I pit churches that exist to attack other churches

[the_diego]

Originally Posted by Steken

I disagree.

Practically all Christian groups throughout history have considered it extremely important to separate what they consider "true" Christians from "false" Christians, and to crack down on heretics, pagans, "wolves in sheep's clothing" and the like.

Scholars like Wouter Hanegraaff and Jan Assmann have written a great deal about this. I can recommend some books or .pdf's, if you'd like.

If this was 2,000 years ago, I might agree. But today wherein some people see religion as "only religion" it should lessen on either side, don't you think?

[DrFidelius]

Originally Posted by the_diego

You'll convert dozens of Catholics with that news. Way to go.

The Satanists I knew were more precise with their adherence to Catholic liturgical forms than any practicing Catholic I know. They seemed to like the ritual, even while actively inverting / subverting it.

I heven't seen any of them in years. I wonder how many have outgrown that whole "Look how naughty we are with our Black Robes and Sex" thing.

[the_diego]

^
I'd like to believe you but we have no knowledge of such a group here. They're bound to leak out their activities.

[Steken]

Originally Posted by the_diego

If this was 2,000 years ago, I might agree. But today wherein some people see religion as "only religion" it should lessen on either side, don't you think?

No, I don't, actually.

Sure, some people see religion as "only religion" -- i.e., they don't care either way -- but there are still plenty of religious people out there who hold on to the idea that there are true Gods and false Gods, true Christians and false Christians, etc.

For them, it's practically a religious duty to expose the false Christians wherever they can find them -- even if it's in that other church two blocks over. From their point of view, it makes perfect sense: They are not only trying to protect their own flock from falling in error, but they are even doing the heretics a favor by pointing out the error of their ways.

This is nothing new, it's certainly not exclusively a Filipino thing, and I absolutely do not agree that it's "un-Christian", as you put it in the OP.

Originally Posted by the_diego

^
I'd like to believe you but we have no knowledge of such a group here.

Are you sure?

[BrainGlutton]

Originally Posted by DrFidelius

The Satanists I knew were more precise with their adherence to Catholic liturgical forms than any practicing Catholic I know. They seemed to like the ritual, even while actively inverting / subverting it.

I heven't seen any of them in years. I wonder how many have outgrown that whole "Look how naughty we are with our Black Robes and Sex" thing.

Black Mass?! Does anybody actually do that?! Doesn't sound like LaVeyan Satanism at all. (Smite the heretics!)

[DrFidelius]

Originally Posted by BrainGlutton

Black Mass?! Does anybody actually do that?! Doesn't sound like LaVeyan Satanism at all. (Smite the heretics!)

No idea. I have a very bad habit of lying on the Internet, and will never allow facts to get in the way of a story, joke, or the twitting of a fool.

[kaylasdad99]

Originally Posted by the_diego

If your PC program is meant to accommodate wimps who want the whole world to call them what they want, then I'm jealous of my forebears.

It's "Mohammedans" who follow "Mohammedanism."

Oh.

What do you call followers of Islam, then?

[dropzone]

Kids, what's PC here is normal and perfectly polite in other cultures, and "Mohammedan" isn't all that un-PC here. It's archaic, more "Negro" than "nigger," so cut the guy some slack.

[the_diego]

Originally Posted by Steken

No, I don't, actually.

Sure, some people see religion as "only religion" -- i.e., they don't care either way -- but there are still plenty of religious people out there who hold on to the idea that there are true Gods and false Gods, true Christians and false Christians, etc.

For them, it's practically a religious duty to expose the false Christians wherever they can find them -- even if it's in that other church two blocks over. From their point of view, it makes perfect sense: They are not only trying to protect their own flock from falling in error, but they are even doing the heretics a favor by pointing out the error of their ways.

This is nothing new, it's certainly not exclusively a Filipino thing, and I absolutely do not agree that it's "un-Christian", as you put it in the OP.

I disagree too. How old is the Bible passage concerning false gods and false Christians? If you're going to stay Bible-based, then we should stop arguing right here. In that case everything that came after those passages don't matter. What about free will and introspection? What about pacifism and tolerance? What about non-sectarian worship?

[Steken]

Originally Posted by the_diego

How old is the Bible passage concerning false gods and false Christians?

From a Christian standpoint, it doesn't matter. If it was true then, it's true now.

Originally Posted by the_diego

If you're going to stay Bible-based, then we should stop arguing right here.

Look, I'm just trying to show to you that the kind of thing you describe in the OP -- different churches bickering with one another over who's "true" and who's "false" -- isn't "un-Christian" at all. It's not only mandated in the Bible, but furthermore, it's been going on throughout all of the history of Christianity. It's not just a text passage in an old book. It's 2000 years of history.

Originally Posted by the_diego

In that case everything that came after those passages don't matter. What about free will and introspection? What about pacifism and tolerance? What about non-sectarian worship?

I'm all for it myself, if that's what you're asking. But I also understand why a lot of Christians aren't.

[the_diego]

^
Gotcha! As you can see, I have a bit of a problem with Bible-based worship. Question to you: how, as a Christian (assuming you are), do you feel about this pit? Do you think the problem is just me?

[Steken]

Originally Posted by the_diego

^
Gotcha! As you can see, I have a bit of a problem with Bible-based worship. Question to you: how, as a Christian (assuming you are), do you feel about this pit? Do you think the problem is just me?

Whoa whoa whoa, I am not a Christian. Sorry if I gave you that impression.

[FriarTed]

Originally Posted by BrainGlutton

Black Mass?! Does anybody actually do that?! Doesn't sound like LaVeyan Satanism at all. (Smite the heretics!)

Read LaVey's The Satanic Rituals. It's rite *hee hee* in there!

[kaylasdad99]

Originally Posted by dropzone

Kids, what's PC here is normal and perfectly polite in other cultures, and "Mohammedan" isn't all that un-PC here. It's archaic, more "Negro" than "nigger," so cut the guy some slack.

Well, that was pretty much the point of my questioning his use of it (that it's archaic, and not common). He made the choice to frame it as a conscious decision for the sake of avoiding being PL (whatever that stands for).

[Steken]

Originally Posted by FriarTed

Read LaVey's The Satanic Rituals. It's rite *hee hee* in there!

Right, but I don't think the Church of Satan practices Black Masses anymore.

And eh, Black Masses are sooooo 1890's, anyway.

[Darth Panda]

Originally Posted by buckgully

The title of this thread makes me think "predatory churches". That leads me to the mental picture of a Tyrannosaurus Rex wearing a pope hat and carrying a papal staff in his otherwise useless forearms running around eating smaller, plant-eating churches.

Just wanted to share that image, because it's too awesome to keep in my own head.

ETA: Egad!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/monado/6082134010/

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__.../SpacePope.png