Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Solon who wrote (76337)	10/2/2003 11:16:54 PM
From: Solon	Respond to of 82486

Some interesting comments on the US and the Bible. americanhumanist.org "A terribly harmful effect of believing that supernatural beings intervene in the world is that people have often misdirected their energies in attempting to solve problems. Instead of studying this world to discover facts that could be used to develop scientific solutions to problems, they engaged in religious activities in an effort to obtain the assistance of benevolent supernatural beings or thwart the influence of malicious preternatural agents. This misdirection of energies is seen, for instance, in the history of the attempts to prevent the outbreak and spread of diseases in Europe. The historian Andrew White states that, during many centuries in the Middle Ages, the filthiness of European cities repeatedly caused great plagues that sent multitudes to their graves.[16] Based on biblical teachings, Christian theologians during those centuries believed that the plagues were caused by the anger of God or the malevolence of Satan.[17] The Bible gave them ample support for that belief. It contains numerous instances of God punishing people by means of pestilence (e.g., Exodus 32:35; Numbers 16:44-49; Jeremiah 21:6). And in describing Jesus’ healing miracles, the New Testament indicates that the following afflictions were produced by demons: blindness (Matthew 12:22); muteness (Matthew 9:32-33); lameness (Luke 13:11,16), epilepsy (Matthew 17:14-18) and insanity (Mark 5:1-13). As a result of such teachings, early church leaders promoted the idea that demonic activity is the primary cause of disease. For example, St. Augustine, whose views strongly influenced Western thought for over a thousand years, said in the fourth century: "All diseases of Christians are to be ascribed to these demons. . . ."[18] Even with the coming of the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, there was no great change in the Christian attitude toward causes of disease. Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism, repeatedly attributed his own illnesses to "devils’ spells." He taught that, "Satan produces all the maladies which afflict mankind, for he is the prince of death."[19] Due to these beliefs about the supernatural causes of disease, theologians taught that plagues could be averted or alleviated by seeking God’s aid and protection. The method of obtaining this supernatural assistance, they thought, was to perform religious acts such as repenting from sin;[20] providing gifts to churches, monasteries and shrines;[21] participating in religious processions;[22] attending church services (which often only increased the spread of disease);[23] and killing Jews and witches (since it was believed that Satan used them as his agents in causing illness).[24] The theologians largely ignored the possibility of physical causes and cures of diseases.[25]" And on and on and on!