Conservative Xians: Just as sincere as any other believers

[Modem Butterfly]

I think most conservatives are sincere when they say that they are Xians. I think that they strongly feel that they are doing what they feel that Christ would have wanted them to do. I think many of them believe that liberals are, in fact, the false Xians.


When you read the Bible there's much that is open to interpretation because the Bible is a collection of writings directed at people who lived two to three thousand years ago. No one would expect us to base foreign or domestic policy on The Epic of Gilgamesh, and no one ever asks Presidential candidates their stance on Beowulf's heroism.

Isn't it time religion became private again?

[Modem Butterfly]

1. I have to say though

It would be pretty cool to ask a Presidential candidate if they at least KNOW who Beowulf is.

[flakey_foont]

3. Beowulf movie supposedly coming out next summer

so, ...

[Modem Butterfly]

4. Well there you go!

Though it's certain not to appeal to someone like George Bush or Dan Quayle.

[AngryAmish]

5. Angelina Jolie is Grendal's mom

She does not exactly look like the ogre type, but with proper hair and makeup....

and she does seem to have a habit of collecting other people's children...

[Modem Butterfly]

6. ROFLMAO!

:rofl:

[BigMcLargehuge]

9. There's already been one...

From the people who brought your Mortal Kombat...

Beowulf (AKA, How to Torture your English Literature Savvy Pals for 95 Minutes)

You know, there are times when I regret spending all those years in college...

Okay, just what in the hell is up with Christopher Lambert? Was he perhaps devoured by a pod leaving only a visually similar dopelganger to roam the Earth? Was his killed in some bizarre accident and replaced with a double sometime after Highlander? Perhaps he was strapped down and lobotomized... At any rate I think that Lambert’s career is just about over now.

I offer proof in the form of “Beowulf.” A completely unnecessary “update” of the 6th century Old English poem, which in this form is:

A: not a poem
B: Not in Old English

These two traits alone should send your Literature-majoring pals into spastic fits of excrement flinging fury.

So much for that whole “there can be only one” thing... And as far as the Highlander movies goes, “there should have been only one,” but defecating all over the Highlander franchise is for another review.

So, where are we in our exploration of Beowulf? Well for one thing it advertises itself as “from the executive producers of Mortal Kombat” and if that don’t make you run screaming for the video store exit, nothing will. I mean, has anyone actually seen Mortal Kombat or Mortal Kombat 2? They sucked, they were boring, poorly acted, barely scripted, and suffered from obvious fight-scene enhancement illness. Why not make Dig-Dug the Movie, or Pong: The Motion Picture.

Read the rest here - http://www.horrorview.com/Beowulf%20shame.htm

[B3Nut]

11. If they guessed correctly...

...would they get a free bottle of mead? :)

Better wine stores are supposed to carry it, Ive been meaning to hunt down a bottle...I hear tell it's really yummy stuff. I'm definitely intrigued by the prospect of a honey-based wine...sounds tasty.

Todd in Beer(burp)bratistan :beer:

[ret5hd]

2. i personally disagree...

i think in their "heart of hearts" they "know" that their god is against greed, discrimination, murder-for-oil, conspicuous consumption, etc...but they use the words of their preacher as a burn victim would use salve on his wounds.

(but then, i'm an atheist, what would i know)

[Bellamia]

7. "A-theists" know a lot..............

I certainly do! To my way of thinking, atheists are non-believers in the THEISTIC God as portrayed by the Fundies, and not so Fundies. It takes a great mind to make the distinction between a Theist, and their opposite, a Deist, a believer in a greater power, first cause, loving Presence, etc. If this doesn't make sense, its hard to explain, right? Let's just say, "we know."

[MN ChimpH8R]

8. Sincerity isn't the issue

Believing in something that is, by the standards of the civilized and rational world, completely f@cking insane is the problem. There were plenty of sincere Nazis, plenty of sincere Fascisti, and there are currently plenty of sincere Muslim extremists. Hell, there are plenty of sincere schizophrenics but that doesn't make what they believe any more sane or real. "Sincerity" is no excuse.

[WyLoochka]

10. I have experienced that they

are "sincere" - but I have also experienced that they have been made stupid by the fear of going to Hell, so they will accept whatever is said by their pastors and elders. They are taught questioning of their pastors and elders is a sign that Satan is trying to tempt them.

They do not question why the the Sermon on The Mount, the parables of Jesus and the First and, especially, the Second Great Commandments are not made central to the teachings from their pulpits.

They don't realize they are being seriouly misled away from the message of Jesus by the Pauline Epistles, Book of Daniel, Book of Revelation, and the idolatry of Mosaic Law based sermons and Bible class teachings that they hear over and over and over again ad nauseam.

They may be "sincere" in their efforts to show conformity to and acceptance of these non Jesus based teachings in order to be regarded by their own pastors, elders and congregations as "true believers" but the constant willful supression of the message of Jesus within their own minds leaves them full of fear, ignorance and focus on self (their own eternal salvation) and this makes them very easy pawns for today's Pharisees.

Their "sincerity" is meaningless in the overall sheme of things. Just because they have been so easily fooled doesn't mean the rest of us have to join them. And just because they are "sincere" in their cockamamie beliefs doesn't mean we should let them make the laws the rest of have to live with.

[GreenPartyVoter]

14. Yes, shame and fear are major marketing techniques employed by

the "only way" religions. My husband is appalled that I am a universalist and cannot fathom how I can even call myself a christian anymore. He is quite smug about me attending his church, and thinks that hearing those sermons and participating in Sunday School will convert me back.

As if.

I worry that since he will be teaching Sunday School soon that he is going to go more fundagelical on me. *sigh*

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. You are correct in your theory. I sit next to those sincere Christians

weekly. We each shake our heads at the other not knowing how they could get it so wrong. *lol*

But I am sorry, if their starting point is that everything in the Bible is TRUE in a literal sense, things get skewed. Especially when they don't opt to faithfully recreate the life and times of Christ now. To me, that looks hypocritical right there. *g*

[Sgent]

13. In my experience

growing up in the deep, deep south...

Anyone who brings up Christianity w/o you asking or it being a natural part of the conversation, is most likely insincere.

I've known some truly pious people here -- people that would never dream of forcing something on you, but would rather display the attributes of Jesus as best they understand them. I have immeasurable respect for these people, who love humanity and God's world, and try to live that every day.

As a non-christian, I have also gone drinking/partying with many people -- but only in the next town over. I've seen too much theft and pettiness, and general human behavior. I've seen people who don't care about others, etc. People who speak the loudest in most cases, are the worst offenders. Hypocrisy abounds.