So I have access to this in case of Bible Thumpers
Hebrews 7: 18-19 “For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.”
In other words, leave Leviticus out of it, at least if you’re a Christian.
Credit to this thread, and I think user sanityscraps (the quote of interest is a long way from user IDs, but I did my best to trace it) for bringing this quotation to my attention.
This is an enormous chain and I’m sorry, but I need to say this:
The laws in the Old Testament were set forth by god as the rules the Hebrews needed to follow in order to be righteous, to atone for the sin of Adam and Eve and to be able to get into Heaven. That is also why they were required to make sacrifices, because it was part of the appeasement for Original Sin.
According to Christian theology, when Jesus came from Heaven, it was for the express purpose of sacrificing himself on the cross so that our sins may be forgiven. His sacrifice was supposed to be the ultimate act that would free us from the former laws and regulations and allow us to enter Heaven by acting in his image. That is why he said “it is finished” when he died on the cross. That is why Christians don’t have to circumcise their sons (god’s covenant with Jacob), that is why they don’t have to perform animal sacrifice, or grow out their forelocks, or follow any of the other laws of Leviticus.
When you quote Leviticus as god’s law and say they are rules we must follow because they are what god or Jesus wants us to do, what you are really saying, as a Christian, is that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was invalid. He died in vain because you believe we are still beholden to the old laws. That is what you, a self-professed good Christian, are saying to your god and his son, that their plan for your salvation wasn’t good enough for you.
So maybe actually read the thing before you start quoting it, because the implications of your actions go a lot deeper than you think.
/An atheist who understands Christian theology better than Bible-thumpers do.
God I love this video. I just wish Stephen Fry’s part was on here too. It is from the “Intelligence Squared” debate series. The motion: “the Catholic Church is a force for good.” Hitchens and Fry oppose the motion quite eloquently. My favorite part is where Hitchens attacks the Church’s stance on homosexuality.
Yeah, in case you’ve forgotten, his wife had a life-saving abortion. And I doubt they required her to have a transvaginal ultrasound or get a signed note from her husband or listen to the heartbeat or wait 72 hours or any of that bullshit. -Jess
So, this is not quite true. Karen Santorum had a severe infection caused by the dead fetus inside of her. She took some antibiotics to try to treat the infection, but that basically did nothing. Subsequently, she spontaneously went into labor and “delivered” the dead baby. She even asked for her doctors to stop her going into labor, but at that point there was probably nothing they could do.
However, if she had not gone into labor, she very well may have died. And when asked, Rick Santorum told the Philadelphia Inquirer that “if that had to be the call, we would have induced labor if we had to [to save Karen’s life].”
The laws Rick Santorum has tried to get passed would have made that a lot harder, and not every woman is as lucky as Karen Santorum.
Full Hitler quote “”Secular schools can never be tolerated because such schools have no religious instruction, and a general moral instruction without a religious foundation is built on air; consequently, all character training and religion must be derived from faith …we need believing people. “
It does sound a bit eerily similar….
“But [what] about religious youngsters who find themselves in a public school hermetically sealed off from all religious influences? Would not the school, and therefore the government, tacitly be communicating to religious youngsters that prayer, religion, and faith are not really welcome in America’s public square? That is where we have ended up: Court-sanctioned hostility to religious influence in American society, all in the name of neutrality.” — Rick Santorum
It should go without saying that “You know who else felt that way? Hitler!” is not a valid argument against something. I don’t think that people who support religious schools also share all of Hitler’s other views. But this quote is worth remembering the next time someone tries to convince you that religion is a good guide to morality, or that being religious makes a person more trustworthy or moral.
The only thing I’d like to add is that one should remember how this worked itself out the next time someone plays the Gallileo Gambit.
Way to go, science!
I know the anti abortion people want me dead, and someday they’re going to get their way. But I don’t care. I’m old, and I’ll be gone soon one way or another.
“
—
I had a great conversation with a 75 year old abortion doctor in Texas today. I couldn’t use this quote in the piece I’m writing, but I want to put this here so I’d have it. Really, truly, an amazing man.
-This quote reminded me of one of the problems facing the future of abortion. Because of terrorist tactics of anti-choice activists there are actually relatively few physicians trained to perform abortions, and far far fewer programs that offer training in the various forms of abortion. They’re not taught standard in medical school or most residency programs - not in Family Medicine or Surgery: pretty much only OB/GYN, and in that case anyone can opt out - nominally because of religious or moral objections.
Since they legally can opt out, and because of this pressure, these few residents very often do. Not because they really object, but because it’s not worth putting your life on the line to learn a procedure you’d risk your life to perform, or because learning the procedure is too difficult: most of the time no one at the hospital where they train performs abortions, and their training in the procedure would occur at a private clinic with whom the training program has an arrangement. That clinic, however, could be clear across the state, which makes learning the procedure, as a practical matter, impossible. It’s rather difficult to take call at a hospital a six hour drive away.
The people who go into medicine want to help their fellow humans, but not at the risk of their own lives. And as the doctors who know how to perform the procedures die, retire, or are chased out or killed it gets harder to find a doctor who knows how to perform a safe abortion.
And that should scare everyone: because the same procedures that are used to terminate a viable pregnancy are also used to remove the fetus that died in a miscarriage. Look up “vaginal hemorrhage” and “gangrene” if you wonder why.
I’m probably slow to report this, but Holy Shit this is good news! Hooray!!
I haven’t seen anyone makes this specific point.
And realistically, I don’t know if it will sway anyone’s mind. But going by the logic of Santorum and the religious right: that means that if you’re employed by a Jehovah’s Witness they wouldn’t have to pay for any procedures that might require a blood transfusion.
Have a complicated delivery? Major surgery? Car accident? Well, receiving a life-saving transfusion might be what you want, but it would violate their religious principles, so your insurance plan would not cover such a procedure.
![stfuconservatives:
diegueno:
Rick Santorum is a pious hypocrite.
Yeah, in case you’ve forgotten, his wife had a life-saving abortion. And I doubt they required her to have a transvaginal ultrasound or get a signed note from her husband or listen to the heartbeat or wait 72 hours or any of that bullshit. -Jess
So, this is not quite true. Karen Santorum had a severe infection caused by the dead fetus inside of her. She took some antibiotics to try to treat the infection, but that basically did nothing. Subsequently, she spontaneously went into labor and “delivered” the dead baby. She even asked for her doctors to stop her going into labor, but at that point there was probably nothing they could do.
However, if she had not gone into labor, she very well may have died. And when asked, Rick Santorum told the Philadelphia Inquirer that “if that had to be the call, we would have induced labor if we had to [to save Karen’s life].”
The laws Rick Santorum has tried to get passed would have made that a lot harder, and not every woman is as lucky as Karen Santorum.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1907lBGZ31qazc74o1_500.jpg)
![hatefulatheist:
Full Hitler quote “”Secular schools can never be tolerated because such schools have no religious instruction, and a general moral instruction without a religious foundation is built on air; consequently, all character training and religion must be derived from faith …we need believing people. “
It does sound a bit eerily similar….
“But [what] about religious youngsters who find themselves in a public school hermetically sealed off from all religious influences? Would not the school, and therefore the government, tacitly be communicating to religious youngsters that prayer, religion, and faith are not really welcome in America’s public square? That is where we have ended up: Court-sanctioned hostility to religious influence in American society, all in the name of neutrality.” — Rick Santorum
It should go without saying that “You know who else felt that way? Hitler!” is not a valid argument against something. I don’t think that people who support religious schools also share all of Hitler’s other views. But this quote is worth remembering the next time someone tries to convince you that religion is a good guide to morality, or that being religious makes a person more trustworthy or moral.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0y1y7GzwG1qdqya3o1_1280.jpg)
