The Great Fundamentalist Hoax (Right-wing's misuse of the Bible)

[JPZenger]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/philip-slater/the-great-fundamentalist-_b_21941.html

The following post builds upon the point that Jesus spent much more time talking about helping the poor and the sick and being a peacemaker than he talked about elimination of inheritance taxes, abortion, homosexuality or flag burning.

The Great Fundamentalist Hoax - by Phillip Slater (Retired professor of Sociology at Brandeis University)

"Thoughtful Americans have long wondered how it is that fundamentalist Christians--followers of someone who preached pacifism and tolerance--became the poster boy for hate speech, touting "moral values" indistinguishable from those of the Taliban. They wonder why, for example, fundamentalist Christians so seldom quote from the New Testament--which is supposedly what Christianity is all about--but prefer citing the Torah and Old Testament prophets. One reason is that the Old Testament is full of murder, vindictiveness, and genocide--all supposedly ordered by God. So when fundamentalists want a Biblical excuse for hate speech and hate crimes--which they seem to need with considerable frequency--they turn to Old Testament sources.

Christian homophobes, for example, carry signs saying 'God hates fags', which they justify by claiming that Leviticus 18:22 (condemning male homosexuality as "abomination") is the 'word of God'. Yet more than a third of the entire book of Leviticus is devoted to God's detailed instructions on the proper manner of making burnt offerings of animals to Him. (The rest deals with keeping Jewish dietary laws, avoiding pollution from inadvertent contact with menstruating women, forbidding haircuts and beard trimming, justifying slavery, and saying anyone who swears should be stoned to death). Why doesn't God hate those who fail to make offerings in the exact manner He so carefully spelled out in chapter after chapter? Since fundamentalists feel comfortable ignoring 95% of the 'word of God' in Leviticus, why have they latched onto this isolated phrase? If "God hates fags", then God must feel positively murderous toward people who don't make burnt offerings of animal carcasses in the precise manner so carefully indicated, and in such extreme detail. (God must also hate people who eat lobster, shrimp and pork, which are also "abominations" according to Leviticus).

It's startling, in fact, how rarely fundamentalist Christians mention the sayings of Jesus. 'Morality' to them means the sexual inhibitions of ancient Middle Eastern patriarchies...This obsession with sexuality is surprising, since Jesus seemed to have very little interest in the topic. In the four Gospels there are only four statements about sexuality, and these deal with adultery and divorce rather than sex per se. That is, with relationships--with causing injury to another.

Compare this with the nineteen statements Jesus makes about the importance of giving, and the value of divesting oneself of money and possessions. Yet we seldom hear fundamentalist Christians saying it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. Or quoting the ten statements exhorting us to turn the other cheek--a Christian idea that seems to be anathema to hate-filled fundamentalists..."

[greekspeak]

1. Thank you Dr. Slater

Two of my most influential profs as an undergrad came out of Brandeis. Both were very scientific in their study of the Bible, and both were demanding, meticulous scholars. Neither would put up with Fundamentalist clap-trap passed off as scholastic biblical studies.

[azurnoir]

2. The sad reality

is that these rw "christians" are using the religion exactly as intended by the some of the early church fathers (Constantine and Theodosius to name two). The Christianity we know was constructed to be a political tool, used for uniting and pacifying the various pagan tribes in Europe during the fall of the roman empire.

[liberal N proud]

3. This describes the result of what I call smorgasbord Christianity

They pick and choose what they want from the bible or other Christian interpretations and apply it where they feel it will make their case.

[Mist]

4. That's why I call them "Old Testament Christians" -- the ONLY thing

they take from the New Testament is the name of Jesus Christ. Otherwise, all their fire-and-brimstone, God-hates-this-n-that-n-the-other, is strictly Old Testament.

[Miss Chybil]

7. Seems an impossibility to be an Old Testament Christian,

doesn't it? But, the idea goes right along with their hypocritical mindset. They rarely make sense.

[yellerpup]

5. Presuming God is all powerful, seems like he would have

either repaired or destroyed all the things he is so rabidly against by now. He could have made a commandment requiring homophobia if he really "hated fags". This particular hate didn't even make it into the top ten taboos. Even if he used to get upset about homosexuality and other abominations, such as shellfish, where is the evidence that He cares to make it an issue in the present day?

[yurbud]

6. People have to pick & choose what to obey, become Mother Theresa or,

go insane.

[Miss Chybil]

8. I don't choose to "obey" anything,

other than my own conscience.

[yurbud]

9. that's why I'm not religious anymore--most people follow their own

conscience (or lack thereof) and then fit their beliefs to their behavior, not the other way around.

[JPZenger]

11. The REAL teachings of Jesus are easy to accept

So many people are turned off by the dogma and hypocracy of right wing religious groups that have nothing to do with Jesus' teachings. If you actually read what Jesus said, it is pretty easy to accept it. The easiest place to start is with a modern translation of the Book of John.

[yurbud]

13. Easy to understand, hard to do. I did the John thing with the Navigators

and was involved with them for 8 years.

[mopinko]

10. abortion is not a sin

heard about this on thom hartmann the other day.
http://www.abortionfreedom.com/

[Uncle Joe]

12. Jesus was just the middle man,

Pat Robertson has a direct line to the almighty. Just last week God told Pat we will have more hurricanes and bad weather on the coasts this year. Although personally, I think Pat was just channeling "An Inconvenient Truth" and thought it was God.

[eppur_se_muova]

14. "Pat? Is that you?"

"Yes, Lord, it is I, your humble and devoted servant!"

"Pat, are you on something? You haven't been any kind of servant to me!"

"But ... but ... Lord ... I've always followed your holy word..."

"Pat, what are you talking about? And quit calling me "Lord"!"

"But ... but ... aren't you the Lord our God, God of our Fathers?"

"No, you moron! I'm Al Gore!"