden cameras, signs that I'm being punked.
It is even better when they tell you "It's not what I say, it's what the Bible says." and they have just quoted Shakespeare, Milton, Anton LeVey or Mr Spock
"For context, I'd like to state that the rule of two for the Sith has been referenced in both Canon and Non-Canon Star Wars books, cartoons, and films. That doesn't make it real or actionable..."
I don’t. Citing the Bible as a source is a clear indicator of lack of reasoning skills.
I tell them that their bible is a work of FICTION, which has plagiarized and cannibalized every single ancient text before it.
I tell them that their "holy" book has been repeatedly rewritten and translated so
many times, it bears NO resemblance to whatever the first book may have looked like.
I tell them that every time the bible was translated or rewritten, it was done to suit the agendas of whomever was financing the the rewrites or translations.
I tell them that the King James version changed every single reference to "woman as prophet" to "woman as servant".
I tell them that their bible is in no way, shape, or form, an actual reference book.
I tell them that we all have a "choice" whether to believe what we're told, or to do
our own research.
I tell them that their "god" has never existed in reality and that what they believe are delusions and they need to get it together and grow the fuck up, and quit believing in imaginary beings.
I could go on, cuz I definitely have more, but you get the gist.
I avoid religious people, or debating with them. If they start to lecture me I act bored and mumble "Um-hum..that's nice," while glancing at my watch.
Then I hurry away.
It's actually ironic, and yet funny at just how many Christians have in fact not read the whole bible.
I've seen many debates, and shows like, the Atheist Experience where the Atheist knew more about the bible than the Believer.
Love AE...great show and Matt is a hell of a host.
I've never seen Phil look so nerdy! I enjoyed that video. I hadn't seen it before now. It's very clever!
Those are the people who are truly, permanently, hopelessly lost. If someone can't decide what's for dinner without praying for guidance from Jebus they haven't got a functioning braincell left. I don't even bother trying to talk to them.
A lot of times that is the end of the discussion for me
Depends . If that's one of my patients , I smile , I say , " ah I see ". And conversation ends there . No reason to upset or argue w the sick . For anybody else , and above the age of 22, I have a choice . Spend energy and time to teach , or walk away . 20 yrs ago , oh I will teach and preach and argue and all that . As getting closer to 50, I realize , rarely u can fix stupid . And stupid gets upset easily and might bite u too . So I smile most of times , and " walk away ".
When they say something like that, they are in effect, admitting their conscience disagrees with the Bible. They are doing something their conscience tells them is unethical but they are allowing the Bible to override their conscience. So, then the question is if they were not indoctrinated in the Bible as a child and were reading any so-called "scripture" for the first time, would they do something evil or "sinful" just because some old book says so?
The Bible is just a book, useful only for whatever meaning you can glean from it. I prefer the holy scriptures of India because, unlike the Bible, they actually address the deep questions of existence.