I'm not saying they shouldn't be taken seriously, but they should be taken in context. What was right (or believed to be right) 5000 years ago is not necessarily right when we look at them logically, with the benefit of hindsight and after five millenniums of civilisation. I believe they should be viewed as being the beliefs of the forebears of my religion. I understand that they believed in them then, I don't believe in them now and nor does any humane, civilised person. Of course there are fundamentalists who still go for this stuff because it suits their agenda. But let's face it... they're either uneducated and indoctrinated, or they're as mad as sh1t-house rats.

see that's where you lose me, because according to religions, it comes directly from god, so it should have nothing to do with culture or context, it should be a UNIVERSAL TRUTH if it's coming from God.

it's not true though, any of it. it's all BS.

and so how can you take any of it seriously when so much of it is clearly BS?

basically your argument is that we should be patronizing to the religious nutters.

but why should i be patronizing towards them? i have every right to ridicule their beliefs, because it really is BS.

Nowhere did I say we should be patronising to religious nutters. I'm saying that if God gave us free will and the ability to make informed, educated judgements, then we are able to look at the texts in a more informed way with the benefit of education and civilisation. This is my view, Alex. If your view is that it's all BS, than I totally uphold your right to believe that because you're not actually hurting anyone with your belief.

It would be impossible for me to explain my religion to you in a couple of posts on a forum. If you are interested, look into it. If not... don't bother. It's up to you. But I can say quite categorically that I don't believe it's ever right to harm another person unless they're trying to harm you. Then all bets are off.

As for the subject of this thread, he should be prosecuted with the full force of the law.

He's got off pretty lightly by the looks of it and could still play this season depending on whether the NFL decides to impose any punishment on him and whether the Vikes allow him to play

I don't think NFL will let him play unless Adrian has a court order to let him play.