Jesus: Tie a millstone around your neck Trump, Sessions, & Miller and jump into the sea...

[Hekate]

Jesus' teaching is quoted in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and runs like this:

"...but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."

A lot of good quotes have been dredged up this past week, but I hadn't seen this one yet.

[True Dough]

1. It seems there's a biblical quote for every occasion

I hope Trump, Sessions and Miller take you up on that suggestion.

[Wounded Bear]

2. That's part of its problem...

[Hekate]

4. Those three are sadists, the real deal, the kind who get a pleasurable jolt from inflicting pain...

Trump does it with a bully's swagger. Sessions does it with a sweet smile and a twinkle in his eye. Miller -- gah.

They should horrify anyone with a soul.

To your point, you can find almost anything in the Bible, especially if you cherrypick with ill intent, take out of context, and so on.

Sessions did that by quoting Paul: In the context of his time, Paul was trying to make missionary inroads into the Roman Empire, and was trying to not make unnecessary waves if possible. Converts were being thrown into prison, tortured, killed, so you can see his point.

On the other hand, Saul of Tarsus, later called Paul, never actually met Jesus. A lot of what was later considered foundational to the Church was Paul's interpretation rather than the parables of the wandering rabbi. Parables need to be unpacked, in any case, but you have to look at who is doing the unpacking.

Part of the problem with that particular passage is the way it has been used over the centuries to justify oppression and slavery. How fitting that a Son of the Old South should dredge it up just now.

[pnwmom]

11. +1000. nt

[BarbD]

12. Profound comments on biblical citation.

Literal interpretation of the Bible is a slippery slope.

[madamesilverspurs]

15. This from a pastor friend:

"We are to carry the Word in our hearts. Be wary of those who carry it in a holster."


.

[saidsimplesimon]

3. Hekate,

In my experience, "bible thumpers" don't actually read the bible. Sheeple prefer a minister or some other power figure to tell them what they think as a gaggle, without an individual, curious brain. imo

[Hekate]

6. That certainly was the case with my daughter's first husband, who went to a "Christian" high school

Based on his abysmal and proud ignorance, I'd guess that the principal must've waved a copy of the Bible over their heads at some point or other but never opened it. He kept trying to provoke arguments with my husband and me, I guess on the basis that hubby is Jewish and I'm a Unitarian. Poor dear, the two of us have actually read the Bible, and in more than one translation. Just because we are not believers doesn't mean we are stupid.

[saidsimplesimon]

9. I agree.

Please consider me a "member" of your extended family.

Poor dear, the two of us have actually read the Bible, and in more than one translation. Just because we are not believers doesn't mean we are stupid.

[MineralMan]

5. Apparently, Sessions isn't familiar with the book of Matthew.

He's one of those Paulist Christians who only read Paul's letters. They abound out in Republican Christendom.

[Ilsa]

7. Joe Scarboroughused that one the other morning.

Lots of good ones coming up.

[Hekate]

8. Glad to hear it! Next I want a real mea culpa from Joe for all the free air time he gave Trump...

...back when he was a candidate.

[GeorgeGist]

10. That's some twisted shit.

[Hekate]

13. I would definitely say that ripping infants and children from their mothers' arms is twisted shit

Hope you saw Jeff Sessions talking about the raison d'etre of that policy: to spread the news that this admin is going to make it unutterably painful to even think of asking for asylum. He said it with a twinkle in his eyes and a little smile of glee.

Then he quoted the Bible to justify this behavior.

As I am sure you know by now, he and Sarah Hucks are not the only ones who can play that game, because there is a whole lotta Scripture exhorting Jews and later on Christians to be merciful to "the strangers within your gates" and to treat others as you would be treated yourselves.



NOT IN MY NAME, YOU EVIL BASTARDS

[LudwigPastorius]

14. Hmmm...it's almost like He was hinting tha there's a 'special place in hell' for those who...

promote and carry out the abuse of children.

[Politicub]

16. Trump has tied a millstone around christianity's neck

And is dragging the whole enterprise down into the sea with him. Unless someone is a fundamentalist or hard-right evangelical, they see how the conservative christian establishment are hypocrites for embracing Trump while turning a blind eye to his constant stream of lies, mistreatment of women, and the warehousing of children.

[Stinky The Clown]

17. Can we get a round of Amens?