More Christian irony

[pokerfan]

October 30, 2008 8:55 AM, by PZ Myers

This is a video of Barack Obama pointing out that we can't use the Christian holy book as a guide to secular law — it has bits that advocate slavery and stoning obstreperous children, and that the injunctions to "turn the other cheek" and follow the golden rule in the Sermon on the Mount would, if taken literally, put the Defense Department in violation.

The irony comes from the outraged Christian fundie voiceover. He accuses Obama of mocking the bible, and then defends it by claiming that the Sermon on the Mount is "spiritually inspiring"…completely missing the point that Obama was not saying otherwise.

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/10/more_christian_irony.php

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

1. I'm not that that's irony or just willful ignorance.

Either way, it's not good.

[pokerfan]

4. it's unintentional irony

The best kind.

[RedLetterRev]

2. Oldie but a goodie, updated

Dear Wackgelical Far-Right:

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific laws and how to follow them.

1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual cleanliness - Lev.15:19-24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.

4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don.t agree. Can you settle this?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? - Lev.24:10-16. Couldn.t we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev.20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

[pokerfan]

3. One of my favorites

even before it was used on The West Wing.

I think Sorkin and I visit the same web sites.

[knitter4democracy]

5. They never know how to deal with slavery.

I got into it once with a PR chick with Focus on the Family. When she said there were, I don't know, seven Bible verses against homosexual behavior, I countered back with the book of Philemon. There's an entire epistle written by St. Paul to a slave telling him to be happy that he's a slave and suffering for Christ, and yet, you hardly ever hear any sermons on that book anymore. If the Christian churches could agree a couple hundred years ago to go against over a thousand years of history being for slavery--especially with so many pro-slavery verses in the Bible--then why can't we use the same rationale against slavery and bigotry against homophobia and gender-based bigotry?

She went silent. I completely stumped her, and then she fell back on having to agree to disagree. :) When they don't really know Christian history or all of the Bible, even the weird or uncomfortable parts, they're easy to stump.

[pokerfan]

6. Agree to disagree on slavery?!

:wtf:

When dealing with such induhviduals I like to steer the convo towards to the ten commandments. (No homosexual prohibition there, BTW.) Invariably, they want the decalog posted in public buildings. I then ask them if they can name them. I mean this is pretty basic stuff and after all they profess to live by these rules. I generally find that nine times out of ten they can't name but more than four or five. Then again, perhaps that's why they need them plastered everywhere. :shrug:

[knitter4democracy]

7. Agree to disagree on homophobic bigotry. Well, all bigotry.

You're right--they often can't name all the commandments, either. That's when I usually follow up by asking them to name what Jesus said were the two greatest commandments. They usually can name those (many sermons on those two), but then I ask them who their neighbors are. That usually stops them and makes them think.