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trotsky

(49,533 posts)
Wed Mar 27, 2019, 01:22 PM Mar 2019

Why weren't any biblical writers inspired to support equal rights for women?

Equal protection of the law for LGBTQIA+ people?

How about an end to slavery? Heck, even Jesus (if he existed) gave instructions on how to beat one's slaves. He didn't condemn slavery

Or maybe even a clear explanation for whether or not women have control over their own bodies and reproductive systems?

Any one of these could have saved innumerable lives and prevented immeasurable suffering. I'd be much more impressed by any of these instead of one ancient person's paragraph that, if tilted and squinted at, seems to somewhat mirror the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe.

But I guess when you are insecure with "faith" as being enough to justify your religious beliefs, you gotta reach for whatever you can. (And ignore everything that's inconvenient to your narrative!)

62 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Why weren't any biblical writers inspired to support equal rights for women? (Original Post) trotsky Mar 2019 OP
How about a chapter on "How Not to Abuse Children"... NeoGreen Mar 2019 #1
Arguing that Bronze Age humans should have shared a 21st century viewpoint? guillaumeb Mar 2019 #2
... Major Nikon Mar 2019 #6
No, widening the focus. guillaumeb Mar 2019 #11
... Major Nikon Mar 2019 #18
Speaking of the tactic, what is it? guillaumeb Mar 2019 #45
... Major Nikon Mar 2019 #46
No, you misunderstand. guillaumeb Mar 2019 #47
... Major Nikon Mar 2019 #48
Easily refuted. But you are welcome to continue. guillaumeb Mar 2019 #49
... Major Nikon Mar 2019 #50
"This definition implicitly requires an intent to divert." trotsky Mar 2019 #54
Read the sentences. guillaumeb Mar 2019 #55
I did. "Intent" does not appear in them. trotsky Mar 2019 #56
Missing the point 101 guillaumeb Mar 2019 #58
"Intent" does not appear. trotsky Mar 2019 #60
Not how I took it hurl Mar 2019 #8
But that argues for divine interference, guillaumeb Mar 2019 #12
Doesn't it diminish human will to inspire men to write a book marylandblue Mar 2019 #21
Well that depends! hurl Mar 2019 #23
You mean like the divine interference that you think is OK when it serves your agenda? trotsky Mar 2019 #35
Orwell called this phenomena 'doublethink' Major Nikon Mar 2019 #40
That really has nothing to do wth this point. guillaumeb Mar 2019 #43
Thank you for confirming your double standard. n/t trotsky Mar 2019 #44
You just don't understand the Bible. Mariana Mar 2019 #14
Uh, were they not humans then, too? MineralMan Mar 2019 #10
Expecting Bronze Age people to have similar social attitudes as 21st century humans sounds unrealist guillaumeb Mar 2019 #13
The nature of Homo sapiens was the same then MineralMan Mar 2019 #15
And the patriarchy in other countries allowed it. guillaumeb Mar 2019 #16
Whataboutthat? MineralMan Mar 2019 #17
Divisions among the patriarchs? eom guillaumeb Mar 2019 #19
I can insist that a book said to be inspired by God marylandblue Mar 2019 #24
Yes, you can insist that, but we both know that in spite of great sounding rhetoric, guillaumeb Mar 2019 #42
Expecting Bronze Age people to respect each other was unrealistic? trotsky Mar 2019 #36
You just don't understand Major Nikon Mar 2019 #20
Thanks. I am so stupid! MineralMan Mar 2019 #22
Worried atheism is becoming more like religion? Lordquinton Mar 2019 #25
Arguing that people who were allegedly inspired by a god should have been more enlightened. trotsky Mar 2019 #33
No edhopper Mar 2019 #37
You mean "Bronze Age humans in regular contact with a timeless omniscient omnibenevolent deity" Act_of_Reparation Mar 2019 #39
Kinda funny to argue that Jesus (God!) didn't know any better... ExciteBike66 Mar 2019 #52
How did Jesus treat His female disciples? eom guillaumeb Mar 2019 #53
Trick question! He only chose MEN to be disciples! trotsky Mar 2019 #57
Mary and Mary were the most prominent of Jesus' female disciples. guillaumeb Mar 2019 #59
Ah yes, a TV show proves your point. trotsky Mar 2019 #61
A TV show that depicts an unsupported hypothesis about the MineralMan Mar 2019 #62
Clearly, the Inspirer had other priorities. nt. Mariana Mar 2019 #3
Well, I would guess that that's the last thing they wanted FiveGoodMen Mar 2019 #4
Yeah, kinda funny how that works Major Nikon Mar 2019 #5
"none of this really matters because some atheists in Boston were mean to a Trump supporter." trotsky Mar 2019 #34
Man created God to control woman. CrispyQ Mar 2019 #7
I guess God never got over that MineralMan Mar 2019 #9
Maybe some did, but the political leaders that wanted to use religion to control the masses OhioBlue Mar 2019 #26
Because men wrote the Bible. Straight, white men most likely. Liberty Belle Mar 2019 #27
Maybe not all that white - possibly Middle-Eastern and Egyptian authors. I don't see how skin color Doodley Mar 2019 #30
Depending on the version Lordquinton Mar 2019 #31
Jesus took a stab at it by preventing stoning of the woman MaryMagdaline Mar 2019 #28
On the other hand, he said he wasn't there to change the Law Mariana Mar 2019 #41
Yes but we knew he was triangulating MaryMagdaline Mar 2019 #51
Read somewhere that several of the books rejected for the New Testament cannon Jake Stern Mar 2019 #29
Right. It is not that the books weren't written, it is that they were excluded from the Canon. Midnight Writer Mar 2019 #32
If God did not approve of those things edhopper Mar 2019 #38

NeoGreen

(4,033 posts)
1. How about a chapter on "How Not to Abuse Children"...
Wed Mar 27, 2019, 03:46 PM
Mar 2019

...instead they print, 'spare the rod' bullshit.

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts)
2. Arguing that Bronze Age humans should have shared a 21st century viewpoint?
Wed Mar 27, 2019, 04:16 PM
Mar 2019

I remember the many articles about the appalling strain of misogyny among the "New Atheists".

Do you?


From the Enlightenment to the Dark Ages: How "new atheism" slid into the alt-right

https://www.salon.com/2017/07/29/from-the-enlightenment-to-the-dark-ages-how-new-atheism-slid-into-the-alt-right/





And these are 21st century people, not Bronze Age people.

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts)
45. Speaking of the tactic, what is it?
Thu Mar 28, 2019, 11:15 AM
Mar 2019
It is used as a diversionary tactic to shift the focus off of an issue and avoid having to directly address it.

This technique works by twisting criticism back onto the critic and in doing so revealing the original critic's hypocrisy.

The usual syntax is "What about...?" followed by an issue on the opponents side which is vaguely, if at all, related to the original issue.



Simply put, whataboutism refers to the bringing up of one issue in order to distract from the discussion of another.

Finally, and most importantly:

It does not apply to the comparison and analysis of two similar issues in terms such as why some are given more social prominence than others.


This definition implicitly requires an intent to divert. But if the 2 issues are related, as in the universal nature of intolerance, or the universal occurrence of child molestation, it is not whataboutism.

Your own link refutes the point.

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts)
49. Easily refuted. But you are welcome to continue.
Thu Mar 28, 2019, 11:54 AM
Mar 2019

It is used as a diversionary tactic to shift the focus off of an issue and avoid having to directly address it.

This technique works by twisting criticism back onto the critic and in doing so revealing the original critic's hypocrisy.

The usual syntax is "What about...?" followed by an issue on the opponents side which is vaguely, if at all, related to the original issue.


Simply put, whataboutism refers to the bringing up of one issue in order to distract from the discussion of another.

Finally, and most importantly:

It does not apply to the comparison and analysis of two similar issues in terms such as why some are given more social prominence than others.


This definition implicitly requires an intent to divert. But if the 2 issues are related, as in the universal nature of intolerance, or the universal occurrence of child molestation, it is not whataboutism.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)
54. "This definition implicitly requires an intent to divert."
Thu Mar 28, 2019, 01:08 PM
Mar 2019

That is your unproven claim - an effort to specifically exclude what YOU are doing from the definition.

We are directly witnessing you attempting to formally create a double standard for yourself.

Pathetic.

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts)
55. Read the sentences.
Thu Mar 28, 2019, 01:23 PM
Mar 2019

Craft an alternative.

Interesting that only a handful miss the meaning.

This might help you, and a few others:

Why Whataboutism is a Fallacy
Whataboutism suggests that two wrongs make a right. If we accept whataboutism arguments, then nothing can be deemed wrong, as long as we can think of examples of things that are worse.


https://simplicable.com/new/whataboutism

trotsky

(49,533 posts)
56. I did. "Intent" does not appear in them.
Thu Mar 28, 2019, 01:30 PM
Mar 2019

You are trying to create an exception for yourself so that you can ALWAYS claim you didn't "intend" to change the subject - that YOUR use of whataboutism is OK and totally legit.

Pathetic.

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts)
58. Missing the point 101
Thu Mar 28, 2019, 06:41 PM
Mar 2019
Why Whataboutism is a Fallacy
Whataboutism suggests that two wrongs make a right. If we accept whataboutism arguments, then nothing can be deemed wrong, as long as we can think of examples of things that are worse.


If you can find any posts of mine suggesting that 2 wrongs excuse each other, feel free to do so.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)
60. "Intent" does not appear.
Fri Mar 29, 2019, 07:51 AM
Mar 2019

You altered the definition to carve out an exception for yourself.

It's not going to work, but do please continue to humiliate yourself by trying.

hurl

(978 posts)
8. Not how I took it
Wed Mar 27, 2019, 05:53 PM
Mar 2019

The argument may be that, if there really is divine and benevolent inspiration, we would expect it to encourage proper treatment of individuals regardless of the century in which they exist.

Wouldn't the point of inspiration be to help us be better people? Sure, humans may not have known better then (and some still don't - even some atheists), but presumably an inspirational deity would have known better and provided inspiration accordingly.

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts)
12. But that argues for divine interference,
Wed Mar 27, 2019, 07:05 PM
Mar 2019

And such interference diminishes human will.

Are we to be only puppets?

marylandblue

(12,344 posts)
21. Doesn't it diminish human will to inspire men to write a book
Wed Mar 27, 2019, 08:00 PM
Mar 2019

that encodes a secret message about the Big Bang and chromosomes and an explicit message to control your wife and blame her for your mistakes?

Is God interfering at all, or is he not? If he is not interfering, then how did they learn 20th century science?

hurl

(978 posts)
23. Well that depends!
Wed Mar 27, 2019, 08:21 PM
Mar 2019

If our "human will" could lead us into a disastrously wrong consequence that we couldn't fully comprehend, then we are CLEARLY not equipped to handle unfettered "human will." Being a puppet would be far prefereable in this case.

Free will shouldn't be some kind of Holy Gag Gift that increases our odds of eternal torture. If our limited perspective precludes our making the right choice, then human will is exactly what we don't need.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)
35. You mean like the divine interference that you think is OK when it serves your agenda?
Thu Mar 28, 2019, 07:41 AM
Mar 2019

Like telling people how the universe formed, or how sex chromosomes work?

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1218&pid=310505

That kind of interference doesn't diminish human will and our own discovery?

Interesting double standards you have.

Major Nikon

(36,900 posts)
40. Orwell called this phenomena 'doublethink'
Thu Mar 28, 2019, 09:33 AM
Mar 2019

When someone actually believes religion gets the credit for everything good that any religionist on earth does, yet simultaneously believes religion can't possibly be to blame for anything bad any religionist does, it's not hard to understand how the fuckups happen.

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts)
13. Expecting Bronze Age people to have similar social attitudes as 21st century humans sounds unrealist
Wed Mar 27, 2019, 07:07 PM
Mar 2019

My view.

Women only won the right to vote 100 years ago in the US.

MineralMan

(147,604 posts)
15. The nature of Homo sapiens was the same then
Wed Mar 27, 2019, 07:12 PM
Mar 2019

as now.

As for the women's right to vote, that was restricted due to the patriarchy that started in the Bronze age. Think!

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts)
16. And the patriarchy in other countries allowed it.
Wed Mar 27, 2019, 07:17 PM
Mar 2019

Again, you can insist that Bronze Age humans act like 21st century humans, but they did not.

https://www.infoplease.com/us/gender-sexuality/womens-suffrage

marylandblue

(12,344 posts)
24. I can insist that a book said to be inspired by God
Wed Mar 27, 2019, 08:36 PM
Mar 2019

show a higher level of morality than that expected from Bronze Age nomads. Because if it doesn't, I might conclude that it is not actually inspired by God but just a book written by Bronze Age nomads. Now I understand that God apparently doesn't want to interfere and all, but wouldn't that purpose be better accomplished by actually not interfering, instead of dropping hints he was interfering that could only be understood in the 20th century? Because that would mean he actually was interfering, which is the very thing that negates the free will we only get from him not interfering.

Can you help me out of this conundrum?

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts)
42. Yes, you can insist that, but we both know that in spite of great sounding rhetoric,
Thu Mar 28, 2019, 11:04 AM
Mar 2019

humans have a habit of behaving as they wish to do.

As to your conundrum, we also know that people interpret text in many different ways. One example, the Second Amendment.

Major Nikon

(36,900 posts)
20. You just don't understand
Wed Mar 27, 2019, 07:30 PM
Mar 2019

Bronze Age biblical authors figuring out DNA structure is divine insight and inspiration. But when they fucked up basic civil rights and decency that’s just human nature.

Lordquinton

(7,886 posts)
25. Worried atheism is becoming more like religion?
Wed Mar 27, 2019, 09:28 PM
Mar 2019

And nah, a BuzzFeed article really isn't something worth more than a chuckle when trying to make a point.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)
33. Arguing that people who were allegedly inspired by a god should have been more enlightened.
Thu Mar 28, 2019, 07:27 AM
Mar 2019

You know, the thing you've tried to argue.

Nice to see you think you're wrong. Thanks!

edhopper

(34,846 posts)
37. No
Thu Mar 28, 2019, 08:58 AM
Mar 2019
Will Misogyny Bring Down The Atheist Movement?


Robyn Blumner, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the secular educational organization Center for Inquiry (CFI) and executive director of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robyn_Blumner

Act_of_Reparation

(9,116 posts)
39. You mean "Bronze Age humans in regular contact with a timeless omniscient omnibenevolent deity"
Thu Mar 28, 2019, 09:32 AM
Mar 2019

So, yes. It is entirely fucking reasonable to expect such people would be possesed of knowledge well ahead of their time.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)
57. Trick question! He only chose MEN to be disciples!
Thu Mar 28, 2019, 01:31 PM
Mar 2019

LOL did you really think that was going to help you?

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts)
59. Mary and Mary were the most prominent of Jesus' female disciples.
Thu Mar 28, 2019, 06:44 PM
Mar 2019

Jesus’ Female Disciples: The New Evidence – a timely new take on the ultimate boys’ club

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/apr/08/jesus-female-disciples-the-new-evidence-a-timely-new-take-on-the-ultimate-boys-club

If you accept the patriarchal view that Jesus only had male disciples, you really need to update your reading.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)
61. Ah yes, a TV show proves your point.
Fri Mar 29, 2019, 07:52 AM
Mar 2019

LMAO

12 disciples in the bible. All men. It's your bible with the patriarchal view, g. Sorry that hurts. Glad it does though, maybe there's hope for you after all.

MineralMan

(147,604 posts)
62. A TV show that depicts an unsupported hypothesis about the
Fri Mar 29, 2019, 08:26 AM
Mar 2019

identity of the women it features. The disciples were described in the New Testament. Extra-biblical sources are ignored by most religionists. Except, of course when there is a question begging to be answered.

Major Nikon

(36,900 posts)
5. Yeah, kinda funny how that works
Wed Mar 27, 2019, 05:05 PM
Mar 2019

We are told ancient biblical authors could figure out the Big Bang, but not where the sun went at the end of the day. They knew all about human chromosomes, but not how to respect differences when the people didn’t match the plumbing.

But none of this really matters because some atheists in Boston were mean to a Trump supporter.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)
34. "none of this really matters because some atheists in Boston were mean to a Trump supporter."
Thu Mar 28, 2019, 07:31 AM
Mar 2019

The REAL intolerance!

CrispyQ

(38,279 posts)
7. Man created God to control woman.
Wed Mar 27, 2019, 05:42 PM
Mar 2019

And others he found undesirable and undeserving, which is pretty much everyone not like him. They even co-opted the birth process & crafted Eve from Adam's rib. When you've placed yourself at the top of the hierarchy, your myths must support that positioning.

MineralMan

(147,604 posts)
9. I guess God never got over that
Wed Mar 27, 2019, 06:56 PM
Mar 2019

Fruit of Knowledge thing in the garden. Eve got on his bad list for that, and she was a woman, innit? Still holding a grudge, too, I guess.

OhioBlue

(5,126 posts)
26. Maybe some did, but the political leaders that wanted to use religion to control the masses
Wed Mar 27, 2019, 09:38 PM
Mar 2019

and give kings divine authority decided not to include *those* books in the religious texts

Doodley

(10,403 posts)
30. Maybe not all that white - possibly Middle-Eastern and Egyptian authors. I don't see how skin color
Wed Mar 27, 2019, 11:24 PM
Mar 2019

has much to do with it.

MaryMagdaline

(7,885 posts)
28. Jesus took a stab at it by preventing stoning of the woman
Wed Mar 27, 2019, 09:55 PM
Mar 2019

By asking “he who has not sinned” to throw the first stone, he in effect equalized the sins of men with those of women. In much of the world today, that is still pretty radical.

But to your point ... it’s hard to advocate for women if your own God says they came from Adam’s rib.

Mariana

(15,126 posts)
41. On the other hand, he said he wasn't there to change the Law
Thu Mar 28, 2019, 09:53 AM
Mar 2019

by so much as a jot or a tittle. That would include the parts of the Law that require the subjugation of women and the execution of homosexuals, disobedient children, and people who work on the Sabbath.

Jake Stern

(3,145 posts)
29. Read somewhere that several of the books rejected for the New Testament cannon
Wed Mar 27, 2019, 10:02 PM
Mar 2019

featured women as Apostles and leaders in the nascent Christian community.

On Edit: In the Book of Revelation, the author is really miffed about a "prophetess" at Thyatira. She seems to have been tolerated by the community and enough Christians followed her to draw the author's attention. Perhaps she was in a leadership position and Ol' John of Patmos couldn't stand it?

Midnight Writer

(22,982 posts)
32. Right. It is not that the books weren't written, it is that they were excluded from the Canon.
Thu Mar 28, 2019, 01:15 AM
Mar 2019

The Gnostic books are interesting, but were considered heretic.

edhopper

(34,846 posts)
38. If God did not approve of those things
Thu Mar 28, 2019, 09:01 AM
Mar 2019

he would have found a way to stop them, or not have those he chose to spread his word advocate for them.

Or we can argue they were just the ideas of Bronze Age men, not inspired by any god.

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