This society continues to amaze me

The BBQ Pit
41

Exactly right-and there are a plethora of examples: Jim Bakker, Jim Jones, what’s-his-funny-face with the Crystal Cathedral, the tv station ‘TBN’, cults, such as mormons, jehovah’s witnesses, etc., at yada… There is more evil done in the name of Jesus Christ than you can even begin to track.

But that’s not the point. The point is that society creates laws-usually from a moral basis (although lately, any 'moral’basis is relative). My question is, just what is (or should be) the moral basis? And is that standard changeable? If so, under what circumstances?

42

You know, if you weren’t such a flaming jackass, I’d feel for the crucifixion you’re about to receive…

43

And I suspect the leaders of your church would agree. But why would they agree? What are they using as their authority? Not personal opinion, I’ll warrant.

44

Boys will be boys is a heinous phrase used to dismiss crimes as childs play. I have heard this phrase used to excuse a 12 year old raping a 7 year old. I would like never to hear it again.

By saying boys will be boys, the parents in this case both seem to admit and condone their son’s actions. WTF? Either he did what he stands accused of and is guilty of a horrible violation, or he did not and has been fouly slandered. Reasonable reations do not include “Boys will be boys.”

I was stalked when I was 18 by someone very close to my age. I was frightened that he would hurt me. When I turned him in, I was dismissed as insane. It was easier to the college I went to to discredit me that to deal with an athlete who was a predator. It was naive of me to expect to be believed just because I was telling the truth. If the truth is ugly ot inconvenient it will be ignored, downplayed, dismissed, or disbelieved.

{{{{{Iampunha}}}}} Your outrage is appropriate and endearing.

45

Oh yeah, that’s right. Religious leaders aren’t allowed to have personal opinions. I forgot that. Pepperlandgirl must have too. I mean, God (or somebody else for that matter) forbid that they have an opinion that hasn’t been personally sanctioned by God himself.

But I’m just a fucked-in-the-head anti-theist, so what do I know about free will and cults?

What the hell have you been drinking you jackass? And which orifice was that in? I have a feeling your mouth must be occupied because this is coming straight out your ass.

46

Lee, are you an Iampunha groupie?

47

Exodus 21, verses 20 and 21:

Admittedly, I suppose this is still open to interpretation, involving context and whatever else you want to consider. However, it certainly seems to me to be saying that God condones slavery.

Regardless, Sneevil, even with the Bible as a moral authority, your question still remains–whose interpretation do we use?

48

You must be suffering from the same brain disease that is so common on the SDMB. Listen carefully. I’ll speak v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y.

Having a personal opinion is not, repeat, IS FUCKING NOT, the SAME THING (understanding this so far, encephalitic?) as USING a personal opinion as a MORAL STANDARD (authority). If you think something is right or wrong, you should be able to explain WHY, instead of pulling opinions out of your ass, which must be difficult, to reach around your head and all.

49

Snivel, please explain this for me. Why is it better to get your morals from the bible than to get it from personal opinion?

50

Myrr21 – I don’t think I’ve ever officially welcomed anyone on to the board ever but let me make you the first… that was beyond classic! The count down, waiting for God to step in… loved it!

FreakFreely – oh, well, that’s just “an arrow shot into the air, it fell to earth I knew not where” it was just a joke. If I was going to make fun of the point in YOUR jeans or on YOUR head I would have said so. Getting a little paranoid, sugar? :wink:

Sneevil – are you calling me an anti-theists? Let’s just take a look at that word, shall we?

Anti: against. Theists: Belief in the existence of a god or gods, esp. belief in a personal God as creator and ruler of the world. (Paraphrase, The American Heritage Dictionary)

I do believe in a Goddess. I believe that she is the very earth I’m standing on. And I will fight and die to protect her. She IS my Goddess. I’m not trashing your belief in God but by the same token you should respect my belief, right?

Don’t rush into an argument and say that everyone has just abandoned God. Because that right there is discriminatory. To you, your God is male. To me, my God is female, she is a Goddess. Worth no more or less than your God. I also believe and accept Buddha or Allah or Mohammad. I don’t think any “religion” has everything “right”. That’s just another version of “racism” that we should call “religionism”. That is the belief that your version of God is the “right” one.

You are not the only person on this thread with strong religious beliefs. I think you are beyond a total ribbon clerk (oh yes, look that up too!) I think you just want to bust and crow about your God without actually looking at what posters are saying.

Again, I’m telling you, walk away from me. I’m giving you the option to just leave me alone. Because if you continue your pursuit, your overwhelming desire to mess with me, I will draw and quarter your sorry ass.

51

Thanks ** Byzantine, ** it’s nice to know I’m appreciated :smiley:

52

Byz, I just didn’t know who you were talking to. I was pretty sure you meant Sneevil.

It wasn’t paranoia. Hell, I’d be glad if you were talking about the point in my pants…

53

It’s not? So you’re saying we can’t use anything as a moral standard that we can’t back up with . . .what? Facts? Cause if that’s the case then you, my friend, are gonna be in some trouble.

Personally, I’ve found that ideas and opinions we arrive at through critical thinking are infinitely more valuable (as a moral compass) than anything we could be taught by someone or something else. I suppose you could see it as searching inside yourself for your direct link-up to http://www.divinepowerofchoice.com.

Now, obviously, critical thinking cannot substitute for education. I’m unlikely to reason out the periodic table of elements without some outside help, nor am I particularly likely to discover how to fix my car’s @##$&!(* transmission, but if I wanted to know how you feel about politics, religion, or absolute morality (which doesn’t exist, by the way) then it wouldn’t really do you any good to start quoting other people. Chances are, I know how THEY feel already, I want to know what YOU think.

54

At last! A reasoned question, now that the foaming-at-the-mouth contingency has moved off to begin another thread from which to vent.

You said:

I think there is an absolute morality. Some things are just wrong. Unfortunately, mankind engages in wrong behaviour all the time, sometimes using the law, the Koran, or the Bible as justification. Typically, society’s laws are forged in some moral framework; an attempt to provide equanimity or a safe harbor from man’s inhumanity to man.
My question is: What is (or should be) the standard by which laws and the moral base thereof be measured? Various religious sects, of course, have their own opinions. However history has demonstrated that evil people will use the writings of the Bible or the Koran for their own selfish purposes. The beginnings of the practice can be witnesses everywhere; people who profess to be ‘Christian’ or ‘Mormon’ yet assert a right to be ‘freethinkers.’ Allying themselves with a particular sect/group/religion, they will nonetheless pick and choose which doctrine the choose to adhere to. There is a word for these folks-hypocrites! In the meantime, the rest of us are stuck with a never ending power struggle-what is right, what is wrong?

55

Nope, they’re called pragmatics.
One can be a Christian, yet use a condom. One can be a Muslim, yet not beat up a spouse. That’s not hypocrisy. It’s using your common sense. Living your life by the guidelines of an ancient book can be pretty dangerous, if you ask me.

56

Any God who can be removed by the people He “created” ain’t much of a God to begin with.

Yer pal,
Satan

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57

You really are fucked up. Are you one of those burned out 60’s hippie chicks with a ring on every finger who drives a '68 VW Bus?

and:

Not likely. I’m way too well armed.

58

Yet another religious hijack… the OP had little to do with religion although some have brought up morality which many people tie to religion. I don’t.

There is no such thing as absolute morality. The common morals of our society may differ from our individual morals. What we consider moral behaviour here may not be acceptable elsewhere.

It would seem that most if not all people who posted consider the actions of this boy to be the very worst kind of behaviour and warrants an extreme form of punishment.

I too agree that there is more going on here than we know. Just the thought of something like this happening seems to have touched a nerve in many.

59

If this is indiciative of christian behaviour, if this is supposed to show christian beliefs and values, and if this is supposed to be any indication of the tolerance and acceptance of others beliefs of “christians” like you, sneevil, no fucking wonder I stopped going to church 18 years ago.

Jerk.

60

Another “foamer”-I think you’re in the wrong thread. (is there a prozac shortage out there?)

I never professed to be allied with any particular sect/religion/denomination. Why don’t you learn to read before you jack your jaws? It really isn’t difficult-there is probably a remedial education class near you. You could go there between visits to the welfare office and popping out illegitimate children.