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Barnesy
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No thats not right. Sheep follow the shepherd blindly. We shouldnt follow blindly. We should folow because who we follow has given us good reasons to follow him. Calling some one a sheep is insulting.
A Man is not just an individual - a big chunk of him is actually the herd itself
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IWantGod
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When it’s said as an insult, the implication is that they follow blindly without reason because it’s meant literally. But to have a shepherd that the sheep trust and obey is just an analogy; In the Christian sense the good shepherd represents an authority that can be trusted and ought to be obeyed. It does not mean that we should follow blindly or that we have no good reason.
The church has a flock, that is an analogy which needn’t have a negative connotation.
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Aquinas11
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But you can’t be sheep of two shepherds.
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Barnesy
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I dont think that sheperds expect the sheep to think for themselves. They must always do what they are told. If the sheperd says do this then they have no choice. If the sheperd says dont do that then they have no choice. Sheep do as they are told without thinking about it.Barnesy:
When it’s said as an insult, the implication is that they follow blindly without reason because it’s meant literally. But to have a shepherd that the sheep trust and obey is just an analogy; In the Christian sense the good shepherd represents an authority that can be trusted and ought to be obeyed. It does not mean that we should follow blindly or that we have no good reason.
The church has a flock, that is an analogy which needn’t have a negative connotation.
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IWantGod
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Well, the rule of context can always be applied in this case and while analogy can always be taken for the most negative qualities, context is important. Surely you can see the importance of following a good shepherd with the apparent discipline of sheep? If the shepherd is perfectly good in understanding and action than being a sheep in this persons command is good. That is to say you should follow the good shepherd like a sheep because the good shepherd will direct your life in what is righteousness and good, whereas by yourself according to your own command you will likely see your own destruction. But obviously this context assumes the existence of the good shepherd and that we have knowledge of this good shepherd. That’s why context is so important.
Obviously a blind faith potentially has negative consequences. But we have to put our faith in someone since we do not know the why the what and the reason by ourselves. So we have to be careful to choose a good shepherd, someone that would be in a position to know the why the what and the reason, and that would require reasoning on our part, and i bet most people understand this regardless of any potential mistakes; not just Atheists.
That’s why i refuse to answer a certain individuals post because what they wrote about the Catholic Church was a cheap shot and fails to realise that we are all following what somebody thinks with varying degrees of justification for it. And being a sceptic for the sake of being sceptical is just a will to atheism, and is just as bad as a blind faith, if not more so.
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Barnesy
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But sheep have blind faith so i would rather not be a sheep. I know lots of people use the word but all im just saying is that i dont like it. If you think its right to use it then thats ok.Barnesy:
Well, the rule of context can always be applied in this case and while analogy can always be taken for the most negative qualities context is important, because surely you can see the importance of following a good shepherd with the apparent discipline of sheep? If the shepherd is perfectly good in understanding and action than being a sheep in this persons command is good. That is to say you should follow the good shepherd like a sheep because the good shepherd will direct your life in what is righteousness and good, whereas by yourself according to your own command you will likely see your own destruction. But obviously this context assumes the existence of the good shepherd and that we have knowledge of this good shepherd. That’s why context is so important.
Obviously a blind faith potentially has negative consequences. But we have to put our faith in someone since we do not know the why the what and the reason by ourselves. So we have to be careful to choose a good shepherd, someone that would be in a position to know the why the what and the reason, and that would require reasoning on our part, and i bet most people understand this regardless of any potential mistakes; not just Atheists.
That’s why i refuse to answers a certain individuals post because what they wrote about the Catholic was a cheap shot and fails to realise that we are all following what somebody thinks with varying degrees of justification for it. And being a sceptic for the sake of being sceptical is just a will to atheism, and is just as bad as a blind faith.
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IWantGod
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I think you should be someone who listens.
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Barnesy
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My dad says thats very important. He always tells me to do that. He also tells me that i must make my mind up about things myself and to stand up for myself when i think im right. I hope you dont think im being rude and im sorry if you do.Barnesy:
I think you should be someone who listens.
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IWantGod
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I hope you don’t think the same about me. The point I’m trying to make is that while society today uses the analogy about sheep in a negative way, it still follows true that what they mean by it and what Christians mean when they use the analogy of a shepherd and a sheep is two different things. There may be some Christians who think it’s wise to follow their example blindly, but i would not ask you to do that.
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Barnesy
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No i dont think your rude! Youve been very polite. So thank you.Barnesy:
I hope you don’t think the same about me. The point I’m trying to make is that while society today uses the analogy about sheep in a negative way, it still follows true that what they mean by it and what Christians mean when they use the analogy of a shepherd and a sheep is two different things. There may be some Christians who think it’s wise to follow their example blindly, but i would not ask you to do that.
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