Why do Christians keep accusing me of taking verse "out of context"...?

Question

...instead of actually giving a pertinent answer. I ask a simple question and it seems to be a common response. Do they not understand their own holy book.

No. Enough with the examples. I've asked many questions on various bible verses and the staple response is "out of context". Now this one is responded to the same way.

I've read much of the bible and from what I've seen on YA, more than most Christians. I understand "context".

The strangest part of it is, of all the angry responses I get that actually attempt to explain any given verse, few if any actually jive with each other. This should explain something about "context".

Chang- evolution is a process, not an entity. Your attempt at a paralell fails miserably. As for cherry picking, I do accuse Christians of it all the time. What I'm doing is simply showing the other side, the bad fruit they would rather ignore. This seems perfectly fair and sensible, no?

Answer 1

Because you did.
How is it that a person such as yourself, can accuse Christians of 'cherry picking' scripture, and then turn right around and 'cherry pick' a verse, ignore the context, and then exclaim, the Bible encourages cannibalism?

Let us try the reverse, evolution has weeded out those inferior transitional species to mankind. Does this mean that evolution is endorsing genocide?
How's that work for you?

Answer 2

I am a Christian but would use quotes from the Bible. Many times I remember what the bible says without quoting it. I believe this is the reason. A good Christian should help you if you don't know the bible. Christians should help others who want to know more about the bible. The bible is not always easy to interpret and Christians should encourage........not discourage or think they know it all. I use a study bible to help me understand, as I believe most Christians can't quote from the bible too much without taking the time to look it up. My bible has almost 2000 pages and I can't remember all of it. I don't think there are many if any people who can. A Christian's job is telling you about Jesus and that he died in our place on the cross for our sins so we can have salvation. He also arose from the dead and ascended into heaven. He will come again to judge the living and the dead..but we don't really know when that will be. We are to encourage you not discourage you.

Answer 3

If they are sincere (and correct) then they mean that you are ignoring the context of what is being discussed. That may mean usage of a portion of a verse to imply one thing, when the whole chapter is discussing something totally different.

I have found often, however, the "you're taking it out of context" is a lame way of avoiding an intelligent discussion on topics that the accuser has no clue on how to answer.

You best bet is to ask them to explain the correct context of the scripture you are quoting. Yo may be amused in finding that they cannot explain.

Answer 4

Because for every Christian that has actually read the Bible, there are 10 who have it "read to them" from the Pulpit each Sunday, and consider that sufficient. In short, NO they (generally) do not know their own Holy Book...

After all, like most scriptures, the Bible is self contradictory, and open to interpretation. (and, more often than not, *mis*-interpretation!)

I love nailing the self-righteous with certain clauses from the Bible...you like Cheesburgers? You're violating Biblical injunctions about the eating of meat and dairy. You wear a piece of silk clothing with your jeans? You're violating more biblical injunctions...etc.

A co-worker of mine has actually studied the bible (along with about a hlaf-dozen other "holy" books), and has actually used the bible to cause priests to doubt their faith!

Besides, *most* (but not all) Christians regularily take verses of the Bible out of context, so if you're doing the same, don't feel bad! lol

Answer 5

Theologists don't even understand their so-called holy book, but they don't see any problem with that. Their motto is first shoot the arrow, then paint the target around it. Out of context my butt. As Richard Dawkins would say, the whole thing is a house of cards. If just one thing is wrong with it, the whole thing comes tumbling down. After all, how can the "perfect" word of their purported sky fairy have even a single flaw in it? And if, for example, according to this antediluvian text, the world is allegedly only 6,000 years old, that is a HUGE flaw. That's like saying the distance from San Francisco to New York is not thousands of miles by the current "scientific" estimate, but only a yard. Not to cast aspersions on Christians' delicate belief system, only to point out the massive gap in disagreement between measurement and religion's wishful thinking.

Answer 6

Firstly, I assume you are NOT a Christian! You sound as if you just quote bits and pieces like so many splinter sects.
Perhaps you could put up another question with one of your "out-of-context" quotes, and say how you have interpreted it. So many non Christians operate just as you seem to be doing to "bash" the Faith , with your "simple" questions! Actually, there are no simple questions or answers in Christianity. And, as you say, many Christians are pretty dumb when it comes to responding to Christian questions. You want a relevant answer? Talk to a Priest of the one true Church!

Answer 7

probably because you are quoting verses, and saying that they mean one thing, when they really mean something else.

The media will sometimes take something from a politician's speech and quote it, "out of context," making it seem like he or she said something horrible, because the reader did not hear the context in which it was said.

It is the same for the Bible ... you need to hear the context in which things are said, in order to fully understand a verse.

Get it?

Answer 8

No, they don't understand. But mostly because you're trying to get people of the wrong denominations to reason. Something they never learned to do. Most all were raised Christian. They may have made a small switch to another denomination, but usually little difference. Plain brainwashing. Try to get them to read a college text on the Bible they won't, claiming it to be "false doctrine." There are plenty of Christians that know and admit to mistakes, contradictions ect though. Much better to talk to. But, whatever, don't argue the points. Let them express their views and if you consider them al-Qaeda Christians, just leave. You won't change them and if you did their lives would fall apart.

Answer 9

Well you don't give us the verse or what your claiming your understanding of it is. Perhaps you just want to take a quick poke at Christians?

Problem is, you can't take one sentance of a book, news article or the bible without understanding the context it was written. Your obviously looking for an argument and trying to throw something out ment to trip your Christian friends up and I suspect they are just letting you know your taking it out of context and not wanting to engage you in your little game. That would be my bet.

Answer 10

When I initially typed "What specific verse are you referring to?" And "what question do you ask them?" I was not asking you questions to put you on the defensive, but you got defensive anyway. I think you need to relax a little and realize that if you are going to ask a question in a public forum, you better be prepared to be asked specific questions and, yes, even be judged by a few people.

My questions were designed to understand better if there were specific quotes that you were asking because perhaps someone could give you their opinion on whether the verses at hand were indeed out of context. I personally am a non-believer, but try to respect all beliefs and am familiar with the bible. However, you are apparently very narrowminded and obviously posted the question more as a way to get attention (albeit negative) and to just listen to yourself. I really don't think you are open to hearing anyone's thoughts on your comment. So do us a all a favor and go back to your dungeon.

Answer 11

sounds like you are playing devils advocate. that in no pretense makes you right. almost always those playing devils advocate are taking small verses or thoughts and not the corpus of the sitation to argue the minutia of a point in an attempt to corrupt someone's beliefs. this is in fact taking verse out of context, and what you are doing.