# Why do ultra-religious people feel they have a license to treat people like crap? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 25, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923 "2009-01-25T15:38:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923/141 "2009-01-27T18:44:01Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > **Kanicbird** , da’hell? What part of “Roman Catholic” do you not understand? Unless you’re one of those assholes who claim that Catholics aren’t Christians, then, I can’t help you. Catholicism is a denomination of Christianity and have many good things about it, IMHO protection of life and the preservation of the Lord Supper. But there are many wrong things with it as well IMHO such as purgatory. That’s OK, in Revelation 2,3 we can see that the Lord made criticisms of several churches, only one He threatened to remove, but did give them a chance to ‘repent and do the works you did at first’. > [@](#): > > And last time I checked, does not the Bible say, “Faith without works is as lifeless as a breath without body?” The whole “sheeps and the goats” story? What about, “whatsoever you do to the least of them, you do unto me?” Those themes are in there > [@](#): > > He also didn’t teach it appropriate to scare small children with stories of going to hell and demons-instead he talked about comforting them and showing them love. Jesus did talk about hell much more the heaven, There is not much about His teachings specifically to children, but He did say don’t stop children from coming to Him, and causing children to sin is a very bad thing to do. There is a difference between teaching children the truth of God through His Word, and scaring them with horror stories. > [@](#): > > I also think it’s insulting and incredibly holier than thou to say, “Well, everyone else thought JESUS was nuts,” when people tell you that demons walking the earth-LITERALLY is insane…but whatever. It’s called symbolism. I’m not a Biblical scholar, but again, I’m not an idiot when it comes to Christianity and the Bible. (You don’t spend 9 years in Catholic school and four in a Catholic college without learning at least a LITTLE, dammit! ;)) What was said about our Lord: [QUOTE=John 10:20] Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?” [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923/142 "2009-01-27T19:01:01Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Catholicism is a denomination of Christianity and have many good things about it, IMHO protection of life and the preservation of the Lord Supper. But there are many wrong things with it as well IMHO such as purgatory. That’s OK, in Revelation 2,3 we can see that the Lord made criticisms of several churches, only one He threatened to remove, but did give them a chance to ‘repent and do the works you did at first’. The Church is relieved that you approve. And it’s the Lord’s Supper, btw. > [@](#): > > Jesus did talk about hell much more the heaven Maybe in your Bible. :dubious: Either you take the OT God with the NT God (Jesus) or you don’t–you can’t claim only bits of the Bible and then say that the bits you prefer are all Divine Word and ignore the rest. You can pick and choose, however, if you look at the truth: that the bible was written by men for men and used poetry, symbolism, fable and legend to record cultural and social values for one group of people in one relatively small area, over several hundred years. Given that, it all makes a great deal more sense. I don’t see how one can claim that God is Love and know anything about the OT God–who was a dick of the first order, with anger management issues. I think that Jesus had a loving message, but that he was not the son of God. He didn’t rise from the dead. Dead is dead. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923/143 "2009-01-27T19:07:41Z")
> [@Xan](#): > > Not much of a sacrifice if Jesus gets to come back to life 3 days later. Honkin’ big sacrifice, I’d say, for someone who by His own nature could neither suffer nor die, to voluntarily become something that could - and spend the rest of Eternity remembering with perfect clarity what it’s like to be tortured to death. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923/144 "2009-01-27T19:33:37Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Honkin’ big sacrifice, I’d say, for someone who by His own nature could neither suffer nor die, to voluntarily become something that could - and spend the rest of Eternity remembering with perfect clarity what it’s like to be tortured to death. Hell, nowadays, he’d probably end up showing off at a piercing studio. “Yeah, I probably should have gone to a professional…” ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923/145 "2009-01-27T20:16:09Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Either you take the OT God with the NT God (Jesus) or you don’t–you can’t claim only bits of the Bible and then say that the bits you prefer are all Divine Word and ignore the rest. I’m glad we agree ---
**Author:** ![Xan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ac8455/32.png) [@Xan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923/146 "2009-01-27T20:17:38Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Honkin’ big sacrifice, I’d say, for someone who by His own nature could neither suffer nor die, to voluntarily become something that could - and spend the rest of Eternity remembering with perfect clarity what it’s like to be tortured to death. Again he got an extra life. Not a sacrifice at all. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923/147 "2009-01-27T20:24:47Z")
> [@Anne\_Neville](#): > > I’ve always wondered why some Christians are so intent on having public prayers, given that Jesus didn’t seem to think much of public prayer. Not to defend the Bible or Christians or anything, but Jesus wasn’t talking about public prayer as such in that passage. I doubt Jesus had anything against communal prayer in church or synagogue. What Jesus was warning against was praying conspicuously in public so as to “show off” your piety. Standing on street corners and shouting prayers was the example I was given when I was in my Catholic high school religion class. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923/148 "2009-01-27T20:31:37Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I’m glad we agree Interesting. You agree with me, but do this yourself. OK. You say God is Love, but the OT God is NOT love or Love or even a Nice Guy. I know we don’t agree at all on the bible, since I believe firmly my last statement about it–that it’s a document regarding the social mores of people of a certain time and place. I don’t read the Bible as divinely written. That said, I do believe in a god–who pretty much looks nothing like yours, given that my god love homosexuals, the poor, the oppressed, the well to do, the ruling class and women a whole lot more than most. In short, my god is love, not mindfuck games, torture on a cross and sanctimony. Aside: do you realize how condescending it is to ask someone if they know Jesus? You do realize that you no more “know” Jesus than anyone else does? To tell a Catholic that they don’t know Jesus takes some balls… What you mean is that Catholics don’t relate to the stories re Jesus in the same way you do, and that Catholics have different traditions, as do many other christian religions. ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923/149 "2009-01-27T20:37:00Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I have no doubt, as the pharisees though Jesus was nuts. It upsets their power if you can go direct to God and bypass them. Frankly, kb, after all these years, every time I hear somebody talk that way… I half expect them to follow up soon enough with: “No, scratch that! I _ **AM** _…” 😃 - “Jack” ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923/150 "2009-01-27T20:51:25Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Honkin’ big sacrifice, I’d say, for someone who by His own nature could neither suffer nor die, to voluntarily become something that could - and spend the rest of Eternity remembering with perfect clarity what it’s like to be tortured to death. The worst part must have been when he got his omniscience back, and realized how unnecessary and nonsensical it is to sacrifice Himself to Himself, to change rules He Himself made. I bet He slapped His forehead a good one then! “Doooo’h!” Plus being God, He already remembered with perfect clarity ALL human suffering, before or since, already. I bet that was another slap to the Holy Forehead. And it couldn’t have been different for Him experiencing it first hand, otherwise that would imply knowledge He did not have, which is of course incompatible with omniscience. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923/151 "2009-01-27T20:53:26Z")
Jesus did NOT talk more about Hell than about Heaven. He did talk more about Hades and Gehenna than anyone else in the NT, however. Paul occasionally mentions “death” and “destruction” to the unrepentant, and John in Revelation talks about Hades & the Lake of Fire, which I think is the same as Gehenna. However, even Hades & Gehenna are not quite as they are portrayed in popular culture or even pop Christendom. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923/152 "2009-01-27T20:58:10Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > To tell a Catholic that they don’t know Jesus takes some balls.. Why thank you 😃 > [@](#): > > . What you mean is that Catholics don’t relate to the stories re Jesus in the same way you do, No this is not what I mean, what I mean is: Do you know Jesus ? and exactly what I mean by that is: Do you know Jesus ? Not do you know traditions, do you know Catholicism, but: Do you know Jesus ? The person, the Lord. Do you know Him as you know your friend? Do you know Him like you know your earthly father? Do you know Him personally? ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923/153 "2009-01-27T21:07:59Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > No this is not what I mean, what I mean is: > Do you know Jesus ? > and exactly what I mean by that is: > Do you know Jesus ? > Not do you know traditions, do you know Catholicism, but: > Do you know Jesus ? > The person, the Lord. Do you know Him as you know your friend? Do you know Him like you know your earthly father? Do you know Him personally? Considering he died 2000 odd years ago? **NO** I can play big font games too. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923/154 "2009-01-27T21:14:35Z")
Jesus is just all right by me. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923/155 "2009-01-27T21:16:38Z")
> [@SpazCat](#): > > Considering he died 2000 odd years ago? > > **NO** > > I can play big font games too. Since He was resurrected perhaps it’s time you and He were introduced, it’s been 2000 years ya know. ---
**Author:** ![Xan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ac8455/32.png) [@Xan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923/156 "2009-01-27T21:19:01Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Since He was resurrected perhaps it’s time you and He were introduced, it’s been 2000 years ya know. And your proof for that claim is? (Hint: the bible is not proof) ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923/157 "2009-01-27T21:35:43Z")
> [@Xan](#): > > And your proof for that claim is? (Hint: the bible is not proof) Well you can look at the calendar, but I admit it’s not exactly 2000 years. The Word is the only truth that mankind has access to, is it absolute truth and this point is not arguable with me (Hint: that line will not work with me) ---
**Author:** ![Xan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ac8455/32.png) [@Xan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923/158 "2009-01-27T21:38:41Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Well you can look at the calendar, but I admit it’s not exactly 2000 years. The Word is the only truth that mankind has access to, is it absolute truth and this point is not arguable with me (Hint: that line will not work with me) So you have nothing. You claim a man rose from the dead. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Therefore it can be assumed it did not happen. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923/159 "2009-01-27T21:46:06Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Since He was resurrected perhaps it’s time you and He were introduced, it’s been 2000 years ya know. You’re so cute when you’re condescending. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923/160 "2009-01-27T21:55:19Z")
> [@SpazCat](#): > > You’re so cute when you’re condescending. I love you too [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-ultra-religious-people-feel-they-have-a-license-to-treat-people-like-crap/482923.md?page=9)