spin

Sadly none of this has proven true.

Why not accept what the original intention -- even understood by you -- was and stop the pedantry?


spin

spin

This is where one gets when one is led by one's wick.


spin

Chili

Just making people think twice about their thoughts sir.

Rhaedas

The bible appears to be a manmade collection of stories handed down and rewritten many times, borrowing from older stories and beliefs. If the god of the bible wanted it to appear this way, just has he must have wanted the world to appear old and humans to appear to be descended from earlier primates, then he succeeded greatly. I would think that if God wanted to pass a consistant message to all generations of man, he would have done it differently. As for God, there may be some higher presence that was responsible for universal creation, but thus far all material evidence says it's unnecessary. The god of the bible, being much more defined, certainly doesn't exist by the nature of the characteristics he is given and the description of the world he is said to have created. If the bible is not literal, and it cannot be, then it is difficult to believe the rest of it as anything more than a story, used for a background of belief.

As Libertus said, believing in God and the bible is comforting to some people. It's difficult for many people to think that there's no higher power, no defined purpose outside our own choices, and the world is a harsh unforgiving place. So they tend to latch on to belief systems that help them cope by telling them there is a god looking out for them. It doesn't matter about evidence or logic, they want that comfort, and they aren't going to look far enough into it to make it harder to believe. I doubt many christians read the whole bible, only the parts that have helped them cope in the past.

And all of that is fine with me...if it's constructive to their lives, then let them believe whatever they want. Passive religion is fine, it's the more aggressive forms that cause problems in the world, and lose any message or productive value they might have had.

Koyaanisqatsi

That's funny, because I was a Christian cult member for about fifteen years (birth on) and used to not only read the Bible cover to cover, but actually study it. As a result, I am an atheist. At least you got laid . :thumbs:

"Converted?" Hmmm. I suspect you are not telling us the truth. No atheist would use the term "converted," since there is nothing to "convert" from. Atheism isn't a religion, you know; it's the lack of one.

"Walking" the walk. The correct phrase is "walking the walk."

And had you met a beautiful Muslim and she told you to read the Koran you would now be saying you believe that the Koran is the word of God.

No?

Well, that's certainly just, no question about it.

But then, now that you're a "converted" Atheist, you can't question such things, right?

spin

And perhaps I about yours.


spin

Garnet

Fair enough. But since I don't believe in God, I don't buy the inspired by God bit. To me it's a collection of mythologies lightly interspersed with some history.

Tuvar Ane Ingolenen

<parody mode>
I would like to ask the following questions:

1. Do you believe Yaba daba doo are the words of Fred Flintstone?
Yes.
To what extent?
99.99%.
Why?
I remember seeing&hearing it on TV.

2. Explain the alternate point of view
(if you chose that Yaba daba doo are the words of Fred Flintstone, then explain why some people believe Yaba daba doo are not the words of Fred Flintstone)
Some people will disagree because Fred Flintstone is fictional, and the words were actually invented by a real person.
and what value that view has.
I think we're both right.

</parody mode>

Chili

. . . and that is your choice at this time in life and I am sure is the right choice for you. Let me remind you here that Paul was also an unbeliever until he got knocked of his "high horse."

Garnet

Well, my response is that I was a believer until I got knocked off of that old horse.