Is it wrong to demand evidence?

[ananda]

Indeed. He gave his life as a sacrifice. We do not sacrifice him again--or anyone else--however.

Isn't this blood sacrifice the central event of Christianity?

 

[Albion]

Isn't his blood sacrifice the central event of Christianity?

What's your point? That Christianity is identical in its beliefs and practices to Judaism?

 

[RDKirk]

Yet, you are Christian?

I don't fit comfortably in American culture. Never have--I was taught at a young age that I was not a member of the greater American culture and that that culture did not want me as a member. By the time I was a teenager I realized that I didn't want to be.

 

[ananda]

What's your point? That Christianity is identical in its beliefs and practices to Judaism?

Just that "I marvel how an ancient middle-eastern sacrificial blood religion (among many others) became the largest world religion."

 

[Albion]

Yes, I understand that is generally the standard Christian interpretation of that verse, but forgive me if I disagree ... IMO it would be a useless statement made by Jesus if the standard interpretation was the case. It's like saying "One day mankind will travel to Alpha Centauri. It will happen to this generation that lives to experience that." Kinda pointless to add that, IMO.

You're entitled. The point of this mini-discussion isn't whose interpretation of every verse in scripture is correct and whose is not, right? It began when I questioned the accuracy of this comment about the Christian religion:

"I marvel how an ancient middle-eastern sacrificial blood religion (among many others) became the largest world religion. "

Judaism may be described that way, but "sacrificial blood religion" isn't a correct description of Christianity.

 

[ananda]

You're entitled. The point of this mini-discussion isn't whose interpretation of every verse in scripture is correct and whose is not, right? It began when I questioned the accuracy of this comment about the Christian religion:

"I marvel how an ancient middle-eastern sacrificial blood religion (among many others) became the largest world religion. "

Judaism may be described that way, but "sacrificial blood religion" isn't a correct description of Christianity.

I contend that my statement was correct It began in ancient times, in the middle east, involves one (or many) sacrifices, requires blood, and Christianity now embraces and traces its history back to that and defines itself as holding the correct interpretation and fulfillment of such blood sacrifices.

 

[ananda]

I don't fit comfortably in American culture. Never have--I was taught at a young age that I was not a member of the greater American culture and that that culture did not want me as a member. By the time I was a teenager I realized that I didn't want to be.

Thanks for sharing. But Christian <> American culture, no?

 

[RDKirk]

Thanks for sharing. But Christian <> American culture, no?

The culture of the Kingdom of Heaven is that described by Matthew 5-7 (the Sermon on the Mount). That ain't American culture, not by a long shot.

 

[Albion]

I contend that my statement was correct

Again, that's your right. We don't sacrifice anyone, and there is no blood to be found, but if you want to call it a sacrificial, blood sacrificing religion for some reason....

 

[ananda]

Again, that's your right. We don't sacrifice anyone, and there is no blood to be found, but if you want to call it a sacrificial, blood sacrificing religion for some reason....

No, I concede that Christianity does not perform multiple daily sacrifices as a regular occurrence, but to me, it doesn't discount the fact that one major blood sacrifice is at the heart of Christianity.

 

[keith99]

You're entitled. The point of this mini-discussion isn't whose interpretation of every verse in scripture is correct and whose is not, right? It began when I questioned the accuracy of this comment about the Christian religion:

"I marvel how an ancient middle-eastern sacrificial blood religion (among many others) became the largest world religion. "

Judaism may be described that way, but "sacrificial blood religion" isn't a correct description of Christianity.

Nah, instead it is one that practices ritual cannibalism.

 

[ananda]

Nah, instead it is one that practices ritual cannibalism.

That too.

 

[Albion]

Nah, instead it is one that practices ritual cannibalism.

Huh?

That too.

Ritual Cannibalism?


Are you two just trying to 'get my goat' with such talk, knowing that Christianity does not engage in cannibalism, 'ritualistic' or any other way?

OR is it that you aren't especially familiar with Christian belief and practice and are just posting stereotypes you've picked up somewhere along the way and from sources hostile to Christianity?

 

[ananda]

Huh?

Ritual Cannibalism?

Are you two just trying to get my goat with such talk, knowing that Christianity does not engage in cannibalism, 'ritualistic' or any other way?

OR is it that you aren't especially familiar with Christian belief and practice and are just posting stereotypes you've picked up somewhere along the way?

communion/eucharist ... "this is my body ... this is my blood"?

 

[Albion]

communion/eucharist ... "this is my body ... this is my blood"?

Neither communion nor eucharist mean cannibalism, cannibalize, cannibal, or anything of the sort. Jesus did indeed liken the Passover bread to his body. Have you never heard of an analogy? And we feel we have a profound spiritual connection to the Lord when observing the sacrament. Is that what you want me to consider cannibalism? Seriously??

 

[ananda]

Neither communion nor eucharist mean cannibalism, cannibalize, cannibal, or anything of the sort. Jesus did indeed liken the Passover bread to his body. Have you never heard of an analogy? And we feel we have a profound spiritual connection to the Lord when observing the sacrament. Is that what you want me to consider cannibalism? Seriously??

Analogical cannibalism, then?

 

[Albion]

Analogical cannibalism, then?

Not even that...for I have never met a single Christian who thinks we eat Christ's leg or arm at Communion time. Not a single one.

 

[ananda]

Not even that...for I have never met a single Christian who thinks we eat Christ's leg or arm at Communion time. Not a single one.

I didn't think of it at all before before keith99's comment, but I think he has a point. If Jesus didn't refer to the elements as his body and blood, then I think there would be no justification for it, but he did, so IMO it can be called a form of ritualistic cannibalism.

 

[Albion]

I didn't think of it at all before before keith99's comment, but I think he has a point. If Jesus didn't refer to the elements as his body and blood, then I think there would be no justification for it, but he did, so IMO it can be called a form of ritualistic cannibalism.

No. That simply recasts the meaning of "cannibalism' as something that bears some superficial similarity although it absolutely is not cannibalism.

That's the kind of sorta, kinda, debating we get online in discussion boards when someone says that the Democrats are really fascists or that anyone who doesn't agree with some controversial proposition is, ergo, a "hater." You know what I mean. I used this example once before, and I'll pass it along to you. Why do they paint fire engines red?? Well, it's because fire trucks have four wheels and eight men; four and eight make twelve; there are twelve inches on a ruler; Queen Elizabeth was a ruler; her ships sailed the seas; the seas have fish; fish have fins, the Finns fought the Russians; and the Russians were Reds. So also with Communion and cannibalism.

 

[ananda]

No. That simply recasts the meaning of "cannibalism' as something that bears some superficial similarity although it absolutely is not cannibalism.

That's the kind of sorta, kinda, debating we get online in discussion boards when someone says that the Democrats are really fascists or that anyone who doesn't agree with some controversial proposition is, ergo, a "hater." You know what I mean. I used this example once before, and I'll pass it along to you. Why do they paint fire engines red?? Well, it's because fire trucks have four wheels and eight men; four and eight make twelve; there are twelve inches on a ruler; Queen Elizabeth was a ruler; her ships sailed the seas; the seas have fish; fish have fins, the Finns fought the Russians; and the Russians were Reds. So also with Communion and cannibalism.

"Why's it called ritual cannibalism? Because we're eating Jesus' body and drinking his blood". Much more straightforward than your convoluted example