Who's made the concept of objective/absolute truth disreputable - New Agers, Fundamentalists, or Syncretists?
613560
Christian god needs repairing and reshaping. I will be happy to repair her but I am busy with repairing the Jewish and muslim gods for the time being. After I repair the christian one, their problems, too, will be solved ... believe me...
26920
Every answer that requires some objectivity requires a legitimate source.  For Christians, it is the bible. We belive that the bible is God's word.  Unfortunately, so many people with a myriad of agendas may use the bible to justify personal beliefs instead of sharing God's word as the way it is to be interpreted.  Of course, as texts are translated some meaning is lost and sometimes texts reflect a culture or time period it was written but underlying priciples and wisdom do not change.  So when tel-evangelist make stupid statements or when Christians intent on arguing or converting people say stuff, do not let this ignorance be reflected in you opinion of God's word. Please understand that any ignorant person can use any religious text for deviant purposes.
1120145
The details here wander a bit from the original question.  There is probably some truth to your assertion that many of the things which fundamentalists oppose are "modern."  At the same time, you ought to recognize that there are many social changes/movements which have been marketed as "progress" but are just change-for-the-sake-of-change.  (And that kind of "modernity" deserves to be opposed.)\n\nIt's patently unfair and untrue to say that "traditional gender roles . . . are more detrimental than helpful to society."  Some parts of those roles might be detrimental, but some are quite helpful.  As to the idea of equal involvement, in many respects this is desireable.  But, we probably ought not to ignore that there are real biological, biochemical, and developmental differences between men/women, boys/girls.\n\nAs to the original question, you probably know that you've committed the logical fallacy of the "loaded question."  You have offered no proof that fundamentalist Christian opinions about homosexuality are based in fear.  Your question insists that to be a fact and then wants to go forward from there.  But, without any proof of this underlying assumption, your question can't really be addressed.
613361
Actually the shadow of truth is not about the holy grail, the church doesn't care about this part... but the truth from the novel is that Jesus is a mortal prophit and his divinity was invented by men long ago. This is what people should research for, and not quote the bible cause the bible has already been modified.
1026130
Just looked thru' some of your answers and saw the usual crop of religous nuts claiming their's was the only true path. After a lifetime study of comparative theology I have come to the conclusion that all the world's religions contain the same central core of truth:- Love God, and love your neighbour. Everything else is just window-dressing!
914208
An oxymoron. Science is objective lucidity.  Creationism is subjective magical-thinking.
34912
I think what this guy is trying to point out is the frustration with so many people being led blindly by dated or 'obsolete' ideologies. I think this question is more akin to people with 'leftist' ideals, that see in the masses a repeating pattern of spoon-fed idiocy. Whenever I think of this question, I think of the millions of people that believe in anything without questioning or analyzing the deepness of the subject. What really comes to mind is RELIGION and PATRIOTISM. So many have been led into believing things that are not even entirely certain, are very subjective and bound to relativity and seemingly created to keep a group of people in power. \nI think this person is frustrated with so many people not questioning beliefs and believing blindly just because 'tradition' demands it.\nWhat frustrates me is that I see so many backwards things and so many people not even questioning them, buying into them and being told how to be and how to act by non-founded dubious sources... this is very saddening, and yes, I think it affects us all. Open-mindedness and an analytical, critical attitude is much needed nowadays, when we're being bombarded by propaganda and lies every day. It's time for society to evolve, go beyond tradition, rid of the old attitudes that have proven wrong, and WAKE UP!
451630
It depends whether you belive that absolute truth exists, or if truth is subjective.  Absolute truth would say there are definite rights and wrongs, but subjective truth would say that it was 'his truth' that it was good what he was doing. Liberal society today is desperately trying to make peace by saying there are no absolute truths and that every thing must be tolerated except intolerance. However, most of us are good at being absolute on some things and subjective where it suits us.  Think on this though: If I were to say that the earth is not spherical but flat, then that would be 'my truth' but it would be wrong. Absolute truth does exist, both scientifically and morally, and I think we have a responsibility to look for it.
586140
New World Order refers to any group who intentionally decides to refashion the world according to some belief or ideology. \n\nIn the US it is the "Discovery Institue" who are the most troublesome in their persuit of a New World Order.\n\nThey plan to-\n-discredit science in favour of intellegent design\n-change the social concience in favour of a less  materialistic version\n-change the social fabric in favour of christian goods and services\n-substitute abstonance for abortion\n\nWhat is worring is that they have been actively involved in these issues. as can be seen in recent events. They use the media/TV anyway to put forward their argument but fail to disclose that it is all a part of the plan of their "New World Order".\n\nUnfortunately Christian members of society, champion their views but most are ignorant of their intensions and are being used and manipulated by the Discovery Institute.\n\nHere is their goals:\n\nTHE WEDGE STRATEGY\nCENTER FOR THE RENEWAL OF SCIENCE & CULTURE\nINTRODUCTION\n\nThe proposition that human beings are created in the image of God is one of the bedrock principles on which Western civilization was built. Its influence can be detected in most, if not all, of the West's greatest achievements, including representative democracy, human rights, free enterprise, and progress in the arts and sciences.\n\nYet a little over a century ago, this cardinal idea came under wholesale attack by intellectuals drawing on the discoveries of modern science. Debunking the traditional conceptions of both God and man, thinkers such as Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, and Sigmund Freud portrayed humans not as moral and spiritual beings, but as animals or machines who inhabited a universe ruled by purely impersonal forces and whose behavior and very thoughts were dictated by the unbending forces of biology, chemistry, and environment. This materialistic conception of reality eventually infected virtually every area of our culture, from politics and economics to literature and art\n\nThe cultural consequences of this triumph of materialism were devastating. Materialists denied the existence of objective moral standards, claiming that environment dictates our behavior and beliefs. Such moral relativism was uncritically adopted by much of the social sciences, and it still undergirds much of modern economics, political science, psychology and sociology.\n\nMaterialists also undermined personal responsibility by asserting that human thoughts and behaviors are dictated by our biology and environment. The results can be seen in modern approaches to criminal justice, product liability, and welfare. In the materialist scheme of things, everyone is a victim and no one can be held accountable for his or her actions.\n\nFinally, materialism spawned a virulent strain of utopianism. Thinking they could engineer the perfect society through the application of scientific knowledge, materialist reformers advocated coercive government programs that falsely promised to create heaven on earth.\n\nDiscovery Institute's Center for the Renewal of Science and Culture seeks nothing less than the overthrow of materialism and its cultural legacies. Bringing together leading scholars from the natural sciences and those from the humanities and social sciences, the Center explores how new developments in biology, physics and cognitive science raise serious doubts about scientific materialism and have re-opened the case for a broadly theistic understanding of nature. The Center awards fellowships for original research, holds conferences, and briefs policymakers about the opportunities for life after materialism.\n\nThe Center is directed by Discovery Senior Fellow Dr. Stephen Meyer. An Associate Professor of Philosophy at Whitworth College, Dr. Meyer holds a Ph.D. in the History and Philosophy of Science from Cambridge University. He formerly worked as a geophysicist for the Atlantic Richfield Company.\n\nTHE WEDGE STRATEGY\nP
92250
Karl Marx's opinion about religion seems very good at first, and it fits perfectly into his theory of dialectical materialism.  He wanted to abolish religion, as well as all other "eternal truths," such as jurisprudence, morality etc. because they were (and are today) the root of all antagonisms within society.  He was right about this observation.  Just think, if different religions, moral codes and laws, etc. did not exist, no one in the world would be pissed at other people.  But, where he is wrong is the actual possibility of abolishing religion.  There is no way to do this except by the use of deception.
479343
peter pan just stole my shoes...bad little monkey...,\n\nby the way, there are no "fundamentalist" Christians on this site...it would be against their religion...so your criteria is flawed...\n\ngive me back my shoes...stupid little monkey....\n\nassuming you WERE obedient to God, you wouldn't be disobeying Him or His laws (you would have to give an example of disobediance vs disobeying...another flaw I think)....\n\nthat's it, I'm going to shoot this damn little monkey...
463316
No, but Pastor Russel who "founded" the Jehovah's Wittiness movement was a student (maybe a member) of the Seventh Day Adventist faith prior to his starting the Watch Tower Bible Society and writing his books. Its always been a curiosity to me in reading the materials developed by the two that in many instances the J.W. version of the truth is a mirror image of the Adventist one. Just one example ... Adventists believe that Jesus was God and that prior to his incarnation he was known as Michael the Arch Angel. J.W.s on the other hand believe that Jesus was NOT God but that he was Michael incarnated.
1025785
“explain why you believe the Bible is incorrect”\nWe don’t have the “original” bible. What we do have are thousands of scraps of writings that are copies or fragments of stories that were probably part of several oral traditions that predate writing. There are so many differences between all of these writings that a literal interpretation is impossible. What American fundamentalists refer to as the bible is usually the Authorized King James Version. This version was authorized in 1618 when Protestants removed several books from the King James Version of 1611 that had been a part of the Catholic bible for over a thousand years. This 1611 version was itself a new translation ordered by King James (a flaming homosexual) for the Anglican Church (American Episcopalian) which had split from the Catholic Church for political reasons. All of these translations came from other translations, all of which were altered in subtle ways. To believe that any bible is a word for word, inviolate description of God’s reality is pure fantasy. There is no one bible – there are many – all made by men who were driven by different points of view. \n\nBut fantasy and mythology are two different things. The one true bible is a fantasy but the mythology in the dozens of bible versions out there is alive and well. The story of the Ark is mythology. It’s not literally true - it is a symbolic story, full of meaning for the culture from which it sprang. Mythology was like science for ancient cultures – it explained the unexplainable - and even if myths were not the literal truth, they stabilized cultures and beliefs. That’s not true for modern culture. For American fundamentalists to steal this myth and attempt to cram it into the 21st century is a sin – it’s taking the idea of the Christian God and trivializing it; it’s avoiding doing the hard work of making yourself godly by entering into ridiculous word-smithing. If you’re a truly religious person, forget all of this nonsense and go find God.
842796
Well, there was David Friedrich Strauss, but as far as I can find he only claimed that Jesus was not divine. I'll keep searching and see if there was another who went further.
148176
depends on what you mean by truth. I believe that the truth is actually a relative concept. if i believe soemthing to be true, then that is my truth. It's no better or worse than anybody else's. Some truths are so prevalent that trhey are almost a Truth (absolute). but all we experience is necessarily filtered by our own choices and beliefs and that goes for everyone alive. so even these almost absolute thruths can be as misguided as my own private truths.\nmy truth and yours are definitely out there, if you care to look for it. the Truth, however, is not.
1173665
You are correct in your line of thinking. It would appear that many Chistians are biggoted in their view, particulrily fundamentalists, who have difficulty see the wood for the trees. I agree with your logic and many orthox Chistians do too.\nBest of luck in your search for the 'truth'
779934
No.  The whole concept of "vicarious atonement" was invented purely to subjugate and control the masses. \n\n"All your righteousness is as filthy rags."  This is the sort of amoral callousness that passes for "morality" amongst the "pious."\n\nIt's quite a racket though - I'll give them that.  Concepts like "Original Sin" and the salvationist theology of christianity provide a nice system of threats and rewards with which the powers-that-be can exploit the ignorant peasants, and the peasants themselves feel vindicated by the idea that their oppression in this life is securing them a good seat in the Afterlife.