Is Christianity a form of totalitarianism?

canada-man

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train

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onthebottom

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Christianity - no, man's implementation, seriously flawed.

OTB
 

johnhenrygalt

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canada-man said:
No one will shoot or apprehend you if you walk out the church's doors never to return. No adult is bound by Christianity but by his own consent.
 

euripides

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rafterman said:
The opiate of the masses....
Exactly! religions, and certainly Christianity, were simply concepts to control the majority of humans who were ignorant of "the reason why," and remain so today.

The time, money and brain cells wasted on such a specious idea only emphasizes our loss of direction and understanding.
 

WoodPeckr

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rafterman said:
The opiate of the masses....
Always has been.
Some folks need their 'fix' or crutch in this case...;)
 

markvee

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euripides said:
Exactly! religions, and certainly Christianity, were simply concepts to control the majority of humans who were ignorant of "the reason why," and remain so today.

The time, money and brain cells wasted on such a specious idea only emphasizes our loss of direction and understanding.
Is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change document on the cause of "global warming" a concept to control the majority of humans who were ignorant of "the reason why"?

In the sense that the Bible was written by men and in the sense that the Bible contains commandments, it represents an attempt by men to control those who adopt strict interpretation. A theocracy, that does the interpretation on behalf of subjects, is totalitarian. As OTB posted, the implementation can be flawed.

But the Bible can be used to enhance personal freedom. Some parts of the Bible appear contradictory. According to the Bible, is it okay to borrow and lend? You interpret the Bible, and people are free to make their own unique interpretations. Also, the Bible sets the laws of God above the laws of man. Given that the laws of God can be your own interpretation, you are free to set your own rules for your behaviour above the laws of your local government.
 
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gramage

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johnhenrygalt said:
No one will shoot or apprehend you if you walk out the church's doors never to return. No adult is bound by Christianity but by his own consent.
But after you die you will burn in hell for all time unless you submit to Gods law. You don't see the analogy?

You can be comdemned to hell for what you think. Thought crimes are totalitarianism by definition (yes I'm stealing that from Hitchens)

And since I'm stealing from him I'll say what he does in the videos. Religion (not christianity specificly but religion period) is the origion of totalitarianism, not just a form of.
 

someone

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I am at a location today with a computer without sound, so I did not look at the video. However, totalitarianism for describing religion in the modern western world does seems harsh to me given that adults have been voluntarily brainwashed with it. After a certain age, people are responsible for themselves. I do wonder how any adult could take the fairy tales about supernatural beings, virgin births and rising from the dead seriously. However, I also wonder how people could take other superstitions like astrology, UFO abductions, etc. seriously. I really do not see religion in Canada being different. It is true that sometimes religious fanatics get dumb laws passed that interfere with our freedoms but I think it is a stretch to use the term totalitarianism. In the past (or even currently in some countries) the term totalitarianism would likely be appropriate but not in Canada today.
 

WoodPeckr

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gramage said:
But after you die you will burn in hell for all time unless you submit to Gods law. You don't see the analogy?

You can be comdemned to hell for what you think. Thought crimes are totalitarianism by definition (yes I'm stealing that from Hitchens)
Exactly!
Orwell also used that in 1984.
Look at the farking RC Church, where if you merely think the wrong thought(s) it's a Mortal Sin and you are comdemned to hell for all eternity unless you go to confession for absolution!

The Pope is presently in the 'Terb building' and can verify all the above!...:cool:
 

Rockslinger

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I ask the same question of ALL religions. I am a Christian but I am also capable of independent thoughts and actions. (Yes, I wear a condom.)
 

WoodPeckr

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Rockslinger said:
I ask the same question of ALL religions. I am a Christian but I am also capable of independent thoughts and actions. (Yes, I wear a condom.)
Fine but if you're a RC you're gonna fry in hell!...:)
 

Rockslinger

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WoodPeckr said:
Fine but if you're a RC you're gonna fry in hell!..
Life is full of difficult choices. Hence, we are also provided with the ability to reason and the intelligence to apply that reasoning in a rational manner.
 

emerging44

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Christianity is a general categorization of a set of religious beliefs. So the answer is no!

Now if your question was "Are organized Christian churches practicing a form of totalitarianism?", I would say the answer is yes. However, this would apply to all forms of organized religions more or less.
 

WoodPeckr

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Rockslinger said:
Life is full of difficult choices. Hence, we are also provided with the ability to reason and the intelligence to apply that reasoning in a rational manner.
LOL!
You speak Heresy here as far as the RC Church is concerned.
They have it ALL FIGURED OUT on how you think.
Just do/think as commanded or FRY!
Thinking for yourself is NOT an option...:eek:
 

Rockslinger

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WoodPeckr said:
You speak Heresy here as far as the RC Church is concerned.
The same can be said for a lot of other religions as well but I don't have to worry about the RC Church (unlike at least one other major religion) burying me alive. BTW I am terrible at self-flagellation so if anyone attacks my religion I attack right back at theirs (its the old hockey player in me).
 

emerging44

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WoodPeckr said:
LOL!
You speak Heresy here as far as the RC Church is concerned.
They have it ALL FIGURED OUT on how you think.
Just do/think as commanded or FRY!
Thinking for yourself is NOT an option...:eek:
Well, yes and no! According to the RCC, what he is doing is wrong and a mortal sin which will condemn him to hell - unless of course he is willing to confess his sins and ask for absolution before he dies and has sufficient plenary indulgences.
 

WoodPeckr

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Rockslinger said:
BTW I am terrible at self-flagellation so if anyone attacks my religion I attack right back at theirs (its the old hockey player in me).
LOL!
Well that at least confirms you are NOT a christian!
Or if you are, you're NOT a very good one for not 'turning the other cheek!'...:)
 
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