Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Steve Weiss · 04-01-2007, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fortuna

Well, I'm of the Agnostic. sometimes Deist, sometimes Pantheistic persuasion.
Anyway, I would best describe the bible/Tanakh as ;

A book that contains legends, myths and some history by many different authors and spanning at least 500 years (perhaps more). It is difficult to discern a unified theology from it, but it looks like an evolving one.

But that said, I'm sure even Atheists can find some parts they agree with. For example, from Koheleth (Ecclesiastes) 9 ;

I think that speaks for itself. The Bible/Tanakh here tells us that we are mere mortals, that there is no afterlife, resurrection, re-incarnations, so you had better enjoy yourself while you're here. Because "there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, where you are going." !

Better ask what this one means by "inerrant". But, yea, compare Koh (that's Koholeth, not potassium hydroxide ) to some of the late OT and NT texts. Koh says there is no afterlife/ressurection while the NT says something different.

And this is not a theologically trivial issue !

Funny that an all powerful god had to revise the OT by making a NT. Could he get it right the first time?

Draconis · 04-01-2007, 07:07 AM

The history sections are somewhat interesting, but are they there simply to lend credence to the "God did this/that/the other" sections? I've only read parts of the bible (I have other better things to do with my time!), to be honest I found much of what I have read rather pointless and meaningless, it only has meaning if you pretend it is the word of god. If you read it as the point of view of a bunch of odd ancient people, all it does is convince you how odd and ignorant they were back then.

Steve Weiss · 04-01-2007, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Visionary7

Obviously.

I've been a Christian for the last 24 years of my life.

Big difference.

The bible is a con job of the first order that people love to believe in, even if they don't. If they really did believe in it they would immediately commit suicide so that they could be closer to their beloved lord. After all, how important is life on earth when all of eternity stretches before them? Once in heaven they can float around and have a grand old time. Of course, if you are a Calvinist good works don't matter and you have a good chance of going to the warmer place because there are only 144,000 spaces in the good resort, and probably many of them have already been booked. Hey, but life's a bitch.

Steve Weiss · 04-01-2007, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Visionary7

What do atheists believe about the Bible?

. . .

As little as possible.

Doug Shaver · 04-01-2007, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Visionary7

What do atheists believe about the Bible?

Since we have no dogma, atheists' opinions about the Bible are all over the place. Some think there is a lot of history in it, although with a considerable amount of mythological and legendary embellishments. Some think it is mostly fiction. Some think it is largely a pack of lies promulgated by a conspiracy of power-mad kleptocrats.

About the only thing we all agree on is that no god had anything to do with its production.

Steve Weiss · 04-01-2007, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Shaver

Since we have no dogma, atheists' opinions about the Bible are all over the place. Some think there is a lot of history in it, although with a considerable amount of mythological and legendary embellishments. Some think it is mostly fiction. Some think it is largely a pack of lies promulgated by a conspiracy of power-mad kleptocrats.

About the only thing we all agree on is that no god had anything to do with its production.

I think responsible people with properly critical minds and some familiarity with history and the evil deeds of god-inspired religionists can have more to say about the bible and its heritage of death and destruction than that it was written by men.

davidc · 04-01-2007, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David B

How does the alleged inerrancy of the bible fit in, do you think, with a 50,000 year old Varve sequence?

God layed them down Last Thursday. You know, to test faith and all. What a scamp.

EvolvedAndygal · 04-01-2007, 10:55 AM

I believe it's basically just a storybook. There is some good advice within(mostly in the NT), but a LOT of bad advice, scientific and historical inaccuracies,self-contradictions and silliness. It's rather sad that so many people consider it to be the perfect Word of an omnipotent and omniscient God. I could write a book with fewer errors and self-contradictions easily.

RAFH · 04-01-2007, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demigawd

Eating from the Tree of Knowledge: So simple even a cave man can do it.

My lawyer will be contacting you regarding this defamation. You will pay for this.

Chris Weimer · 04-01-2007, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Visionary7

Obviously.

I've been a Christian for the last 24 years of my life.

Big difference.

I was one for fourteen. Then I grew up.

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04-01-2007, 07:07 AM	#42
Draconis Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 3,165	The history sections are somewhat interesting, but are they there simply to lend credence to the "God did this/that/the other" sections? I've only read parts of the bible (I have other better things to do with my time!), to be honest I found much of what I have read rather pointless and meaningless, it only has meaning if you pretend it is the word of god. If you read it as the point of view of a bunch of odd ancient people, all it does is convince you how odd and ignorant they were back then.

04-01-2007, 10:55 AM	#48
EvolvedAndygal Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 203	I believe it's basically just a storybook. There is some good advice within(mostly in the NT), but a LOT of bad advice, scientific and historical inaccuracies,self-contradictions and silliness. It's rather sad that so many people consider it to be the perfect Word of an omnipotent and omniscient God. I could write a book with fewer errors and self-contradictions easily.

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