Hostility In Political Debates, Why Is It So Common?

I have noticed an increased amount of hostility regarding political debates online, and more extremism from people of all sides. The last two weeks have absolutely been some of the worst "debates" I have seen in quite a while.

This isn't a new problem at all, I've called politics "the new religion" before, because quite frankly, I've had more civil (and productive) conversations over religion than I have politics.

That fact is rather disappointing, but maybe it's a good sign, does that show that religion doesn't have as much influence in our society as it used to? If so, that could be an encouraging sign, but it doesn't make the political debates any more bearable.

I just ask my readers to calm down, pause and think before you type a hostile response to someone. Read what you are typing again, and re consider if it may be too harsh. Consider the possibility that you may be wrong. (I know, shocking, right?). I mean, this is the Christmas after all. Peace on earth, good will to men, right? Wait.... I'm a bit of a hypocrite in that regard, I've said before how I feel about Christmas, but maybe I can appeal to your sense of a Christmas spirit. We can all debate without being unreasonable, it can happen, and I really do appreciate a good debate, just ask anyone who follows me on Google +.

Just calm down, everyone, will you?

When not reading the Bible becomes a major problem...

Some atheist bloggers have been talking about a billboard recently put up in Texas by a local man that says "Pray for Obama" and reference a verse from Psalms, Psalms 109:8, to be more precise. All seems good and well, until you actually look up the verse in question. It gets even better when it is read in context, when you dig deeper into the meaning, it's actually alarming enough that the Secret Service started investigating.

The billboard seems harmless enough at first:

OK, good so far, but what does that verse actually say? (To give some context, this chapter talks about "wicked men")

Psalm 109:8 (KJV):  "Let his days be few; and let another take his office."
Depending your interpretation of "Let his days be few", this could be a problem. If taken figuratively, it could mean that this person would want Obama's days in office to be few, but if you take it literally, it could mean that he would want the days of his life to be few. It's really up to interpretation at this point, but wait, read it in context.

Psalms 109: 7:13:

"7 When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.
8 Let his days be few; and let another take his office.
9 Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.10 Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.
11 Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour.
12 Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.
13 Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out."

There's a major problem here, don't you think?

Who knows, maybe he didn't read the passage in context, which is a possibility, and this can just be chalked up to a major blunder, and get quite a few laughs, but if he's serious, well, let the Secret Service sort this out.

I sure don't envy the Secret Service, as hostile as people have been in politics in recent years, and with the US having it's 2 last presidents be probably the most controversial in US history, I'm sure they've seen far worse than this. 

Moral of the story? When quoting anything, read it in context first, especially if you are quoting from a holy text, otherwise you will end up with a major fail like this....

Credit and many thanks to The Friendly Atheist (Patheos) for this story. Also thanks to pro-LGBT rights blog Joe. My. God for this story, and I "stole" the picture of the billboard from that post (psst. don't tell anybody ;) )