Comments on: A Return to Reason http://www.midwest-populistamerica.com/articles/a-return-to-reason/ Making America Safe for Democracy Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:11:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Russell Cole http://www.midwest-populistamerica.com/articles/a-return-to-reason/#comment-6948 Sat, 02 Jun 2007 00:05:38 +0000 http://www.midwest-populistamerica.com/articles/a-return-to-reason/#comment-6948 I will only point out that I have read as many translations and as many gospels as possible, and the only thing I became convinced of was the fact that antiquity possessed a genre of literature that should not be considered equivalent to the conventional grammar dictating the construction of the modern day biography. If one looks at the literature produced by early Christians, intertextually in totality, he or she will become convinced that the authors of these accounts were only loosely inhibited by any constraints that might result from a responsibility for historical accuracy. Rather, the authors took liberties in their renderings of the life of Jesus in order to frame their own didactic messages. There are only about 5 convergences of similarly identified 'facts' from Jesus' life to which the Biblical gospels reference. Therefore, it is perfectly allowable to blame the messenger, because in reality we have no idea what Jesus really did, nor what he actually preached. I will only point out that I have read as many translations and as many gospels as possible, and the only thing I became convinced of was the fact that antiquity possessed a genre of literature that should not be considered equivalent to the conventional grammar dictating the construction of the modern day biography. If one looks at the literature produced by early Christians, intertextually in totality, he or she will become convinced that the authors of these accounts were only loosely inhibited by any constraints that might result from a responsibility for historical accuracy. Rather, the authors took liberties in their renderings of the life of Jesus in order to frame their own didactic messages. There are only about 5 convergences of similarly identified ‘facts’ from Jesus’ life to which the Biblical gospels reference. Therefore, it is perfectly allowable to blame the messenger, because in reality we have no idea what Jesus really did, nor what he actually preached.

]]> by: Adam http://www.midwest-populistamerica.com/articles/a-return-to-reason/#comment-6875 Thu, 31 May 2007 22:20:55 +0000 http://www.midwest-populistamerica.com/articles/a-return-to-reason/#comment-6875 What are you atheists complaining about now...you sound just like the religious fanatics you accuse of taking your right to believe in nothing (which to me isn't reasonable or rational). I'm agnostic and you know what it's alright. Get over it, religious people are going to do this, just like you're going to do what you’re doing...complain. You're just as much a part of the problem as they are. So stop putting yourself up on a pedestal and preach about how your thoughts and your ideas of reality are the truth and condemning those who think differently. Try to understand that there is a difference between the humbled religious man and the crazy extremist. I can't believe that you say Bush is a man of God just because he says he is (it's just a face people, just a face) lol. Oh, and that some rednecks in Kentucky represent all religion...does this really scare you? Damn you guys would have coward back in the 1800's. Religion has shaped our world today, we owe it something. It has been the history maker, for better or worse...it doesn't matter its history. It will be with us forever, and people will continue to misinterpret its core message...for peace, love, and tolerance. Don't let some fundamentalist mix the message. Just remember war will always be around, its human nature...doesn't make it right, but it’s not religions fault. War is not caused because a man said love one another and thy God. Get over it...just be happy you're alive! What are you atheists complaining about now…you sound just like the religious fanatics you accuse of taking your right to believe in nothing (which to me isn’t reasonable or rational). I’m agnostic and you know what it’s alright.

Get over it, religious people are going to do this, just like you’re going to do what you’re doing…complain. You’re just as much a part of the problem as they are. So stop putting yourself up on a pedestal and preach about how your thoughts and your ideas of reality are the truth and condemning those who think differently.

Try to understand that there is a difference between the humbled religious man and the crazy extremist. I can’t believe that you say Bush is a man of God just because he says he is (it’s just a face people, just a face) lol. Oh, and that some rednecks in Kentucky represent all religion…does this really scare you? Damn you guys would have coward back in the 1800’s.

Religion has shaped our world today, we owe it something. It has been the history maker, for better or worse…it doesn’t matter its history. It will be with us forever, and people will continue to misinterpret its core message…for peace, love, and tolerance. Don’t let some fundamentalist mix the message.

Just remember war will always be around, its human nature…doesn’t make it right, but it’s not religions fault. War is not caused because a man said love one another and thy God. Get over it…just be happy you’re alive!

]]> by: Andrew Dickson http://www.midwest-populistamerica.com/articles/a-return-to-reason/#comment-6869 Thu, 31 May 2007 20:43:41 +0000 http://www.midwest-populistamerica.com/articles/a-return-to-reason/#comment-6869 Russell, thanks for the thought-provoking post. Just remember that Fundamentalism is religion's panicked response to Postmodern skepticism and our ability to understand the Bible as one myth among many. Religion at its worst is monolithic and totalitarian. Science at its best is skeptical and open-minded. The important thing to keep in mind is that being tolerant of other views does not mean you have to remain passive when those views are harmful, antagonistic, or just plain wrong. Russell, thanks for the thought-provoking post.

Just remember that Fundamentalism is religion’s panicked response to Postmodern skepticism and our ability to understand the Bible as one myth among many. Religion at its worst is monolithic and totalitarian. Science at its best is skeptical and open-minded. The important thing to keep in mind is that being tolerant of other views does not mean you have to remain passive when those views are harmful, antagonistic, or just plain wrong.

]]> by: Leo Hoefer MA, MDiv, PhD http://www.midwest-populistamerica.com/articles/a-return-to-reason/#comment-6865 Thu, 31 May 2007 20:16:55 +0000 http://www.midwest-populistamerica.com/articles/a-return-to-reason/#comment-6865 "A Return To Reason" was well done, but most readers would not understand its terminology or philosophical perspective. The decrease in our American educational standards is inversely proportional to the increase in biblical fundamentalism. Faith now reigns over reason, continuing the ancient debate: "Credo ut intelligam" instead of "Intelligo ut credam". The lowering of general curriculum standards extends even to the universities as political expediency replaces general scholarship, and technical specialization replaces cultural improvement “A Return To Reason” was well done, but most readers would not understand its terminology or philosophical perspective. The decrease in our American educational standards is inversely proportional to the increase in biblical fundamentalism. Faith now reigns over reason, continuing the ancient debate: “Credo ut intelligam” instead of “Intelligo ut credam”.

The lowering of general curriculum standards extends even to the universities as political expediency replaces general scholarship, and technical specialization replaces cultural improvement

]]> by: vjack http://www.midwest-populistamerica.com/articles/a-return-to-reason/#comment-6864 Thu, 31 May 2007 20:11:44 +0000 http://www.midwest-populistamerica.com/articles/a-return-to-reason/#comment-6864 Thanks for the link. I agree completely about Bush and the dangers of faith-based decision making. To the two previous commenters, I would say yes, everyone should read the Christian bible. That would create many more atheists, benefiting America greatly. Thanks for the link. I agree completely about Bush and the dangers of faith-based decision making. To the two previous commenters, I would say yes, everyone should read the Christian bible. That would create many more atheists, benefiting America greatly.

]]> by: Tess http://www.midwest-populistamerica.com/articles/a-return-to-reason/#comment-6856 Thu, 31 May 2007 18:48:00 +0000 http://www.midwest-populistamerica.com/articles/a-return-to-reason/#comment-6856 Don't give up on the Bible, yet. Read it yourself; several different translations, to give yourself the REAL Word of God! It alarms me that a "historical" museum (be it creationism-based, or not) gives as absolute truth that Cain 'married' (WHO married them?!) his sister! NOwhere in Genesis does it even IMPLY this! However, it DOES say that he (Cain) asked God to do something so that he would not be killed during his exile. HELLO?!?! HOW could he be killed, if there were no other people on the earth?!?!?!? PLUS, if people know their Bible, God wasn't/isn't very happy when people slept with their immediate kin. Check it out for yourself, there's a bunch of cool stuff in there. Tess :o) Don’t give up on the Bible, yet. Read it yourself; several different translations, to give yourself the REAL Word of God! It alarms me that a “historical” museum (be it creationism-based, or not) gives as absolute truth that Cain ‘married’ (WHO married them?!) his sister! NOwhere in Genesis does it even IMPLY this! However, it DOES say that he (Cain) asked God to do something so that he would not be killed during his exile. HELLO?!?! HOW could he be killed, if there were no other people on the earth?!?!?!? PLUS, if people know their Bible, God wasn’t/isn’t very happy when people slept with their immediate kin. Check it out for yourself, there’s a bunch of cool stuff in there.

Tess :o )

]]> by: Stephen http://www.midwest-populistamerica.com/articles/a-return-to-reason/#comment-6855 Thu, 31 May 2007 18:35:27 +0000 http://www.midwest-populistamerica.com/articles/a-return-to-reason/#comment-6855 I say we return to Biblical standards in this ungodly and wicked nation. I say we abandon the lie of postmodernism and embrace the the Word of God for what it is, THE revealed tuth from God to mankind. Postmodernism is a lie from the devil himself and all those who believe such non-sense are pawns of the devil himself. THe Word of God is Holy, Pure and just as applicable for today as it was 6,000 years ago. May God have mercy on this wicked and ungodly nation. I say we return to Biblical standards in this ungodly and wicked nation. I say we abandon the lie of postmodernism and embrace the the Word of God for what it is, THE revealed tuth from God to mankind. Postmodernism is a lie from the devil himself and all those who believe such non-sense are pawns of the devil himself. THe Word of God is Holy, Pure and just as applicable for today as it was 6,000 years ago. May God have mercy on this wicked and ungodly nation.

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