Butt-Head Xian Nihilists
26 September 2009 by Bob
If there’s one thing that always cracks me up, it’s apologists. Most apologists are actually okay to talk to for about five minutes, and then the obvious causes them to say something really stupid, like — well, like this idiot…
Does Picking Up Sticks Deserve the Death Penalty?
Barker claims that “we all agree” that picking up sticks on Saturday or Sunday is harmless. However, Barker does not take into account that the man was in direct violation of a specific command issued by God to the Israelites. One of the Ten Commandments specifically stated: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work” (Exodus 20:8-10). [...] Implied in Barker’s assessment of God’s punishment in this incident is the idea that Barker (and many skeptics like him) seems to think that he knows disobeying a “petty” command from God could not cause harm. In truth, there is no way that Barker could know what would have happened if this man’s disobedience was not punished as it was. [...] The simple truth is that laxity in obedience to small regulations breeds laxity in obedience to other ordinances. And if that laxity is not punished quickly and decisively, it has the potential to be contagious, and spread throughout the entire group or organization. And while inadvertent missteps in dress might not receive extremely harsh punishment, openly rebellious behavior to those of higher rank certainly would carry a significant punishment. [...] The Bible says that God knows “all things” (1 John 3:20). Since that is the case, only God can truly determine what is harmful and what is not harmful, and only God has the prerogative of determining the proper punishment for disobedience.
Yes, no one really knew that picking up sticks on the sabbath couldn’t have resulted in the deaths of millions (only God could know that), so it’s okay to stone someone to death.
Could picking up sticks on a Saturday have the same consequence, for all we know? Sure, but that doesn’t matter. In fact, nothing about what we “think” or “know” matters when it comes to God’s commands. God says it, so it’s right. Does it sound utterly fucking stupid? Well, sure — but God knows more than you do, so God’s automatically right, and you’re automatically wrong, no matter how dumb it sounds.
The core of xianity is nihilism, a denial of value. But there’s also the part that’s based in contradiction, since xians want to hold on to God’s commands as “grounding” value — while at the same time rejecting those values whenever God happens to change His mind.
Nice “grounding of value,” xians…
Reminds me of that Book of Job thingy-dingy…
26 September 2009, on 10:54 pm
Numbers 15:32. Why atheists are better people than Xians.
The tribe was in the desert on the Sabbath. They found this guy out there gathering wood. Not knowing what to do with this guy, they took him back to the camp and asked Moses what they should do with him. Moses went and talked to the LORD, and the LORD said “stone him to death.” Moses comes back and tells the folks, “take the sinner outside the camp and stone him to death.” So they did, stoned him until he was a bloody pulp.
Now what would have happened if one of us atheists would have come across this stick-gather?
I would have asked, “Hey, dude, what’s with the picking up firewood on Sunday?”
“Oh, man,” the sinner would say, “the ol’ lady usually does it on Friday, but she and the kid have been sick and we ran out. I want to warm up some gruel for them.”
“Bummer, man,” I would say. “Let me help you out. With both of us working we can finish before those goofy Xians catch us.”
So we grabbed the firewood, took it to his hovel, warmed up the gruel and had a toddy. The whole story would have never made their bible. God bless atheists.
26 September 2009, on 10:59 pm
Yep. It’s this “might makes right” morality which drove me from religion in the first place.
27 September 2009, on 8:33 am
You don’t even address the ridiculous analogy Butt uses…how one soldier begins wearing red boots against orders. When others see he is not punished, others begin wearing red boots. When they meet the enemy, who are dressed exactly like our soldiers including red boots, our soldiers are killed unnecessarily by friendly fire due to their red boots.
Well, gee, first of all the commander could explain why wearing red boots is not allowed, instead of just ordering “no red boots.” We are a logical species who can understand things if explained to us. But God never explains why something’s bad, just says not to do it.
And, of course, if the boot color problem was supposed to be a military secret and not explained, it certainly wouldn’t warrant the death penalty. You take the offender and punish him for his disobedience (KP duty, extra calisthenics, etc.) but you don’t execute him.
Butt’s problem (among others) is that he won’t accept that some transgressions do not warrant the death penalty, even though the bible calls for it.
27 September 2009, on 2:02 pm
>>In truth, there is no way that Barker could know what would have happened if this man’s disobedience was not punished as it was. [...] <>The simple truth is that laxity in obedience to small regulations breeds laxity in obedience to other ordinances. And if that laxity is not punished quickly and decisively, it has the potential to be contagious, and spread throughout the entire group or organization.<<
Sounds like a Slippery slope to me…things could just stay at an equilibrium of 'low level corruption', too. In our time, some petty thieves "graduate" to carjacking and murder, while others don't.
28 September 2009, on 1:23 am
Substitute “God” with “The Fuher” and this apology could have been written by a brown-shirt.
It’s amazing how Orwellian some of these folks sound when attempting to defend their invisible sky-monster.
28 September 2009, on 11:28 am
Yes, Boudica…
And where’s…erm…”Beavis” in all this?
Pardon my usual bit of random silliness?…something I mused a bit about yesterday; but put off posting BECAUSE of its total silliness. However, today…since it’s Monday, and after further consideration…WTF?…blather away? And after all, it’s only a small portion of Internet ‘Ether’ space.
Anyway; RE…
“But God never explains why something’s bad, just says not to do it.”
Yeah…you’d think, somehow, somebody…SOMEBODY…in the bullshit story would pipe up with:
[Obviously, it'd have to be a skeptic, playing along with the stupid delusional mind game. IOW...pardon a little imaginary scene?]:
“Ummm…humor me a bit here, folks…
YO! YOO-HOO!…is it, “God”? With all due respect…ahem…do you think you could…oh, I dunno…kind of explain just…WHY…we should blindly follow your orders? You know…make SOME kind of…RATIONAL sense?”
[Of course, a thundering reply...something like the scene from the "Wizard of Oz" would probably ensue]…
“SILENCE!!!…the great and wonderful Jehovah has spoken!”
And of course…
“Dorothy” (who else!…the smart-ass atheist in the bunch?) would pipe up with…
“HellOooo…everybody? Pay absolutely NO attention to that imaginary voice “behind the curtain” in your stupid, brainwashed heads…HE…yeah, definitely, it’s a “he”, right?…is a totally made-up concept by your warped, desert fried minds. In other woids, “He’s” a totally imaginary, non-existent, fucktard asshole!…
Now take those fucking red boots off; you asshat idiots! Maybe, put some sandals on; you know…for comfort? Unfortunately, for me, all I have is this stupid pair of ruby slippers. Anyway…let’s stop killing each other, and get on with our fucking nonsense lives…as bullshit as they might be, insanely traipsing around on this hellish desert. Fuck any bullshit gods, I say!
Hey…I know…let’s follow this yellow brick road I’m imagining, and see where we end up.”
What’s that?…Did I hear somebody…was it YOU, Jeremiah, ‘the Bullfrog’, Nietzsche?…just mutter:
‘Existence is fucking absurd!’???…”
28 September 2009, on 8:14 pm
Why does no one ask:
What shows that the bible is the word of god?
How is it known that the bible is holy?
Where is there any proof of it?
There is no use in attacking their beliefs, perhaps we should try attacking their authorities.
28 September 2009, on 10:45 pm
^^Oh Gordon, you’re so Naiive
You can never successfully use that argument; not as long as there’s circular reasoning for the xtian to fall back upon.
28 September 2009, on 11:04 pm
Problems w/that approach:
A. Their ‘authority’ is from an imaginary friend. Try telling a homeless derelict they’re just talking to themselves, & be prepared to either defend yourself, or stand there helplessly while they go on @ length & w/o making any sense at all.
B. Any earthly ‘authority’ is loaded to the gills w/all sorts of apologetic apoplexy – so if they fuck up, they can bail easy. Always an alibi.
29 September 2009, on 10:42 am
Testing out the blockquote tag, and I don’t see a preview button.
I’ve said that quite a lot myself, and should probably get back to it.