Comments on: Cherry-Picking and A bible Lesson For Atheists http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/04/07/cherry-picking-and-a-bible-lesson-for-atheists/ Skeptical Freethought Atheist Musings to Dispel Ignorance and Enlighten the Mind Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:42:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Neece http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/04/07/cherry-picking-and-a-bible-lesson-for-atheists/comment-page-1/#comment-1924 Neece Fri, 22 May 2009 06:02:45 +0000 http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/?p=1277#comment-1924 Hi Phil. You sound like my atheist husband. He calls himself a "recovering catholic". :P Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree with you! :D Hi Phil. You sound like my atheist husband. He calls himself a “recovering catholic”. :P
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree with you! :D

]]> By: Phil E. Drifter http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/04/07/cherry-picking-and-a-bible-lesson-for-atheists/comment-page-1/#comment-1898 Phil E. Drifter Wed, 20 May 2009 14:35:08 +0000 http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/?p=1277#comment-1898 Indeed; I also stumbled across a page recently which quoted from the bible that 'public worship' was bad and only done by people to display their piety and that 'recorded, set-in-stone prayers' were the wrong way to do it. But on the whole I'm an atheist even though my mother did send myself and 3 older siblings each to 12 years of catholic school. I recognize the fact that religion = control and I've freed myself from those chains. I refuse to believe in childish fairy tales about 'eternal life' after death because they are nothing more than whimsical fancies of people who cannot accept the fact that we are mortal. I however can accept that fact. Indeed; I also stumbled across a page recently which quoted from the bible that ‘public worship’ was bad and only done by people to display their piety and that ‘recorded, set-in-stone prayers’ were the wrong way to do it. But on the whole I’m an atheist even though my mother did send myself and 3 older siblings each to 12 years of catholic school. I recognize the fact that religion = control and I’ve freed myself from those chains. I refuse to believe in childish fairy tales about ‘eternal life’ after death because they are nothing more than whimsical fancies of people who cannot accept the fact that we are mortal. I however can accept that fact.

]]> By: Neece http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/04/07/cherry-picking-and-a-bible-lesson-for-atheists/comment-page-1/#comment-1881 Neece Wed, 20 May 2009 01:02:21 +0000 http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/?p=1277#comment-1881 Thanks Roi des Foux, I see what you're saying about who said what, but in the end you're also right that it really doesn't matter whether he said it directly or as a parable. It's still hateful, like so much of the bible. Thanks Roi des Foux, I see what you’re saying about who said what, but in the end you’re also right that it really doesn’t matter whether he said it directly or as a parable. It’s still hateful, like so much of the bible.

]]> By: Roi des Foux http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/04/07/cherry-picking-and-a-bible-lesson-for-atheists/comment-page-1/#comment-1868 Roi des Foux Tue, 19 May 2009 03:55:39 +0000 http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/?p=1277#comment-1868 Actually, I'm pretty sure that Luke 19:27 *was* Jesus talking. If you look at the parable (verses 11-27: http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/lk/19.html#11 ), you notice a pattern: every time someone says something, it is immediately preceded by "And he/they said unto them/him..." The last 4 verses are as follows: 19:24 And [the king] said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 19:25 (And [the servants] said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) 19:26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. 19:27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. Notice that the comment by the servants is parenthetical, indicating that 26 & 27 have the same speaker as verse 24. However, all the oldest manuscripts are completely lacking in punctuation, which means that the parentheses were added by a later scribe who thought they should go there. If the end were to follow the format of the rest of the parable, there should be a "And he said unto them..." at the beginning of verse 26. Since it doesn't follow that pattern, it seems much more likely that we've stepped back out of the parable, and that's Jesus talking. Secondly, notice that every time the king says something, it's phrased as "...he said unto them..." Verse 26 breaks this pattern too, starting "For I say unto you..." Third, so what if it's part of the parable? The king represents god, and having the king say "I want to watch you kill those who don't want me to rule them" isn't just a leeeeetle odd for a benevolent deity? Actually, I’m pretty sure that Luke 19:27 *was* Jesus talking. If you look at the parable (verses 11-27: http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/lk/19.html#11 ), you notice a pattern: every time someone says something, it is immediately preceded by “And he/they said unto them/him…”
The last 4 verses are as follows:

19:24 And [the king] said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
19:25 (And [the servants] said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
19:26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
19:27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

Notice that the comment by the servants is parenthetical, indicating that 26 & 27 have the same speaker as verse 24. However, all the oldest manuscripts are completely lacking in punctuation, which means that the parentheses were added by a later scribe who thought they should go there. If the end were to follow the format of the rest of the parable, there should be a “And he said unto them…” at the beginning of verse 26. Since it doesn’t follow that pattern, it seems much more likely that we’ve stepped back out of the parable, and that’s Jesus talking.

Secondly, notice that every time the king says something, it’s phrased as “…he said unto them…” Verse 26 breaks this pattern too, starting “For I say unto you…”

Third, so what if it’s part of the parable? The king represents god, and having the king say “I want to watch you kill those who don’t want me to rule them” isn’t just a leeeeetle odd for a benevolent deity?

]]> By: Neece http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/04/07/cherry-picking-and-a-bible-lesson-for-atheists/comment-page-1/#comment-1557 Neece Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:28:31 +0000 http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/?p=1277#comment-1557 I have visions of Paul scuttling around like a dung beetle, all grumpy and hateful, saying that now. That's too funny, Steve! LOL! I have visions of Paul scuttling around like a dung beetle, all grumpy and hateful, saying that now. That’s too funny, Steve! LOL!

]]> By: Neece http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/04/07/cherry-picking-and-a-bible-lesson-for-atheists/comment-page-1/#comment-1556 Neece Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:27:32 +0000 http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/?p=1277#comment-1556 Good points, Jeshua! Thanks for commenting. :) Good points, Jeshua! Thanks for commenting. :)

]]> By: Neece http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/2009/04/07/cherry-picking-and-a-bible-lesson-for-atheists/comment-page-1/#comment-1555 Neece Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:26:08 +0000 http://www.heavingdeadcats.com/?p=1277#comment-1555 Yeah, if I had a dollar for every time a christian said or did something hypocritical, I'd be rich! Yeah, if I had a dollar for every time a christian said or did something hypocritical, I’d be rich!

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