Cumquat raises the question of the differences between things I have advocated and his understanding of Christianity:
Here is my list of Voxianisms — the areas where (my interpretation of) your writings tend to diverge from what I’d consider “Christian.”
First, a few qualifications: 1) As an agnostic, I have no problem with these Voxianisms, 2) I understand that you’ve never, to my knowledge, encouraged or told others to do as you do, and 3) remember #1 because otherwise I’ll come off as a hypocrite.
~ Thou shalt engage in name calling
Jesus Christ and the Paul apostle both did likewise, ergo there’s nothing inherently wrong there. I note that Paul was particularly inclined towards sarcasm.
~ Thou shalt engage others in arguments
Jesus apparently enjoyed this, as he often did so in public. Again, I see no contradiction here.
~ Thou shalt use vulgarities
There is one verse about rough speech, but in general, the Christian is commanded is to avoid making vows, blaspheming against the Holy Spirit or taking the Lord’s name in vain. There’s nothing about the inherent sin of using old Anglo-Saxon terms for defecation or fornication.
~ Thou shalt joke when commenting on tragedy (1st VT post)
Since when is humor off limits, either for Christians or anyone else? It wasn’t directed at the victims or their families anyhow.
~ Thou shalt, kinda, sorta, support Polygamy
Which both the Old and the New Testament do, in my opinion and the opinion of many theologians. Certainly this single marriage divorce culture doesn’t seem to be working out very well.
~ Thou shalt condone hitting women (in the right context)
Self-defense is approved in the Bible.
~ Thou shalt not necessarily turn the other cheek
Yes, I think this is a flaw. My opinion is based far more on my training than my faith.
~ Thou shalt not necessarily be meek
Or poor. The meek are blessed, there’s no commandment to go forth and be meek.
~ Thou shalt enjoy violent video games
Yes, so what? It’s not real violence, you know.
~ Thou shalt view God as a super being whose ways are only good because he says so.
You’ll have to take that one up with Him. I’m basically just repeating what He said.
~ Thou shalt consume alcoholic beverages
You know that Jesus Christ made wine, right? And also told us to drink it in remembrance of him. Seriously, whatever faith you lost truly doesn’t appear to be Christianity, but some bastard half-breed Churchianity.
~ Thou shalt not support marriage
Except for Christians. Why should non-Christians pay any attention to a Christian sacrement anyhow, or make promises when they don’t believe in a universal standard of truth.
~ Thou shalt not support the equal rights of women
Nope. Show me where Christian doctrine does. And, as someone has already pointed out, voting isn’t a right. If it was, it couldn’t be taken away from you for committing a felony.
~ Thou shall not support multiculturalism
And where does it say thou shalt? Anyhow, multiculturalism is an abomination before the Western cultural tradition, which derives from Christianity. You can support cliterectomies for all the girls if you want, I shall continue to refuse to do so.
~ Thou shalt enjoy the material pleasures of the world
God made the world. He loves it. Why shouldn’t we, subject only to His strictures?
~ Thou shalt allow the above, and worse, to be done by others in the name of libertarianism.
God has the power to impose His will any time He wants and yet He refuses to do so in the name of allowing us our free will. Who am I to put myself in a position that God Himself does not.