Religion discussion split from another thread

[SoThrowd]

Originally Posted by blondie0420

I care a lot.

People's lives are turned upside down by ridiculous, outdated, unfair drug policy.

Marijuana is safer than alcohol and tobacco. Period. It just is. Smoke as much as you want, it will never do as much damage to your body. It won't make you crazy, it won't shrink your brain, it won't cause you to lose any and all sense of motivation in life. And yet, people have their lives ruined over possession charges. A felony for possessing a harmless plant? I can have a cellar full of old wine bottles, I could crack them open and drink them all in one night and it's legal. But I can't smoke a little herb while I watch The Sopranos and munch on cheesy popcorn? Give me a fucking break!

The efforts...the lavish, extraordinary efforts that law enforcement go through to control use and possession of a silly little plant...it's absurd. It is absolutely fucking absurd and a majority of the population in this country agrees.

We shouldn't even have to go any further than that - majority rule. Maybe if our Representatives started actually representing us, they'd vote to decriminalize possession of marijuana. But the majority is forced to just take it up the ass because the rich minority (who conveniently own the pharmaceutical companies, prisons (yes, lots of prisons are privately owned) and other such profit-whoring companies) control everything. What a country! Was this really the American dream?

People came to this land and founded this country because they wanted their natural-born freedom to believe whatever they wanted to believe (or, technically, for religious freedom - but that's just semantics). People founded this country because they wanted to be able to make their own rules, to be able to decide on their own what was best for them, they didn't want some tyrannical government controlling their lives. Now we are stuck with this shit? We're stuck with a majority opinion that means absolutely nothing? We're living in fear that we could go to jail for our beliefs? We're deprived of our very liberty for doing something that is virtually harmless? It's sick. It is so twisted. I can't even wrap my mind around how fucking terrible it is and how awful it makes me feel.

I think it is high time (pun intended) that we rise up and fight this shit. We need new people in government, we need new laws, we need changes. I am sick of feeling like a prisoner in my daily life. I want to be as free to expand my mind and senses with marijuana as my neighbor is to kill himself with nicotine and alcohol. I want to be free.

I also believe that marijuana laws are against religion as stated in the bible that anything with a seed shall grow.

[blondie0420]

Originally Posted by SoThrowd

I also believe that marijuana laws are against religion as stated in the bible that anything with a seed shall grow.

Yeah, but the Bible wasn't written to be taken word for word. It's a collection of stories. You don't take The Ugly Duckling word for word, do you? No, because it's just a story. Sure, it teaches you a lesson, but the lesson isn't about ducks. Someone who took it word for word might believe it was about ducks and swans, no?

The phrase, "Anything with a seed shall grow," could mean a lot of different things that have nothing to do with seeds or plants.

Moreover, you enter dangerous territory when you start taking the bible word for word because then you get those religious zealots (who actually sit and read and memorize parts of the bible just for shits and giggles) who say that one section of the bible reads "no two men shall sleep in the same bed together" (or something like that) and use that as a reason why God hates gays. (But, you know, apparently only gay men and not lesbians. Cause it doesn't say anything about two women sleeping together...)

[Vicki]

Originally Posted by blondie0420

Yeah, but the Bible wasn't written to be taken word for word. It's a collection of stories. You don't take The Ugly Duckling word for word, do you? No, because it's just a story. Sure, it teaches you a lesson, but the lesson isn't about ducks. Someone who took it word for word might believe it was about ducks and swans, no?

I don't usually get into religious discussions, but I am curious. How do you feel about the 10 commandments? Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, covet, etc?

I follow those rules myself.

[1tokeovertheline]

Originally Posted by blondie0420

Yeah, but the Bible wasn't written to be taken word for word.

Maybe not for you.

Moreover, you enter dangerous territory when you start taking the bible word for word because then you get those religious zealots (who actually sit and read and memorize parts of the bible just for shits and giggles) who say that one section of the bible reads "no two men shall sleep in the same bed together" (or something like that) and use that as a reason why God hates gays. (But, you know, apparently only gay men and not lesbians. Cause it doesn't say anything about two women sleeping together...)

Have you ever read the Bible? By your quotes I don't think so. If you are going to quote the Bible you should read it so you know what it says.That is why those "religious zealots sit and read and memorize the Bible for shits and giggles".

By the way some think you enter "dangerous territory" if you don't take the Bible word for word.

1Toke note: I have never seen the word marijuana or cannibis in the Bible. I am looking into it though, thanks to a long time member on here that has been sending me some interesting information. Still for now, I have failed to find marijuana in the Bible.

[blondie0420]

Originally Posted by Vicki

I don't usually get into religious discussions, but I am curious. How do you feel about the 10 commandments? Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, covet, etc?

I follow those rules myself.

Well I would never suggest that they aren't good rules to follow. But the original ten commandments weren't written down in the bible first. They were written by God Himself and given to Moses on two stone tablets. The bible, on the other hand, was written by man more than 500 years after Jesus' death. Over 500 years, stories that are being passed down from generation to generation have a tendency to change slightly as each person repeats them. That's why the bible can't be taken word for word, because there is no guarantee of accuracy to any individual word [and because man is fallible, so what men write is not always perfect]. God, however, is infallible, His words cannot be wrong, can they?

Originally Posted by 1tokeovertheline

Have you ever read the Bible? By your quotes I don't think so. If you are going to quote the Bible you should read it so you know what it says.That is why those "religious zealots sit and read and memorize the Bible for shits and giggles".

I have read it. I've also taken philosophy courses on religion. I just happen to believe that because the bible was written by man, rather than God, that it is nothing more than a collection of stories rather than something that is to be taken word for word. Even if it were mean't to be taken word for word, taking particular quotes out of context, like the one I described in my previous post to this thread, changes their meaning.

And, yeah, I actually do know of a few families in town who sit and read the bible all the time in order to memorize it. One of those families doesn't have a TV because they put all of their free time toward reading and studying the bible. Not that that's a terrible, awful thing - and they are free to do what they want, I just think sitting and memorizing the bible is about as useful as sitting and memorizing Dr. Seuss all day long. They're stories, yes they have lessons and morals within them, but they're still just stories.

By the way some think you enter "dangerous territory" if you don't take the Bible word for word.

Why? Because you assume that if I don't take it word for word that I must not be religious or a believer in God and His power? Sorry, but you're wrong. I don't have to memorize blocks of text from the bible to know God and have a relationship with Him.

[Vicki]

Originally Posted by blondie0420

Well I would never suggest that they aren't good rules to follow. But the original ten commandments weren't written down in the bible first. They were written by God Himself and given to Moses on two stone tablets. The bible, on the other hand, was written by man more than 500 years after Jesus' death. Over 500 years, stories that are being passed down from generation to generation have a tendency to change slightly as each person repeats them. That's why the bible can't be taken word for word, because there is no guarantee of accuracy to any individual word [and because man is fallible, so what men write is not always perfect]. God, however, is infallible, His words cannot be wrong, can they?

The Bible was wriiten by man, inspired by God's holy spirit. Yes, men make mistakes because human's are not perfect. I remember you saying something about the scripture that says something to the effect "It is wrong for men to lay with men." However, because it doesn't say "woman," I am to assume that God hates gay men, but loves lesbians? I'm sorry, but I don't buy that for a second.

[1tokeovertheline]

Originally Posted by blondie0420

I have read it.

You could have fooled me.

I've also taken philosophy courses on religion.

That's nice.

I just happen to believe that because the bible was written by man, rather than God

According to the Bible it was written by man through the inspiration of God but that is, as you say, just a story.

Even if it were mean't to be taken word for word, taking particular quotes out of context, like the one I described in my previous post to this thread, changes their meaning.

I guess anything taken out of context would change the meaning.

they are free to do what they want,

Glad to see you think so.

I just think sitting and memorizing the bible is about as useful as sitting and memorizing Dr. Seuss all day long. They're stories, yes they have lessons and morals within them, but they're still just stories.

Your stories are their (not mine) guidelines to live their lives by.

Why? Because you assume that if I don't take it word for word that I must not be religious or a believer in God and His power?

I think you took something out of context. If you read some of my other posts, you will find that I don't really give a shit what you believe.

Sorry, but you're wrong.

How can I be wrong if I don't give a shit what you believe? I think you just like to argue.

I don't have to memorize blocks of text from the bible to know God and have a relationship with Him.

Well good for you. Unfortunately some people think that by reading God's Word (the ones that consider the Bible God's Word) that they are actually reinforcing their relationship with God by studying and reading what He has to say to them.

My whole point of my other post was that if you are going to quote the Bible you should read it. You said you have.

I could suggest that you read it again but I think your Philosophy would get in the way and it wouldn't do you any good to read it again.

Have a good day.
1Toke

PS
God doesn't hate anyone. He may not like what everyone does, but he doesn't hate them.

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

[lilgrasshoppah]

it has been conclusively demonstrated that the bible is a heavily redacted mishmosh of plagarized myths, borrowed law code, and questionable history. I'm not sure about you... but any book that says thou shalt not kill... but kill all the canaanites, and rape their little girls... does not earn morality points with me. Just sayin'