Why Do Christian Moralists Ignore Sins Clearly Stated in the Bible
There are sins clearly identified several times in the Bible that are ignored by the same Christian moralists. One is nudity. Nudity is mentioned many times. One is Exodus 20:26 "....that they nakedness be not discovered thereon."
All over the U.S. this summer a moralist can see beach attire worn by men and women that is so close to nakedness it has to be a sin. Yet, moralists and politicians never speak about it. Have they never read the Bible?
Where I live in Iowa there is a Christian Coalition that talks of nothing but gay marriage and abortion. Right here is this state is an RV park where campers are required to be nude. I assume if the weather is warm and people wear clothing they are asked to leave. Would not this be a moral issue of some importance when the Bible so clearly condemns nudity?
I have my own theory about why sins like nudity are ignored and others not clearly labeled as sin are sin front runners. One has to only follow the money.
If the Christian Coalition had a fund drive which pledged to close Blue Lake Resort, the nudist camp, it would be a fiscal failure. Christian donors enjoy skimpy beach wear, don't plan to peek into Blue Lake Resort and don't care that people who enjoy being nude go there and camp. So, nudity is not a sin on church Sin Leader Boards.
Calling out abortion and homosexuality, however, are financial successes. That, not theology per se, is why those are called sins even when the Bible does not mention them.
It is only recently that abortion and homosexuality have become somewhat acceptable in our society. The previously unthinkable mortal sins are now celebrated by a sick culture. However, the abortion rate has been declining for decades, nearly 50% off its peak in the USA. This is a good sign. Homosexuality is still inching its way to acceptance. Clearly, the SCOTUS's decision to miraculously find a constitutional approval for homosexual marriage was another Dred Scott-ish decision, devoid of common sense or judicial merit. Besides, these issues are for the electorate to decide through it's elected representatives or a Constitutional Convention.
ReplyDeleteAs for public nudity, it is still illegal most everywhere in the USA. It is more or less considered "disturbance of the peace" as it causes such a rukess.
As for the "sin manual", you (Jon) simply don't understand the majority of what Christians discuss through their churches or private meetings. You might find divorce, adultery, theft, illegal immigration, murder, or other such sins being dominant. Granted, abortion is murder. I can't say homosexuality comes up much in my Catholic Church. If anything, it comes up as a topic for discussion when the priesthood is discussed, but only in the context of sanitizing the seminaries and some dioceses. For example, the sex abuse problem in the Catholic Church is not so much a child molestation issue as it is a homosexual adult-adult problem. In fact, the ratio of adult vs. child sex abuse cases could be in the neighborhood of 10:1.
Thanks for that comment. I like it that you covered what is discussed in your actual church life, not what appears in propaganda published by Catholic clergy. What people discuss is what the church stands for, not what is written in places remote to local parishes/congregations. I will take note about one of your observations. You write that homosexuality is or appears to be far more common than molestation. I have no reason to doubt that. It seems to me, however, homosexual relations between priests or nuns is usually between consenting adults. Outside of religion, this mostly is not a concern of those not immediately involved. Molestation is not between consenting adults and outside of religion is a criminal act.
ReplyDeleteWhat the Church teaches is what the Church "stands for". I only mention what is discussed at my local church so as to assert just that, i.e. my direct experience. However, my direct experience also covers what is taught through official Church documents. It is impossible for the Pope and the Cardinals to visit me in person, in addition to visiting all 1,000,000,000+ other Catholics personally. Church teaching is not propaganda unless you also consider the US Constitution, the US Bill of Rights and other such documents as "propaganda." Consensual sexual relations, whether heterosexual or homosexual, are cause for discipline, up to and including excommunication.
ReplyDeleteSin has no meaning to atheists as it is defined to be "an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law." Since the atheist rejects God, what is immoral in the mind of an atheist? There is no universally accepted definition, hence, no immorality and no morality.
There is no universal accepted definition, hence, no immorality and no morality." I think you are talking of Christianity there, not atheism. Morality in the faith changes as times change. Denial that this happens is standard operating procedure. Christians and atheists, in the end, make decisions the same way. They observe what rules are necessary for their society to function and make those rules accordingly. The civil rules in the 10 Commandments were in societies before the time of Judaism.
ReplyDeleteSin is defined as an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law. Granted, different religious faiths will use their holy books, traditions and ongoing revelations to determine what is divine law. But any religious sect with allows its members to 'decide for themselves' have made gods out of their members, i.e. hardly a religious faith at all. Atheists, by definition, have no divine being, most often referred to as God. Therefore, the concept of sin is foreign to the atheist. You confuse breaking of laws as sin, I guess. The Ten Commandments were divine laws, not civil rules. Redefining history to suit your world view is childish.
ReplyDeleteYou can lead a theist to water but you cant make him think! They prefer the cool aid instead.
ReplyDeleteIf water is sin, I prefer to not drink. Theological "thought", as expressed in books too numerous to count, hardly makes people who believe in God those who reject rational thought. It is quite the opposite. Granted, there are those whose simple faith is not mentally arduous. They are blessed. Bernadette Soubirous is one such person among the many. I would dare say that every atheist I have known is more or less a rabid anti-theist rather than a thinking, reasoned person.
DeleteDo nudists do a slow dance, the bunny hop, or perhaps a polker, and is it a sin if you do it on the hood of a tractor on Sunday.
ReplyDelete