The flaws of NT-based morality

[Doug Shaver]

The other problem is that skeptics are largely (and often willfully) ignorant of proper Biblical interpretation,

What we are ignorant of is any reason to think one particular sect of Christians has any more authority than another to decide which interpretation is the proper interpretation.

[Tassman]

what a lot of liberals don't realize is that much of the confederate symbolism (flags, statues, place names) came about as part of the reconciliation between north and south. Honoring the soldiers of the south was a way to embrace the south back into the Union, to say all is forgiven, welcome back brother, let's have peace. By destroying the statues, taking down the flags, renaming the streets and buildings, they are taking all that away.

What a load of rubbish. Far from being an attempt at "reconciliation between north and south" they constitute an act of defiance...unfinished business as it were. It was precisely because of this that the Supremacists initially congregated in Lee Park by a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee for their hate-filled, Alt-Right rally.

[Kbertsche]

The other problem is that skeptics are largely (and often willfully) ignorant of proper Biblical interpretation, so the accusation of "selectivity" is more often than not a knee-jerk reaction rather than a reasoned rebuttal.

What we are ignorant of is any reason to think one particular sect of Christians has any more authority than another to decide which interpretation is the proper interpretation.

And you only reinforce Mountain Man's point. You seem to have no clue that biblical hermeneutics is a well developed field, with a generally accepted methodology, generally leading to similar conclusions by careful exegetes.

[JimL]

lol. typical jimmy. deny! then admit he doesn't even know the truth.

Typical Sparko, doesn't understand what a hypothetical argument is.

Yes Jim. study some history.

History has nothing to do with whether it is right or wrong to glorify the treasonous white supremacists, and the flag they fought under. Should the Germans glorify Hitler with statues and Nazi flags flying because its their heritage? I don't think so.

[Doug Shaver]

You seem to have no clue that biblical hermeneutics is a well developed field, with a generally accepted methodology, generally leading to similar conclusions by careful exegetes.

I take my clues from what those exegetes say about how they defend their conclusions.

[Mountain Man]

And you only reinforce Mountain Man's point. You seem to have no clue that biblical hermeneutics is a well developed field, with a generally accepted methodology, generally leading to similar conclusions by careful exegetes.

Skeptics like to start with the obviously absurd premise that every proposed interpretation is on equal footing and that there is no reliable method for determining which is probably the correct one, and that when faced with competing ideas, we should throw our hands up in despair. Funny how they don't approach science with that same mindset. Of course they'll say:

"But in science , we can do experiments and eliminate propositions that are false!"

While it's true that you can't conduct experiments on Biblical texts, this is a red herring which ignores the larger point that scientists will study a matter in order to acquire additional knowledge until they arrive at what is most likely the truth, which is exactly what we do when interpreting scripture.

[Roy]

Skeptics like to start with the obviously absurd premise that every proposed interpretation is on equal footing...

That is an obviously absurd premise - which is why I strongly doubt skeptics start with it. I know I don't.

[Kbertsche]

You seem to have no clue that biblical hermeneutics is a well developed field, with a generally accepted methodology, generally leading to similar conclusions by careful exegetes.

I take my clues from what those exegetes say about how they defend their conclusions.

Are you sure that you are looking at the reasoning of "careful exegetes", rather than off-the-cuff comments by those who are careless or untrained?

[One Bad Pig]

That is an obviously absurd premise - which is why I strongly doubt skeptics start with it. I know I don't.

I agree that the premise is obviously absurd, but many skeptics argue from it nonetheless. Personally, I suspect most of them are being disingenuous when they do so.

[Sparko]

What a load of rubbish. Far from being an attempt at "reconciliation between north and south" they constitute an act of defiance...unfinished business as it were. It was precisely because of this that the Supremacists initially congregated in Lee Park by a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee for their hate-filled, Alt-Right rally.

Tassman you have zero understanding of the Civil War. It was a horrible time where brother fought against brother. It was not just about racism and slavery. It was a complicated situation. After the war, both sides wanted to repair the damage and wanted to heal the wounds. Both sides were American and there were many deaths on both sides. They wanted to reconcile and honor the dead from both sides. There is even a town called Gettysburg, South Dakota where veterans from the North and the South got together and started a town just to reconcile. The police there today wear badges with crossed US and Confederate flags. When the protestors tried to get them to remove the flags and symbols of the confederacy, the town refused because it was founded on the reconciliation of both sides and they want to honor the veterans who started the town.

[Mountain Man]

That is an obviously absurd premise - which is why I strongly doubt skeptics start with it. I know I don't.

I've seen the argument presented often enough to know it's common among skeptics.

[Roy]

Many? Some? A few? Are you talking about the majority, or just the JM-equivalent strata like Boris?

[Sparko]

Typical Sparko, doesn't understand what a hypothetical argument is.

it shows you don't even know what really happened or why.

History has nothing to do with whether it is right or wrong to glorify the treasonous white supremacists, and the flag they fought under. Should the Germans glorify Hitler with statues and Nazi flags flying because its their heritage? I don't think so.

Hilarious. You call the south Treasonous because they wanted to secede from the Union. Yet you liberals are cheering on Calexit to get California to secede from the Union. And go around shouting, "Not My President!" and doing everything they can to undermine the duly elected US government.

Are YOU a traitor, JimL? Are the Califorians traitors? The Antifa? the Democrats?

[Mountain Man]

Many? Some? A few? Are you talking about the majority, or just the JM-equivalent strata like Boris?

All I can tell you is that I've encountered that sort of argument often enough to convince me that it's a prevalent view among skeptics. It's not like I can give you exact numbers, but my gut tells me it's greater than 50%.

[Tassman]

All I can tell you is that I've encountered that sort of argument often enough to convince me that it's a prevalent view among skeptics. It's not like I can give you exact numbers, but my gut tells me it's greater than 50%.

Oh sure. "A lot of people are saying" . . . to quote your hero Trump.