Why do Christians not follow the bible?

Post Reply New Topic

I've also had some frustration with people not following the Bible. I once attended a church service were some guy was treating religion like some sort of get-rich-quick scheme.

I don't let it get to me.

Most Christians are cafeteria Christians. Either that or they're batshit insane fundamentalists.

Thank God they don't, or else we would be like Afghanistan.

For those who don't know...

Cafeteria Christian (n): A person who professes Christianity, yet who believes and follows only those Christian doctrines that provide the most comfort while ignoring those doctrines that might make them a better person.

The term is derived from the way many people choose their meals in a cafeteria or buffet restaurant; that is, giving preference to those food that taste good, while ignoring those foods that are good for them.

Thus, we have nominal Christians that show hospitality and kindness toward each other while ignoring those who need kindness and hospitality the most (i.e., the handicapped, the poor, the very old, the behaviorally 'different', foreigners, homeless people, and people of other religions).

Seriously, folks? How is it possible to believe in the inerrancy of the bible yet follow only the parts you like? If you believe this, you also believe that genocide is acceptable, donkeys can talk, water comes from rocks, bread falls from the sky, and men can walk in blast furnaces.
Here are my rules that I follow. If it doesn't work in the real world, it probably never happened. In the real world people don't turn into salt, have conversation with a snake, and try to offer their child as a sacrifice to prove loyalty to a deity. People don't do these things today and never did in the past. Also, follow the evidence wherever it leads you. Read the bible objectively and without bias. You may discover that some of the "heroes" of the bible were actually vile men. The "miracles" of Jesus were mere grandstanding and utterly pointless. How can a savior be a sacrifice when he clearly knew that he would come back to life? That's not a sacrifice. Jesus, who is said to have abstained from hsi divinity to live as a human, clearly did not live as a man. Most men marry and have children. Men do not perform godlike miracles. Men work and provide for their families. Men generally don't wander the countryside like a group of gypsies. Men work hard, relax, enjoy their families, and go on fishing trips. Jesus clearly didn't live as a man. He showed his divinity whenever he wanted.
If it is unacceptable in real life, why is it acceptable in the bible? Would you actually go to a doctor who prescribed wine for illnesses? Would you go to a doctor who put oil on your head and prayed for your recovery? Would you really go to a psychiatrist who would diagnose demon possession and recommend exorcisms? The answer is hell, no.
Faith withers in the face of logic and reason. Martin Luther, another vile person, said that he wanted to "put out the eyes of your reason". Even old anti-Semitic Martin knew that reason is incompatible with faith. Christians have followed Luther's advice for centuries.
Of course, you are free to embrace a homophobic religion based on myths, brutality, and fear. This is still America, and your freedom of religion is guarenteed. However, religion is not free from criticism, and people are free to reject it. Unfortunately, so many Christians have internalized their religion that any criticism of it is perceived as a personal attack. That's neither logical nor reasonable. I am not bothered by attacks on atheism. Most of us want to lead quiet, decent lives while free from deceitful religions. However, whenever I express an atheist point of view, I am instantly labelled a "militant atheist". I'm accused of contributing to the downfall of America. It's illogical but that's the way it is.
I expect that I'm going to get some really pissed off responses. Fire away.

[quote="The_Walrus".

Jesus was fully human, but he was also fully God. There are many men who don't have families, and many (though not as many) who wander around.[/quote]

That means God took a sh*t daily or most of the time except when He had Constipation. Did God's fecal productions glow with a Holy Light. Did His crap have a halo?

ruveyn

I like to think it's because most Christians wouldn't so much enjoy having to stone their disrespectful children.