Have you ever been substantively wrong online?

[giblets]

If Ben is going to engage in character attacks when someone doesn't interpret a story the same way he does I'm just going to put him on ignore.

[Imran Siddiqui]

FWIW, I think Socialism and Christianity can exist very much together. After all, the Mosiac Law mandated certain acts to be done for the benefit of the poor (with the states of Judah and Isreal one can say it was state ordered) and Jesus had very little problems with those laws at all. I do think that Liberation Theology fails as it de-emphasizes the significance of the personal relationship with God (Jesus died for our individual sins and not just for societal sins), but I also think a lot of modern Christianity, especially wide swaths of Evangelicalism fails as it de-emphasizes the significance of societal sins. Both are important. The personal relationship with Jesus Christ is necessary to fulfill His mission of bring the Kingdom of God to Earth, and I don't think God gets upset when the less fortunate are cared for because of laws of the state.

[Lorizael]

It was a dig at Imran's framing of the issue more than anything else.

No, I was laughing at you.

[C0ckney]

i would say that socialism is far more compatible with christianity than right wing beliefs.

[loinburger]

Well it took until page two for people to **** up the thread with pointless biblical debates, so thanks I guess for not ****ting up the first page with pointless biblical debates.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

i would say that socialism is far more compatible with christianity than right wing beliefs.

That's rather a given. Unless you were attempting to make the point that Christianity is more compatible with socialism than right wing ideologies.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Ah, semantics

[Ben Kenobi]

FWIW, I think Socialism and Christianity can exist very much together.

Not really. Socialism sees the state as responsible, not the individual. There's also the issue that socialism is all about materialism.

After all, the Mosiac Law mandated certain acts to be done for the benefit of the poor (with the states of Judah and Isreal one can say it was state ordered) and Jesus had very little problems with those laws at all.

Actually, he did have a problem with them, that they were mandated as opposed to coming from the heart. Christ was pretty big on that, "where your treasure is, there your heart is also." And, "make up with your brother before coming to the temple," in that just giving money matters nothing when compared to how it's given. Same with the lady who gave all she had willingly, and drawing attention to your giving.

I think it's pretty clear that Christ is looking for us to give out of a willing spirit to give, and to give freely. That's not the case with what you've outlined here.

I don't think God gets upset when the less fortunate are cared for because of laws of the state.

I think it's shameful if the state has to take from people to ensure that the less fortunate are looked after.

Explain to me what you mean by 'societal sins', Imran?

[Ben Kenobi]

I'm just going to put him on ignore.

Hallelujah. Now we can have a real discussion.

[loinburger]

Well, they did kill someone for not donating all of his money. Sounds like coercion.

The question is: "is there any possibility that you will admit that right-wing ideology is compatible with Christianity," to which the answer is almost certainly "no." Likewise, to the questions "is there any possibility that Ben will admit that right-wing ideology is incompatible with Christianity" or "is there any possibility that Ben will admit that a left-wing ideology is compatible with Christianity" the answers are also "no." So this cherry-picked Bible bull**** is just a troll, which is all well and good (not every "debate" necessarily needs to be legitimate), until you consider: a. Ben is practically immune to trolling, and b. nobody gives a damn about the troll's outcome. At best you'll prove that Ben is a right-winger, and everybody already knows this. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's not necessary to say "I disagree!" every time Ben posts something, we can all take it as a given.

[Ben Kenobi]

Likewise, to the questions "is there any possibility that Ben will admit that right-wing ideology is incompatible with Christianity

Rand's Objectivism is very much at odds with Christianity.

is there any possibility that Ben will admit that a left-wing ideology is compatible with Christianity

Considering as I was a Mennonite, that's a rather odd position to take. Would you consider pacifism to be a left wing stance? Christ is pretty clear, that we are not to resist an evil person, but rather to comply and go beyond their demands.

Anyways, it all comes down to *which* ideology.

[loinburger]

Would you have preferred that I write a twelve paragraph term paper outlining the thousands of variations in all political ideologies? Read the post as it was intended and stop nitpicking.

[Ben Kenobi]

I just admitted that a right wing ideology was incompatible with Christianity and that a left wing ideology was compatible.

The question you should be asking is if I believe that Jesus was a right winger?

[loinburger]

I would ask if I cared what your answer was. I don't.

[Ben Kenobi]

Then why are you making BAMs about my opinions? You obviously do care. Anyways, your assertion about me is incorrect. If you want to know what I *actually* believe, go read CS Lewis.