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Originally Posted by martinguerre
Yes....no. Many of us don't take it "literally" as if such a thing were possible. If a person uses a literal interpretation as a strawman to attack Christianity as a whole...there may be some hurt feelings. There isn't liscense to attack in return, but there is an obligation to be clear...Christianity is not a monolith. but i take scripture very seriously...
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I don't understand this at all. Any literal interpretation used to prove a point is a "strawman attack"? But then where did you get the information that supports the following statements, if not from literal translation?
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Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus cussed, i think i can too. I try very hard not to aim those words at people in anger, tho.
"pornographic/sex posts" Read Song of Solomon. The first thing God does is create. Sex, eros, and the creative and connective nature of humanity is not in conflict with the spiritual.
Jesus drinks, people call him a drunk on many occasions. I try to make my use of chemicals (alcohol in my case) responsible. But there is no blanket prohibition of intoxicants by the bible. Wine flows through that book...
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That's why I asked before, which parts should be taken literally and which parts shouldn't? Because it wouldn't do me any good to post scriptural references if they don't happen to be chapters/verses that you "believe".
I almost put a caveat in my original post about the "not perfect, just forgiven" line, but the I figured I'd wait to see how long it was until somebody used it. I didn't have to wait very long. Put it this way, an alcoholic that visits a bar every day, is not trying to live a sober lifestyle.
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Originally Posted by Lebell
what else but "Christian" should I call myself?
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A Lebellian? A member of the "Happy Jesus Joy Club"? I don't know. I just don't understand this overwhelming need to be labeled as a member of a group, just because it's a "popular" name. Just like the push for Mormons and Catholics to be classified as Christians. Why not just be satisfied with being Mormons and Catholics?
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Originally Posted by Lebell
I assure you that many of my thoughts from a year ago will remain true today. I may not however, have the inclination to make another megapost about the topic such as this.
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I'm glad that your beliefs are rock solid, and you are 100% sure that they have never changed or will never change. But I know quite a few people whose beliefs
have changed over time. And for those unwilling to accept change, there is always cut/paste.
Maybe I should have approached this from a different angle, since apparently contrary to the bible (depending on which verses one selectively believes", things like pornography, lust, fornication, etc aren't actually sins, then maybe I should ask what exactly does qualify as a "sin"? Or is the entire concept of "sin" one of those "literal translation faux pas"?