Reply #10: What gives you the right,

[darkstar3]

or for that matter the knowledge to pick and choose from the Bible what to believe, and what to discard?

It is you who claim that your book is holy, but yet somehow you feel free to interpret it any way that you like. If a book can say anything that you want, how can it be holy, divine, revealed, inspired, or any of the other various adjectives I've heard in the past?

Biblical literalists ARE on firmer theological ground than other types of Christians, for the simple fact that they follow the book from which their chosen God originated. The Bible is not historically corroborated on any significant level with other texts of ancient times, especially when it comes to the New Testament. Yet Christians believe that the story of Jesus and the virgin birth are true. Why believe that part of the story, and yet ignore so many other parts of the text?

As for the claim of 'supporting these fundy nutjobs' pissing you off: Tough. You ARE supporting them by using their label. Majority status gives a group social and political power, even if they shouldn't have it, and even if they deny it. By bolstering the ranks of 'Christianity' by self-identifying with the exact same label the sickos use, and being apparently unable to make your voice heard over those sickos, you help them maintain that majority status.

And since 'Christianity' can apparently mean whatever its adherents want it to mean, I think it's high time you and your non-psycho friends pick a label that doesn't automatically paint you the exact same shade as Pat Roberson.

But of course, that just makes me a 'fundy atheist'...:eyes: