[celddiskend]

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceedingly high mountain, and sheweth him all
the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship
me.
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship
the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (Matthew 4:8-10)

And the hero born of woman, shall crush the serpent with his heel.

[attackDoold]

Before I read all that, is the case made that the prime function of the state is to combat such an intangible as 'evil'?

This thread, and much of Tolstoy's work, is about Christian Anarchism.

NO state.

[Qzmsdoem]

"Render to Caesar..."

It was a yes or no question. He evaded it, turned it on it's head.

He was highlighting the irrelevance.

Caesar was not God. Those possessions regarded as belonging to him, were not the substance of faith, but material things.

[attractiveweb]

"Render to Caesar..."

It was a yes or no question. He evaded it, turned it on it's head.

He had a knack for that.

"Shall we stone this whore, as Moses commanded??"

....

....

....


"Let him without sin cast the first stone"


Gotta love how the Man operated.

[sat23neus2]

This thread, and much of Tolstoy's work, is about Christian Anarchism.

NO state.

I'd suggest it's inapplicable in that context. Anarchy has no more place in religion than it does in politics.

Christianity is a religion; as such, it implies observance, structure and ritual.

[sicheAscems]

He had a knack for that.

"Shall we stone this whore, as Moses commanded??"

....

....

....


"Let him without sin cast the first stone"


Gotta love how the Man operated.

Yeah. Love that.

[esdfsdflast]

I'd suggest it's inapplicable in that context. Anarchy has no more place in religion than it does in politics.

Christianity is a religion; as such, it implies observance, structure and ritual.

Anarchy is simply the lack of a state. The idea being that no Christian can use force against people, so no Christian can create or participate in government, which is essentially an instrument of force.

As for Christianity, there is no need for observance, structure, or ritual whatsoever. Actually, those things get in the way. You're just creating more Pharisees...

[trettegeani]

Anarchy is simply the lack of a state. The idea being that no Christian can use force against people, so no Christian can create or participate in government, which is essentially an instrument of force.

Government goes beyond power to include authority, which is acknowledgement of power. Members of a state recognise the requirement for co-operation and consensus, as productive of enterprise and benefit. Coercion is an omnipresent possibility, but not the sole function of a state, which exists also to administrate via legality. Even despotism requires assent, or it could not stand. Generally, states are peaceful.

As for Christianity, there is no need for observance, structure, or ritual whatsoever. Actually these things get in the way. You're just creating more Pharisees... Necessity is moot, where we consider that no two will people meet God in quite the same way. Religions exist to bridge the gap between incomprehension and faith, which alone is blind. I think you're perhaps mistaking ritual for identification with materiality, which would certainly defeat the object. They're intended only as signposts, not toll booths.

[hellencomstar]

Jes, might I entreat you to omit the colouring in your text?

To the casual observer, it appears as though my responses are your own.

It vexes me so.

[55Beaphable]

G Coercion is an omnipresent possibility, but not the sole function of a state, which exists also to administrate via legality.

The state holds a monopoly on the use of force. It is, precisely, an instrument of force.

Ask yourself what functions are performed by the state that don't include the use or the threat of force...

[ORDERCHEAPVIAGRASOFTWARE]

Jes, might I entreat you to omit the colouring in your text?

To the casual observer, it appears as though my responses are your own.

It vexes me so.

I'm sure you can get around it.

[bertanu]

I'm sure you can get around it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh

The Welsh people, along with being famous for sheep rape, are also noted for their difficulty in quoting colored text on some forums.

[libertiespana]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh

The Welsh people, along with being famous for sheep rape, are also noted for their difficulty in quoting colored text on some forums.

[syncFisee]

The day Israel rejected the rule of God and chose to have a king:
1 Samuel 8
Read it.

[toyboy]

The state holds a monopoly on the use of force. It is, precisely, an instrument of force.

Ask yourself what functions are performed by the state that don't include the use or the threat of force...

Potential for force. In any case, that force more usually equates with sovereignty, as defined by the capacity for defence and war. As guarantee against external threats to it's existence. Otherwise, we view such force as unwelcome, and group it's manifestations under the heading of 'corruption'.

And my point stands. Power is not authority. There is no power to subjugate an entire populace, without resistance.

We should also allow as how a state is more than merely it's government.

[horaAppagob]

I'm sure you can get around it.

I guess.

[lungumnentibe]

I guess.

Hey, it looks like some scoundrel changed one of my posts??!!!

I suspect hoffa or jeshu.

I'd never post stuff like that about the noble Welsh people.

[SDorothy28]

I guess.

Sorry, I'm just high on fonts...

[TainuibeFaimb]

Potential for force. In any case, that force more usually equates with sovereignty, as defined by the capacity for defence and war. As guarantee against external threats to it's existence. Otherwise, we view such force as unwelcome, and group it's manifestations under the heading of 'corruption'.

And my point stands. Power is not authority. There is no power to subjugate an entire populace, without resistance.

We should also allow as how a state is more than merely it's government.

Every function of the government involves force. Every single one.

[orison]

Every function of the government involves force. Every single one.

If not 'force'...then compulsion under the threat of force.