Corruption in the Clergy

[Jagella]

Scandals abound in Christianity and always have. From sex and money scandals among Pentecostal TV preachers, to child abuse allegations against the Watchtower, to the Vatican pedophile-priest cover-up, it's all over. Corruption in the clergy demonstrates that the men who criticize unbelievers for loving sin should know from personal experience what it's like to enjoy such sins.

So why trust the clergy or believe anything it says?

I can understand some people being scammed by the Christian clergy for a while like I was, but once you know you're being scammed, then the prudent thing to do is to get out like I did. Leave religion and all its corruption and all its lies behind and never return like The dog turns back to its own vomit, or "The sow is washed only to wallow in the mud.

[historia]

[Replying to post 1 by Jagella]

This is just a textbook genetic fallacy.

[Jagella]

[Replying to post 1 by Jagella]

This is just a textbook genetic fallacy.

Asking a tough question is a fallacy? What clergyman taught you that?

[historia]

Asking a tough question is a fallacy?

No, your conclusion that everyone should reject religion because some Christian preachers have done bad things is a genetic fallacy, and obviously so.

[imhereforyou]

[Replying to post 1 by Jagella]

Surely scandals and corruption happens in all aspects of human life including religion of all types. Religion breeds followers (most of them completely blinded by wonderful promises that will come - eventually while others are blinded by the ability to hide behind something [religion] and hate others) so it's quite easy to fall into the trap of greed and control.
So why trust the clergy or believe anything it says? You shouldn't - at least not 100%. You should question EVERYTHING any human being says at some point. Meaning, not everything someone says is trustworthy/right throughout their whole life. If you don't have facts to support what someone else says, question it and make your own decision.

That said, religious leaders should be held to a higher standard of trustworthiness and honor than most everyday person simply because, as they claim, they are a leader for their god.

Sadly (or not?), organizations that require followers with faith often times seem to be the easiest to become corrupt.

[Jagella]

[Replying to post 4 by historia]

No, your conclusion that everyone should reject religion because some Christian preachers have done bad things is a genetic fallacy, and obviously so.

I said that once you realize you're being scammed, then the prudent thing to do is get out. Do you disagree with that conclusion? Is it prudent to continue being scammed?

By the way, if I said that all the clergy are scammers because a few are, then that's a hasty generalization, not a genetic fallacy. A genetic fallacy is a mistake in logic in which I say something is true or false based on its origin.

I see you were the 2015 Best Debater. Well, it is 2018, isn't it?

And you may answer the question posed in the OP.

[Jagella]

[Replying to post 5 by imhereforyou]

Surely scandals and corruption happens in all aspects of human life including religion of all types.

Right, and those corrupt people should not be trusted either.

Religion breeds followers (most of them completely blinded by wonderful promises that will come - eventually while others are blinded by the ability to hide behind something [religion] and hate others) so it's quite easy to fall into the trap of greed and control.

Yes, religion takes advantage of desperate people by making grandiose promises in exchange for their uncritical belief. Just read Romans to see what I mean.

So why trust the clergy or believe anything it says? You shouldn't - at least not 100%. You should question EVERYTHING any human being says at some point. Meaning, not everything someone says is trustworthy/right throughout their whole life. If you don't have facts to support what someone else says, question it and make your own decision.

This is the "correct" answer to my question.

That said, religious leaders should be held to a higher standard of trustworthiness and honor than most everyday person simply because, as they claim, they are a leader for their god.

If they claim they follow a perfectly moral God and act immorally, then what does that tell you about their God?

Sadly (or not?), organizations that require followers with faith often times seem to be the easiest to become corrupt.

If my organization is legitimate, then I don't need to ask anybody for faith. I've got the goods to prove I'm legit!

[Wootah]

[Replying to post 4 by historia]

No, your conclusion that everyone should reject religion because some Christian preachers have done bad things is a genetic fallacy, and obviously so.

I said that once you realize you're being scammed, then the prudent thing to do is get out. Do you disagree with that conclusion? Is it prudent to continue being scammed?

By the way, if I said that all the clergy are scammers because a few are, then that's a hasty generalization, not a genetic fallacy. A genetic fallacy is a mistake in logic in which I say something is true or false based on its origin.

I see you were the 2015 Best Debater. Well, it is 2018, isn't it?

And you may answer the question posed in the OP.

Moderator Comment

Please review the Rules.
Hi Jagella

Whilst committing the genetic fallacy is not, I repeat, is not against the rules being uncivil is. Try to aim for best debater in 2018.


______________

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[historia]

I said that once you realize you're being scammed, then the prudent thing to do is get out. Do you disagree with that conclusion? Is it prudent to continue being scammed?

In any context, if an individual is trying to run a scam on you, you should leave that individual.

Your conclusion, however, was that people should "leave religion and all its corruption and all its lies." The conclusion that religion itself is bad does not follow logically from the premise that some Christian preachers have done bad things.

By the way, if I said that all the clergy are scammers because a few are, then that's a hasty generalization, not a genetic fallacy. A genetic fallacy is a mistake in logic in which I say something is true or false based on its origin.

I'm not accusing you of saying that all clergy are scammers. I'm pointing out that it is fallacious to claim that religion itself is bad simply because you've come to practice a particular religion by way of people who may themselves have done bad things. If you take issue with classifying that as a genetic fallacy, then let us simply call it an ad hominem fallacy.

[Willum]

I think this is answered by the Bible, or some doctrine... I forget exactly, but it prevents priests from sexual activity or marriage with women, men, girls, but whomever drafted this bit of divine wisdom, forgot to put on the list of proscriptions, young boys... therefore it isn't a sin.

Or something.

It is so distant in my memory, that I won't swear to it, and aren't really interested in pursuing this particularly vulgar bit of Catholic history, but that's what I got.

Priests have sex with young boys as a result in a loophole in their oaths or rules or something.