Are bible stories the way to teach morality? (2/2)

[@MRayner59]

The difficulty with using the Bible as a means of teaching “morality” to children is that it’s impossible to separate whatever lessons may be gleaned from certain parables which it contains from the supernatural religious claptrap the “good book” propounds. A far better tool for this purpose, especially for quite young children, would be something like Aesop’s Fables - not only a fairly comprehensive source of moral instruction, but also, as the philosopher John Locke said, “apt to delight and entertain a child.”

[@jamesgarcia7034]

I agree...those stories can teach solid morals...the "By Baal" not so much so...

[@athenassigil5820]

I love watching the xtians start to attack each other on who is right or wrong on "their" interpretation of the bible. Great comedy!

[@paulmorgan6717]

that guy with the puppet is a sandwich short of a picnic

[@bryanstrider]

He is so inbred, he could be the sandwich.

[@drmontague6475]

Does he show the kids puppets stoning another puppet to death? If I had my way I wouldn't let this shit near children. He abuses their minds.

[@firebyrd437]

@@drmontague6475 you right I just said thus it's child abuse to let these creeps near children

[@hannotn]

A sandwich? Jeez, he's the whole picnic basket short of a picnic. But as long as you've got a bottle of wine around while he's ranting it would be fun. Especially if he does the puppet show of kids teasing a prophet for being bald, so he curses them and two bears tear apart 42 children in return. Bet that'd a winner with the kids.

[@Radam89]

Whenever somebody says the ethics in a bible story has to be looked at ‘in context’ they’re admitting that morality is relative because our sense of whats right has thankfully improved since the Bronze Age. Something which sits uncomfortably when they then claim the bible is the source of morals.

[@XiagraBalls]

"It has to be taken in the context of the time it was written." So several decades or centuries after JC allegedly existed then? "God wrote it." "No, he didn't!" "It was inspired by God." "We were given these fine brains to interpret it." Great book on morals you've got there where even Christians can't believe which bits should are historical, which are metaphor, etc. Really crystal clear.

[@tedgrant2]

My mother told me not to pull my sister's hair. She didn't get that from the Bible.

[@oscargr_]

@ 0:48 "There are some great points in Harry Potter about friendship and so, but there is an element of people looking at the occult that is quite dangerous...." So, the bible doesn't deal with the occult? People are so blinded by their own religious bias.

[@michaelortt9514]

What is the point in reading the Bible , if everyone just interprets it to suit themselves? Just throw it away, and be batshit crazy without a handbook.

[@jamesgarcia7034]

HAHAHA...yeah, might as well improvise...

[@catweasle5737]

Mummy. What did Lot do with his daughter?

[@uhegbu]

+Cat Weasle Like the first point that parents teach children morality, the pros and cons of things, trials and tribulations. The third contributor made a decent point.

[@TheRealLeewon]

They should've brought that up 😒

[@Mendokusai99]

Buy a bible, read through it and highlight every negative passage in it. Present it whenever challenged by a Christian. You'll have lots of cannon fodder.

[@OnSafari247]

Well you have to take time to understand the Bible as well, not just read it. People who think like you do don't really understand the Bible. I'm not saying I understand all of it perfectly well either....but what I do know is the more I looked into those "negative passages" the more I understood there's a lot more to them then meets the eye.

[@petem.3719]

OnSafari247 True, but more often than not they're just as flawed after serious examination as they were before.

[@OnSafari247]

Pete M. No, at least most of the time, that's not the case. First off I would say all the passages that appear negative are confined to the Old Testament. I don't really see anything in the New Testament that needs in depth explanation. Now the Old Testament can be somewhat strange in places because the world at that time was a very different place. So the only example I'm going to mention is the Nephilim. After you study the Bible for a while, and become convinced of its truth, you will come to understand that God was dealing with a problem of genetics during earth's early years. No not in a racial way, but in a species way. Genesis 6:4 reads "The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown." So basically the main reason for the flood was not sin, but Satan had corrupted man's genome and actually produced a hybrid race of beings; half man - half demon (fallen angels) in an attempt to reform man to his image, not God's. Further this was also an attempt by Satan to prevent the coming of the messiah. The other key take away from the verse is the words "and also afterwards." After the flood Satan tried again. This is why we see God instructing the Israelites to go an slaughter the Canaanites (along with other tribes), leaving alive nothing that breathes. The Canaanites were in fact a tribe of Nephilim, not even human, but genetic hybrids which threaten the whole human race. So, in short, God in the Old Testament is not the genocidal maniac he is made out to be by many. It was a very different world, with very different problems.

[@Mendokusai99]

Sorry, but after 9 years of religious schooling and 1 year of seminary preparation, I'm going to disagree with you on my understanding of the Bible. It is filled with the most ridiculous and asinine claims and proclamations -- which people, like yourself, randomnly choose to uphold as truth or simply metaphor. They take their unverified beliefs from these fables and try to apply modern understanding in an attempt to justify them. Just to illustrate, take your hypothesis on the reason for the flood. As I read it, I imagined you dressed only in a sandwich board which exclaims, "THE END IS NIGH!" on the front. Explain it to a mixed crowd and if nobody laughs at you, then I owe you a Coke.

[@u2zero2u]

OnSafari247 Since the more you look at negative passages the more you say you understand them, please try if you will, to reconcile exodus 21 which states “Now these are the rules that you shall set before them. 2 When you buy a Hebrew slave,[a] he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. 3 If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out alone. 5 But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ 6 then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever. 7 “When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. 8 If she does not please her master, who has designated her[b] for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has broken faith with her. 9 If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter. 10 If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital rights. 11 And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money." What am I not "understanding" about this which tells people how and on what conditions people can own slaves.

[@bobby6577]

I wonder if there are any parents who will tell their children about bringing them to the center of a town and stoning them to death if they misbehave. Will it be a good bed time story?

[@deanlowdon8381]

So God created the whole Universe but wrote stories so confusing that they need to be interpreted? Here’s an idea, if you don’t want people to kill each other just say “Don’t kill people”.

[@fourtrees44]

All the people that are "for the bible" conveniently forget about the brutal immoral parts of the bible or just haven't ever really read the bible.

[@ophirdog]

Friday afternoon cartoons were full of moral dilemmas. They probably taught me as much about morals as any other source when I was a kid.

[@hamster4618]

Indeed, the misogyny in the bible is a problem. Why should a man have the hierarchical position within the marriage, simply nasty suppression.

[@cynicalidealist11]

My God that first guy is literally a man child.

[@BigJimbo106]

Sad to see how the African submitted his critical thinking to colonizers

[@ishmaelkelly951]

He is a victim like most of his ancestors that was a part of the slave trade because, all of the slaves that were captured by the white colonists, indoctrinated their slaves into believing in their God. and the black guy Was a example of a generational brainwashing of a culture of people.

[@oyblech8671]

"the hierarchy goes a>b>c>d. that doesn't mean c has control over d." this man needs help, fuck me

[@tedgrant2]

Take or buy your slaves from the heathen around you and take them as an inheritance for your children. Now that's a moral lesson to teach your children over and over again. Provided you explain the cultural context. (Leviticus 25:44-46)

[@elbownio5820]

My favorite part of the Bible is the bit where God tells us how to beat our slaves properly

[@shookreeseeree4]

If only Matt Dillahunty was here..

[@TEMUJINARTS]

Relax with your worship of him. He wouldn’t have done shit do to the format of the program. Sigh

[@Stupidityindex]

My fairy tale literature is privileged

[@Tupelo927]

I was enjoying this so much that I was sorry to see it end. As an American, this was like going through a looking-glass. Here's just some of the most staggering bits: *The fact it was shown on a "regular" national cable channel- as opposed to a local access show from some dingy homemade set. *The moderator & speakers spoke calmly & respectfully & never once resorted to insults or ad hominem attacks. *The audience was fairly equally representative of believers & nonbelievers. *Here's the biggie: The Harry Potter series was heralded straightaway & no one immediately started maniacally screeching about witchcraft & Rowling being the devil's hand maiden. I *wish* I were exaggerating. Fundamentalist Christians all over America went to school board & city council meetings demanding the series not only be removed from library shelves but also banned. There were nationwide book burnings a la Third Reich. Later, movie theaters were picketed & boycotted. It was surreal & somewhat frightening to see my fellow citizens behave so irrationally. Looking back, that time seems almost quaint compared to the country currently in the grips of a paranoid narcissist. Please forgive my lengthy post. Thank you for uploading quality programs to your channels. It comforts me to be reminded of stability & normalcy.

[@tedgrant2]

The Bible was originally written by Jews. It was based on their culture thousands of years ago. It has been copied, translated and edited. That process hasn't improved it one jot or one tittle.

[@notofworld2513]

What about Lott’s daughters and him having sex? That story is messed up

[@iresistreligion]

Different interpretation make people struggle each other even in this show. What a book.

[@Stephenwhite013]

What do interpret from Solomon cutting a baby in half

[@cjunk351]

It’s funny that religious people think their holy books are so important .

[@johncook19]

How sad ancient scripture makes adult people look when they discuss the narrative of and meaning of miracles. Why do Christians need bad evidence to support miracles, it's all to very sad and childish.

[@wprandall2452]

Why do you think they were written?

[@amateuranalyst9863]

The Wife should be obey her husband...Well my 63 yr old mother finally had it with my father and now she talks backs and lecture him when he starts nagging... and god don't we love her for it... the bible was written in an era where the man was above all and most of its stories should remain in those era... No wonder we have so much evil in this world its because of the interpretation of the bible and people wanting to bring that era into this era... well the earth is not the center of the universe and for certain not my dad

[@ishmaelkelly951]

I agree with mostly everything that you said except that there is evil in the world because ,evil does not exist. evil just a word that religious people have conjured up. There's only good and bad right or wrong .evil is not really a thing.

[@amateuranalyst9863]

@@ishmaelkelly951 my bad but I have seem to have synonymous evil with bad...

[@fritula6200]

My Roman Catholic Bible teaches me.. . " to LOVE my neighbour as myself " these word came out of the mouth of Christ Himself.

[@digita1hero]

If "to LOVE my neighbour as myself" was the only thing in the bible, then it has a place in society - so a one page bible with that quote only is acceptable (and ignore the Jesus said it bit)!

[@Pycrih]

Religion gives you the tool to avoid thinking for yourself!

[@Dreq458]

phoenix wright: OBJECTION!! .... OBJECTION!! ...... OBJECTION!! maya: wow, nick. never thought you'd need practice saying that phoenix wright: practice? no, i'm just reading the bible. OBJECTION!!... OBJECTION!! dammit, i'm gonna lose my voice

[@tiffsaver]

It's one way, but certainly not the ONLY way.

[@nathanmckenzie904]

Listening to people argue who's interpretation of a 2000+ yr old book is FUCKING HILARIOUS.

[@socrates704]

"When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. And if the slave girl’s owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must treat her as his daughter. If he himself marries her and then takes another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep with her as his wife. If he fails in any of these three ways, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment. (Exodus 21:7-11)" God lists down such sophisticated rules for the benefit and protection of women, and how dare they say we it's not the best source of morality for the children!

[@NikangVideos6377]

The lady in the black jacket.....non of her arguements felt logical

[@Chaturanger]

What about slavery advocated in the old testament? Good morality?

[@fritula6200]

In Protestantism there is no given authority to interpret the Bible ...every man is his own interpreter...meaning.. how do you know if you interpretation is the Truth?

[@jamesgarcia7034]

Hmmm...they want to continue to be believers in that book, then let them be put under the authority of the catholic church, akin to muslims under sharia... Then let the church weed out the heretics themselves...

[@stonehengemaca]

No

[@misatodenshi]

i hope they keep teaching the bible literally so one day our children will realised how nonsensical it is. (before religion destroys the world)

[@spiderfiveeightnine]

Did somebody mention "fine brains?"

[@PtolemySoter]

Do you understand what morality means? Morality is the nurturing into a social set of practices. There is no legal connection to good or bad, as both ideas as socially defined. When we hear something like this or that is immoral, all we hear is the declaration of incompatibility of thinking and acting.

[@jeffhart9916]

Notice how the first guy completely sidestepped the question the host asked. This is so typical of religious people.

[@howayman8434]

toon army toon army toon army.howay the lads...

[@Jester123ish]

Should have brought Peter Hitchens on the show.