Zone1 The Handmaid's Tale: A Perversion of Christianity

[Meriweather]

No one is trying to impose a belief system on my based on Aelfweeard.

Who is trying to impose his/her belief on you? Someone in your family? As I've noted before, I have lived with/among atheists all my life and no one has ever tried to impose/change anyone's beliefs. If it is someone in your family, who has the authority/strength to impose his/her beliefs on you? On the backside, who are you trying to impose your own non-beliefs on?

 

[JoeB131]

Who is trying to impose his/her belief on you? Someone in your family? As I've noted before, I have lived with/among atheists all my life and no one has ever tried to impose/change anyone's beliefs. If it is someone in your family, who has the authority/strength to impose his/her beliefs on you? On the backside, who are you trying to impose your own non-beliefs on?

Yeah, so this is a funny thing. Because of the God-botherers, I'm restricted in what websites I can see in IL because my ISP routes traffic through Texas.

If you tell me that you don't want to watch porn or have an abortion because your imaginary sky friend says that's bad, I would just shrug my shoulders and say, "Sure, whatever."

When you all pass laws so no one can do those things, then you are imposing your beleifs on the rest of us.

 

[Meriweather]

Yeah, so this is a funny thing. Because of the God-botherers, I'm restricted in what websites I can see in IL because my ISP routes traffic through Texas.

If you tell me that you don't want to watch porn or have an abortion because your imaginary sky friend says that's bad, I would just shrug my shoulders and say, "Sure, whatever."

When you all pass laws so no one can do those things, then you are imposing your beleifs on the rest of us.

Unbelievable. Talk to your state or federal government. A person has no the authority or capability to pass laws. You can find a way to work ISP traffic routes to get where you wish to go. Usually it is rough reaching those porn sites you want to watch because even those who practice no religion are protective of children--even those people who have no children. Find your own porn instead of whining its not accessible to you with the touch of only a few buttons. It is unbelievable that instead of protecting children, you would rather urge society to change laws so that porn is more available to you, as you don't care whether children are able to see it, too.

 

[JoeB131]

Unbelievable. Talk to your state or federal government. A person has no the authority or capability to pass laws. You can find a way to work ISP traffic routes to get where you wish to go. Usually it is rough reaching those porn sites you want to watch because even those who practice no religion are protective of children--even those people who have no children. Find your own porn instead of whining its not accessible to you with the touch of only a few buttons. It is unbelievable that instead of protecting children, you would rather urge society to change laws so that porn is more available to you, as you don't care whether children are able to see it, too.

First, the first Amendment says that if someone wants to run a porn site, or visit one, they should be able to.

Second, it's a parent's job to "protect" their children. Funny thing, when I grew up, all the kids had their secret porn stash they hid from their parents. We turned out fine.

 

[ding]

We turned out fine.

That's debatable. I'm sorry you don't have unfettered access to your porn.

 

[ding]

If you tell me that you don't want to watch porn or have an abortion because your imaginary sky friend says that's bad...

Actually God gave you free will. It's not virtuous if you are forced to be virtuous. One need not be religious to be virtuous.

 

[Meriweather]

First, the first Amendment says that if someone wants to run a porn site, or visit one, they should be able to.

Second, it's a parent's job to "protect" their children. Funny thing, when I grew up, all the kids had their secret porn stash they hid from their parents. We turned out fine.

I doubt "all" kids had a porn stash. Second how do you know that every single one of "all" turned out fine? Third, do you believe the availability of child porn should be a First Amendment right?

I have not found my three sources to check on the validity of this, so all are welcome (even urged) to take the following with a grain of salt. I do know people have asked those near death what they wish they had done more of, or done better, during their life. As far as I know, "Looking at more porn" didn't make anyone's list, but I could be wrong. Recently I heard of someone who was able to ask souls in purgatory what they wish they had done differently. The top three seem to include:

• Place more value on time. (Is looking at porn, whether as a child or an adult the best use of time? Is there a better way?)
• Place more value on how we treat others. ( Is looking at porn valuing that person?)
• Love of God

Again, I know many Christians hold no belief in purgatory. And, as I said, I haven't had time to check sources on the above three. Some might find this interesting, others will summarily dismiss it. It is still worth thinking about.

 

[JoeB131]

Actually God gave you free will. It's not virtuous if you are forced to be virtuous. One need not be religious to be virtuous.

You have free will, but I'm going to burn you for all eternity if you make the wrong choices.

That's not a loving God.

That's a Batman Villain.

 

[JoeB131]

I doubt "all" kids had a porn stash. Second how do you know that every single one of "all" turned out fine?

You might have a point. Some of them grew up to be Republicans.

Third, do you believe the availability of child porn should be a First Amendment right?

We aren't talking about "child porn". Try to stay on topic.

Recently I heard of someone who was able to ask souls in purgatory what they wish they had done differently.

Is purgatory still a thing? I know they got rid of Limbo since I was a kid.

Okay, let's get real here.

I would rather have kids watch two people making love than two people trying to murder each other, which seems to be the go to for all action movies these days.

 

[Meriweather]

Okay, let's get real here.

I would rather have kids watch two people making love than two people trying to murder each other, which seems to be the go to for all action movies these days.

Are movies forced into one of these two choices?

 

[ding]

You have free will, but I'm going to burn you for all eternity if you make the wrong choices.

That's not a loving God.

That's a Batman Villain.

View attachment 1248751

You don't like accountability?

 

[ding]

We aren't talking about "child porn".

So now you ARE for accountability?

 

[JoeB131]

Are movies forced into one of these two choices?

You're being disingenuous again.

Even kids shows have people trying to kill each other.

 

[JoeB131]

You don't like accountability?

Not the kind your religion preaches, no.

The idea of "eternal punishment' seems vicious to me.

Not sure why you think it's a good thing to send someone to eternal damnation for a petty sin.

 

[Meriweather]

Even kids shows have people trying to kill each other.

Your point being?

 

[ding]

Not the kind your religion preaches, no.

So just to be clear... You don't have a problem with some burning hell, right?

The idea of "eternal punishment' seems vicious to me.

Even for Hitler? Or a serial rapist? C'mon, man.

Not sure why you think it's a good thing to send someone to eternal damnation for a petty sin.

I don't. I trust God to do what is right.

So are you still against there being no accountability whatsoever?

 

[Carl in Michigan]

I began watching The Handmaid's Tale recently (yes, I'm late to the series). I have always loved dystopian stories, and this one features great storytelling and world-building.

But Gilead is a perversion of Christianity, and uses the faith only as a tool to control society.

Notably in season one is the use of fertile handmaids to give wives babies. To justify this, Gilead quotes the Old Testament women who had their husbands sleep with their servants in order to give them children.

But the flaw is this: just because the Bible RECORDS it doesn't mean the Bible ENDORSES it. Nowhere did God give this decree, which is adultery. The idea stemmed solely from desperate women. Once the deed is done, God can use sinful people and even sinful actions to His end. But He did not either command or endorse the sin.

This fallacy of recording vs. endorsing is all over the series, such as when the Commanders visit the Jezebels. Again, yes, there are prostitutes recorded in the Bible. Nowhere does God endorse it.

Still, we have mainly Leftist women dressing in handmaid's garb to "fight the patriarchy", often citing Christianity as the patriarchal foe. I would say, hey, Tehran is sitting right over here.....

This is a common problem with those looking for an excuse to bash Christianity. They'll do it in everything (including eating animal flesh)

 

[ding]

You're being disingenuous again.

She wasn't. Her point was those aren't your only choices. So by comparing it to something you think is bad, it doesn't make what you watch good and shows you know it is bad.

 

[JoeB131]

Your point being?

That we are too upset about sex and not upset enough about violence.

 

[ding]

That we are too upset about sex and not upset enough about violence.

Why couldn't she be upset about both?