Damn right we can, as long the evidence they present present the most accurate view of reality. Religious claims do not do a good job of describing the reality we live in, they are inaccurate, rely on hearsay and reflect an ignorant and scared world view.




8 comments
May 25, 2014 at 6:24 am
john zande
Shake the silly out of someone… Oh, that’s a keeper!
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May 25, 2014 at 7:42 am
The Arbourist
@JZ
A keeper and all too necessary when it comes to dealing with believers.
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May 25, 2014 at 8:02 am
john zande
Speaking of which, check out my newest fan, Mormon High priest, Robin:
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May 25, 2014 at 8:24 am
The Arbourist
@JZ
You have so many chew-toys in that thread already…:)
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May 25, 2014 at 9:18 am
john zande
Can never have enough… winters approaching down here, so we need a host of interesting indoor things to keep us entertained :)
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May 25, 2014 at 9:47 am
The Arbourist
Hey, speaking of interesting things, what is your take on this?
“If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also”
—
Matt 5:39
This specifically refers to a hand striking the side of a person’s face, tells quite a different story when placed in it’s proper historical context. In Jesus’s time, striking someone of a lower class ( a servant) with the back of the hand was used to assert authority and dominance. If the persecuted person “turned the other cheek,” the discipliner was faced with a dilemma. The left hand was used for unclean purposes, so a back-hand strike on the opposite cheek would not be performed. Another alternative would be a slap with the open hand as a challenge or to punch the person, but this was seen as a statement of equality. Thus, by turning the other cheek the persecuted was in effect putting an end to the behavior or if the slapping continued the person would lawfully be deemed equal and have to be released as a servant/slave.
Legit or revisionist historical nonsense.
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May 25, 2014 at 3:36 pm
john zande
Sounds like utter nonsense to me. Is there a 1st century Palestinian etiquette manual out there? It’s double-nonsense because it ignores the rest of the (unedited) command:
Luke 6:29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.
How, precisely, does it apply to giving someone your shirt as well?
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May 26, 2014 at 9:16 am
The Intransigent One
The way my pastor explained it was, they didn’t wear pants right? So if you gave him your shirt you were making him look at you naked, and there were all sorts of taboos about who you could see naked (though not actually about being naked), so by flashing the dude, you’re shaming him hard.
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