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lbb 07-10-2013 07:39 PM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Quote:

Graham Christian wrote: (Post 328008)
A symbol basically represents something, that's why it is a symbol. Letters are symbols too and so are words. So a snake, an idol, the M of macdonalds.....all symbols. So for me I never blame the symbol or put a symbol down for I only look at what it represents to me.

Symbolism and idolatry are not the same thing. The Big Three Monotheisms all take serious issue with idolatry, for reasons that are at least logically consistent, I'd say. To worship an object as a god - that's idolatry. However, I don't think the shinto example of the snake qualifies. If a Big Three Monotheist wants to frown upon the snake worship on "thou shalt have no other gods before me" grounds, okay, that's their thing - but I don't think it's idolatry.

aiki-jujutsuka 07-11-2013 01:09 AM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Quote:

Benjamin Edelen wrote: (Post 328010)
You may not be so bold. The bible is, among many other abominable things, literally a pro-slavery document, so I am going to go ahead and call bullshit on this one.

where's your proof? Please provide evidence.

Bernd Lehnen 07-11-2013 02:51 AM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Quote:

Ewen Ebsworth wrote: (Post 328023)
Quote:

Quote:
Benjamin Edelen wrote:
You may not be so bold. The bible is, among many other abominable things, literally a pro-slavery document, so I am going to go ahead and call bullshit on this one
.
where's your proof? Please provide evidence.

Evidence?

The only possible outcome in this case may be that the bible isn't an appropriate tool to rely on as a final source since it has been used to no avail in endless "pros and contras" not only between atheists and christians but also between "christian-hardcore-believers" themselves, depending on their view on slavery.

aiki-jujutsuka 07-11-2013 03:17 AM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Quote:

Bernd Lehnen wrote: (Post 328024)
Evidence?

The only possible outcome in this case may be that the bible isn't an appropriate tool to rely on as a final source since it has been used to no avail in endless "pros and contras" not only between atheists and christians but also between "christian-hardcore-believers" themselves, depending on their view on slavery.

Not so, if you are going to claim the Bible condones slavery and then say but you can't argue from the Bible that this is not true then this is just special pleading. Either the ethical code of the Bible condones slavery or it doesn't. Now this argument has been used against Christianity before and it is a serious claim, especially since our connotations of slavery are so closely linked to the African Slave Trade of the 18th Century and human trafficking today. To say that the Bible could be used to justify such heinous acts of inhumanity and cruelty is very serious and needs to be supported.

Demetrio Cereijo 07-11-2013 03:36 AM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Quote:

Ewen Ebsworth wrote: (Post 328025)
Not so, if you are going to claim the Bible condones slavery and then say but you can't argue from the Bible that this is not true then this is just special pleading. Either the ethical code of the Bible condones slavery or it doesn't.

Leviticus 25:44-46

Carsten Möllering 07-11-2013 04:07 AM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Manifold in the letters of Paul.
And not only there ...

I thought this would be obvious? And that the question is not whether it is there but how deal with it?

ahhhh ... I don't like those fundamentalist discussions regarding the texts of the bible. They simply were not meant and were not made to be understood this way ...

Demetrio Cereijo 07-11-2013 04:13 AM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Quote:

Carsten Möllering wrote: (Post 328027)
ahhhh ... I don't like those fundamentalist discussions regarding the texts of the bible. They simply were not meant and were not made to be understood this way ...

Discussion is futile... they have been assimilated.

aiki-jujutsuka 07-11-2013 04:19 AM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Quote:

Demetrio Cereijo wrote: (Post 328026)
Leviticus 25:44-46

and are we prepared to put this into historical context - even within Leviticus 25 itself?

"Slavery" as understood in the Bible was more like servanthood. Slaves had rights, they were not to be kidnapped, they were not to be beaten or killed and they were to be given their freedom after 7 years. They could also be redeemed if a member of their family had sufficient money to pay off their debt or they earned enough to buy their freedom.This in no way resembles the slavery practised throughout European colonialism or modern day human trafficking rings. Passages from the Bible must be interpreted within their context, not just pulled out of the page.

Demetrio Cereijo 07-11-2013 04:35 AM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Quote:

Ewen Ebsworth wrote: (Post 328029)
and are we prepared to put this into historical context - even within Leviticus 25 itself?

"Slavery" as understood in the Bible was more like servanthood. Slaves had rights, they were not to be kidnapped, they were not to be beaten or killed and they were to be given their freedom after 7 years. They could also be redeemed if a member of their family had sufficient money to pay off their debt or they earned enough to buy their freedom.This in no way resembles the slavery practised throughout European colonialism or modern day human trafficking rings. Passages from the Bible must be interpreted within their context, not just pulled out of the page.

You asked for proof about the Bible condoning slavery, not for an interpretation.

I'm not interested in biblical/christian apologetics, only in what the people did for centuries based on what an imaginary being is said to have told some primitive middle-east goat herders about how to behave.

aiki-jujutsuka 07-11-2013 06:12 AM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Quote:

Demetrio Cereijo wrote: (Post 328031)
You asked for proof about the Bible condoning slavery, not for an interpretation.

I'm not interested in biblical/christian apologetics, only in what the people did for centuries based on what an imaginary being is said to have told some primitive middle-east goat herders about how to behave.

Proof requires valid interpretation. To state the Bible condones slavery as we understand it today and then to make a moral judgement on the Bible's teachings requires justification. If you are not interested in discussing the topic objectively then this just reveals your prejudice. The criteria for slavery in the Bible is very clear and ethical within its context and cannot be used to condone slavery in its early modern and modern forms.

Demetrio Cereijo 07-11-2013 06:36 AM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Quote:

Ewen Ebsworth wrote: (Post 328033)
Proof requires valid interpretation. To state the Bible condones slavery as we understand it today and then to make a moral judgement on the Bible's teachings requires justification. If you are not interested in discussing the topic objectively then this just reveals your prejudice. The criteria for slavery in the Bible is very clear and ethical within its context and cannot be used to condone slavery in its early modern and modern forms.

Exactly, I am prejudiced against people who can state slavery is morally righ if it follows the rules established by a bunch of "I hear voices inside my head" bronze age guys.

Carsten Möllering 07-11-2013 06:42 AM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Again:

Manifold in the letters of Paul.
Roman understanding of slavery.

aiki-jujutsuka 07-11-2013 07:13 AM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Quote:

Carsten Möllering wrote: (Post 328035)
Again:

Manifold in the letters of Paul.
Roman understanding of slavery.

Please show me where Paul's understanding of slavery was Roman.

Take the letter to Philemon regarding his bondservant Onesimus:

"I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart...For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord." Philemon 1:12-15&16

Or again in Galatians 3:28

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Paul did not discriminate against race or class. His teachings did not condone the mistreatment or abuse of "slaves". Paul did not teach inequality. To say Paul's understanding of slavery was Roman is misleading. The New Testament is not a political manifesto. Paul was not trying to overthrow the existing Roman authorities. But that does not mean he condoned Roman slavery or modern slavery.

lbb 07-11-2013 07:24 AM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Perhaps it's time for those who want to argue about the Christian Bible's presentation of slavery to start a new thread on that subject - in the Open forum, maybe, as this seems to have nothing to do with aikido or even spirituality more generally.

Carsten Möllering 07-11-2013 07:54 AM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
As far as I'm concerned I'm not interested in keeping up this discussion.

Marc Abrams 07-11-2013 08:50 AM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Aw, Shucks!

This thread was warming up to be a nice, new holy war.... ;)

Marc Abrams

Chris Li 07-11-2013 10:28 AM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Quote:

Ewen Ebsworth wrote: (Post 328029)
and are we prepared to put this into historical context - even within Leviticus 25 itself?

"Slavery" as understood in the Bible was more like servanthood. Slaves had rights, they were not to be kidnapped, they were not to be beaten or killed and they were to be given their freedom after 7 years. They could also be redeemed if a member of their family had sufficient money to pay off their debt or they earned enough to buy their freedom.This in no way resembles the slavery practised throughout European colonialism or modern day human trafficking rings. Passages from the Bible must be interpreted within their context, not just pulled out of the page.

Only seven years? It must be okay then, if it's regulated.... :D

That leaves out what happens to the gentiles, though, who can be enslaved for life and passed onto future generations, and Exodus does permit slaves to be beaten, with certain restrictions.

Best,

Chris

Janet Rosen 07-11-2013 10:36 AM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Quote:

Demetrio Cereijo wrote: (Post 328034)
Exactly, I am prejudiced against people who can state slavery is morally righ if it follows the rules established by a bunch of "I hear voices inside my head" bronze age guys.

{irony on}
Oh, you mean I shouldn't be happy to read that debt slavery is morally acceptable?
{irony off}

aiki-jujutsuka 07-11-2013 11:13 AM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Quote:

Christopher Li wrote: (Post 328046)
Only seven years? It must be okay then, if it's regulated.... :D

That leaves out what happens to the gentiles, though, who can be enslaved for life and passed onto future generations, and Exodus does permit slaves to be beaten, with certain restrictions.

Best,

Chris

Right so contracts and disciplinaries at work must also be morally reprehensible then too? Slavery as understood in the ancient near east was in the main voluntary. It was to prevent destitution and poverty or a way of repaying a debt. You have to consider the circumstances of the arrangements being made between master and slave.

jonreading 07-11-2013 11:24 AM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
What starts out as something...

I'll throw my thoughts into this:
1. Religion is often the common referral to organized faith. In some faiths, religion is claimed as doctrine direct from the idol(s). In most cases, there is a non-divine interpretation which impreaches the authenticity of the doctrine. For example, the Bible was not written by God but rather a collection of stories re-written many times by a collection of authors. As a segment of the faith, some believers transcend the argument of authenticity. Further, to argue out of context, perspective or consideration extractions of text from a document whose authenticity is impeachable is to present an argument which is unresolveable as a burden of proof.
2. As a matter of comment, I think there is some sensitivy right now to the issue of invalidation by association within the Christian Church. The argument appearing something like, "Once, in this passage, the Bible spoken favorably of slavery. Therefore the Bible condones slavery. Therefore the Bible is Bad. Therefore believers in the Bible are bad." The sensitivity is furthered heighted by the rather directed scrutiny at Christianity, without equal scrutiny in the other 7 major religions.
3. As related in the original post, this thread looks at the level of validation given to the argument of religion. As many of the initial comments indicated, I chose to ignore the thread because I believe that particular claim was not worthy of response. As the post matured, I think it maybe changed to be a more reasonable discussion... Personally, I am on the record as having no consistent understanding of "competition" as used by Graham. He [and everyone else] knows this. Religion is a administrative aspect of spirituality. I think most religions seek to disseminate, cultivate, and administrate their particular faith with the tools they believe accomplish those tasks. The level of success with which they accomplish these tasks is related to the perpetuation of their religion. The rise and fall of Shinto as the national Japanese religion would be some representation of the intial success and eventual dis-establishment of a religion.

I think to contend religion is a pure representation of faith is invalid. I think to content culture as a pure representation of faith is invalid. I think to content faith as a pure representation of divinity is invalid.

A friend of mine once remarked if future generations would perceive our athletic professions as we perceive gladitorial games of our past cultures. Similarly, I wonder what future generations will call our financially indebted individuals who are bound by their debt to house loans, school loans, credits cards, rich uncles.... I think we used to call them indentured servants...

God wills it!!

Fred Little 07-11-2013 11:27 AM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Quote:

Ewen Ebsworth wrote: (Post 328049)
Slavery as understood in the ancient near east was in the main voluntary. It was to prevent destitution and poverty or a way of repaying a debt. You have to consider the circumstances of the arrangements being made between master and slave.

Ewen,

With all due respect, you're not on a sound historical footing here.

Some slaves were prisoners of war, some became slaves as a result of criminal judgment, some became slaves because they were sold into slavery by parents. None of these categories can be considered remotely "voluntary."

If you want to have a fairly thorough understanding of the historical roots of slavery -- even those instances which you justify as "voluntary...to prevent desitution and poverty or a way of repaying a debt" in the Near East, you would do well to read David Graeber's recent masterpiece: Debt: The First Five Thousand Years.

Best,

Fred Little

Mark Freeman 07-11-2013 11:32 AM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Quote:

Krystal Locke wrote: (Post 328013)
Why would religion make a better moral compass than, say, the obligate social nature of the species?

A very good question!

there is an excellent debate to be seen and heard between Tony Blair and Christopher Hitchens:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq2GmUa4s7Y

The motion is that "Religion is a force for good in the world"

This particular clip doesn't seem to have the final result attached, I have seen it elsewhere and Hitchens managed to sway the audience heavily to oppose the motion.

Blair is a consumate orator and a worthy spokesman for the religious argument, as much as I personally dislike the man for his actions whilst in office, you can't take away from him his forceful arguments. However, He is no match for Hitchens' humanity, reason, intelligence and brilliantly stated case. It is worth watching just for his opening 7 minutes, which brilliantly sums up why there is no chance of peace in the middle east, any time soon.

As far as I can see, the major religions are pretty much all competitive and exclusive and will remain so. I was under the impression that Buddhism is not a religion as there is no god to have faith in to start with.

And reading the debate on the thread here, competition is alive and well as usual. :)

regards,

Mark

bkedelen 07-11-2013 01:17 PM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
I would not lump Buddhism together for any substantive discussion. The different sects and cultures who practice it are diverse, and not without their own problems.

Tibetan Buddhism is absolutely a religion, with a boat load of gods, demons, dogma, superstition, and fundamentalism. They are currently participating in a holy war against the Chinese occupation of Tibet.

Other varieties of pure land Buddhism also have piles of dogma and although they seem to be less violent than the Abrahamic cults, there could be societal, geographic, and situational mitigating factors. There are a few holy wars going on with Islam in southeast asia, but Islam seems to be soliciting holy war with pretty much everyone right now.

Zen is, in theory, without dogma and formless enough to be disqualified as a religion, but in practice often shows up as an exploitative hierarchy supporting a variety of abusive situations. Since this is indistinguishable from other "in practice" religions, I would hesitate to give it a pass.

aiki-jujutsuka 07-11-2013 02:17 PM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Quote:

Fred Little wrote: (Post 328051)
Ewen,

With all due respect, you're not on a sound historical footing here.

Some slaves were prisoners of war, some became slaves as a result of criminal judgment, some became slaves because they were sold into slavery by parents. None of these categories can be considered remotely "voluntary."

If you want to have a fairly thorough understanding of the historical roots of slavery -- even those instances which you justify as "voluntary...to prevent desitution and poverty or a way of repaying a debt" in the Near East, you would do well to read David Graeber's recent masterpiece: Debt: The First Five Thousand Years.

Best,

Fred Little

Completely, thank you for balancing my statement and drawing attention to these other reasons. I did not mean to appear to be glossing over these important considerations. What I was trying to emphasize was that ancient slavery was not purely based on the financial exploitation and racial superiority of one group of people over another in contrast to the African Slave Trade and Human Trafficking. Certainly the Bible upholds the humanity and value of bondservants.

:)

graham christian 07-11-2013 03:28 PM

Re: Religion....No Competition.
 
Quote:

Mark Freeman wrote: (Post 328052)
A very good question!

there is an excellent debate to be seen and heard between Tony Blair and Christopher Hitchens:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq2GmUa4s7Y

The motion is that "Religion is a force for good in the world"

This particular clip doesn't seem to have the final result attached, I have seen it elsewhere and Hitchens managed to sway the audience heavily to oppose the motion.

Blair is a consumate orator and a worthy spokesman for the religious argument, as much as I personally dislike the man for his actions whilst in office, you can't take away from him his forceful arguments. However, He is no match for Hitchens' humanity, reason, intelligence and brilliantly stated case. It is worth watching just for his opening 7 minutes, which brilliantly sums up why there is no chance of peace in the middle east, any time soon.

As far as I can see, the major religions are pretty much all competitive and exclusive and will remain so. I was under the impression that Buddhism is not a religion as there is no god to have faith in to start with.

And reading the debate on the thread here, competition is alive and well as usual. :)

regards,

Mark

Hey, welcome to the madness;) Good video by the way. Competing ideas. I find the subject called debating flawed though for as he describes in the beginning it itself is a competition with the rules of destroying the oppositions points.

Funny how I can for example have discussions with Bob for example on anything be it deep or trivial but we never destroy or make wrong each others views. We don't even contradict. Yet we gain.

So without competition real gains can be made....and thus harmony.:)

I'll let you into a little secret when it comes to folk asking or even telling me Buddhists don't believe in God. I tell them the true name of God is found by adding another 'o'.

Peace.G.


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