Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Soph0571

Soph0571's Journal
Soph0571's Journal
January 19, 2019

Arches in Arches

January 19, 2019

Do religions NEED Heaven and Hell?



Do religions need a carrot and a stick to scare people into doing the right thing? Paradise V the Lake of Fire. Behave in life because after death comes the judgement. Do what we say, comply with our rules otherwise your eternity is going to be something of a bugger. Of course, these days our religious institutions play down the concept of a fiery pit of eternal arse roasting. It seemingly does not play well with those that sit on the pews come Sunday morning. The hell of the 21st century is more often described as an absence of God rather than the presence of the devil, with heaven being directly opposite to the absence of God. It is a much more palatable descriptor than how the bible talks about it.

The bible is clear on heaven and hell, and is specific on exactly what they both look like. Jesus gave some very clear descriptors in one of his parables describing hell as a blazing furnace, a place of wailing and gnashing of teeth: Matthew 13:42 – and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Those who cause offence, those whose deeds are evil will be thrown into the Lake of Fire until the end of time. However, do not despair. Be good and righteous and your eternal life will be spent in the City of Light, built by God: Revelation 7:15-16 Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. The message could not be clearer. You have a choice. Behave and get to the city of light. Misbehave and suffer eternal damnation. Of course, each religion has a different barometer for what constitutes good behaviour, which might lead to a rather sticky afterlife if you are not careful! Fundamentally for people of faith paradise or hell fire are manifestations of God’s love or God’s justice. That is one big carrot and stick.

If religions took away the stick of the fiery pit of eternal damnation does the carrot of a heavenly after life lose its impact? Would religious people still strive to do the moral thing if not going to hell was not part of their religious package of choice. Surely people should make moral decisions because of wish to do the right thing by our fellow human beings, to a leave a legacy of trying to make the world a better place, for the here and now, without the need of a carrot and stick? People should act morally or ethically because it is the right thing to do, not because your choice of actions could eventually send you to heaven of hell.

Faith is decreasing in the 21st Century, but people are still generally good, they are still generally moral. They need neither a carrot nor a stick to do the right thing. The heaven and hell approach to moral behaviour removes an individual’s need for personal responsibility. You should act ethically because it is the right thing to do. not because it gives you a get out of hell free card. If you need a stick to be better, that does not say much for one’s character. If your religion needs a stick to keep you in conformity that suggests that the message is not hugely compelling without scaring people into obedience.

Do religions need heaven and hell?

Pretty much.
January 19, 2019

'Sickening': New Photo Emerges of Indiana High School Boys Giving Nazi Salute



Once again, a pack of high schoolers has been caught giving what appears to be the Nazi salute and posting the picture to social media, reports the Indianapolis Star.
The students appear to attend Zionsville Community High School, which is investigating the incident. The photo was shot in the school auditorium and several of the teenagers are wearing Zionsville jerseys, the “Rumblin’ Bumblers” soccer team.

A student sent the photo to a teacher, who alerted the school superintendent Scott Robison. Robison called the picture “sickening.”


[link:https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2019/01/sickening-new-photo-emerges-of-indiana-high-school-boys-giving-nazi-salute/|

Good little nazis - their parents must be so proud
January 19, 2019

BOOM

January 19, 2019

The anti-LGBT+ school where Karen Pence works will receive 100 copies of John Oliver's book about...

...a gay rabbit

As the New York Times reports, within the school's 'Articles of Employment' their definition of what marriage constitutes and their stance on sexual identity is:

I understand that the term ‘marriage’ has only one meaning; the uniting of one man and one woman,” it reads, adding that certain “moral misconduct” would be disqualifying, such as “heterosexual activity outside of marriage (e.g., premarital sex, cohabitation, extramarital sex), homosexual or lesbian sexual activity, polygamy, transgender identity, any other violation of the unique roles of male and female.

As the wife of the vice president, people have taken exception to Pence taking a role in this school as it potentially sends out the wrong message to LGBT+ people and parents around the United States.

So, rather than make grand protests or force her out of the job, The Trevor Project, an LGBT+ youth suicide prevention organisation is sending 100 copies of the children's book A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo.

If you haven't heard of the book, it was created last year by the 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver' show and parodies the Pence's own pet - and the vice president's documented anti-gay views - as a gay rabbit and teaches kids about the importance of acceptance.

All sales of the book have gone directly to The Trevor Project but they are hoping that the copies that they are sending to the school can send a powerful message to the staff and students.

In a statement on their website, Amit Paley, CEO & Executive Director of The Trevor Project said:

The Trevor Project hears from young people every day about their experiences with rejection at home and school – places where they should feel the safest.

We know that lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth from rejecting families are more than eight times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers.

We hope Immanuel Christian School will adopt policies of inclusion for LGBTQ young people that make them feel safe, accepted, and loved.


[link:https://www.indy100.com/article/karen-pence-anti-lgbt-immanuel-school-christian-marlon-bundo-book-john-oliver-8734456|

Of course they won't accept them - but it does send a powerful message
January 19, 2019

Extortioner in Chief



70 year old school yard bully who never grew the fuck up
January 19, 2019

Shooting Baby Hitler Wrong. Refugee children, Not So Much...

https://twitter.com/JordanUhl/status/1086301380334272512

Ben Shapiro at March for Life: "The truth is no pro-life person would kill baby Hitler. Baby Hitler was a baby."


https://twitter.com/TheGoodGodAbove/status/1086407229396434944

conservatives:
shooting baby Hitler is wrong

also conservatives:
letting migrant children die is fine it’s their fault lol


They are outstanding in their ability to disconnect reality. It is fascinating to watch
January 19, 2019

Jacob Rees-Mogg asks his LBC listeners which race of boy makes the best chimney sweep

Jacob Rees-Mogg has a new radio show on LBC, and will be discussing with his audience the important issues of the day.

The deputy Demon headmaster has had occasional presenting slots on the radio call-in station for angry and bewildered telephone users, and has now been given his own show for some bloody reason.

“Hello peasants,” greeted the haunted Victorian trouser press.

“I must say this is all jolly exciting. My own slot on the wireless. None of this Spotify nonsense.

Well, let’s start as we mean to go on, and get down to the issues that truly affect us all…I want to know which race of young boy you think is best suited to shimmy up the chimney and give it a damn good seeing to.

“I know we all have our fondness for a cockney but, let’s be honest, most of them are busy breaking into Transit vans these days, so I doubt we can use them anymore!

“What say you? Would the luck of the Irish best suit your flue? How about a plucky Indian? An athletic young Polack? Or would you risk it all on a Welshman?

“You can telephone me right now to let me know your thoughts. Dial 512 and state your business!”


]https://newsthump.com/2019/01/18/jacob-rees-mogg-asks-his-lbc-listeners-which-race-of-boy-makes-the-best-chimney-sweep/

Heh - satire is truth and truth is satire

Profile Information

Gender: Female
Hometown: UK
Home country: UK
Current location: UK
Member since: Fri Oct 13, 2017, 06:59 PM
Number of posts: 9,685

About Soph0571

I am a Brit. I am a working class child of the troubles in Belfast who now lives a life of privilege. I am an anti-racist, progressive monster for truth. If I fail in being that monster, call me out....
Latest Discussions»Soph0571's Journal