JGL53

And when one combines the above understanding with the futher understanding that the "eternal place of everlasting pain " type of hell is not a biblical teaching, i.e., that all the words translated as "hell" just meant being burned up totally, or thrown on a garbage heap, or separated from god with no overtones of physical pain - well, then one is left wondering what all the hoopla is about? :grin:

Sheshbazzar

Careful, or 'da boogeyman'll git you!

mongrel

Thank you Sheshbazzar and JGL53 for your explanations. Very interesting. I've long known that there are inconsistencies and mistranslations between versions of The Bible(yet another reason not to believe), but have no clue as to most of the details.

JGL53, your post leads me to the question of the "wailing, and gnashing of teeth" and "lake of fire" bits in the Bible, and although I suspect that is also just a dark-ages mistranslation from the original, it sure does sound painful. I'd be worried if I were a believer...

Jet Black

Satan loves fundie nuts even more though, because they make christianity look so stupid, that nobody would want to worship god.

Sheshbazzar

No, the verses have been carefully examined, and that they have been very carefully translated is beyond disputing.
It is how the sayings are to be interpreted and understood within the context of all of the other religious writings that is debatable.
To me the most pregnant with significance saying that sheds light on how all of the "hellfire" sayings are to be interpreted is to be found in Luke 16:31.
That is to seek out what Moses and the Prophets recorded with respect to these things, (the state of the dead, punishment of the wicked) and believe their testimony.
Now, before someone misunderstands, I am not saying to literally "believe their testimony" in the sense of taking the OT literally, but rather that a correct understanding of NT sayings, REQUIRES that their interpretation be consistent with those sayings left to us by Moses and the prophets.
This is where Xianity has erred, in discrediting the position and the beliefs held by Moses and the prophets, and demanding a literal interpretation of the NT "hellfire" sayings.
Whereas Luke 16:31 IF heeded prevents any literal interpretation from being an acceptable explanation for the tale of Luke 16:19-30.

Then there is the consideration that there is a very, very, strong possibility that many of the situations and sayings that are now found within the NT, were not at all found within the initial manuscripts, but were added at latter dates to add support to evolving theological positions, even today, a certain amount of "creative" translating is still being employed to support various doctrinal positions, with no two "versions" of the Scriptures rendering all verses identically, for that matter, many don't even provide all of the same verses, or even the same books.

There are a lot of good sayings and ethical precepts to be found within the Bible, many stories that have lessons that are still applicable in the modern world.
Of course there are also a good many that are bad sayings and and are unethical, these also have an application in the modern world, in showing us where we have came from, and the things that were and are shameful, and are lessons to be learned so that we do not repeat them or make similar mistakes.
It is necessary to faithfully preserve the bad along with the good, to attain, and to maintain a knowledge of how to choose between the two.

Bottom line? Just don't take "Holy Books" or "religion" too seriously, work on being an honest and ethical person, avoid biases, and speak and act with a clear conscience, and no one divine or mortal, will have any just cause to find fault.

fatpie42

Ah Robodon has gone and not returned. Another hit and run then?

JGL53

Perhaps Robo don has taken a break to go door to door and proselytize in person.

Ebonmuse

Actually, it cannot be emphasized too strongly that this quote is a fraud.

http://candst.tripod.com/boston2.htm

OneWayTraffic

Do you eat them or worship them?


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