Sunday, December 23, 2007

Fundy = Stupidity?

I found a prime example of how Christian fundies are making the rest of us Christians look bad.

Seriously, this person can NOT get any worse... well, now that I think about it, it's definitely possible.

Anyway, here's my response to an idiot fundy's post on T4C.

Her text in dark red, my text in black.

I was recently reviewing something, and stumbled upon the Revolve magazine. This magazine is supposed to contain the entire New Testament. This so-called "Bible" is geared to teen girls. I was looking at a website that is completly against it, so I thought I would share some of the points. The magazine is modeled like the popular teen fashion magazine with articles like Beauty Secrets, Ask a Guy, and Blabs. The company states that it's the complete New Testaments, and also a fashion magazine!
I find this to be a stupid idea, dressing up a Bible in the form of a "popular teen magazine". But not for the same reasons as you.

Not only is it a fashion magazine, but it's also from the New Century Version. The NCV ranks among the most liberally mis-translated and corrupted Bibles in circulation. Is this supposed to be easy to read or easy to mislead??
And here she goes, doing what fundies do when it comes to supposed mistranslations of the Bible. You have a slight flaw in your argument though, peach: ANY English-language Bible is bound to have some form of mistranslation in it, and the only way to get the 100% reliable and correct Scriptures is to go and get the exact ORIGINAL Scriptures, as in the NON-ENGLISH ones. Guaranteed to have no mistranslations and corruption there. The KJV version Bible is just as unwieldy as the other English versions, but we have to put up with it since we don't know how to read the language the original Scriptures were written in, so shut up about it.

The cover of the magazine has the following issues:
-"Are you dating a Godly guy" and other quizzes
-Beauty Secrets you've never heard before
-Radical faith, what scripture really means
-200+ BLAB Q & A’s
-How to Get Along with Your Mom and other Relationship Notes
-100+ Ways to Apply Your Faith
-Guys Speak Out on Tons of Important Issues

They are trying to market these topics by making millions off of confused teenagers? (I Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.)

Here are some example topics:

"Ask A Guy"
Q: How long should you date before you say "I love you?"
A: I would say that when all you can do is think about that person, and you know them really, really well, then you can say "I love you."
(Revolve, p. 67

Q: Do you ever think about getting married?
A: Kinda, I guess. But not really. Like, I’d never buy a wedding magazine or anything.
(Revolve, p. 281)


Sounds like real great advice huh?
Sounds like the above two answers aren't exactly meant to be advice, but rather a mere viewpoint. Duh.

Q: What do you think about girls and guys praying together?
A: There are exceptions, but usually it’s pretty sketchy. I’d avoid it until you’re engaged.
(Revolve, p. 342)

Q: What do you think about girls and guys praying together?
A: It’s cool, but you gotta be careful that you don’t get carried away.
(Revolve, p. 258)
These are some bloody awful answers. Since when was praying with members of the opposite sex something to worry about? When did it become a bad thing? Stupid "Bible-zine", or rather, the guys that answered those two questions are stupid.

How did we get from praying together to not getting carried away? Praying is something that should be takes seriously, not to hold hands or make out with your boyfriend! (Phil. 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.)
Aye.

"BLABS" (The "BLABS" cover topics such as tattoos, homosexuality, witchcraft, mini-skirts, environmentalism, drinking beer, boy-girl relationships, MTV)

Q: I have a question about dating. If I’m going out with a guy, is it bad to make out with him? In other words, is making out a sin?
A: That’s a really good question. There is no place in the Bible where it says "Making out is a sin." But there are places where you can go to read that you shouldn’t let there be even a hint of sexual immorality. Making out is a really dangerous thing. So your best bet is to avoid heavy make-out sessions ‘till you are married. It will be so much better then and you won’t have to feel any guilt.
(Revolve, p. 77)



Yes, and show me where in the Bible it says that going to the movies is a sin, and smoking is a sin! The Bible gives is an easy answer: 2 Timothy 2:22
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
I believe their answer strongly contradicts 2 Timothy 2:22
Compare the previously quoted 2 Timothy 2:22 in the King James Bible to the dull, dreary, dead 2 Timothy 2;22 in the Revolve’s NCV:
2 Timothy 2:22, NCV
But run away from the evil young people like to do. Try hard to live right and to have faith, love, and peace, together with those who trust in the Lord from pure hearts.
Actually, I think the Bible-zine gave a really good answer there. It's true: the Bible doesn't explicitly mention making out, but it does warn you to be careful with such things lest you follow any temptation you have to go further. Fundy, you're fussing over nothing.
Btw, when was going to the movies a bad thing? Oh wait, you're a fundy. Of course you're going to condemn things that are perfectly okay and under the protection of Romans 14.


Revolve also down-plays the sin of sodomy.

Q: What is God and the church’s view on homosexuality and its place in our world?
A: You want God’s view, or the church’s? Start with God. Romans chapter 1 says that it is impurity. It’s a sin, just like gossiping about your best friend is a sin. You need to stop acting on your impulses. Sometimes the church’s view can be a little harsher. Many people in the church see it like the worse of all evils. But they are looking at it through human eyes. God says it’s a sin; It’s not how he made you, so stop.
(Revolve, p. 310)

I don't see how it downplays the sin of sodomy. It doesn't downplay or butter up anything here. Allow me to quote: "It’s not how he made you, so stop". Does that really seem downplayed to you?

So what's their excuse for God destorying Sodom and Gomorrah?
Another question about sodomy with yet another lame and pathetic answer:


Q; This girl at church told me that she was in love, yes, in love with one of her female teachers. This girl is fourteen years old. I just need some advice on what I should say to her if I get to speak to her again.
A: For a woman to fall in love with another woman is considered a sin according to the Bible. You’ve got to remember one thing though: It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to convict her and teach her. In the Bible it says that God remains faithful even when we are faithless. Your job is to show this girl the love of God. How? Stay her friend. Prayer changes things. It can move mountains. It can radically alter lives. Just make sure you remember who God is and that you’re not him.
(Revolve, p. 43

Hm..well I guess that fires most preacher's in America. What job would they have if they can't tell people of their sin?
Tell me where it says in the given answer that you can't tell them of their sin. Of course you have to tell her, it's part of your obligation as a Christian friend. All this Bible-zine is saying is that ultimately it's not your job to judge this person and that you have to be there for her instead of going nuts and proclaiming that she's going to hell for her sin unless she repents.

Another "Blab" Question:
Q: Hey, I have friends who are into Wicca. I know a lot about witchcraft, but I don’t know how to start a convo with people who are happy with that religion. I need an example of something one might say. Could you please help me out? I don’t want them to go to hell because I didn’t try to help them.
A: If you want something to say, just tell them how you feel. Say, "You know my religion and you seem cool with it. However, I can’t say I agree with your choice. I just want you to know that I’ll be praying for you." Don’t try to talk them into changing their faith—no one likes to be forced into anything. Pray for them.
(Revolve, p. 344)


The girl who asked the question was obviously concerned about her friend. Yet the carnal staff of Revolve, is telling her to not try to change her into her faith? How can you possible witness without wanting her to change?
The Bible-zine isn't telling her to witness without wanting them to change their faith. It's telling her to remember that in the end it's up to the individual person as to what spiritual path they go down, and that she has no right to try and push them to change faiths. Nobody can be forced into anything in terms of a religious/spiritual path.

Check out the Revolve and the forbidden tattoo:

Q: I really, really want to get a tattoo, but what does the Bible say about them. Is it against God?
A: In the Old Testament law tattoos were forbidden. But when Christ came, he redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3). This means that now God looks at your heart, your motives, when it comes to what you do. Check with your parents, and follow their advice.
(Revolve, p. 85)


Leviticus 19:28
Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD
Note how the Bible-zine just said that "
when Christ came, he redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3)". Now, note how you just attempted to rebut this by quoting a passage that was just shown to be overridden by Christ, thus making Leviticus 19:28 null and void. You just made a horrible move there.

Q: My dad drinks like three or four beers every night. Is that a sin? How much can you drink before it is a sin?
A: 1.5 cups. Wouldn’t you love it if someone could tell you that easily. There is no easy answer. Drinking alcohol is not a sin in Scripture. Even Jesus turned water into wine at a party. But getting drunk is a different story.
(Revolve, p. 272)


You have got to be kidding me! What else can you say to a liberalistic answer as that?
So, you're going to actually IGNORE the fact that Jesus was perfectly okay with drinking? If He didn't condone drinking alcohol, then why did He turn water into wine AT A PARTY (which you fundies always seem to discourage attending)? The Bible-zine actually gave a really good answer there. Pity you're too wrapped up in your fundy teachings to actually understand the Scriptures on which your fundy teachings are supposedly based.

Q: I was just wondering is MTV or rap music bad to watch and listen to?
A: God is present everywhere, even on MTV. But, don’t feed your mind that stuff 24/7. Whatever you constantly feed your mind, that is what you will believe. So spend more time talking to God and reading the Word. Dig into that and then you will see him everywhere.
(Revolve, p. 317

Can you believe that?
I think that was a good answer by the Bible-zine. It's saying that you should focus more on God rather than MTV. Problem is, as a fundy, you've taken to hating entire genres of music and entire TV channels based on warped teachings you never really did your research on, and because of that, you saw the mention of MTV in their answer and clung onto it instead of understanding the general entirety of the point the Bible-zine was trying to get across.


Well, I just thought I would share what kind of filthy garbage they are trying to put into a so called Bible. This is just another PERversion that people are trying to make money on.

I myself hate the idea of a Bible-zine, but only because I hate "popular teen magazines" in general.

Fundies can be so frustratingly unintelligent.

Ark