Christian Propaganda Options

[*Libertie*]

I used the search, so I hope this isn't a repeat thread.

Today was my church's July 4th celebration service. The pastor took this opportunity to put George W. Bush on a pedestal, slam gay marriage, condemn abortion, and basically tell us all how to vote.

He also had the audacity to tell us that everything we've ever learned in the history books is absolutely wrong, and proceeded to explain how the U.S. *really* became a nation.

He threw outrageous percentages without citing his sources (ie., he told us that 90% of Americans believe in Christianity!), he went on and on with random facts that he couldn't prove. And the congregation flocks to him, because he's the PASTOR and that means they should do anything he says.

How many pastors, conservative and liberal alike, sway a majority of their congregations into voting the way they want - no, "the way GOD wants!" - every year? And there's nothing we can do about it, because it's the pastor, and he can say whatever he wants to say as long as the congregation doesn't have a problem with it.

My question - why are people so easily swayed? Why do people believe such nonsense without being given a reason to believe it? And why do pastors take advantage of their time behind a pulpit as an opportunity to spout propaganda to thousands and thousands every year?

.:edit:. Yes, yes, another religion thread. I apologize, but I'm not making any outrageous claims, I just wanted some input before I write a letter to my pastor. :P

[bebopspike14]

you cited a bible quote saying that gay fornication was a sin. how do you know if that wsa in the original bible? who's to say it wasn't added in by geutenburg or king james?

Well, bibles translated and updated by real christians wouldn't have this problem because of the holy spirit within them. The holy spirit serves to guide christians in their walk with god, and would also aid in this task. Making the process so much more free of human error.

and the point of this debate, if i'm not mistaken, it why religious figures often use thier status for reasons other than religion.

take the crusades, sponsered by the pope. purpose: gain good farmland in and around asia minor.

You must understand, the pope was always a heretical political unfounded figure.

Catholic doctrine alleges that Matthew 16:18 teaches that the church was built on Peter, hence, the pope.

“I say unto you, that you are Peter [petros - rock], and upon this rock [petra] I will build my church.”

1)Petros (Peter) is a masculine gender noun; petra (rock) is a feminine form. The change in grammatical form is not incidental.

2)Petros suggests a small rock, whereas petra indicates a boulder. The contrast is significant.

3)Jesus employed the second person, su (you), in addressing Peter, but He changed to the third person, taute (this) when referring to the rock.

Therefore, based on a bit of greek grammar, the entire lineage of popes was just a big idiotic mistake that the catholics refuse to admit as their blunder.

Which is part of the reason why Popes so freely misuse their powers. They have no foundation in christian truth, and their doctrine is a mere conglomerate of lies designed to politically innoculate those who follow it.

likewise, religon can be used to stir people to revolt. attaching a religious reason to a war, like william the bastard did before 1066, allows you what seems like a moral advantage, allowing him to become william the conquerer.

That's true, but William of Normandy wasn't a true christian. Besides, if popes were doing it....

If popes used their religous powers for political gain, then political leaders could abuse the same weakness rampant among the weak minded.

we must take into account, however, that this is organised religion. organized religion is inheriently sinful, because it relies upon sinful humans for direction. if a catholic bishop is capable of being gay, then a congregation's pastor is certainly able to be corrupt, and use his power for the wrong reasons.

The Catholic bishop and the Pastor thing is because they are weak christians. They have all the doctrine, all the things and etiquette and whatnot instilled on their minds, but they just don't live out their lives for Christ. There's no faith, just the religious structure.

in organised religion, people put thier trust and faith in thier pastor or leader. they trust them to make decisions for them, to tell them what do to. (confessions, etc.) this will work if the leader is incorruptable, like god supposedly is, but when it is a human, then you must assume that there is a possibility that they are corrupt.

But true christians would never place a pastor a a priest or whatever as their leader. If their leader was god, then how can you go wrong? He is incorruptable and will not lead us astray.

a corrupted leader with followers will fall to the temptation to use these followers. Some of the followers will blindly follow him- and therefore it works. if a pastor told his congregation to go kill someone, there would probably be a person or two of the congregation toat takes it seriously (if the message is imbedded with religous purpose). This has been used by islamic religous leaders, so it is no stretch that christian religious leaders could use this as well.

But followers who trust god as their leader would be aware of what they are doing. And god would use the holy spirit to tell us if our orders from a corrupted figure are wrong or not.

so: why do pastors use thier power for political purposes? because it has been done for millenia. christianity has often been used as the puppet of kings bent on conquering a nation, or popes wishing for more wealth.

Because they are without faith, and unwilling to abandon their simplistic will and accept a part in the great will of god. Yes, Political figures have abused the blind faith, but that was because the doctrine did not prepare the believing against such a thing. The doctrine of catholicism placed all faith in the pope, who "Held the keys of heaven" and "controlled one's salvation".

If they didn't follow, then they were so sure that they wouldn't go to heaven, that they would mute out the holy spirit's quiet voice in their minds, abandon reason, and rally to the leaders.