20. People who have a "mommy love" for their faith and manmade organizations who claim to speak for God. It's all interpretation, when speaking of the Bible. What makes the priests' interpretations better than mine or yours? Knowledge? They are still only human and highly subject to flaw. And often, the Church mirrors the views of Conservative society, including any prejudices.
Men claiming to speak for God have done countless evils in the past: The oppression of blacks and slavery, the oppression of women, anti-Semitism and overall religious intolerance, homophobia, genocide, war, animal sacrifices, book burnings and censorship, the Crusades, The Salem Witch Trials, the list goes on. The Bible can be interpreted to support or attack all kinds of things, if you want to pick out certain scriptures to that means. It seems that ***s, atheists, and Muslims are the top targets nowadays in the United States. And many Churches are irresponsible for not only failing to condemn self-righteous hypocrisy and hatred among it's "faithful", but oftentimes even encouraging it. Point being in all this, though, that somewhere along the line, most logical rational human beings should be able to think and differentiate the bull**** from the positive messages and what's important and not simply take the Church's words as blind authority, without question.
Christian is NOT necessarily synonymous with morality. That myth needs to stop. I've known both some very cool and some very ****headed Christians and atheists. The funny thing about some of these more conservative churchgoers is that their so-called morality is very fake. For example, they may care about poor people if their churchis doing a food drive for the poor, but forget about them or be snotty the rest of the year. Or only extend their virtues to you, if you believe as they do. It's more of a snobby, stuck up dog and pony show with these types. Personally, I think that being as the Bible is the "word of God AS WRITTEN BY MAN (ie: subject to flaw)", it should not be taken too literally or as some strict rulebook, but more of a guide on how one should live with God. Take the *** thing, so many Christians are so worked up about, now. The Bible said also "slaves be obedient to your masters" (Ephesians 6:5-9), but we discarded that part because society has changed since then. Not to mention that the Bible never picked out homosexuality as a greater sin than anything else. Take the Leviticus part many quote (18:22- man shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind). The Leviticus portion of the Old Testament also said eating anything from the sea without fins & scales is an "abomination", or wearing polycotton blends, but you don't see Christians picketing Red Lobster or attacking vanity with the same scorn. Why? Man selectively targeted it, and it's a society issue, not a religious one.
Tried mybest not to sound too angry. Just bringing these things up.
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