Religion without God

So basically you don't disagree with me on content, merely on style.

As for "cherry picking" from the New Testament, I do not believe the Old Testament is binding upon us since the resurrection of Christ so I can't in good conscious claim otherwise..

“I’m not here to change the law.” - Jesus. Paraphrasing of course.

I'd like you to clarify that statement, please. I will always argue for christian liberty and against legalism with the obvious exception of that liberty being used as a justification for sin. That said, I still can't agree with antinomianism and if that's what you're saying you believe, fine. I disagree strongly, but I don't feel inclined to argue with you about it at two o'clock in the morning. But, if you're saying that there's nothing to be gained from study of the Old Testament, you're dead wrong. There is a wealth of world and life changing knowledge to be gleaned from the Old Testament that would take multiple lifetimes to fully appreciate. The messages within the Old Testament are just as applicable today as they were thousands of years ago.

You've got to be extremely careful with that one. I'll be happy to talk about it another time, but I'm quickly fading tonight.

Matthew was written by someone with a different theological outlook than the other gospels. That's why it says to keep the law. Attempts at reconciling the instructions are futile.

Nothing built around a highly improbable magical sky man is a good thing.

I don't accept the idea that we turn a blind eye to the ridiculous concept of religion just because some religious people do good things. While I accept and uphold that it is the basic right of any person to believe in what they want, and while I accept that on the face of it religion has at times been a way to do good (religious charities, etc), there is a much more insidious side to religion that is present on all the religious and is a propagated no matter how well meaning a religious person is. That insidious side is two fold. First, and perhaps worst, is that religion encourages people to reject analytical thought and the exploration of knowledge. In that respect it is a barrier to human development. Second it normalises and gives credibility to a myth that has no greater chance of being real than Lord of the Rings or Star Wars. Here we are in the 21st Century and we still have people believing in magical powers, scientific impossibilities, mythical creatures and hosts of other fantastical notions all because it is in scripture and people are stupid enough to believe it divine.

What I also dislike immensely is the idea that religious people need their fairytale to tell them to do good and often it is for inherently selfish reasons. They do it not because it is what their heart and head tells them. They do it because the scripture tells them and they think they will be judged positively by God.

Nah, I'd rather us not be plagued by the whole thing in any form. But then that's wishful thinking sadly.

Putting aside your insufferably stupid second paragraph, not only are you frequently a hypocrite when you judge others, but the New Testament is absolutely clear on this. @matthunter is right. scripture is crystal clear that the only judgment allowed is by God, not you. When you judge yourself superior and you denigrate others, as you do constantly and have done even in the past day you are doing the very thing The Bible tells you NOT to do. You have no right to judge us inferior or immoral. That is God's right alone.

James 4:12
There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

It baffles me that even the atheists on this board know your religion better than you. You are without question this shittiest Christian I have ever met. Your selfishness and self interest is not Christian. Your (thoroughly unjustified) sense of superiority is not Christian. Your rudeness is not Christian. Your lack of charity is not Christian. You complete lack of thought for others is not Christian. Your judgmentalism is not Christian. Your trivialising of the death of other human beings is not Christian. Your downgrading of others based on their religion, lack thereof, or even because they interpret your own religion differently, is not Christian. Your arrogance in thinking you are the last word on morality is not Christian.

If Christianity ever needed a poster boy for how not to be a Christian you'd be the perfect choice.

Of course the Old Testament is useful to study and examine. I've never claimed otherwise.

What I have said and believe is that the Old Testament is NOT BINDING upon Christians today. Thus when critics of Christianity say stuff like "the Old Testament condones slavery or rape" or something like that I point out that the Old Testament has no authority over Christians today (and the claims that the Old Testament condones slavery and rape are a gross misinterpretation of scriptures but that is another debate).

No chuppie. Atheists on this board DO NOT know my religion better than I do. What atheists on this board know is their own interpretation of what the Bible says that makes you feel good about your hatred of religion.

You are cherrypicking the Bible and moving the goalposts in terms of discussion.

That wasn't an attack - I heard she enjoyed it.

Again.

"I AM THE LAW!" - Dredd. Paraphrasing of course.

This is a bad thing by the way, as churches are good at dividing not bringing together, and is a significant contributor to our social and racial tension.

“Sunday morning is the most segregated hour of Christian America.” Dr. King

A black rapist? Shocking!

Sorry, but what makes your interpretation of the New Testament better than theirs/ours Frequently Fired "Teacher"? Are you disputing that The Bible says the only entity allowed to judge others is God?

https://wordforge.net/index.php?posts/3045023/

Which reminds me - I don't know how TLS found out about my Irish ancestry, but "jig" is clearly intended as a racist slur and he should join Dinner on the naughty step.

Your lack of self awareness is staggering.

Oh, and while we're talking Bible interpretations, my Bible says David and Jonathan were butt-buddies.
And that's totally okay.

Because according to the Book of @Dayton3, personal interpretation is all that matters.

And their love spread like a virus..

Saith the "Good Christian" of the ancestors of his God.

Looks to me (and I'm sure Elwood can elaborate on this) is that only God can judge the content and state of someone's soul. In other words, only God can determine if their eternal fate is heaven or hell.

But humans (repeatedly in the New Testament as Elwood showed up thread) were called on to make judgements about the ACTIONS of other humans.

What does it mean to work out salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12)?

Question: "What does it mean to work out salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12)?"

Answer: In Philippians 2:12-13, Paul writes, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his purpose.”

This text is often misused to instill fear into people, warning them that it means that they can lose salvation. What does it mean to work out our salvation with fear and trembling? Paul can hardly be encouraging believers to live in a continuous condition of nervousness and anxiety. That would contradict his many other exhortations to peace of mind, courage, and confidence in the God who authors our salvation. The Greek word translated "fear" in this context can equally mean "reverence" or "respect." Paul uses the same phrase in (2 Corinthians 7:15) where he refers to Titus as being encouraged by the Corinthians’ reception of him “with fear and trembling,” that is, with great humility and respect for his position as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul himself came to the Corinthian church in “weakness and fear, and with much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3), mindful of the great and awesome nature of the work in which he was engaged.

The sense in which we are to work out our salvation in fear and trembling is twofold. First, the Greek verb rendered “work out” means "to continually work to bring something to completion or fruition." We do this by actively pursuing obedience in the process of sanctification, which Paul explains further in the next chapter of Philippians. He describes himself as “straining” and “pressing on” toward the goal of Christlikeness (Philippians 3:13-14). The “trembling” he experiences is the attitude Christians are to have in pursuing this goal—a healthy fear of offending God through disobedience and an awe and respect for His majesty and holiness. "Trembling" can also refer to a shaking due to weakness, but this is a weakness of higher purpose, one which brings us to a state of dependency on God. Obedience and submission to the God we revere and respect is our “reasonable service” (Romans 12:1-2) and brings great joy. Psalm 2:11 sums it up perfectly: “Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.” We work out our salvation by going to the very source of our salvation—the Word of God—wherein we renew our hearts and minds (Romans 12:1-2), coming into His presence with a spirit of reverence and awe.

Cite the relevant verses.

So it's incumbent upon us as the WF community to make judgments on your reprehensible behaviors. Is there anything in the NT about those who constantly whine about those judgments?

Not to my knowledge. If anyone knows better feel free to point them out.

Then maybe you should stop whining. There is something about turning the other cheek.

My interpretation about "turning the other cheek" is that when wronged you do not retaliate the first time it is done.

I recall nothing in the Bible that it is to be repeated ad infinitum

It also doesn't say you have the right to retaliate.

...a Christian can always find a loophole.

Because God appreciates being outsmarted.