"Just as the viper and the scorpion and the rest of the poisonous animals change good nutrition into poison, so in the same fashion, heretics and the unethical alter the good words of the Gospel into evil." - Saint Polycarps
2007-02-27 16:14:46 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well, I'm pleased with the amount of responses. Many of you do not understand an ancient quotation and feel that it has no relevance in your life. I probably worded the question poorly.
2007-02-27 16:29:16 · update #1
Dr. Sabetudo is on the right track. By the way, St. Polycarp is both an Orthodox and Catholic saint. The examples cited by this poster are the foundation for the corruption of the Christian faith; However, the Orthodox denomination of Christianity has remained unchanged from its inception. The Gospel of Good News has become the Gospel of Evil in many Christian denominations. What Gospel justifies what Ted Haggard, or any priest molesting children? An Orthodox priest was suspended for alleged improper contact with a child in Dallas last week. Just because there are a few evil doers does not make an entire denomination evil. I know a lot of agnostic people, tree-huggers, pro-environment and I never forced my religion or views upon anyone. I'm not trying to impose my religion upon this forum but maybe there's one person who feels that there is some meaning to Christianity which is not found in the Western denominations and that person gives up.
2007-02-27 16:49:30 · update #2
The Church has historically given us the best examples of how to alter the good words of the Gospel into evil. Let's start with the Crusades in the Middle Ages, when thousands of people were massacred under the orders of the Pope.
The Inquisition in Spain, when the so called heretics (rational people)were burned in the stake.
The excommunication of Galileo, simply because he knew the real truth, and so on.
Christianity is seen by many as an evil myth, changing good words into poison.
2007-02-27 16:40:39 · answer #1 · answered by Dr. Sabetudo 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
People who believe Christianity is a myth don't usually go about repeating the gospel into evil or anything else, they just go about their lives. The Christian Fundamentalists are the ones who alter the "good words of the Gospel into evil", such as the Reverend Phelps.
2007-02-28 00:21:28 · answer #2 · answered by james B 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
saint polycarps...is he perhaps catholic? hmm...it isnt so much people taking and adding to the Word of God as it is satan working through these people...He turns the gospel into evil, changing it into something its not to fool and trick many many people, as he has obviously done with the catholic church, roman catholic whatever catholic, and many other churches...Christianity started after Christ died ...peter being the foundation (pentecostal btw)..it is based solely on Jesus Christ, because He is the one we are to follow, He is the Good Shepard..God gave us Jesus to follow or else we, the chosen ones, would practise Judaism still...but Jesus came and He changed things...now He is the only way
2007-02-28 00:23:30 · answer #3 · answered by AmBiE 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that a heretic takes the words of the Bible, which are good, and turns them around and makes them into something evil.
Oh by the way, Christianity is not a myth.
2007-02-28 00:19:04 · answer #4 · answered by C J 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think that is Christianities way of doing just that. I fully believe that religion is inherently evil. I think the message is good but what they all teach, with a very few exceptions, is evil.
2007-02-28 00:18:56 · answer #5 · answered by screwyouguys_19 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This passage for all practical purposes means nothing to me as I do not subscribe to the same kind of primitive superstition and religious dogma that Polycarps did.
2007-02-28 15:33:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of the main aspects of religion is to be able to control people and manipulate their minds. If you can convince someone that to believe differently then you are told makes you evil, heretical, and unethical, then you will most likely cling to what you are being spoonfed.
2007-02-28 00:18:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
A myth is a religion in which no one any longer believes, there are plenty of Christian believers so it's definitely not a myth.
The passage more or less speaks for itself.
2007-02-28 00:19:50 · answer #8 · answered by Angelz 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Um, nothing since I don't believe in Christianity.
Also seems like it can be used as a "passing of the buck" for evils in the name of the bible. "No, can't be Christians, has to be heretics."
2007-02-28 00:18:04 · answer #9 · answered by Lynus 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who's trying to change your gospel? I don't recall anyone saying that it should be written this way or that way.
Your passage means that the early church was afraid of losing power to people who might be brave enough to think for themselves.
2007-02-28 00:22:06 · answer #10 · answered by buttercup 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋