Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Steve Weiss · 04-02-2007, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purple_kathryn

If you knew what the locals did to the Blarney Stone you'd regret that.

Actually my wife kissed it, and I watched. I was too lazy to get down on my back to crawl over to the stone. Glad now that I was.

Mike Rosoft · 04-02-2007, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Twain

It is full of interest. It has noble poetry in it; and some clever fables; and some blood-drenched history; and some good morals; and a wealth of obscenity; and upwards of a thousand lies.

In short, it's a product of its time. No more, and no less.

Mike Rosoft

spin · 04-02-2007, 04:50 PM

I think you've driven visionary7 away 30 messages ago.

When a christian accidentally ventures into the snake's den, the snake should forgo the pleasures of the bite for a while.

windsofchange · 04-02-2007, 05:17 PM

Well, first of all, I have read the entire Bible a few times over - I'd say at least 3 times from cover to cover, and some of the individual books several times more.

The Bible reminds me a lot of those Reader's Digest Condensed Book collections - you know, the ones with zero resale value that you always see at thrift shops? When you've got several books bound into one volume, some of them are just going to be more interesting than others. No law that says you have to read them all one after the other, or even read them all, period.

I enjoy Ruth, Ecclesiastes, some of the Psalms, and the Gospels. Genesis is okay as long as you don't take it too seriously. The story of Joseph and his brothers is actually rather touching (the late great atheist Ruth Hurmence Green said that Joseph was the only really admirable character in the OT, and I agree with her).

I hate hate HATE the entire book of Judges, which among other things contains (a) the story of the man who sacrificed his daughter, and (b) the story of the man who chopped his concubine into 12 pieces after pushing her out the door to be gang raped.

Some of the Gospel stories are interesting. I enjoy how Jesus was reported to interact with women and treat them as equals. Some of his followers don't seem to have absorbed that part of his message yet. I can enjoy reading them as stories, as I am a bookworm and love reading fables, fairy tales and myths. (And I don't mean that in a patronizing way - "oh, your stupid book is just a fairy tale" - I think fairy tales, fables, myths and legends are interesting, as they're ways that human beings have tried to communicate with each other.)

The book of Revelations makes me glad I don't smoke pot, like the apostle John was apparently doing when he wrote this.

Godless Dave · 04-02-2007, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by figuer

I consider it to be a collection of fables/legends/myths mixed with mistical texts, poetry, some philosophical insights and some historical records (which in some cases might be accurate and in other inaccurate).

What figuer said.

Cheerful Charlie · 04-02-2007, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Visionary7

What do atheists believe about the Bible?

. . .

It is a set of books written anonymously for the most part.
It is full of contradictions.
It is full of false 'prophecies'.
It is fiull of silly tall tales and legends.
It teaches nonsense.

Cheerful Charlie

Godless Dave · 04-02-2007, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Visionary7

As an Orthodox Christian, I treat the holy bible as a treasure chest and a book for guidance and instruction in the lettters of scripture. That the word of God is divinely-inspired and inerrant.

Which Bible is divinely inspired and inerrant, the Catholic Bible or the Protestant Bible?

youngalexander · 04-02-2007, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Weiss

Now they are real, don't you know? I also kissed the Blarney Stone.

I didn't!
"Bugs mister Rico! Zillions of them!!"

Amaleq13 · 04-02-2007, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spin

When a christian accidentally ventures into the snake's den, the snake should forgo the pleasures of the bite for a while.

Delayed gratification is not the way of the snake.

Ben C Smith · 04-02-2007, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spin

When a christian accidentally ventures into the snake's den, the snake should forgo the pleasures of the bite for a while.

...said the snake, only moments before the mongoose struck.

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04-02-2007, 04:50 PM	#63
spin Contributor Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: nowhere Posts: 15,747	I think you've driven visionary7 away 30 messages ago. When a christian accidentally ventures into the snake's den, the snake should forgo the pleasures of the bite for a while.

04-02-2007, 05:17 PM	#64
windsofchange Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: The achingly beautiful San Fernando Valley Posts: 2,206	Well, first of all, I have read the entire Bible a few times over - I'd say at least 3 times from cover to cover, and some of the individual books several times more. The Bible reminds me a lot of those Reader's Digest Condensed Book collections - you know, the ones with zero resale value that you always see at thrift shops? When you've got several books bound into one volume, some of them are just going to be more interesting than others. No law that says you have to read them all one after the other, or even read them all, period. I enjoy Ruth, Ecclesiastes, some of the Psalms, and the Gospels. Genesis is okay as long as you don't take it too seriously. The story of Joseph and his brothers is actually rather touching (the late great atheist Ruth Hurmence Green said that Joseph was the only really admirable character in the OT, and I agree with her). I hate hate HATE the entire book of Judges, which among other things contains (a) the story of the man who sacrificed his daughter, and (b) the story of the man who chopped his concubine into 12 pieces after pushing her out the door to be gang raped. Some of the Gospel stories are interesting. I enjoy how Jesus was reported to interact with women and treat them as equals. Some of his followers don't seem to have absorbed that part of his message yet. I can enjoy reading them as stories, as I am a bookworm and love reading fables, fairy tales and myths. (And I don't mean that in a patronizing way - "oh, your stupid book is just a fairy tale" - I think fairy tales, fables, myths and legends are interesting, as they're ways that human beings have tried to communicate with each other.) The book of Revelations makes me glad I don't smoke pot, like the apostle John was apparently doing when he wrote this.

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