Dear Banjo,

My reservations were not about critical thinking but about passing hasty judgement about a scholar’s research methods as poor. I certainly would not worry too much if somebody, who was not a mathematician, called my research methods poor. In distinction to e.g. my teaching skills that any student could judge.

Also, there is, roughly speaking, only one way of doing mathematics “properly”, whereas there are many ways of interpreting and judging historical facts by professional historians, some of them to my liking, some not (usually depending on whether or not they go agaisnt my worldview preferences, bias if you like), but I would leave the appraisal of their professional quality to the community of professionals.

George wrote:

I would not use the word evil in vain. We can still remember where a recent rhetoric about “evil empires” brought us to. So I would certainly use less offending words if I wanted to express my dislike or disapproval of a religion adhered to by millions of people, even less when the number is 2.2 billion. That was all that my remark was about.

Dear George,

You are correct. Evil is a theological word which one should be wary of. The Catholic religion is much more than Paul. I did not criticise the Catholic religion. Many Catholics including those who head the church are wise and humane enough to disregard the words of Paul which denigrate women. There are teaching orders which involve women teaching men. True, one should be fearful of consequences when one criticises a religion which has 2.2 billion adherents. However, a religion with only 100 adherents deserves as much respect. The following is typical of Paul’s remarks concerning men, women and sexuality.

1 Corinthians 7

1: Now concerning the matters about which you wrote. It is well for a man not to touch a woman. 2: But because of the temptation to immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3: The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4: For the wife does not rule over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not rule over his own body, but the wife does. 5: Do not refuse one another except perhaps by agreement for a season, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, lest Satan tempt you through lack of self-control. 6: I say this by way of concession, not of command.

It is well for a man not to touch a woman? Men can great joy in touching and being touched by women. Women can great joy in touching and being touched by men. The one who is not well is Paul.

continued

continued

More from Paul.

1 Corinthians 11

3: But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5: but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled dishonors her head -- it is the same as if her head were shaven. 6: For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her wear a veil. 7: For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8: (For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9: Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.) 10: That is why a woman ought to have a veil on her head, because of the angels. 11: (Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12: for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.)

In the above Paul plays on his talibanjo. Man should dominate. Woman should be covered.

The ten commandments tell one to honour father and mother – not just father. The Jewish Bible has a woman general and prophet, Deborah, who commanded men. Although the Jewish mumbojumbo also favoured men it did not put women down to the extent that Paul did. Paul’s attitude toward women was a step backward from Judaism and pagan religions with priestesses. The Christian sects which ordain women have liberated themselves from the baleful influence of Paul.

Continued

Continued

Paul’s influence has not been restricted to Catholicism. It affects other Christian sects.

http://debunkingchristianity.blogspot.com.au/2008/02/eternally-unforgiven-st-pauls-view-of.html

…A case in point here is what has happened in the largest conservative evangelical Protestant body in the United States - the Southern Baptist Convention, which is, in all likelihood, going to elect the very conservative Dr. A. Albert Mohler, Jr. (Now president of their Southern Seminary in Louisville, Ky.) as its next convention president this summer. Also, Under the leadership of Paige Patterson (President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dallas Texas) the Southern Baptists have forced out all women professors in their seminaries following the Biblical command drawn especially from the Pauline corpus in the New Testament that demands that women are to be second class humans and totally submissive to men. In light of this fact, it’s time to review this evangelical denomination’s view of women as they understand their role in the New Testament…

It all goes to show how stupid religion is, at least we Atheists do not have the hang ups that all religious people seem to have, we accept women as equal to men, gay people to marry, voluntary euthanasia etc, we do not lose any sleep over such stupid issues as those that are presented here and in the bible and by all those pedalling the same to gullible people, most religious people I know are terrified of jumping off the planet into the arms of their beloved maker, they should be happy to do so, Atheists do not seem to have this problem. Atheists have compassion for all people, I am sure most Atheists though would cringe against the giving of a toy filled with expensive opals to very wealthy people,when there are people starving in the world, where are the religious people saying enough is enough and lets give presents first to those in need, they are not to be heard, so much for religion and its wealth.

Its funny[sad?]..how we can read/the same words
/yet end up at a different/place..<<..Corinthians 7>

lets lock-it down

paul/saul.:<<6:..I say this..
by way of concession,..not of command.<<.

ok its a concession/dispensation/SPECIAL GIFT...why?..regarding what?
<<..2..because of the temptation to immorality>>

so/with scales..off..plank removed..lets try again

<<..1:..Now concerning..the matters>>regarding IMMORAL TEMPTATIONS/WITH..CUTIES..<<about which you wrote..It is well...for a man..not to touch a woman.>>..whoever/for whatsoever

BUT*..<<.2:..But because of the temptation..to immorality,
each man..should have his own wife..>>

meaning paul/has a wife?..[he could not say..it../if..he didnt follow the same way...but let paul continue
<<..and each woman.[should/have]..her own husband.

<<..3:The husband..should give to his wife..her
conjugal rights,..and likewise the wife to her husband.>>

WHY?..<<..4:For the wife..does not rule-over her own body,..but the husband does;>>..that sure 'sounds'..bad..but then/he invberts/the same duty..re hubby

<<..likewise the husband..does not rule
over his own body,..but the wife does....5: Do not refuse one another except..perhaps by..[mutual].agreement..[..for a season,]..*but then come together again,..lest Satan tempt you...through lack of..self-control.>>

NOW/SEE..THIS SELF/mutual..self CONTROL..
wear/your self-control..[modestly]..AS IF A VEIL/of honour

why?..<<..1 Corinthians 11

<<..3:..But I want you..to understand..[very clearly]
<<..that the head..of every man..is Christ,
<<..the head..of a woman is her husband,..
<<..and the head of Christ,,is God.>>

by head/husband../like union/obeisances..
[spi-ritual/conjugal rights/if you will]..must be respected/both ways...[see previous..'advice/concessions']

4..Any man..who prays or prophesies..with his head>>[read master/husband/duty>>..covered>>,,[[hidden/secret]..<<..dishonors his head,

[now same/inverted..like/previous/duties].

<<..5:..but..any woman who prays..or prophesies
with her head...[messiah/husband/god]..unveiled..dishonors her head>>

JUST AS MAN..UNVEILED..DISHONORS HIS HEAD/SAME SAME

THIS LINKS BACK TO..THE Holy spirit..[UNSEEN
/PREFERS TO REMAIN..veiled/unseen]..TO A;LLOW FREEWILL..IT's FRUITS

maybe..its about..not proclaiming on the streets
cause you already..got your praise/reward...private relations/conjugal right...?