Freethought & Rationalism Archive

06-03-2002, 01:20 PM

The great thing about science, is people say what they mean, so no one can say "I don't interpret quantum physics literally." I wish Darwin told parables, possibly 'The prodigious species'?

Samhain · 06-03-2002, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by himynameisPwn:
<strong>The great thing about science, is people say what they mean, so no one can say "I don't interpret quantum physics literally." I wish Darwin told parables, possibly 'The prodigious species'?</strong>

Which is exactly the point. For how do we know what to interpret literally and what to interpret figuratively in the Bible? As I tried to explore previously in my thread: <a href="http://iidb.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=50&t=000347" target="_blank">Interpretations...</a> Who can possibly say which interpretation of the Bible is the correct interpretation? How do we know that the Bible is not just a clever story-book? Why is this interpretation of the Bible less valid than that of religious sects and the multiple dominations? Considering the fantastical accounts the Bible gives (which seem to only be found in fiction fantasy novels otherwise), I'd venture to say that interpreting the Bible as a sort of moral fairy tale book is actually the more accurate of the thousands of other interpretations. What really separates the Bible from Dr. Seuss, or Mother Goose? Why do so many people insist on giving the Bible literal interpretations in some areas and figurative interpretations in others? Why is it not possible for people to accept that the whole book is a cleverly devised book of figurative parables meant to portray a "moral" story? Why do so many insist on accepting the accounts of barbarians thousands of years dead as completely and absolutely true when it comes to Yahweh? I'm sure if some of these fundy theists went back in time and they tried to bleed them, etc. for a type of medical treatment, or stoned tried to stone them to death for indecent attire, they wouldn't trust them as far as they could spit, but of course, when it comes to fantastical accounts of a logically impossible diety who is all loving but vengeful at the same time (just to name a few points of ridiculousness) we should put our faith in this?

[ June 03, 2002: Message edited by: Samhain ]</p>

missus_gumby · 06-03-2002, 03:03 PM

Lest we not forget the 'cockatrice':

(Isaiah 11:08,14:29,59:05 and Jeremiah 8:17)

Samhain · 06-03-2002, 03:09 PM

Dammit!...I recall another reference to all of these creatures besides the Bible...I forgot...wait...wait...wait...I GOT IT! I remember now! It was the computer game Heroes of Might and Magic!

missus_gumby · 06-03-2002, 03:10 PM

Adding to the list:

Zombies
Satyrs
Devils
Six-winged angels
Demons
A walking/talking serpent
A talking donkey
Human-headed, six-winged beasts
Ghosts
Sea monsters
Giants

...all of which are depicted in the Christian bible.

Panta Pei · 06-04-2002, 02:38 AM

All evidence that Gary Gygax wrote the Bible

brighid · 06-04-2002, 04:12 AM

Thank You Samhain and Missus Gumby for the further illustrations of fantastical creatures in the Bible! Despite Gemma's deliberate evasion of the questions I think I (along with all your help) have proven my point.

The beasts of Harry Potter are "satanic" and will corrupt your children, but how soon the Christian and Catholic forget what sort of beasts exist within their own Holy Book. If one is a sucker for believing in a pink or purple dragon, what makes the belief (of the justified belief if one doesn't "literally translate" the bible

) any less of a fools bet?

I have no doubt that if one tried one could convince a large segment of Christians and Catholics that because these creatures are mentioned in the bible that they did indeed exist. And for many centuries people full well believed that these creatures were indeed true to fact because the Bible told them so!

What I find even more ridiculous about the "sucker" claim coming from a Catholic is their belief in Saints and the "magical" and fantastical powers attributed to them.

Take St. Brighid, who so closely matches the Goddess Brighid's folklore that is makes one wonder .... whom which came 1st the Pagan Goddess or the Catholic Saint???

Brighid

Answerer · 06-04-2002, 04:43 AM

Well guys, all of you can find a rich content of mythical creatures in fantasy and game series like forgotten realms, dragonlance, warcraft,etc, where there is no such thing as scentific laws at all.

Panta Pei · 06-04-2002, 05:25 AM

"whom came 1st the Pagan Goddess or the Catholic Saint??? "

The nuns taught me that it was the Holy Spirit that came first

Bible Humper · 06-04-2002, 11:19 AM

Quote:

All evidence that Gary Gygax wrote the Bible

Moses approaches the Red Sea, pursued by an army of pissed off Egyptians *Rolls 100-sided*...

<img src="graemlins/notworthy.gif" border="0" alt="[Not Worthy]" />

But no need to roll for a miracle, Part Water is only a 6th level spell!!

[ June 04, 2002: Message edited by: Bible_Humper ]</p>

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06-03-2002, 01:20 PM	#11
himynameisPwn Guest Posts: n/a	The great thing about science, is people say what they mean, so no one can say "I don't interpret quantum physics literally." I wish Darwin told parables, possibly 'The prodigious species'?

06-03-2002, 03:03 PM	#13
missus_gumby Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: UK Posts: 1,898	Lest we not forget the 'cockatrice': (Isaiah 11:08,14:29,59:05 and Jeremiah 8:17)

06-03-2002, 03:09 PM	#14
Samhain Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,735	Dammit!...I recall another reference to all of these creatures besides the Bible...I forgot...wait...wait...wait...I GOT IT! I remember now! It was the computer game Heroes of Might and Magic!

06-03-2002, 03:10 PM	#15
missus_gumby Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: UK Posts: 1,898	Adding to the list: Zombies Satyrs Devils Six-winged angels Demons A walking/talking serpent A talking donkey Human-headed, six-winged beasts Ghosts Sea monsters Giants ...all of which are depicted in the Christian bible.

06-04-2002, 02:38 AM	#16
Panta Pei Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: in the middle of things Posts: 722	All evidence that Gary Gygax wrote the Bible <Moses approaches the Red Sea, pursued by an army of pissed off Egyptians Rolls 100-sided...>

06-04-2002, 04:12 AM	#17
brighid Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: somewhere in the known Universe Posts: 6,993	Thank You Samhain and Missus Gumby for the further illustrations of fantastical creatures in the Bible! Despite Gemma's deliberate evasion of the questions I think I (along with all your help) have proven my point. The beasts of Harry Potter are "satanic" and will corrupt your children, but how soon the Christian and Catholic forget what sort of beasts exist within their own Holy Book. If one is a sucker for believing in a pink or purple dragon, what makes the belief (of the justified belief if one doesn't "literally translate" the bible ) any less of a fools bet? I have no doubt that if one tried one could convince a large segment of Christians and Catholics that because these creatures are mentioned in the bible that they did indeed exist. And for many centuries people full well believed that these creatures were indeed true to fact because the Bible told them so! What I find even more ridiculous about the "sucker" claim coming from a Catholic is their belief in Saints and the "magical" and fantastical powers attributed to them. Take St. Brighid, who so closely matches the Goddess Brighid's folklore that is makes one wonder .... whom which came 1st the Pagan Goddess or the Catholic Saint??? Brighid

06-04-2002, 04:43 AM	#18
Answerer Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 3,956	Well guys, all of you can find a rich content of mythical creatures in fantasy and game series like forgotten realms, dragonlance, warcraft,etc, where there is no such thing as scentific laws at all.

06-04-2002, 05:25 AM	#19
Panta Pei Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: in the middle of things Posts: 722	"whom came 1st the Pagan Goddess or the Catholic Saint??? " The nuns taught me that it was the Holy Spirit that came first

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