Sabbath for Skeptics

Jews are religious believers too. At least the ones who are not atheists.

Rumor has it that there are more atheist Jews in Israel than religious Jews.

And thank G-d Jews in the US aren’t allowed to vote.

“The Skeptical Zone” is decidedly anti-Christ.

Is it equally anti-Jewish?

If not, why not?

571 thoughts on “Sabbath for Skeptics

  1. fifthmonarchyman: If you learn nothing else from this thread you need to learn that people like me were the ones being persecuted by the folks selling indulgences.

    Ah, good honest Christians you mean? And by “the folks” you of course mean “the entire Church”.

    fifthmonarchyman: To associate me with indulgences is not just incorrect it’s a little offensive.

    You asked a question why “folks” expect things in return for their worship. I answered. You get personally offended. That’s pathetic.

  2. I think it Fifth could learn anything about religion, it would be that the structure of faith is and always has been designed to support a priesthood. And specialists who are clever enough to obfuscate the meaning of “is,” and other mysteries.

  3. Yes, we touched on that at the very start I believe. It seems that fifth does not realize that in a prior age his claims of “revelation” would have, if accepted, set him up for a comfortable life, a life unlike the peons toiling to support that life.

    These days, it’s just another preacher on the internet.

  4. OMagain: I think it Fifth could learn anything about religion, it would be that the structure of faith is and always has been designed to support a priesthood.

    Wow how could anyone be so completely mistaken?

    In Christianity unlike “religion” everyone is a priest and we have a single High Priest who will never be removed from office.

    quote:

    and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
    (Rev 1:5-6)

    and

    Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
    (Heb 7:11-19)

    and

    Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
    (Heb 4:14-16)
    end quote:

    peace

  5. OMagain: Ah, good honest Christians you mean? And by “the folks” you of course mean “the entire Church”.

    Apparently you need to study some history

    peace

  6. So having established that God is not some grey bearded old man in the sky who occasionally zots people at random, we are left with the question of who gets to elucidate the rules and who gets to enforce them.

    I see the theists have their hands raised.

    Alas, Western democracies, and quite a few non western non democracies, have decided that the rules will mostly be secular and will take the form of laws.

  7. fifthmonarchyman: In Christianity unlike “religion” everyone is a priest and we have a single High Priest who will never be removed from office.

    You are a priest, Fifth. Make no mistake about that. If you were content with simply obeying Jesus, you would be out among the poor. Instead, you are lecturing and interpreting. By your avocation we know you.

  8. fifthmonarchyman: In Christianity unlike “religion” everyone is a priest and we have a single High Priest who will never be removed from office.

    What rot. You don’t even understand your own religion. I don’t recall undergoing the Rite of Ordination.

  9. Neil Rickert: It’s called The priesthood of all believers.

    Oh, right you are. I don’t have an extensive background in this religious nonsense, given it’s all made up I never felt the urge to study it in depth.

  10. GlenDavidson: Yes, that great authority Luther alluded to a priesthood of all believers,

    Which is fine, but seems to me fmm includes non-believers in there too. fmm?

  11. OMagain: Which is fine, but seems to me fmm includes non-believers in there too. fmm?

    This will get a little erudite and pedantic but
    In a sense you as a nonbeliever is a priest. Your purpose in this world is to serve as a mediator between the creation and the creator. Whether you are fulfilling that purpose is a another matter.

    peace

  12. walto: All been explained at least thrice in my previous posts on this and other threads involving presuppositions.

    I must have missed it in all the focus on truth.

    I understood you to say that knowledge was justified true belief and that you presupposed the existence of truth. That is fine as far as it goes

    You can know (P) just in case (P) is true and you are justified in believing it to be true

    The question now is justification, How can a you be justified in claiming that what seems true from your limited subjective perspective is indeed objectively true?

    “I don’t know” is a acceptable answer
    peace

  13. OMagain: What do you think should happen to those people?

    I suppose they should loose their job if they refuse to fulfill the associated responsibilities.
    Would you not agree?

    peace

  14. fifthmonarchyman: . Your purpose in this world is to serve as a mediator between the creation and the creator. Whether you are fulfilling that purpose is a another matter.

    So the “job” is to serve as a mediator between the creation and the creator.
    I asked what should happen to the people who are not doing that job

    fifthmonarchyman: I suppose they should loose their job if they refuse to fulfill the associated responsibilities.

    I understand that to mean you would like those people to die, no other interpretation makes sense to me. In what other sense do you mean “lose their job”?

    It seems quite clear. According to you my purpose in this world is to serve as a mediator between the creation and the creator. That’s my “job”. And I should lose that job if I’m not fulfilling that purpose. I.E. die.

    And so I ask again, what color star would you like those people to wear who are “not doing their job” so you can identify them clearly?

  15. OMagain: I understand that to mean you would like those people to die, no other interpretation makes sense to me.

    Wow you are a harsh boss. I’m glad I don’t work for you. Would you really automatically kill an employee who refused to do his job?

    I can think of lots of ways to loose the job of mediator short of death.

    for example

    quote:

    And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
    (Rom 1:28)

    end quote:

    peace

  16. fifthmonarchyman: And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

    Yet the Gentiles know that God’s righteous decree means death for those who practice such sin.

    fifthmonarchyman: Would you really automatically kill an employee who refused to do his job?

    It’s not about me, it’s about what your god wants

    If you curse your father or mother, you will be put to death, and it will be your own fault.

    There are plenty of other examples of people refusing to do their “job” as seen by your god and paying for it with their lives.

    If you want to carry on exchanging bible verses, fine, but if you can explain what

    And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

    actually means in practice that would be super.

  17. fifthmonarchyman: I must have missed it in all the focus on truth.

    I understood you to say that knowledge was justified true belief and that you presupposed the existence of truth.That is fine as far as it goes

    You can know (P) just in case (P) is true and you are justified in believing it to be true

    The question now is justification, How can a you be justified in claiming that what seems true from your limited subjective perspective is indeed objectively true?

    “I don’t know” is a acceptable answer
    peace

    It is a presupposition of mine that perceptions and emotions carry some bit of initial, defeasible warrant of the truth of what they seem to convey. E.g., if I think I see something that looks blue in front of me (and have no beliefs involving something inconsistent with there being something blue in front of me), I have some evidence that there is something that is blue in front of me. All else equal, then, it is reasonable to believe that there is something blue in front of me: I’m justified in that belief.

  18. OMagain: If you want to carry on exchanging bible verses, fine, but if you can explain what

    And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

    actually means in practice that would be super.

    The text goes into pretty great length explaining itself. You can read it same as me

    OMagain: Yet the Gentiles know that God’s righteous decree means death for those who practice such sin.

    actually the text does not say that.

    quote:
    Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
    (Rom 1:32)
    end quote:

    I’m sure glad I don’t get what I deserve how about you?

    Peace

  19. walto: I have some evidence that there is something that is blue in front of me. All else equal, then, it is reasonable to believe that there is something blue in front of me: I’m justified in that belief.

    Actually you have some evidence that there is something that appears to you to be blue in front of you.

    You are making a pretty big leap from “seems to be blue” to “is blue”

    I hate to unleash the bot again but

    How do you know that what appears to you is actually reality?

    peace

  20. walto: It is a presupposition of mine that perceptions and emotions carry some bit of initial, defeasible warrant of the truth of what they seem to convey.

    So you presuppose that all perceptions and emotions have warrant even mistaken ones?

    Is this a correct characterization of your view?

    When a Boltzmann brain perceives that there is imagined milk in an imagined refrigerator do his perceptions have objective warrant?

    peace

  21. fifthmonarchyman: The text goes into pretty great length explaining itself. You can read it same as me

    Huh? The text is a sentence. It explains itself insofar as it is a sentence.

    I asked you a question and you responded by quoting from the bible:

    fifthmonarchyman: And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
    (Rom 1:28)

    Now when I ask you what that means, you tell me to continue to study the bible. That’s no answer at all.

    I think the trouble is that life is cheap in the bible. And God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done to me sounds like handing off the people you don’t like to the local equivalent of Hannibal Lecter.

    Or, you know, you could simply tell me what you meant that to mean as an answer to my question as to what should happen to those judged to not be carrying out god’s mission.

  22. OMagain: I think the trouble is that life is cheap in the bible. And God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done to me sounds like handing off the people you don’t like to the local equivalent of Hannibal Lecter.

    like I said it sounds like you would be a harsh boss. God on the other hand decided to bear with much patience those who refuse to do their job. He simply turned them over to try and figure it out for themselves.

    OMagain:you could simply tell me what you meant that to mean as an answer to my question as to what should happen to those judged to not be carrying out god’s mission.

    I am not the judge of what should happen to folks. You were the one who suggested they should die. It seems to me you were setting yourself up as judge

    quote:
    For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.
    (Mat 7:2)

    and

    Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.
    (Rom 2:1)

    and

    Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
    (Luk 6:36-37)

    End quote:

    It seems to me that does not bode well for “harsh bosses”. Those of us who are pushovers might bode a little better.

    peace

  23. fifthmonarchyman: Actually you have some evidence that there is something that appears to you to be blue in front of you.

    You are making a pretty big leap from “seems to be blue” to “is blue”

    I hate to unleash the bot again but

    How do you know that what appears to you is actually reality?

    peace

    Asked and answered.

  24. fifthmonarchyman: So you presuppose that all perceptions and emotions have warrant even mistaken ones?

    Is this a correct characterization of your view?

    When a Boltzmann brain perceives that there is imagined milk in an imagined refrigerator do his perceptions have objective warrant?

    peace

    Yes. Defeasible though.

  25. walto: Yes. Defeasible though.

    It would be interesting sometime to hear your defense. I just don’t have the energy to plow that field right now. Let’s put a pin in that one for later.

    peace

  26. fifthmonarchyman: I am not the judge of what should happen to folks. You were the one who suggested they should die.

    Well, perhaps I’ve been reading the bible and I’m all smite first ask questions later now!

    fifthmonarchyman: Those of us who are pushovers might bode a little better.

    If it does not matter if you don’t do the “job” god has given you, why would it matter if you were a nasty boss or not?

    Bode a little better then what? Eternal hell and torture for ever? For there to be a be a better there has to be a worse. And that’s what I’m trying to find out. gods happy for you to ignore your purpose in life and will do nothing but woe betide you if you are a nasty boss!

    inconsistent much?

  27. OMagain: If it does not matter if you don’t do the “job” god has given you, why would it matter if you were a nasty boss or not?

    I not sure but then again not my call

    OMagain: Bode a little better then what? Eternal hell and torture for ever?

    I don’t think the Bible ever mentions torture and for you to experience “eternal” requires immortality. Do you think that you are immortal? If you don’t why is eventual death such a big deal. You know circle of life and all that

    OMagain: gods happy for you to ignore your purpose in life and will do nothing but woe betide you if you are a nasty boss!

    1) Who said anything about God being happy?
    2) funny you should characterize the judgement you would impose as “woe betide”. If it’s so bad why did you suggest it in the first place?

    peace

  28. fifthmonarchyman: I not sure but then again not my call

    I’m asking you to interpret the holy book, to tell me what t’old man wants his people to do.

    fifthmonarchyman: I don’t think the Bible ever mentions torture

    Job had a super fun time I guess.

    fifthmonarchyman: Who said anything about God being happy?

    If there is no consequence, then it’s true to say that god is “happy” to ignore that.

    fifthmonarchyman: funny you should characterize the judgement you would impose as “woe betide”. If it’s so bad why did you suggest it in the first place?

    Death is the standard punishment in the bible.

  29. fifthmonarchyman: I not sure but then again not my call

    But you are happy to trot it out as an “explanation” and when questioned, it’s not your call. I’m just following your “logic”.

    fifthmonarchyman: It seems to me that does not bode well for “harsh bosses”. Those of us who are pushovers might bode a little better.

    I ask again, what do you mean by that? What will happen to “harsh bosses” to make them regret their harshness?

    fifthmonarchyman: I am not the judge of what should happen to folks.

    And I never said you were, did I? What I’m asking you, as the resident expert, is what your god says will happen to folks who don’t do their “job”. And so far it’s nothing will happen or it won’t “bode well”.

    And anyway, if it does not “bode well” for me to punish harshly presumably I’ll be punished harshly in my turn? By who? Your god? And so who will punish that god harshly for the sin of harsh punishment?

    Just give up.

  30. OMagain: If there is no consequence, then it’s true to say that god is “happy” to ignore that.

    Turing you over to figure it out for yourself is the ultimate consequence. Because after all it is impossible for you to figure it out for yourself if you can’t know anything.

    OMagain: Death is the standard punishment in the bible.

    Death like taxes happens to us all. Without death evolution would be impossible whats the big deal?

    quote:

    I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.
    (Ecc 3:18-20)

    end quote:

    OMagain: Job had a super fun time I guess.

    All and all yes

    quote:

    And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
    (Job 42:10)

    and

    And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.
    (Job 42:12a)
    end quote:

    peace

  31. OMagain: What I’m asking you, as the resident expert, is what your god says will happen to folks who don’t do their “job”.

    I already explained God leaves them to figure it out on their own then in the end inflicts on them what ever judgement they would choose to impose on others.

    peace

  32. fifthmonarchyman: I already explained God leaves them to figure it out on their own then in the end inflicts on them what ever judgement they would choose to impose on others.

    Very zen.

  33. OMagain: I asked you a question and you responded by quoting from the bible:

    And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
    (Rom 1:28)

    fifthmonarchyman: And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
    (Rom 1:28)

    Now when I ask you what that means, you tell me to continue to study the bible. That’s no answer at all.

    I think the trouble is that life is cheap in the bible. And God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done to me sounds like handing off the people you don’t like to the local equivalent of Hannibal Lecter.

    I was curious enough to read Paul’s epistle to the Romans for content. Seems basically an anti-LBG rant.

  34. Alan Fox: I was curious enough to read Paul’s epistle to the Romans for content.

    The whole epistle? Wow that is some curiosity

    Alan Fox: Seems basically an anti-LBG rant.

    So apparently you did not read much past the first chapter then.

    It’s amazing what folks focus in on

    I would say The first chapter is about the results of being lead by your passions instead of by reason. The LGB stuff takes up about 2 verses.

    peace

  35. fifthmonarchyman: So apparently you did not read much past the first chapter then.

    My mistake. I Thought the first chapter was the first epistle. What I read did not inspire me to read more.

  36. Alan Fox: What I read did not inspire me to read more.

    I understand. It’s not surprising given that you understood it to be a anti LGB rant

    Missing the point followed by lack of interest is the typical response from folks on your side of the fence.

    peace

  37. fifthmonarchyman: Missing the point followed by lack of interest is the typical response from folks on your side of the fence.

    There’s a fence?

    I am curious as to the provenance of the collection of texts. Who wrote what, when, why and for whom seems an interesting question both for the original texts and for the resultant compilations.

  38. For example, why the anti-gay-lesbian remarks in Romans I? I wonder who wrote it and what the real or perceived issues were at the time of writing.

  39. Alan Fox: For example, why the anti-gay-lesbian remarks in Romans I?

    I don’t think there are anti-gay-lesbian remarks in Romans one so I don’t think I can help you

    peace

  40. fifthmonarchyman,

    26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

    Maybe I’m reading too literally.

  41. Alan Fox: Maybe I’m reading too literally.

    Perhaps you are mistaking comments about sex acts for comments about people.

    I just don’t think it is a good thing to define people by what they choose to do with their gonads

    peace

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