I wonder how often people in the "Bible Belt" actually READ THE BIBLE?

[UrbScotty]

"Whatsoever you do to the least of these, so also you do unto me." -Matthew 25:45

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled." -Matthew 5:6

"Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the Children of God." -Matthew 5:8-9

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. They don't read any of those communist, anti-American passages

[hippiepunk]

2. They either can't read,

don't want to, or ignore those parts.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

3. They only choose the parts of the Bible that justify their narrow

world view. And unfortunately, they forget the parts of the Bible that you mention. :-(

[Lars39]

4. Number one is used to justify being anti-choice,

The second one is one the preacher uses to guilt people into coming to church.
Three and four don't get much of a mention at all.

[thecai]

12. They Also Think

"Peace Makers" means law enforcement.

#1 also applies to prisoners, but they use it for "pro-life" arguments.

[MissMarple]

5. Not a clue. But...

I asked my Catholic brother in law if we should follow all the commandments. He had made some comment about the Ten Commandments, and he answered quite emphatically yes, all of them (not just the big ten). And this guy went to the Seminary. He was CLUELESS. He has no idea about the number of commandments and how weird they can be. No shell fish, keep kosher, and about that copacola he likes so much....I am so sorry, guy.

But, I just laughed and suggested he might want to read up on them. :-)

[miss_kitty]

6. Just the part of Leviticus that speaks about homosexuality

because gay sex is such a turn on for them. They're always talking about it.

[unsavedtrash]

7. just curious, how many of you have spent time down here?

One of the worst things about the Bible belt is that so many blindly repeat what a few interpret as being from the Bible. Kind of an oral history of the completely fucking wrong. But a lot of us are trying hard to change that. I invite you all to move to Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, or Tennessee and live as a progressive democrat.

[Lars39]

9. "An oral history of the completely fucking wrong."

Right on target! I'm in TN; I know exactly what you're talking about.
That is why it is sooo dangerous to have a manipulative rw preacher
preaching politics from the pulpit. Welcome to DU! :)

[Jamastiene]

17. I'm in NC.

You nailed it. That's exactly what it's like. I cringe any time I hear one of them start their long winded tirade against women, gay people, animal lovers, non religious people, you name it. They can be the cruelest, most disgusting people, yet they claim moral superiority to me. :puke:

And in answer to the OP. Most of the ones like that are barely literate. They can't even understand Jack & Jill. It's an aberration.

[SerpentX]

8. I know many fundamentalists.

Most are shockingly ignorant about the bible and those who aren't know next to nothing of the history of the region.

I do know that in all the years I was dragged to fundie church against my will, I cannot recall a single sermon based on the book of James. They were also very good at cherry-picking verses from the old testament prophets, who at times could be absolutely blistering in their condemnation of the rich and powerful.

Bring your worthless offerings no longer,
Incense is an abomination to Me
New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies--
I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.

I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts,
They have become a burden to Me;
I am weary of bearing them.

So when you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide My eyes from you;
Yes, even though you multiply prayers,
I will not listen
Your hands are covered with blood.

Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight
Cease to do evil,
Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Reprove the ruthless,
Defend the orphan,
Plead for the widow.
-- Isaiah 1:13-17

Powerful stuff.

[thecai]

10. I'd Guess "None" Read the Bible

Love those scriptures you posted, ih8thegop! Thank you for reminding us!
You WILL know them by their fruits. Anyone see any Love, Peace, Joy, Goodnes, Kindness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Patience, and Self-Control, in them?
Jesus said "test the spirits...for even the devil can appear as an angel of light".

[thecai]

20. Correction; "Few of The Leaders Read The Bible"...

...from what I've seen on TV and in Politics.

[FreedomAngel82]

11. I'm in the Bible Belt

and I guess we have different versions?? :shrug:

[Jamastiene]

18. They don't read.

That's the difference.

[BringEmOn]

13. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22

[R. A. Fuqua]

14. I know one who reads a lot--

but doesn't seem to understand much. The key is that they don't take things into the context of the time--or take into account the whole meaning of a story etc. The "thumpers" that I have come across will pull out a few words at random--and come up with a whole new and twisted meaning for them--something that fits THEIR personal world view--but is obviously not what the most people would get out of it.

It is bizarre--because they do seem to read scripture--but then they twist the meaning so much that it is completely unintelligible.

Along the lines of "war is peace" "slavery is freedom" that kind of thinking....

[GirlinContempt]

15. Not sure, but this one

apparently didn't read your constitution:

"Our country was built upon religious freedom, not the freedom to do as you please. “One nation under GOD…” That means to do as God intends you to do."
http://www.livejournal.com/users/smileyme/

[AntiCoup2K4]

16. In all seriousness, I'm guessing that the only "reading" most of them do..

...is the handful of selected scriptures that their pastor takes out of context in his dominionist talking points sermon.

It's obvious that most of them have never read the Gospel of Matthew. Specifically chapters 5 & 7, for example.

[Dr Fate]

19. You don't read them, you WEAR THEM.

I have a brown and black Bible belts.