TesticleMilkshake
pewpewlazrz
http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/my-evangelical-wilderness
If you haven't watched Jesus Camp or any of the religious documentaries on NetFlixs, you need to now.
Alright, I'm heading into rant mode; Theology student here! Specializing in the sociology/anthropology of religious separatists residing in the Americas! Skimmed/super read everything in here, but I'm going to throw in mah 2 cents. I, for one, have a huge problem with how some sects treat the study and interpretation of scripture, but my biggest issues lie within the economic hierarchy of organized religion. As a religious scholar and a Jewish convert, I will be the first to say, that most majors religions no longer behave overtly as humanitarian outreach, but rather as a business. Cash-moneyz and tax-free domain have created a corporate entity out of something that was originally intended to guide the masses on a moral and ethical path with regards to locality and dominate culture. The biggest issue with biblical zealots and religious extremism is that most scripture absorbed in a cut throat, present-day manner of interpretation. There is little regard for the language of translation (which is a MASSIVE issue in the English translation of the Old and New Testament), historical circumstance, ethnic groupings, tribal boundaries, etc. when reading religious texts. Unfortunately, these crucial elements are NOT taught in the modern tradition of scriptural reasoning, despite the fact that they give the Bible shape and context; not everything is meant to be taken on a literary. During the Middle Ages, Torah study strongly encouraged that Jewish scholars theorize and question the Torah and Talmud (Oral Law) Scholars were expected to write midrashm, basically a telling of what happened between disjointed texts in the Torah, i.e. "What did Joseph see when he was thrown in a pit for 2 days?", "What did fruit Adam and Eve consume?" On top of that, most events in the scripture are written from a secondary source, certain books are pulled, inserted etc. Fuck, people even disregard valid commentary from sages, priests, rabbis, imams! Knowing foreign languages, history, and anthropology, (even as a Jew) I will say, modern day religion, especially in the conservative sense, is not done right. But it's easier to lead a blind flock than one that can see the field. It's easier to manage a mass of drones than a group of enlightened thinkers.
Also in addition of morality politics and imposing social conditions upon the public, Evangelicals and conservative Christians really need to stay out of the issue of Zionism. Most are extremely uneducated with regards to Judaism and Islam and the history, cultures that preceed them.The Duggar family trip to Israel was a totally embarrassment for Christian community as well as the American populous. I could rage more, but I think the vein on my temple just burst.
If you haven't watched Jesus Camp or any of the religious documentaries on NetFlixs, you need to now.
Alright, I'm heading into rant mode; Theology student here! Specializing in the sociology/anthropology of religious separatists residing in the Americas! Skimmed/super read everything in here, but I'm going to throw in mah 2 cents. I, for one, have a huge problem with how some sects treat the study and interpretation of scripture, but my biggest issues lie within the economic hierarchy of organized religion. As a religious scholar and a Jewish convert, I will be the first to say, that most majors religions no longer behave overtly as humanitarian outreach, but rather as a business. Cash-moneyz and tax-free domain have created a corporate entity out of something that was originally intended to guide the masses on a moral and ethical path with regards to locality and dominate culture. The biggest issue with biblical zealots and religious extremism is that most scripture absorbed in a cut throat, present-day manner of interpretation. There is little regard for the language of translation (which is a MASSIVE issue in the English translation of the Old and New Testament), historical circumstance, ethnic groupings, tribal boundaries, etc. when reading religious texts. Unfortunately, these crucial elements are NOT taught in the modern tradition of scriptural reasoning, despite the fact that they give the Bible shape and context; not everything is meant to be taken on a literary. During the Middle Ages, Torah study strongly encouraged that Jewish scholars theorize and question the Torah and Talmud (Oral Law) Scholars were expected to write midrashm, basically a telling of what happened between disjointed texts in the Torah, i.e. "What did Joseph see when he was thrown in a pit for 2 days?", "What did fruit Adam and Eve consume?" On top of that, most events in the scripture are written from a secondary source, certain books are pulled, inserted etc. Fuck, people even disregard valid commentary from sages, priests, rabbis, imams! Knowing foreign languages, history, and anthropology, (even as a Jew) I will say, modern day religion, especially in the conservative sense, is not done right. But it's easier to lead a blind flock than one that can see the field. It's easier to manage a mass of drones than a group of enlightened thinkers.
Also in addition of morality politics and imposing social conditions upon the public, Evangelicals and conservative Christians really need to stay out of the issue of Zionism. Most are extremely uneducated with regards to Judaism and Islam and the history, cultures that preceed them.The Duggar family trip to Israel was a totally embarrassment for Christian community as well as the American populous. I could rage more, but I think the vein on my temple just burst.
