protectgoddotcom

One thing I'll never understand, when you get through listing all of the reasons why the Bible is really nothing more than an ancient collage of myths and supersitions (ok so there's SOME history to it), why does a thumper turn around and quote the book as "proof" of something. For example, one of the visitors to Paul's new site (which systemically dissects the Bible's accuracy) left us this message:

"Believing that God exists is not the same as believing what He says. Millions believe that God exists, unfortunately they don't believe in what He says.

How can any know what God says, or believe He is the one who said it? Read the following in John 1:1-14

.......


In essence, Paul, the Word (the Bible) is God, and the Word became flesh, in the person of Jesus (Christ, which means savior), and to those who recognize, received and believed in His name, received the right to become His children. Regardless of much study of a myriad of religions, all of our human journey hangs on these fourteen verses in John 1:1-14 More importantly, Paul, God loves you, He wants to embrace you and heal you all of your past wounds, and give you eternal rest."

And equally hilarious

"You, sir, are clearly an instrument of Satan. God IS loving and sins need to be punished. Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for sin, and believers in that have eternal life and escape eternal punishment. The Bible is God's Holy Word and does not contradict any concept of a loving God. "

I'm not really sure what goes on such people's mind.

http://www.protecgod.com

Doctor X

Well . . . basically it involves burying one's head in the sand.

To give up a belief leaves one rather intellectually naked. For all of its promise of intellectual clarity, atheism leaves out a lot of comfort. Basically, it was nice to believe that a guy named Santa who lived in the Artic actually cared about you--despite all of the contraditions.

The first quote misrepresents Jn's theology--to be saved you have to be "born from above"--"one of da chosen!" The second is just fallacious ranting.

The Bible became a potentially objective proof or linch-pin for belief. Removing that leaves a lot of people flapping in the wind. Thus, commentators such as Bill O'Reilly bitch about the "secularization" of America which the "founding fathers" would have condemned. Perhaps John Edward channelled a few for him, because otherwise he mischaracterizes them. Having a majority feel that his religion is a reflection of reality--a "norm"--comforts a Bill O'Reilly. He and others do not see themselves as having a religion--they see themselves as believing in reality. Challenge the "universal norm" of their religion and you challenge reality in their minds.

Now, what is funny, in a way the Bible remakes reality depending on the text. When the Chronicler rewrites Samuels-Kings he remakes the history traditions. Similarly, when a Mt rewrites Mk, he changes a conception of Christianity--for want of a better term. How "certain" can that be?

--J.D.

Bob K

Doctor X:Does Xn theology leave in a lot of comfort?

Xn Theology: From Genesis--the Old Testament, and the Fall of Man, the Original Sin, all men (and women and children) are sinners/pieces of crap who cannot save themselves but must be saved by a dying/rising savior-god, and from the Mt/Mk/Lk/Jn Gospels of the New Testament, Jesus = Jesus Christ = God/Godman/Godghost (the Trinity) = One-and-Only Dying/Rising Savior-God, and only those who believe and worship and follow the teachings of J = JC = God/Godman/Godghost = One-and-Only Dying/Rising Savior-God can be saved.

Thus, from the OT we get the idea that we are all pieces of crap/sinners who cannot save ourselves from the monster-god who created us all and who created sin and who knew that we would sin/become sinners/be sinners and who demands blood sacrifice as atonement for our sins/being pieces of crap and from the NT we get the idea that God gave us J = JC = God/Godman/Godghost = One-and-Only Dying/Rising Savior-God to save us from our sins/being pieces of crap.

How much comfort is there in any or all of this?

Did you know that you are a piece of crap? That you are supposed to believe--to know--that you are a piece of crap? And that your mother/father/brother(s)/sister(s)/child(ren)/relatives/friends/strangers/etc. are all pieces of crap?

‘Not a whole lot of comfort in any of this.

How much comfort is there in having to believe in a god who is irrational in demanding punishment or atonement for something he/she/it created?

‘Not much comfort, therefore, in the theology of Xnity.

Doctor X

BobK:

It does unless you read the texts it claims that it is based upon.

--J.D.