When Religion Loses Its Credibility

[we can do it]

Do you suppose they will EVER admit they were wrong?

.....
What if Christian leaders are wrong about homosexuality? I suppose, much as a newspaper maintains its credibility by setting the record straight, church leaders would need to do the same:

Correction: Despite what you might have read, heard or been taught throughout your churchgoing life, homosexuality is, in fact, determined at birth and is not to be condemned by God's followers.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20061120/cm_usatoday/whenreligionlosesitscredibility

[Buzz Clik]

1. flame bait

I'll pass.

[EST]

2. Religions cannot, by definition, lose credibility.

Religions are created by people believing in them, not created first and then people come around.

Religious believers and orchestrators cannot admit to being wrong--because, as long their behavior is within the constraints of their faith, there is no question of wrongness.

Religion is the ruler by which behavior is measured, so it cannot be wrong.

[zanne]

4. So if you enjoy putting frogs in a blender...

You can say "It's what I believe", and you get a pass.

[Kelly Rupert]

6. Absolutely.

Since we're talking about "credibility" here, meaning the beliefs of the followers of the church. If the church claims everyone should blend frogs, and the members think this is a fine idea, then it will be very hard to convince anyone that this is an immoral activity, as its approval by the church makes it ipso facto moral.

[EST]

12. perhaps in some circles, yes.

An interesting parallel might be putting people into fires, cutting pieces off them, or putting them in such severe "stress positions" that they expire (ala-Jesus, the christ.)

Also, simply saying "I believe" as a necessary preamble in the "fake it 'til you make it" school, doesn't do the trick, unless the tables are turned and you allow the frogs to put you in the blender as a part of "I believe."

[wuushew]

9. Didn't the Catholic Church admit to being wrong about Galileo?

It only took 500 years but his ideas on planetary motion can be factually demonstrated today as can the historical record the church took at that time.

[EST]

11. A fine point, but no, they did not.

What they admitted was that certain people had mis-read, mis-interpreted, or made mistakes, but the religion, itself is infallible.

[bryant69]

3. Didn't you already post this in the religion section?

Like word for word?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[TechBear_Seattle]

7. I posted it in the religious section

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=214&topic_id=97308&mesg_id=97308

:hi:

[bryant69]

8. AH - I should have checked first

Still the language is close enough as to be striking. Which upon reflection isn't surprising since you quoted the same article.

Bryant

[Kelly Rupert]

5. Credibility with who?

Their followers? Unlikely.

Everyone else? Why should they care?

[Glorfindel]

10. It wouldn't matter. Religion has nothing to do with facts or reason

Witness the strength of the African-American Christian community, despite hundreds of years of support for slavery by (some) Christians. I guess some of the denominations finally admitted that they were wrong about slavery, but so what? The mass extermination and genocide of North and South American and Caribbean Native Americans was conducted by good "Christians," but not only do they not feel contrite about it, they feel virtuous because they spread the Gospel to the savages!

[seabeyond]

14. i dont think repugs could have spread the hate and anger without

the bible.

[seabeyond]

13. i hope so and i am a CHRISTIAN. and for those saying exploring

religion with a questions is flamebait are in denial of what our religion is doing to this nation. i take it seriously. i have too much love nad passion for my christianity and i have given it away. todays definition of christian is hate. for the longest of time i held onto my share of christianity valiantly against the right that told me i was not a christian. but now.... i dont want a part of it. no one can do damage to my relationship with god thru christ, but i wont walk it under the name of christianity. for me that is walking away from christ lite

to the question. i hope the cult of christianity is destroyed. truly and well destroyed so the christianity of love can become once more. and it was...... it just got over shadowed by the christianity of hate. the same happened with the muslim religion and i am hoping the same for that religion

[mntleo2]

15. Most People Of Faith Would Say ...

...God does not make mistakes.

Therefore if someone is born gay, then this is part of God's work. My church accepts gays as equals who should have all the rights as straight folks ~ including marriage, btw. We see gay folks as people who are just as much God's masterpieces, and we would feel it is blasphemy to say God made any mistake by creating someone who is gay!!! (United Church of Christ). Being gay is part of the Whole (universe) and is just as important as anyone or anything else in creation. It is presumptuous for a person of faith to take any other stand otherwise, because rejection of homosexuality in our world is in essence saying we are "smarter" than God. How hypocritical and not a good stance for a person of faith!

I am not saying that many especially evangelistic Christians see it that way, but if it were presented in this light, it should send away any sincere person of faith thinking hard about their faith and whether or not discrimination, rejection and/or hatred of gays is a godly thing to do.

My 2 cents

Cat In Seattle

[EST]

17. Well stated. n/t

[EST]

16. Ah, I can see that this discussion is becoming serious, so

I would like to suggest that it is not religion, atheism or any other "ism" that is responsible for the hate, violence, and general mayhem in the world.

It is people; people who have, as part of their characters, the drive, desire or need to do horror to other humans or the environment and choose to cloak their mental diseases with some sort of trappings to legitimize them.

Such people, horrors all, are what destroys religions, not the other way around.

Also, it would be wise to note that everyone in the world, no matter whether his actions are condemned or vindicated, is doing that, to himself, appears to be the "right" thing.
Hitler was doing what he saw as the right thing.
Bush is doing what he thinks is right.
The pope is doing what he thinks is right.
And so am I.