The Bible: Truth or Fiction?

[blackrock13]

To me the important issue is what these laws say about God, irregardless of who they are/were addressed to. They paint a picture of a God that is not at all just, fair, or ethical...by any standard other than the believer standard (which is if it is in the Bible and God said it, or did it, it must, by definition, be good). Believers have no defense, in my opinion, against the Biblical picture of the character and nature of the God they worship. And in my mind this says that these are all man made rules, laws, "words of God"...and there is probably no such God, at least I hope not because if so there is no need for a devil.

You mention a number of inconsistencies and contradiction in the bible and many of them i have also mentioned previously. The passages in the bible are presented as the Word when the argument suits it and as parables when the inconsistencies are pointed out. This one of the problems of taking the message of the Bible to close to heart. There is some good stuff though, as in the Golden Rule. Not many would say that it was not good advice.

I don't hold it up higher than many of the great religious texts or writings and try to take the stories, advise, and accounts in stride. it's the people who look down on you because you don't believe the Word and think ogf you as incomplete because of that, who really get my goat.

.... and then there's CM and Woodie.

 

[Aardvark154]

To be fair the writers of the Old Testament were not Christians but . . .of a different religion. Including the books of the OT in the
Bible canon is a monumental mistake of the founders of Christianity.

Indeed as you may know there was an entire school of thought which at the time the canon was being assembled agreed with you.

As a point of interest, The Eastern Orthodox Church reads far less of the Old Testament during the Divine Liturgy than Western Churches do. Hence most people in Eastern Europe and Greece etc. . . are far less familar with Old Testament stories than we are: "A Solomaic Decision" etc. . .

 

[Aardvark154]

To me the important issue is what these laws say about God, irregardless of who they are/were addressed to. They paint a picture of a God that is not at all just, fair, or ethical...by any standard other than the believer standard.

First you seemingly are speaking of the Old Testament, second the Old Testament is the story of God's continuing revelation to the people of Israel needless to say that image had developed and was different in 100 B.C. than it was in 1500 B.C.

 

[Aardvark154]

It seemingly needs to be pointed out that there is a world of difference between saying to paraphrase the Church of Scotland “Here is Wisdom; these are the lively Oracles of God, containing all things necessary for salvation.” and saying that the Old Testament is inerrent.

 

[rld]

To be fair the writers of the Old Testament were not Christians but
priests of a different religion. Including the books of the OT in the
Bible canon is a monumental mistake of the founders of Christianity.

But considering what Jesus and what some of the authors of the NT said about his role and the law etc, it would have been tough not to.

And while some of the NT authors did not have Jewish roots, some did. AT the time it was much harder to tease them apart.

 

[MrMessi]

Bible is made up but the sodomy of children is true by the protectors of the bible.

Cleary they know it's fiction but dont have the balls to admit it, instead they take their frustration out on little boys.

 

[MrMessi]

Isam may have the worst followers but their holy book makes more sense than the bible.

 

[rld]

Bible is made up but the sodomy of children is true by the protectors of the bible.

Cleary they know it's fiction but dont have the balls to admit it, instead they take their frustration out on little boys.

I guess that is why teachers molest at an even higher rate.

Nice effort though.

We should pass along your theory to those who are studying with the issue and I am sure that it will answer all their questions.

 

[CMJ]

I think the Bible is a collection of stories about life experiences. Wrote in their time and understanding of the world and in their language. Many ancient texts make similar references to the Bible and other religious texts

 

[good to go]

It was written to teach morals during a time period that has far passed. It was also used to try and passify and answer questions about life. When ever they dont have an answer from the bible they say that god works in mysterious ways or some other babble. It has morphed into a profitable business without taxation and a way to appease people who want to think that there is more to life than this.Some cannot accept such a truth and others just want to believe in something that others also believe in. It is like telling a lie and not knowing the difference later on between the truth and lies.

 

[MrMessi]

I guess that is why teachers molest at an even higher rate.

Nice effort though.

We should pass along your theory to those who are studying with the issue and I am sure that it will answer all their questions.

There is reasoning why teachers are at an higher rate, they are around hot young girls 24/7 they have an right to be horny. What about religious Christian priests, they are around modest nuns, what triggers their hormones????

They've given up on christianty and if they truly believed it than they would fear god and his message, not bang little boys for pleasure, facts are facts, reality hurts.

It sure does stain and rip through the reputation of christians and the bible.

 

[rld]

There is reasoning why teachers are at an higher rate, they are around hot young girls 24/7 they have an right to be horny. What about religious Christian priests, they are around modest nuns, what triggers their hormones????

They've given up on christianty and if they truly believed it than they would fear god and his message, not bang little boys for pleasure, facts are facts, reality hurts.

It sure does stain and rip through the reputation of christians and the bible.

Keep trolling man. Do you know how few nuns there are around these days?

I know you have all the answers about priests...but surely you cast your pearls before swine here.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Do you know how few nuns there are around these days?

Same with priests. The unnatural lifestyle forced upon them makes them a dying breed....:eyebrows:

 

[Aardvark154]

There is reasoning why teachers are at an higher rate, they are around hot young girls 24/7 they have an right to be horny. What about religious Christian priests, they are around modest nuns, what triggers their hormones????.

Clerics are not around children? I don't know about the Roman Catholic Church but for other denominations if you want to stop the ordnation process dead in its tracks have allegations of sexual abuse that you cannot show are unfounded in your background (and I can't believe it wouldn't be true of Roman Catholics as well).

What gives teachers " a right to be horny" or in other words to have no morals regarding criminal sexual actions with minors? You sound more clericalist than clericalist, those lay people they just have no morals and can't help themselves, clergy on the other hand being superior. . . . what balderdash.

Further, what on earth gives you the idea that everyone who sins doesn't believe? They may not be very good at it but. . .

As for such actions being a grevious wound to the body of Christ - who have you heard lately saying they are not?

 

[rld]

Same with priests. The unnatural lifestyle forced upon them makes them a dying breed....:eyebrows:

I think you better check your facts Woody...you have guessed wrong again.

 

[WoodPeckr]

I think you better check your facts Woody...you have guessed wrong again.

Better check YOUR facts rid!

Around here bishops etc are always carping about priest/nun/clergy shortages and having extra 'vocation events' in hopes of filling depleted ranks...:eyebrows:

 

[MrMessi]

Keep trolling man. Do you know how few nuns there are around these days?

I know you have all the answers about priests...but surely you cast your pearls before swine here.

Clerics are not around children? I don't know about the Roman Catholic Church but for other denominations if you want to stop the ordnation process dead in its tracks have allegations of sexual abuse that you cannot show are unfounded in your background (and I can't believe it wouldn't be true of Roman Catholics as well).

What gives teachers " a right to be horny" or in other words to have no morals regarding criminal sexual actions with minors? You sound more clericalist than clericalist, those lay people they just have no morals and can't help themselves, clergy on the other hand being superior. . . . what balderdash.

Further, what on earth gives you the idea that everyone who sins doesn't believe? They may not be very good at it but. . .

As for such actions being a grevious wound to the body of Christ - who have you heard lately saying they are not?

Fewer priests and nuns just tells us there is nothing in christianty that is worthy of being a part of in terms of spiritual worship. When the so called religious molesting leaders of the church have figured this out why can't you guys???
Too busy banging some 18 year old I assume?? Hey at least your not raping some 10 year old, I'll give you some points for that.

Look at the pole results, terbites have spoken.

 

[rld]

Fewer priests and nuns just tells us there is nothing in christianty that is worthy of being a part of in terms of spiritual worship. When the so called religious molesting leaders of the church have figured this out why can't you guys???
Too busy banging some 18 year old I assume?? Hey at least your not raping some 10 year old, I'll give you some points for that.

Look at the pole results, terbites have spoken.

Oh yes Terbite opinion poles determine all things.

It is a pity that you don't have much in the way of reading comprehension skills. The number of priests is go up, the number of monastics (nuns and monks) is going down.

If you can't get your basic facts rights why should anybody listen to you?

And what is it that you are doing that prevents you from figuring out that religion is growing despite the terb poll?

Too much time in the shower?

 

[oldjones]

That is exactly why I am not a big fan of the King James. But the translations are getting better and better all the time, and we find new bits and copies now and again that allow us to increase our understanding of these historic documents.

Which raises the natural question—for believers—were the earlier verions untrue? How do we know the version we now trust won't be tossed in the wastebasket because a new text or new translation comes along?

 

[rld]

Which raises the natural question—for believers—were the earlier verions untrue? How do we know the version we now trust won't be tossed in the wastebasket because a new text or new translation comes along?

We can never achieve perfect in translation. But, like science, we make progress in this area, and lately at a faster rate than ever.

And we really are at the stage of "fine tuning" in translation, with the NT in very good shape and the OT a little behind but it is a much more complex linguistic challenge.

You might well compare it to Newtonian and Einsteinian physics for example.