Religion

Pope George Ringo II

(1,896 posts)

17. Of course many splits are about authority. From above, religion is always about authority.

Sun Dec 2, 2018, 02:15 PM

Dec 2018

But the followers will pick and choose what they like, decide on certain things being inviolable and form organizations around those while living with each other's differences. There are certainly some very notable examples suggesting authority is the central factor (Hello, Reformation! Say hello to Henry VIII!) but the trend line has very much been toward individuals making that call.

For example, if an individual decides he really doesn't like his group's stance on, say, gay marriage, he'll either head for a splinter sect of his own group, or switch to an entirely different congregation in search of like-minded believers. Most of two centuries ago, we'd have come up with some examples involving slavery. I'd also point out that the overwhelming majority of atheists split with a group over a refusal to hold those beliefs in the first place, and that's a pretty big chunk by itself.

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Exegesis vs. Eisegesis [View all] MineralMan Dec 2018 OP

Now I know. Polly Hennessey Dec 2018 #1

When exegesis becomes eisegesis Cartoonist Dec 2018 #2

Your NRA example is exactly right. MineralMan Dec 2018 #3

Of course, the other problem with eisegesis is that you're not actually following a religion Pope George Ringo II Dec 2018 #4

Well, that follows the general path of how religions are created, I guess. MineralMan Dec 2018 #5

I don't think it's new at all marylandblue Dec 2018 #7

The New Testament may well have been written purposely to MineralMan Dec 2018 #10

It's eisegesis either way. marylandblue Dec 2018 #12

Yes, it is. MineralMan Dec 2018 #13

True. Pope George Ringo II Dec 2018 #9

Why is it a different religion? marylandblue Dec 2018 #11

Well, Christianity has been stretched pretty far. MineralMan Dec 2018 #14

The determination of a "new religion" is subjective marylandblue Dec 2018 #15

As a non-Christian and atheist, I simply MineralMan Dec 2018 #16

It's not a subject I can imagine boasting about, so I take their word for it Pope George Ringo II Dec 2018 #18

With Christians, the problem with looking at their behavior Mariana Dec 2018 #24

I rely on Matthew for the basics. MineralMan Dec 2018 #25

Of course many splits are about authority. From above, religion is always about authority. Pope George Ringo II Dec 2018 #17

That's not a bug, it's a feature. marylandblue Dec 2018 #6

It's fine until they start murdering heretics again. Pope George Ringo II Dec 2018 #8

Well, in some Islamic countries, that's an ongoing thing. MineralMan Dec 2018 #19

I can never keep those straight. Pope George Ringo II Dec 2018 #20

Be a lumper. All of those are in danger in some places. MineralMan Dec 2018 #21

Or "reading out" vs "reading in". Voltaire2 Dec 2018 #22

Well put. MineralMan Dec 2018 #23

Nostradamas is an excellent example Major Nikon Dec 2018 #26

Yes, and looking back at his "prophesies" MineralMan Dec 2018 #27

Hindsight is crystal clear Major Nikon Dec 2018 #28