they seem to just swallow every illogical thing being fed to them by their so-called "pastors", don't they ever think for themselves? are they afraid to?
2007-10-22 23:01:33 · 22 answers · asked by Ťango 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
blondie the Bible thumper, after reading so many of your answers, I really don't know if I should just dismiss you as amusing or pitiful. I don't mean to offend you, but you may have the Bible, the Truth as you call it, but is your pastor God to not make mistakes? think about that. and please for your sake, start thinking for yourself.
2007-10-22 23:12:37 · update #1
Actually most of them are. They are also taught to regard any doubts or questions about their faith as Satan tempting them, and to deny Satan.
This in effect turns them into their own mental jailers. If they start to think rationally and start to doubt they close all that out of their brains and become preoccupied with preventing themselves from having those questions, feeling doubts or seeking honest answers to them.
That is one of the reasons most fundies are so hyper-sensitive to any questions about the nature of God and are only able to answer with the formulated answers of their particular sect. To think about such questions creates such a degree of cognitive dissonance in their minds that they actually feel like they are going insane if they think about such questions.
2007-10-22 23:17:45 · answer #1 · answered by Y!A-FOOL 5 · 4⤊ 3⤋
Even if they were forbidden, who's to say they don't in the privacy of their own thoughts? I so agree with you! How can people just accept illogical thinking... and the ignoramus ideas that these lying "pastors" shove down their throats?
I am a pastor, and it appalls me what they are "teaching" in the pulpits today. It's people like that, that curl my stomach, and cause TRUE believers to falter in their faith.
Eternal Hell and damnation? HA HA HA HA HA... Not according to the REAL God's Word!
1 Tim 2:3-6 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have ALL men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for ALL, to be testified in due time.
What part of the word "ALL" don't you understand?
Hell is nothing more than the grave where dead people are buried!... It's an old english word meaning covering or concealed.
I say, "Pastors, you need to stop telling lies that frighten the people out of believing in God, and start telling them HOW to live the life more abundant...
Jeremiah 2:8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
Jer 10:21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered. (isn't that what's happening now?)
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
1Co 3:11-15 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss (hebrew word for damned): but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
2007-10-22 23:16:05 · answer #2 · answered by Cica 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Nobody has to be a Robot or automaton.. Pastors are not the Last word on anything and can Be Wrong! John 18:7, 2nd Timothy 2:15..Jim Jones and David Koresh are Prime examples of it
2007-10-22 23:11:15 · answer #3 · answered by ShadowCat 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Some people are so comfortable following others that it is truly scary.
I believe that for some people, they need to beleive in and follow others, this makes them feel LESS responsonsible IF they find out that they are wrong, they will just blame it on whoever they were following.
(blondie the Bible thumper does not have her faith in the right place, it seems through her answer that she has her faith in her pastor. Too many times pastors have led their sheep off of cliffs!)
2007-10-22 23:24:46 · answer #4 · answered by Jaye16 5 · 5⤊ 1⤋
I never take anything from one source. I back it up with research from multiple sides of the issue and come to my own conclusions. God does not look down on intelligence and a search for wisdom. Take note of Solomon who was given a choice of anything he wanted and decided on wisdom and because of this God blessed him more with the good things he did not ask for. Paul was sent to talk to the intellectual Greeks on their level so they would understand. Only a truly ignorant person would believe that the Bible advocates a person to not intellectually look into what the believe.
2007-10-23 00:22:53 · answer #5 · answered by mrglass08 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think this is the wrong rhetorical strategy to use against fundamentalist Christians (although blondie, the Bible thumper makes me wonder).
All of us are a bundle of beliefs, some of them aggregated ad hoc. None of us can question all of our beliefs at the same time. Most, if not all, of us have certain beliefs that are closer to our self identity than other. For all of us, it is harder for us to question these close beliefs than more superficial beliefs.
I participate in a secularist, essentially atheist, discussion group that meets for coffee once a week. I have seen the same defensiveness when one challenges, for example a thoughtlessly negative attitude towards the Bible or even a factually false observation about the Bible.
For all I care, Fundamentalists can continue blithely on in their beliefs, as long as they do not impose their beliefs on the rest of us.
But when they engage us in conversation, they are fair game. But I would rather challenge specific consequences of their fundamentalists claims about the Bible. Rather than ad hominem observations about their character or the freedom of their thought processes.
2007-10-22 23:56:05 · answer #6 · answered by Darrol P 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
No. I've said many time that questioning your beliefs is not only natural, it's vital.
Curiously, though, there is this:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Agof6U.iQh5B4sC.kOM_rXjty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071014053611AA5rm4C&show=7#profile-info-uFRZGW85aa
where I'm_an_atheist apparently believes that atheists are the ones not allowed to doubt their beliefs, on pain of being drummed out of the atheist corps or something.
2007-10-22 23:36:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Where'd you ever get that idea? There are some religions that forbid ordinary people from reading their holy book, but no Christian pastor I've ever heard has said that. We're expected to read the Bible and form our own opinions. We're not sheep, following blindly. God gave us the ability to think and to reason, and expects us to use those abilities. There's no fear involved.
2007-10-22 23:13:46 · answer #8 · answered by N L 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
What is a Bible fundie? Christians do Read, Discuss, and Study, the Bible, and do question its Contents. We are on a Journey, Why don't you Join us and find out for yourself. Check out an Alpha Course at a Church near You.
2007-10-22 23:07:37 · answer #9 · answered by The Questioner 5 · 3⤊ 4⤋
Our Church allows questions about anything. Especially from our youth. There is nothing to hide. Because I can think for myself, I choose to stay.
2007-10-22 23:10:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋