http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=214x224583rug
Sun Nov-01-09 12:41 PM
Original message
More lies to delude stupid people.
This was read in thousands of churches to millions of people throughout the world today.
Gospel
Matthew 5:1-12a
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.â€
Why do people continue to believe this crap?
Yeah, it's much, much better to believe that we're reconfigured pond scum.
NRaleighLiberal
Sun Nov-01-09 12:47 PM
Response to Original message
1. My major question is why those who listen to it each Sunday don't live it.
For the most part, Raleigh's megachurches coddle the wealthy and greedy and read the bible as if it doesn't apply to them...as if they are already chosen, so they can grovel in the Repub party's aim to crush everyone who doesn't agree with them (or have as much money as them)
Hint: mega-churches are not the end-all and be-all of Christendom. In fact, they don't even represent the majority.
Chulanowa
Sun Nov-01-09 12:58 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. Because that's just how most protestant sects work
You don't have to do anything jesus ever said or did, you have no code of behavior or morality. all you have to do is be reasonably certain that jesus is the son of god and died on the cross, and you get a free ticket to eternal paradise.
Yet another straw man.
ZombieHorde
Sun Nov-01-09 12:59 PM
Response to Original message
3. I think some people needto feel the Universe contains justice.
Some people hate GWB enjoying massive wealth after all of the people he has killed, as opposed to so many children dying of starvation, disease, and brutality around the world. If Heaven and Hell exist, then justice will prevail.
or
Some people need to have a sense purpose to their lives. They don't want to be an arbitrary and life form trying to live on an arbitrary planet.
or
Some people never question the religion they were raised with. Everyone around believes in God, so why question it?
or
Some people have hurt themselves with alcohol or unwise sex choices and they need something to forgive them and redirect their lives.
or
Some people are scared of not existing anymore, Christianity offers them a solution, Heaven.
I kind of like that one. Mostly because it starts out with a slam against DUmmies and their hatred of GWB.
trotsky
Sun Nov-01-09 01:01 PM
Response to Original message
4. A passage that has been used to keep the poor and downtrodden in their place for centuries.
So no, even your choice for the best, noblest passage in the bible fails.
(BTW, George W. Bush no doubt thought HE was blessed as a "peacemaker" for removing Saddam Hussein. Prove him wrong, and get back to me.)
What does that even mean: "has been used to keep the poor and downtrodden in their place for centuries?" If they weren't "kept in their place," they'd be rich, greedy, money-hungry, poor-hating bastards, wouldn't they?
Maybe it's not about "keeping people in their place." Maybe it's about telling them there are better things to pursue.
darkstar3
Sun Nov-01-09 02:18 PM
Response to Reply #4
7. +1
Edited on Sun Nov-01-09 02:38 PM by darkstar3
ETA: This section of the Bible is also the chief source of the Christian persecution complex.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.â€
It's not a source of any such thing. It's a source of strength and comfort for when jackasses like you prove to be the true source of persecution against Christians.
The Magistrate
Sun Nov-01-09 02:38 PM
Response to Original message
8. Noble Sentiments, Sir, But Poor As Description Or Prediction
Edited on Sun Nov-01-09 03:32 PM by The Magistrate
Those who mourn are often not comforted, but made to suffer more.
The meek do not, repeat not, inherit a damned thing but further exploitation.
Those who hunger and thirst for righteous can expect the bitterest of disappointments in this vale of tears.
The merciful cannot rely on mercy from others, and often receive nothing resembling mercy.
The rest is pure speculation, as it requires the actual existence and coming to pass of such things as Heaven and a Kingdom of God to have any meaning, and there is only bare assertion on which to rest the possibility or actuality of either item.
So close. So very, very close, but yet so far, far away.
BurtWorm
Sun Nov-01-09 04:34 PM
Response to Original message
9. Now that you mention it, there is no good reason to believe any of it. Updated at 8:47 AM
Basically it's a promise that your good behavior will be rewarded. Sure it will...
And what do you promise? That good behavior won't be rewarded and bad behavior won't be punished. So why bother avoiding bad behavior?
stray cat
Sun Nov-01-09 05:11 PM
Response to Original message
10. Blessed be the suicide bombers, the self-righteous, the arrogant, the bullies
Edited on Sun Nov-01-09 05:12 PM by stray cat
there - feel better. Clearly the GOP should be the better party because its nice and true to the baser instincts of humans.
Don't confuse Democrats with Republicans.
MorningGlow
Sun Nov-01-09 05:46 PM
Response to Original message
11. Sounds like a bunch of commie lib pinko tree-huggin' shit to me
:P
If needed --> 
No, "commie lib pinko tree-huggin' shit" would be about tree-hugging, stopping global warming, treating animals the same as people, big government, redistribution of wealth, etc.
