Text out of Context

I realized lately that I'm one who is easily triggered. I see something online that I disagree with and automatically click on the comment box and start typing out a response. I've stopped actually responding to posts as I've seen it as a waste of time. So now, I usually just ask them out to coffee (see Coffee and Abortion) or write down my thoughts here and then link them to this blog.

A common theme I see in memes are taking the text out of context. Back when I would respond to online atheists who cite Biblical verses, I always tell them that they have to consider the context and I proceed to explain to them the context but this always falls on deaf ears. Some of them would just say, "Here comes the 'context' excuse."

I laugh about it now since I know better but context is never an excuse. Context is what makes the text more meaningful. I assure you, any Bible verse, opinion article, or line from any politician's speech, taken out of context can be spun to say anything you want it to say. Let me give you a demonstration.

St. Ignatius of Loyola made this prayer which says, "Teach me to give and no to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and ask not for reward..."

Right now, no one takes this out of context but with the right spin, we can change it to make it as if St. Ignatius was telling slaves to remain slaves. I mean, "to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and ask not for reward..." sounds a lot like slavery to me!

And this is super easy to do. If you're listening to a speak, one just needs to be triggered for a split second to catch whatever was said and throw away the rest of what was heard. This happens a lot to the pope, and to the Bible. I can do it again as an example!

Psalm 14:1 says "There is no God." So Christians, it's game over! It's right there in the text!

Here's one which triggered me quite a while back and I just had to respond:

These ones are easily answered. For Psalm 14:1, the context lies in the exact same verse. And the meme above is brought to us by not reading the Bible at all and considering memes like this as truth. As much as I'd like to point to you, dear reader, where the answer lies, I think it best to leave it to you to crack open that Bible and verify your facts.

Here's another one of my favorite "out of context" texts from the Bible. Think about it and understand the context. Try to read the verses surrounding the text and see if you can find the context in which this was written. (Disclaimer: the views expressed after this disclaimer are not views I hold)

Exodus 21:20-21 says,

"Whoever strikes his male or female servant with a staff, and if they have died by his hand, he shall be guilty of a crime. But if he survives for one day or two, he shall not be subject to punishment, because it is his money."

Here is a clear indication in the Bible that slavery should be allowed and that they are worth less than people since it says slaves can be beaten up just as long as they don't die.

Think about it. Take all the time you need.