manimal2878

I have not read every word of it yet, but I am getting there, unless somebody (in the bible) comes along and explains all the cruelty, contradictions and messages contrary to the love and forgiveness I have read of Jesus message then I think it is almost next to useless as a moral guide as I could just as easily choose the parts I like to go about and do bad things, as many christians do.

I see many of them doing messed up immoral things and claiming that it is fine because they are "saved."

If it were the word of god there would be no ablity for there to be other interpretations, surely to promote a clear and concise rule of law with no ambiguity or contradiction would be within the realm of an Omnimax god.
The bible is not that, it is a history of men and their beliefs, not the word of god or even Jesus.

Also I'm not attacking you it's just I'm frustrated with "bible Believers" in general right now. see my post here if you care to know why: http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=130882

gee

manimal2878;

"I could just as easily choose the parts I like to go about and do bad things, as many christians do."

Unfortunately, we agree here.

"it is a history of men and their beliefs"

We agree here also.

Where most people find weakness here, I see this as strength. I would be cynical if everything were hunky-dory and everybody got along fine and sung "coom-buy-ya".

Most of the new testament is Paul trying to get Christians to clean up their act. None of it is particularly flattering to Christians or the Jews. Even the heroes act like jerks (David and Bethsheba for instance).

Just a thought as you read it.

gee

Eldarion Lathria

The Hebrews and Shebrews were all drunkards, for they drank their wine without dilution. They did not do as civilized men did, cut their wine with water.

Eldarion Lathria

Huon

Oh, Eldarion Lathria, that's a rotten thing to mix water with good wine ! Don't you know there is frog's piss in the water ? If you want to drink water and wine, you could have two glasses (cups in the time of JC).

Same thing with whisky. A (true) Scotsman said once in front of me : "We have worried a lot to make our best scotch, and you would dilute it with water ? What a pity !"