Idiot Teacher of the Year Award Goes to.....

[Yeraza_Bats]

And yet, we will sit and read of the same sorts of things happening all through the Bible (and very often NOT by God's hand) and not bat an eye about the justification of it.

Whats with you and bashing the Bible lately? Who do you have a grudge against?

 

[Utah]

While I think this is too advanced for a high school, the teacher's premise is sound.... and has actually been practiced for years.

When I was in DeMolay, we often were required to debate and argue from just the opposite POV that we held. The point was that unless you can actually understand at least SOMETHING of what the other guy espouses, then how in the world can you say he is wrong?..... since you don't know anything about his thoughts. You end up doing what we so often do right here... "Since I know I am right, you have to be wrong, and that settles it!"

We took part in this practice in seminary and it was one of the better moments I had there. We argued for and against affirmative action, and it was indeed enlightening.

 

[Willie-T]

Whats with you and bashing the Bible lately? Who do you have a grudge against?

Where am I "bashing the Bible?" I don't just blindly read, and dully nod my head in agreement.

 

[Utah]

When I first read this, my initial thoughts were of how awful an assignment this was, leading young people to put themselves in the mindset of incredibly evil people and working to justify genocide. But after thinking about it for a while, I actually think this is a good exercise. It could be a good way to get people to really think about the extreme hatred and anger a person let themselves be consumed by, and how people in desperate times were easily lead by him to turn against an entire group of people. It could help others be on guard for this very thing in their own lives.

It might be a bit too advanced for high schoolers, as others have said. But it could be a really good lesson, to get into the minds of such a murderous group of people who took advantage of a nation in distress, and see how all of this could have happened.

Point well taken, my brother, however, imagine how great it would be if instead of trying to get students to understand others' hatred, we got them to understand others' love.

 

[Dude653]

And yet, we will sit and read of the same sorts of things happening all through the Bible (and very often NOT by God's hand) and not bat an eye about the justification of it.

I've always struggled to wrap my mind around that. How do you justify murdering an entire city of people just because they worship a different God than you do.

 

[Willie-T]

I've always struggled to wrap my mind around that. How do you justify murdering an entire city of people just because they worship a different God than you do.

That might be the Russian way (or someone like that) but do you expect me to justify it? I can certainly understand the motives of some of these dictators, but that doesn't mean agreeing with them or justifying their actions.

 

[Billyd]

One thing that bothers me is that those always wanting to understand a war from the enemy's perspective, didn't live the actual war. To this day, when the discussion turns to the Vietnam, I still change the channel.

Funny thing though. In the years following my time there, while I was still in the Navy, we spent many hours analyzing the battles fought, and didn't think twice about it, but we left the discussion at work.

I have no problem with think tanks looking at what drove Hitler, but I don't want some liberal teacher putting my high school child in the position of trying to justify Hitler's actions.

 

[Yeraza_Bats]

I don't just blindly read, and dully nod my head in agreement.

This is what Im talking about here^ Who is this in reference to? This thread doesnt even have anything to do with the Bible, you just threw that out there.

 

[Yeraza_Bats]

Point well taken, my brother, however, imagine how great it would be if instead of trying to get students to understand others' hatred, we got them to understand others' love.

Well, thats a positive lesson from looking into the evil of certain people in history. Its a good way to truly learn how important it is to love one another. Because when we dont, this is what the world becomes : p

 

[maxwel]

I've always struggled to wrap my mind around that. How do you justify murdering an entire city of people just because they worship a different God than you do.

The bible is where we find the gospel of Christ, and salvation.

If you disbelieve one part of the bible, you undermine your own ability to trust God enough to fully believe the rest of the bible... including the parts that contain the gospel.



Thin Ice:

I've seldom met someone who disbelieved parts of the bible, and was still able to believe enough in God's sovereignty to accept the most important and difficult truths: the truth about his own sin, the truth about his sin separating him from God, and the truth of the blood atonement of Christ as a substitutionary payment for his sin.... and these are the truths needed for salvation.

 

[Yeraza_Bats]

God turning from those who refuse Him makes complete sense. He created us, He provides for us, He does everything for us. People turning from Him and giving their praise and love to another is on level with your spouse flirting with others in front of you. It would clearly be wrong, and will clearly lead to consequences.

God is not a God of "freedom", He is a God of righteousness. Do what is RIGHT, not do what you want as long as you dont hurt anybody.

 

[Willie-T]

This is what Im talking about here^ Who is this in reference to? This thread doesnt even have anything to do with the Bible, you just threw that out there.

We may see this differently, but I see the Bible and God's aims in almost every single post I read. I don't seem to be able to say: "This part of my life for God, but not this other part."

 

[jsr1221]

Wouldn't be surprised if there were some muslim students in the classroom and the teacher is causing strife by appeasing them. Its one of the things liberals do best.

I graduated from high school eight years ago in June, and I don't recall ever having a Muslim student as a classmate. I had one that was Arabic. But not Muslim.

 

[Depleted]

There's no justification for the murder of six million people.

How would you know? 13 million were killed!

If you don't even know how many were killed or why, how can you possibly know if it was or wasn't justified? Kind of like getting huffy about the slaughter of polar bears in the Antarctic!

 

[Depleted]

When I first read this, my initial thoughts were of how awful an assignment this was, leading young people to put themselves in the mindset of incredibly evil people and working to justify genocide. But after thinking about it for a while, I actually think this is a good exercise. It could be a good way to get people to really think about the extreme hatred and anger a person let themselves be consumed by, and how people in desperate times were easily lead by him to turn against an entire group of people. It could help others be on guard for this very thing in their own lives.

It might be a bit too advanced for high schoolers, as others have said. But it could be a really good lesson, to get into the minds of such a murderous group of people who took advantage of a nation in distress, and see how all of this could have happened.

It's really not too advanced for high schoolers. I had to defend the rebels in the American Civil War when I was in seventh grade.

John Quincy Adams was our ambassador to the Netherlands when he was 14 years old.

I think it's a shame how society has taught people they aren't adults until they're 35. You're an adult when you think and act like an adult. (You qualify. ) If we expect people to think for themselves at an early age, they become adults at an earlier age.

 

[Depleted]

This is what Im talking about here^ Who is this in reference to? This thread doesnt even have anything to do with the Bible, you just threw that out there.

Not true. God did tell the Israelite to wipe out the nations that occupied the land, and he did say women, children, and those who pisseth on the wall. ALL of them. Why wasn't God evil yet Hitler was? It brings bearing to the discussion.

 

[maxwel]

How would you know? 13 million were killed!

If you don't even know how many were killed or why, how can you possibly know if it was or wasn't justified? Kind of like getting huffy about the slaughter of polar bears in the Antarctic!

Although I'm sure you were taught, in good faith, that 13 million Jews died in the holocaust, the official number has been continually dwindling over the years.

The last I read an Israeli scholar on the subject, he seemed quite certain it was actually somewhere under 4 million.
I believe the "official scholarly number" is under 4 million, while the "official popularized number" is around 6ish.
But that "official popularized number" certainly used to be much higher.
I think it was 20 million at one time.

Also, as these numbers keep changing, I wouldn't be surprised if they go up or down some more, and I have to apologize for giving a wrong number.

I'm not picking on the Jews, or you, or anyone else.
I'm just saying this number has continually decreased.

 

[Mackenzie127]

A key to victory is knowing your enemy. I think it was Sun Tzu who said something like that, but I'm too tired to look it up now.

 

[Magenta]

Hitler had the same idea that the founder of Planned Parenthood had; it follows the belief that through careful genetic selection and modification (eugenics), a perfect Aryan race can be sculpted. Of course getting rid of the undesirable elements from the gene pool is a necessary step, hence, destroy the Jews.

 

[Prov910]

Hitler had the same idea that the founder of Planned Parenthood had; it follows the belief that through careful genetic selection and modification (eugenics), a perfect Aryan race can be sculpted. Of course getting rid of the undesirable elements from the gene pool is a necessary step, hence, destroy the Jews.

I've heard that. But I think much of it was due to a historical bias against Jews in Europe. Part of the problem was that, in the past, I believe the Vatican considered interest charged on loans to be usury. But Jews had no such prohibition, so they became moneylenders. A good example of this negative stereotype is Shakespeare's character Shylock from The Merchant of Venice. I think prejudice of that sort was rampant in Europe even up into the 20th century when Hitler came to power. That, and Hitler appropriated a lot of Jewish wealth in the years leading up to WWII.

Whatever the reason, I think we can agree that Hitler ranks right up there as one of the most evil people in the history of the world.