However, isn't it interesting that atheists who are crying foul and using this as a platform for attacking all Christians are making flawed assumptions. They say that this scandal is made possible because of how churches view sex as evil and teach unpractical and silly teachings. They contend that there is nothing wrong with extra-marital sex as long as all involved parties are okay with it. They claim homosexuality is good and that no one has the right to tell you what to do with your body.
I've got to point out that no where in scripture does it state that giving up marriage is going to get you closer to God. It actually countermands the command to be fruitful and multiply. Also the failure of a few men and women to do the right thing does not mean the right things is wrong and no one is accountable.
Further, Maher and Hitchens' position strikes me as hypocritical just because they prefer to be with consenting adults, yet they would deny others the "right" to be happy if they prefer children. What makes one preference abominable and the other righteous? I agree children are not to be sexual partners but so is anyone who is not your spouse who must be a member of the opposite sex (the definition of marriage). I can appeal to an objective moral standard that does not change - the same standard Jesus used in Matthew 19. By what standard is Maher and Hitchens using to validate their ethics? If it's relative then what gives them the right to criticize the Roman Catholic Church?
With the way things are going there will come a day when pedophilia and bestiality will be condones and defended like homosexuality is today. I'll bet they'll even use Hitchen's new catch phrase: "No Child's Behind Left."
Postscript: I posted a comment on Loftus' post pointing out that Hitchens seemed drunk to me. He even had a bottle of something with him when he went on camera (see at 22 secs). He is right about the Pope. I'm not Catholic and have no interest of defending the Papacy. The thing is that gets me is that it shows a problem if you go on TV drunk. I think its disrespectful to the audience to come in public and not be at your best.
Debunking Christianity: Christopher Hitchens on Real Time: The Pope is a Criminal
You need to reread 1 Corinthians if you think no scripture has ever advised against marriage.
ReplyDeleteWow...Paul never said that it was wrong to get married. My point is that there is nothing wrong with being married or not being married. 1st Corinthians says that "Marriage is honorable" but it does not say that it's wrong to stay unmarried. The Bible does not condemn marriage was the point being maid. Neither does it condemn being single. There is room for both in the Church. However if you are unmarried....no sex for you. Some folks can handle that. More power to them.
ReplyDelete"I agree children are not to be sexual partners but so is anyone who is not your spouse who must be a member of the opposite sex (the definition of marriage)."
ReplyDeleteWhy is sex with children wrong? Because it is an icky, nasty kind of sex, like gay sex.
INCORRECT ANSWER.
"By what standard is Maher and Hitchens using to validate their ethics? If it's relative then what gives them the right to criticize the Roman Catholic Church?"
From what I gather, they believe that morality is grounded in the unchanging nature of Mangala, who grew the world from a seed formed from himself. Mangala's opinions on ethical matters are always the correct ones (If Mangala had ordered child rape, it would be acceptable, but he did not). Clearly, this is an objective, irrefutable standard.
So why is sex with Children bad? I didn't say it was wrong because it's nasty. It's wrong because it exploits children for the selfishness of adults. So was that your answer that it's icky like Gay sex, Anonymous? Because that isn't my answer
ReplyDeleteFrom what I gather neither Hitchen nor Maher believe that Mangala exists so they can't be basing their opinion on Mangala's ethical opinions. Mangala isn't infallible nor omnibenevolent therefore he isn't an objective standard. Further Mangala was created and did not make us. Therefore his opinion does not matters...kind of like yours.
Funny how you try to ridicule Christianity, Anonymous (Someone too gutless to own their silly arguments) yet offer no answer of your own to any of my questions.
I never said Paul said it was wrong to get married. I said, accurately, that he advised against it.
ReplyDeletePaul said that if you can't take the heat, get married, but he would rather that we could all be like he was. But Paul recognized that we aren't all like him. That does not say that it will make you closer to God if you are celibate.
ReplyDelete