> From: Nick Arnett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On > > Behalf Of The Fool > > ... > > > > conquestadors, slavery, apartheid, and feudal systems were political > > and > > > > conquistadors: conquer, take gold, convert to catholicism. Notice how > > most of south America is adamantly catholic? > > I don't think there's any question that the primary goal, far and away, was > material. And there's a very good argument that Catholicism was (and still > often is) abused by the minority to retain political and economic power. > The fact that religion can be misused so effectively doesn't prove that it > is bad, only that it is very powerful. > > > Slavery was ever aided and abetted by the bible, the bible says slavery > > is OK, tells how to mark slaves, how to treat slaves, how to sell slaves, > > how to free slaves (except female slaves). It was the religious who used > > the bible as justification for slavery in the south, before-during-after > > the civil war. > > Same argument as above. The war was about economics and states' rights, > wasn't it?
No. Titus 2:9-10 Let slaves be in subjection to their owners in all things, and please them well, not talking back, 10 not committing theft, but exhibiting good fidelity to the full, so that they may adorn the teaching of our Savior, God, in all things. 1 Peter 2:18-20 18 Let house servants be in subjection to their owners with all due fear, not only to the good and reasonable, but also to those hard to please. 19 For if someone, because of conscience toward God, bears up under grievous things and suffers unjustly, this is an agreeable thing. 20 For what merit is there in it if, when YOU are sinning and being slapped, YOU endure it? But if, when YOU are doing good and YOU suffer, YOU endure it, this is a thing agreeable with God. > > divine right of kings: Kings can do anything because god appointed them, > > and so they are acting on behalf of god. This is a pivotal christian > > doctrine. > > No, it is most certainly not. That is a medieval idea that was quite > self-serving for those in power. Although the Bible says that leaders > fulfill God's purposes, it also quite clearly says that the purpose may be > to show people a negative example. Christianity teaches that *everyone* > makes mistakes, except Adam before the Fall and Christ. > > You'd do well to learn more about what Christianity actually teaches if > you're going to criticize it. Criticism that is based on extreme > interpretations isn't going to convince the mainstream. We're not all > right-wing fundamentalists. Romans 13:1-4 13 Let every soul be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God; the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God. 2 Therefore he who opposes the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God; those who have taken a stand against it will receive judgment to themselves. 3 For those ruling are an object of fear, not to the good deed, but to the bad. Do you, then, want to have no fear of the authority? Keep doing good, and you will have praise from it; 4 for it is God's minister to you for your good. But if you are doing what is bad, be in fear: for it is not without purpose that it bears the sword; for it is God's minister, an avenger to express wrath upon the one practicing what is bad. Colossians 1:16 16 because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him and for him. Titus 3:1-2 3 Continue reminding them to be in subjection and be obedient to governments and authorities as rulers, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak injuriously of no one, not to be belligerent, to be reasonable, exhibiting all mildness toward all men. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
