Let's beat the police with our symbol of peace.

[Jim Johnson]

From the BBC

Fight erupts in Jerusalem church  

Different denominations often vie over access to parts of the site

Israeli police had to break up a fist fight that erupted between Greek and Armenian Orthodox clergymen at one of Christianity's holiest sites.

The scuffles broke out at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Orthodox Palm Sunday.

Brawls are not uncommon at the church, which is uneasily shared by various Christian denominations.

In this case, witnesses say an Armenian priest forcibly ejected a Greek priest from an area near the tomb of Jesus.

They say the attacker felt the Greek priest had spent too long at the tomb.

When police arrived to break up the fight, some were reportedly beaten back by worshippers using palm fronds.

Two Armenians were detained by police, prompting supporters to stage a rally in protest outside the police station.

Rivalry between the six different churches which grudgingly share the Holy Sepulchre dates back to the aftermath of the crusades, and to the great schism between Eastern and Western Christianity in the 11th Century.

Each denomination controls, and jealously guards, its own section of the labyrinthine site.

[ReverendRyan]

What do you expect from a group of people that idolize a man dying on an ancient torture device?

[Caleb]

Maybe that if they idolize him so much that they follow his teachings. 

[srqrebel]

Maybe that if they idolize him so much that they follow his teachings. 

...at least they follow his example:

John 2:15 
And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple...

[Jim Johnson]

Maybe that if they idolize him so much that they follow his teachings. 

...at least they follow his example:

John 2:15 
And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple...

I think scourge of small cords means that he farted.   

[ReverendRyan]

Matthew 10:21
Families will be torn apart because of Jesus (this is one of the few "prophecies" in the Bible that has actually come true). "And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death."

Matthew 15:4-7
Jesus is criticized by the Pharisees for not washing his hands before eating. He defends himself by attacking them for not killing disobedient children.

Mark 4:11-12
Jesus explains why he speaks in parables: to confuse people so they will go to hell.

John 3:16
As an example to parents everywhere and to save the world (from himself), God had his own son tortured and killed.

John 11:14
Lazarus must suffer and die so that Jesus can "be glorified" by raising him from the dead.

John 12:3-8
Mary wastes expensive ointment on Jesus' feet, rather than selling the ointment and giving the money to the poor. But Jesus thinks his feet are more important, saying that poor people will always be around, but he and his precious feet won't be.

John 12:40
The reason people didn't believe in Jesus was that God had "blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart." God did this so that they would not "understand with their heart, and be converted." This way God could damn more people to hell.

Prince of Peace, indeed....

[srqrebel]

   I am beginning to question the credentials of the Right Reverend.

Hmm... come to think of it, the Word of God also says that in the last days there will be false prophets. The above post clearly is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy, right before our very eyes -- thus demonstrating that God's Word is indeed eternal and unchanging. No need to exercise mental effort of my own, when the Bible provides me with all the unassailable truths I need to live my life.

Case closed.

[Caleb]

It might surprise you to find that I agree with  you, Menno.

I've long accused most Christians of Bibliolatry:  the worship of a book (or collection of books) rather than a serious devotion to God.

[srqrebel]

It might surprise you to find that I agree with  you, Menno.

I've long accused most Christians of Bibliolatry:  the worship of a book (or collection of books) rather than a serious devotion to God.

Doesn't surprise me really... our past conversations have given me a rudimentary idea of where you're coming from

Its funny, you and I agree on about 95% of the stuph we talk about... but when we do disagree, we tend to disagree rather sharply

[srqrebel]

Though not directly related, I thought this news report from Italy was relevant to this thread:

Thousands flock to exhumed body of saint Padre Pio

"SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO, Italy (Reuters) - The exhumed body of Padre Pio, a saint considered a miracle worker by his devotees, attracted thousands of pilgrims on Thursday when it went on display 40 years after his death...

The body of the bearded Capuchin monk was exhumed from a crypt on March 3 and found to be in "fair condition" after 40 years. Since then a team of medical examiners and biochemists has worked to preserve and reconstruct the corpse...

A poll in 2006 by Catholic magazine Famiglia Cristiana found that more Italian Catholics prayed to Padre Pio than to any other figure, including the Virgin Mary or Jesus. His picture is stuck to the dashboards of many taxis and cars throughout Italy..."



Speak of delusional... praying to dead man??!    WTF is wrong with people?  Oh, wait... nevermind

[ReverendRyan]

Speak of delusional... praying to dead man??!    WTF is wrong with people?  Oh, wait... nevermind

[Russell Kanning]

I have actually seen them sweep their territory in that dark musty church .... they normally only have broomstick scuffles.