My U.S. Constitution Challenge

[AV1611VET]

If the U.S. Constitution consisted of the 1611 King James Bible only --- and said Constitution was interpreted the way most Atheists on this forum interpret the Bible --- what would be different?

I propose the following:

1. Slavery would be the norm --- since most Atheists here interpret the Bible as supporting slavery.
2. The stoning of children for disobedience to parents --- same reason as #1 above.
3. Saturday as the Lord's Day --- since Dispensation Theology is either ignored or not understood.
4. Genocide of our enemies --- same reason as #3 above.

Can anyone think of anything else?

 

[gaara4158]

What exactly are you trying to say here? How are we supposed to interpret the verses that so clearly instruct us to kill our disobedient children?

 

[Deadbolt]

If the U.S. Constitution consisted of the 1611 King James Bible, this would be a different sort of country.

"This is a truncheon of office, if it were a club with a nail in it, this would be a different sort of city." -Samuel Vimes

 

[AV1611VET]

What exactly are you trying to say here? How are we supposed to interpret the verses that so clearly instruct us to kill our disobedient children?

The same way you do here on the Internet --- don't go changing on me now.

What? Is the Bible starting to get difficult for you guys to interpret all of a sudden?

Sweating now, are you? (The shoe's on the other foot now, isn't it?)

 

[AV1611VET]

If the U.S. Constitution consisted of the 1611 King James Bible, this would be a different sort of country.

Ya --- I just named four ways it would be different.

Can you think of any others?

 

[pgp_protector]

Well I guess we'd still be under the rulership of England then as we would have to honor and obey our leaders.

 

[gaara4158]

The same way you do here on the Internet --- don't go changing on me now.

What? Is the Bible starting to get difficult for you guys to interpret all of a sudden?

Sweating now, are you? (The shoe's on the other foot now, isn't it?)

Not hardly. You're actually placing yourself in a troublesome trap which I do not envy with this question.

I don't think there would be any atheist who could bring himself to enforce such barbaric laws. We'd change it right away.

That's the thing about democracy; we make our own rules. When something comes up that just can't be right (like slavery) we abolish it. We don't bend our backs and brainwash ourselves to interpret it differently.

 

[AV1611VET]

Not hardly. You're actually placing yourself in a troublesome trap which I do not envy with this question.

I don't think there would be any atheist who could bring himself to enforce such barbaric laws. We'd change it right away.

That's the thing about democracy; we make our own rules. When something comes up that just can't be right (like slavery) we abolish it. We don't bend our backs and brainwash ourselves to interpret it differently.

Why would you change it --- after all --- it's your interpretation?

In addition, what would you do in the meantime? Burn your draft cards? Flee to Canada?

Change, under a democracy, takes time.

Unless you want to call it a Bibliocracy --- then I doubt you could change it at all.

Either way, the question still stands.

 

[gaara4158]

Why would you change it --- after all --- it's your interpretation?

It's my interpretation. It's not my law; I'm disgusted by the law. If "Stone your son if he tells you he'd rather run off with his girlfriend than join the family business" really means "Take care of your children" then darn it, I'm going to make sure the law says "Take care of your children."

In addition, what would you do in the meantime? Burn your draft cards? Flee to Canada?

Absolutely. This would no doubt be a third-world country.

 

[AV1611VET]

It's my interpretation. It's not my law; I'm disgusted by the law. If "Stone your son if he tells you he'd rather run off with his girlfriend than join the family business" really means "Take care of your children" then darn it, I'm going to make sure the law says "Take care of your children."
Absolutely. This would no doubt be a third-world country.

Gaara, let me ask you a question --- since you're having such a hard time with this.

Let's look at this another way --- maybe you'll understand better.

Would you want us Christians to acquiesce and say, "Ya. You're right. The Bible does support slavery. The Bible does support genocide. The Bible does support the stoning of children."

Is that what you want us to do? Agree with you guys?

I know from experience that agreeing with you guys on other issues just makes it worse for us, since it's what we are that matters to you guys, not what we say; but, for the record ---

Do you want us to start agreeing with you guys?

 

[gaara4158]

Would you want us Christians to acquiesce and say, "Ya. You're right. The Bible does support slavery. The Bible does support genocide. The Bible does support the stoning of children."

That would be a step towards intellectual honesty, yes. If it doesn't, please show me exactly how. Previous requests for an explanation have been yeildless thus far; what are we to think?
I'd rather you admit to yourself that the Bible holds some barbaric ideals than to look the other way.

Do you want us to start agreeing with you guys?

That's exactly what we want. That's the whole purpose of debate, besides the entertainment element, isn't it?
Wouldn't you like us to agree with you on these issues?

What did you think we wanted you to do?

 

[corvus_corax]

If the U.S. Constitution consisted of the 1611 King James Bible only --- and said Constitution was interpreted the way most Atheists on this forum interpret the Bible --- what would be different?

AV, please note Im not addressing you in this post.
I'm addressing everyone else who has responded to you, that's all.

That having been said, why are ANY of you replying to a post that has NOTHING to do with "Physical and Life Sciences"?
Why aren't you replying with something along the lines of "Hey, this has NOTHING to do with physical and life sciences"?

Or do you all just feel that kneejerk reaction to respond to AV1611VET and argue against him no matter what he says?
Are you guys THAT reactionary?




Off topic thread is off topic, duh.

 

[gaara4158]

AV, please note Im not addressing you in this post.
I'm addressing everyone else who has responded to you, that's all.

That having been said, why are ANY of you replying to a post that has NOTHING to do with "Physical and Life Sciences"?
Why aren't you replying with something along the lines of "Hey, this has NOTHING to do with physical and life sciences"?

Or do you all just feel that kneejerk reaction to respond to AV1611VET and argue against him no matter what he says?
Are you guys THAT reactionary?




Off topic thread is off topic, duh.

and i was doing so well...

 

[Split Rock]

Would you want us Christians to acquiesce and say, "Ya. You're right. The Bible does support slavery. The Bible does support genocide. The Bible does support the stoning of children."

Is that what you want us to do? Agree with you guys?

I know from experience that agreeing with you guys on other issues just makes it worse for us, since it's what we are that matters to you guys, not what we say; but, for the record ---

Do you want us to start agreeing with you guys?

All we want is for you to acknowledge the following points (which should be obvious to anyone who has read the Bible):

1. The Bible was not written for 21st century American Christians.
2. The Bible is not inerrant.
3. The Bible was written by fallible men who had their own prejudices, cultures and political agendas.

Unfortunately, you will never acknowlege this, because it goes against the very foundations of you religious dogma.

 

[LewisWildermuth]

If the U.S. Constitution consisted of the 1611 King James Bible only --- and said Constitution was interpreted the way most Atheists on this forum interpret the Bible --- what would be different?

I propose the following:

1. Slavery would be the norm --- since most Atheists here interpret the Bible as supporting slavery.
2. The stoning of children for disobedience to parents --- same reason as #1 above.
3. Saturday as the Lord's Day --- since Dispensation Theology is either ignored or not understood.
4. Genocide of our enemies --- same reason as #3 above.

Can anyone think of anything else?

One problem here AV, atheists read the Bible as a semi-historical drama about ancient Israel and its peoples. If one were to read the Bible that way one would not have to accept any laws it sets forth.

The things you are saying would happen are not true with that type or reading. However if it were read and understood how pre-civil war Southern Baptists interpreted it then yes those things may have been the result.

 

[Deadbolt]

Or do you all just feel that kneejerk reaction to respond to AV1611VET and argue against him no matter what he says?
Are you guys THAT reactionary?

Nope! He just reminded me of that Sam Vimes quote.

 

[ranmaonehalf]

If the U.S. Constitution consisted of the 1611 King James Bible only --- and said Constitution was interpreted the way most Atheists on this forum interpret the Bible --- what would be different?

I propose the following:

1. Slavery would be the norm --- since most Atheists here interpret the Bible as supporting slavery.
2. The stoning of children for disobedience to parents --- same reason as #1 above.
3. Saturday as the Lord's Day --- since Dispensation Theology is either ignored or not understood.
4. Genocide of our enemies --- same reason as #3 above.

Can anyone think of anything else?

Got to be glad the US wasn't founded by people that thought that. Instead its a land of religious freedom. WOOT

 

[AV1611VET]

Got to be glad the US wasn't founded by people that thought that.

Amen to that ---

 

[tanzanos]

Ya --- I just named four ways it would be different.

Can you think of any others?

Yes; Witch burnings will become prevalent. Technology will go down the drain. The US will loose all technological and commercial advantages and thus will be relegated to the status of a third world Theocratic country on a par with Iran, and Afghanistan.
Injustice will be the rule of the day.
God help you if you (America) actually go ahead and become a theocratic country.
PS: Please consider me for the position of Grand Inquisitor! I promise to wipe out Texas in less than a week!

 

[AV1611VET]

Yes; Witch burnings will become prevalent.

That's a good one --- I'll agree with that.

Technology will go down the drain.

I'm not so sure on this one. I do know that some say (as do I) that the Tower of Babel incident partly occurred because of technology advancing too fast --- thus God intervened and arrested it.

The US will loose all technological and commercial advantages and thus will be relegated to the status of a third world Theocratic country on a par with Iran, and Afghanistan.

Probably --- since God gifts us scientists --- and we have a penchant for placing them in the trash can before they get here --- I would expect a decrease in technological and commercial advantages. However, my OP has the atheists ruling, with the Bible as the constitution --- and since the atheists here believe that the commandment THOU SHALT NOT KILL does not mean THOU SHALT NOT MURDER, as Jesus interpreted it, then I would assume that under their interpretation, it would be illegal to step on an ant.

Injustice will be the rule of the day.

Here I disagree. I think atheists could handle justice just fine --- but mercy and grace? Well --- don't hold your breath.