# How U.S. Religious Righters Managed to Miss the Whole Point of Their Religion **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 4, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296 "2009-05-04T16:12:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MichaelQReilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@MichaelQReilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelQReilly)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296/41 "2009-05-04T21:25:45Z")
> [@Blaster\_Master](#): > > Just want to comment on this as well quickly. > > I have heard your reasoning for the nixing of the kosher laws from some people. I have also heard **MichaelQReilly** ’s explanation, where they say that the visions that Peter said were not a nixing of the food laws at all. Of course, I’m not exactly a biblical scholar, nor do I know exactly what denominations believe what, so it’s basically just anecdotal, but I just wanted it to be out there that there isn’t “one reason” why the kosher laws are no longer followed by most Christians. > > Personally, my interpretation isn’t in line with either of those more common ones, but that’s neither here nor there. Thanks for the background. I knew, of course, that there was a background to the quotes I picked out, but I left the context out in the interest of brevity. ---
**Author:** ![Ruminator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Ruminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruminator)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296/42 "2009-05-04T21:42:59Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > In other words, this was something that Jesus told a specific person in a specific situation to do. It is far from obvious how or whether Jesus intended them to apply universally to all of his followers. But you could apply this logic to **all** of Jesus’ words in the Gospels since he’s always talking to other characters **within** the text. All of his words are embedded inside story narratives. The Sermon on the Mount? He wasn’t speaking to the 2 billion Christians living today in the year 2009! He was actually speaking to those folks sitting there on a hill in the Middle East — what does that have to do with us here in North America!!! What does that ancient sermon for an audience of Roman citizens have to do with USA citizens today!!! When you try to apply some type of systematic textual categorization as you’ve done, it just adds fuel to the fire that Christians cherry-pick whatever parables & sayings align conveniently with their situation. The only belief that comes closest to universal acceptance among Christians is the belief in Christ’s resurrection. Any subgroup of Christians are certainly free to go beyond that and include Jesus’ teachings but if they advertise it, they are setting themselves up for accusations of hypocrisy. If they try to defend their “apparent” hypocrisy by textual analysis of the Gospels, they will be accused of cherry-picking. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296/43 "2009-05-04T23:49:28Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Somebody (and I can’t remember who) noted once that Christianity really took off when its leaders realized that it was easier to worship Jesus than to emulate Him. That’s a good description. > [@](#): > > Christianity is not a practical religion for someone who wants to live in the world in any sort of comfort. Early Christianity was communistic, which is right out today for any mainstream (or evangelical/fundamentalist) denomination. > > When’s the last time someone you know got baptized and gave away all of their possessions, as Jesus taught? How many professed Christians in government (and HOW MANY we have there, truly…) do you know who would suggest that we just ignore Al Qaeda? Or even more shocking, forgive them for their transgression against us? As Jesus taught… To be fair, Jesus wasn’t completely against self-defense & he never condemned defense of others. I think he’d draw a distinction between accepting insult (“If a man strikes you on the cheek…”) & accepting mass slaughter. He was quite condemnatory of the unrighteous. I think the issue is in what one sees as righteous & unrighteous. Many have a worldview which draws these lines in a particular way & then adds the legendary prophet to it. I see this on the both left & right, sometimes comically. The teachings of the “founding prophet” are less significant to the mind of some “religious conservatives” than the actual ethic of asceticism or cultural conservatism or property rights or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296/44 "2009-05-05T00:25:35Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > In other words, this was something that Jesus told a specific person in a specific situation to do. It is far from obvious how or whether Jesus intended them to apply universally to all of his followers. That seems to be going a bit too far the other way, in my eyes. Yes, there is a command to a particular person, but Jesus doesn’t then turn round and say “How hard it will be for that dude to get into heaven” - he widens his scope to “the rich” in general. I’d agree with you that it’s far from obvious how Jesus would intend that idea to apply, but it seems pretty clear that it should apply to others. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296/45 "2009-05-05T01:21:36Z")
The OP makes the mistake of thinking that five phrases out of the NT define Christianity. They are, certitainly, things Christians should do, but it’s like saying “evolution is about replication mistakes”, it is true, but much much more. Hypocrisy is a giantic sin many of us Christians carry with us and we will be judged accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296/46 "2009-05-05T01:27:41Z")
> [@Ruminator](#): > > Those “teachings” are irrelevant to Christianity. Salvation has nothing to do with following any examples that Jesus did. This is why they can be ignored and/or followers can be inconsistent in applying them in their lives. > > I don’t think they misinterpret their own religion. Christianity believes that Jesus Christ died for our sins and believing in that alone will be salvation. That’s it. If that’s what they believe, then they are interpreting Christianity correctly. Memorizing or following other parables such as “_turn the other cheek_” are irrelevant to Christianity. > > I think there’s confusion with Jesus’ teachings vs Christianity. They are not the same thing. They are mutually exclusive. > > I always chuckle at deciding morals by invoking the “_what would Jesus do?_” analysis. If one wants to have a shot at 100% consistency, it’s best to ignore all of Jesus’ actions before his crucifixion. Otherwise, you will eventually paint yourself into a corner and be labeled a hypocrite. On what authority do you say this? ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296/47 "2009-05-05T01:44:33Z")
Some context here: 1. Judge not, lest ye be judged. 2. Let him who is without sin cast the first stone. This is about meeting the standards, and when you judge, to expected to meet the same standards. 1. Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me. This is indeed JC mandating charity and compassion, something that is indeed sadly lacking in some religious conservative movements. 1-3 are not about relinquishing any sort of advocacy about religious core beliefs, however. 1. If your enemy strikes your cheek, turn the other cheek and let him strike that one too. If I recall correctly, this was actually a subversive act, forcing the offender to use his left hand on you. 1. Love your neighbor as yourself. This is one of those “Happy Volvo Jesus” bits that imply that Christianity is all smurfy and has no standards. If you’re intellectually honest about Christianity, you’ll see that it’s an extension of Judaism, sharing much of the same core values and morals. People recall selectively the bit about Jesus forgiving the much-married woman, she of the no-casting-stones bit, but remember that he told her to “sin no more…” Christianity isn’t about a blank check for forgiving every bit of sin - it requires the embrace of the core Judaism bits, and otherwise it’s just “Super Happy Jesus is my Super Friend and Everything’s Cool with Jesus.” One can certainly debate exactly which bits Jesus was keeping, but his remarks about fulfilling the law imply that not all of the old bets were off. Having said that, it seems clear that modern Christianity is more about Paul or Peter than it is about Christ. But the true Christ is somewhere between Judaism and Super Happy Volvo Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![Ruminator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Ruminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruminator)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296/48 "2009-05-05T02:03:23Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > On what authority do you say this? No authority. I’m not a priest. However, if you can cite a respected theologian or priest that says that Jesus’ living ministry **defines** Christianity, I’d like to read it. If there’s a document that says the 5 examples of behavior cited by OP **define** Christianity, I’d like to see that. The OP is implying those 5 examples are the “whole point” of Christianity — not just a part of Christianity. He was saying if Christians live in contradiction of those 5 items, they miss the Whole Point. I was taught that Jesus’ ministry on Earth was not and is not Christianity. My understanding of how 2 billion people on planet Earth practice “Christianity” seems to jive with this. One of the key differences between Christianity and Judaism is its “faith” based belief. Judaism stresses following certain laws. Christianity stresses faith. This was one of those ideas that was a Big Stumbling Block for Jews. Let’s ask another way: if someone believes that Jesus Christ died for his sins but is unaware of the 5 sayings mentioned by OP, is he still a Christian? What if he doesn’t remember any specific teaching by Jesus? What if he’s never read the Gospels? Still a Christian? Yes? No? What about all those illiterate Christians during the Middle Ages when they heard services given in Latin that they couldn’t even understand? Were they Christians? I translate “whole point of **their religion** ” to be “whole point of **Christianity** ”. So, what exactly is the whole point of Christianity? ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296/49 "2009-05-05T02:46:28Z")
> [@cerberus](#): > > 1. If your enemy strikes your cheek, turn the other cheek and let him strike that one too. > > If I recall correctly, this was actually a subversive act, forcing the offender to use his left hand on you. I’d have to see a cite on that. Reminds me of the friend who told me that the whole camel through the eye of a needle thing was a reference to a narrow gate at the entrance to a city, and the gate was called “the needle,” and was somewhat difficult for a camel to pass through. So Jesus meant that the rich would just have to watch their Ps and Qs. That one didn’t check out. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296/50 "2009-05-05T03:33:46Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > Reminds me of the friend who told me that the whole camel through the eye of a needle thing was a reference to a narrow gate at the entrance to a city, and the gate was called “the needle,” and was somewhat difficult for a camel to pass through. So Jesus meant that the rich would just have to watch their Ps and Qs. That one didn’t check out. Yeah, this one’s the subject of a couple of Straight Dope Staff Reports ([here](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1560/whats-the-meaning-of-jesus-teaching-about-the-camel-going-through-the-eye-of-a-needle) and [here](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1559/more-on-camels-passing-through-the-eyes-of-needles)) ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296/51 "2009-05-05T04:32:48Z")
[cite](http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/9385) ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296/52 "2009-05-05T05:22:58Z")
> [@cerberus](#): > > Some context here: > > 1. Judge not, lest ye be judged. > 2. Let him who is without sin cast the first stone. > > This is about meeting the standards, and when you judge, to expected to meet the same standards. So much for the “not” part of “judge not.” You’d think Jesus could have preached it all in clearer English. Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296/53 "2009-05-05T05:24:37Z")
> [@](#): > > **Ruminator** : But you could apply this logic to all of Jesus’ words in the Gospels since he’s always talking to other characters within the text. All of his words are embedded inside story narratives. Advice to an individual is different from advice to a crowd of people. I see it differently and it would not matter who was speaking. That is more logical to me whether it is a lawyer, a doctor, a mechanic or a carpenter. I think what we have in common with those Middle Easterners from 2,000 years ago is much greater than our differences. And I think that’s true from culture to culture today. I don’t think that the Christians I know mind all that much what others say about cherry-picking. We realize that others may not understand how the Bible was put together by fellow human beings – many of them. Yes, I look for the best fruit on the tree. I don’t think that Christianity is so simple as to be summed up in a point. If “salvation” is the most important consideration, then John 3:16 summarizes three or four points in very few words. But so much of value is beyond that. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296/54 "2009-05-05T06:12:56Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > I think what we have in common with those Middle Easterners from 2,000 years ago is much greater than our differences. Wishful thinking, or wishful dreaming. I’ll be sure to ask the beaten women covered in clothes from hair to toe while they give birth to 27 kids in a cave what we have in common. Or maybe we could ask all the gay Iranians-- whooops, I forgot there aren’t any. Okay, we can ask all the American businessmen who don’t get beheaded while trying to earn a living— whoooops, not too many of them either… Maybe all the working women-- whooops… ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296/55 "2009-05-05T08:45:59Z")
> [@MichaelQReilly](#): > > That is one interpretation of Christianity, among many. And a blatant, self-serving one that bears no resemblance at all to anything Jesus would be onside about. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296/56 "2009-05-05T10:39:06Z")
Christianity is self-selecting. There are no standardised tests. You become a Christian by believing yourself to be one. Any self-selected Christian is entirely capable of saying “I believe X, therefore X is Christian.” It’s not like anyone has to run all their ideas past the local church council to _qualify_ as Christian. Most Christians simply consider whatever nonsense they happen to personally believe in is Christian because, well, they’re _Christian_. That’s how it works. You can’t argue logic with people who don’t follow the rules of logic. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296/57 "2009-05-05T12:03:48Z")
> [@Ruminator](#): > > Actually, you can. That’s my point. > > You can be a serial killer that rapes and dismembers children. It doesn’t matter. As long as you believe in Christ’s crucifixion as your salvation, you’re a 100% true Christian and you are redeemed. That’s all there is to it. > > (Some other folks might also get nitpicky say that the serial killer also has to confess and “atone” for his sins. Ok, but he can do that a few minutes before he’s executed via lethal injection or electric chair.) I doubt many Christians would agree with you on this. While it’s true that belief in Jesus as the son of God who died for our sins equals salvation, they do not believe you can do anything you want after that and it’s just fine. Most Christians believe they are supposed to practice forgiveness and charity as Jesus taught. They also believe that being human they will still sin occasionally and when they do they can ask for forgiveness but that doesn’t translate into sinning doesn’t matter. > [@](#): > > I realize that there’s a tendency to read too much into Christianity … a tendency to inject extra doctrine (do this, do that, turn the other cheek, etc) into Christianity that really isn’t there. > > However, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s not relevant to Christianity. Incorrect. > [@](#): > > Jesus did not create Christianity. The Apostle Paul and other followers created Christianity. True to an extent. I think Paul and others misinterpreted and misunderstood what Jesus taught and their interpretation became Christianity. > [@](#): > > Jesus’ ministry (while he was alive) is not Christianity. It’s his crucifixion/death that’s the basis of Christianity. Incomplete and inaccurate. > [@](#): > > I guess the typical Church sermon adds to the confusion by conflating the two concepts. They conflate the two concepts because both the death and resurrection of Jesus and his teachings while he was alive matter. Most Christians would say Jesus taught us to behave in a certain way and probably acknowledge that they fail to follow all his teachings all the time but they continue to try. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296/58 "2009-05-05T12:17:50Z")
To be honest, I’m really not clear on how letting your son die and then be resurrecting solves anything to do with our sins. And that’s after a completely Catholic upbringing including six years at a school run by priests. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296/59 "2009-05-05T12:38:46Z")
> [@MichaelQReilly](#): > > I’ve had the idea of this thread in my mind for years, but reading the “Churchgoing Torturer” thread inspired me to write it. I’m a dyed in the wool atheist, but I was brought up nominally Catholic and even as a disinterested, skeptical 8 year old in CCD class, I was able to grok that amongst Jesus’s most significant teachings are: > > [ol] > [li]Judge not, lest ye be judged.[/li][li]Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.[/li][li]Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me.[/li][li]If your enemy strikes your cheek, turn the other cheek and let him strike that one too.[/li][li]Love your neighbor as yourself.[/li][/ol] > > Now, I recognize that this isn’t an exhaustive list of Jesus’s teachings and that there is plenty of less cumbaya-ish stuff in there, but clearly Christians have a pretty strong imperative to threat everyone decently and without judgment. > > Further, I’m pretty sure that another big component of Christian teaching (coming from Paul in this case) is the idea that Jesus’s death created a new covenant between God and his believers rendering most of the crap in the Old Testament largely obsolete - hence the reason that Christians don’t have to be Kosher, amongst other things. > > All of which leaves me thoroughly flummoxed when I hear your average Bible-Thumping Conservative hold forth on many issues like gay marriage, not to mention the judgmental, holier-than-thou streak which typifies said group. Obviously the cynical interpretation, which is the one I favor, is that these people are just using religion as cover for their own prejudices and preconceptions. However, in my more charitable moments I’m forced to wonder how the hell these people managed to so spectacularly misinterpret their own religion. Thoughts? It is difficult to reconcile beliefs with actions. I wondered how someone who claims to be pro life could support a president who lied to start a war. After the religious right got so much press another group formed to point out that there are other issues that are important besides gay marriage and abortion. If a person believes being gay is a sin then they won’t support gay marriage because in their mind that equates to approving of a sin and saying it’s really okay. I tend to think most Christians agree that the principles you mention should be practiced as much as possible. As\*\* ITR\*\* mentioned , the same groups that campaign against gay marriage and abortion also do a lot of charitable work and help a lot of needy people. The principles that Jesus taught are the ideals we are to strive for, or be led into by the Holy Spirit. Lot’s of Christians would tell you that’s an ongoing process, or a lifetime’s work. What I think has developed among many Christians is an acceptance of “we’re only human so we can’t _really_ live up to those things” which translates into an excuse or justification for bad behaviors and attitudes. While I think \*\*Ruminator \*\* has grossly overstated the position there is an element of truth in his point. I think the focus is . in many cases, belief in Jesus as Saviour, and the teachings you mention are secondary. So, it’s okay if you’re not perfect and occasionally don’t follow Jesus example of love and compassion. As long as you believe in Jesus your sins are forgiven. At least you’re saved and you’re still trying. Other than that I think it’s a matter of personalities. Some people have a need to be right and to know what the rules are, where the lines are clearly drawn. I think that shapes their religion as well. ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2009, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296/60 "2009-05-05T12:39:20Z")
There are a couple hundred branches of Christianity, it is a matter of how one interpets the Bible. Even people in the same church disagree on many things. Religion is a personal thing and people tend to use what helps them to keep the beliefs they have, (or change them, such as Martin Luther did when reading Faith alone saves you). Some believe the bread and wine are really the body and blood of Jesus, some symbolic. I believe that Jesus did not consider Himself as God any more than the early Jews fathers did, because of the psalmist saying" I say you are Gods, sons of the most high." The Bible was written by humans and is open to interpretations. Humans also decided what was of God and what was not. Some use religion for good some for their own justification of their actions,just as some Muslims do. The Crusades are an example of that. Now the Religious right want to use their beliefs to force others to follow what they believe when no one is forcing them not to believe. I wonder if it is because they have doubts and need enforcement. I have a good friend that is afraid that their religion is being taken away from her. No one can take my beliefs away unless I could believe differently. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-u-s-religious-righters-managed-to-miss-the-whole-point-of-their-religion/495296.md?page=4)