The foundation of Christianity is based on ignorance

[tay]

"The whole foundation of Christianity is based on the idea that intellectualism is the work of the Devil. Remember the apple on the tree? Okay, it was the Tree of Knowledge. You eat this apple, you're going to be as smart as God. We can't have that."

Frank Zappa

 

[Nick Danger]

This would vallidate the trend that organized religion is having trouble keeping people prone to thinking for themselves within their ranks.

 

[taxslave]

The foundation of any religion is keeping the peons poor and ignorant.

 

[petros]

And yet Christianity has educated billions of people.

 

[Nick Danger]

And yet Christianity has educated billions of people.

In what aspect?

 

[petros]

Schools.

During the Middle Ages, the Church rose to replace the Roman Empire as the unifying force in Europe. The cathedrals of that age remain among the most iconic feats of architecture produced by Western civilization. Many of Europe's universities were also founded by the church at that time. Many historians state that universities and cathedral schools were a continuation of the interest in learning promoted by monasteries.[2] The university is generally regarded as an institution that has its origin in the Medieval Christian setting.

 

[Nick Danger]

You've got a point there, but how many of those efforts are motivated by financial desire (private schools) and how many include some degree of Christian indoctrination? It would be one thing if such "education" was an outright gift, but having a private agenda does tend to taint any charitable aspects.

 

[petros]

Zappa missed the mark on his comment. The apple story is an Old Testement Israelite thing.

Christ came along and said "Great story but it's a story, there is no sin in knowledge."

 

[gerryh]

Zappa missed the mark on his comment. The apple story is an Old Testement Israelite thing.

Christ came ali g and said "Great story but it's a story, there is no sin in knowledge."

Don't bother, petros. In their world, Ignorance is obviously their bliss.

 

[petros]

Don't bother, petros. In their world, Ignorance is obviously their bliss.

They should have tried the sweet apple. It's okay to indulge and spread it around.

Apple Pi

Now thanks be unto God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ and who maketh manifest through us the savor of His knowledge in every place.

 

[Nick Danger]

"If you do the right thing for the wrong reasons, the work becomes corrupted, impure, and ultimately self-destructive." - Lennier

 

[petros]

All personal choice on how you use knowledge.

 

[Nick Danger]

That's a huge problem with much of organized religion, personal choice and independent thinking are not really encouraged. For the most part it's life "by the book". Granted some people really need things spelled out for them, but others are easily led by those with a less-than-religious agenda. Look at what the perversion of religious teachings has given us in the past, and how it is being used today as a tool of war.

 

[Jinentonix]

Actually, the tree name got short formed. It wasn't the "Tree of Knowledge" It was the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Although the story does show what an a$$hole "God" is. He creates this perfect paradise but puts a fruit tree in it that Adam isn't supposed to go near knowing full well he was going to happen anyway. So basically God set up Adam and Eve to fail and then got pissed off at them when they met his expectations. And on top of it all, he let Satan sneak in and offer up the temptation. Good security there, God.

 

[petros]

That's a huge problem with much of organized religion, personal choice and independent thinking are not really encouraged.

Is it really discouraged? By who?

Actually, the tree name got short formed. It wasn't the "Tree of Knowledge" It was the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Although the story does show what an a$$hole "God" is. He creates this perfect paradise but puts a fruit tree in it that Adam isn't supposed to go near knowing full well he was going to happen anyway. So basically God set up Adam and Eve to fail and then got pissed off at them when they met his expectations. And on top of it all, he let Satan sneak in and offer up the temptation. Good security there, God.

Maybe, just maybe you're reading into something that isn't there?

 

[Nick Danger]

Is it really discouraged? By who?

I suspect that the list of "Who doesn't discourage" would be shorter. Isn't the essence of most religious teachings a set of rules to live by? You know, the whole Ten Commandments sort of thing? Doesn't that presume an inability of people to figure out right from wrong themselves?

 

[gerryh]

I suspect that the list of "Who doesn't discourage" would be shorter. Isn't the essence of most religious teachings a set of rules to live by? You know, the whole Ten Commandments sort of thing? Doesn't that presume an inability of people to figure out right from wrong themselves?

Oh, you mean similar to, but no where near as encompassing, as societal laws?

 

[Jinentonix]

Maybe, just maybe you're reading into something that isn't there?

Nope. If you read the story carefully, Adam and Eve were set up to fail. If God didn't want them eating the fruit from that one tree, why the hell put it there in the first place then?
The story is just an allegory though, used to explain how we ended up feeling things like pride and shame etc. but it also makes God look like a complete jerk.

 

[Danbones]

"there is no right or wrong, only thinking makes it so" - shakespeare

The Working Celtic Cross

And yet Christianity has educated billions of people.

not with real education
Christianity, as are the other two monotheistic religions, is total FAKENEWS

 

[Nick Danger]

Oh, you mean similar to, but no where near as encompassing, as societal laws?

To a point. I think we see religious codes abused on a regular basis, societal laws not so much.