Amos

Sorry, that was not my intent.

I don't even read it so what makes you think I follow it? If I could have wrote it why would I follow it?

It would disagree with me and I would put it down. In other words, I am a good baker and disagree with the recipe book.

The bible was not written by God but by an inspired person who wanted to start his own religion and did a good job. Didn't he?

Religion is just a means to an end and no more. Not every religion is equal because out of the mythology rises the empire. Judism was good. Christianity improved (but at a price). Buddhism is also a good vehicle to get to the end which they call Nirvana. Islam is rising just now and Christinaity is declining and, as I see it, that is all built into the myth.

You wouldn't sell many cakes unless you put some addictive ingredients in it to enslave the consumer and that is what they did. The OT is slanted towards Judaism (God's favorite) and the NT is slanted towards Catholicism (gospel of John). There is not supposed to be a bible because many mythologies don't even have the written word. But it is a good selling feature and if you wish to sell many you just print more and make it the opium for the masses. Eg. after the printing press the protestant church caught on fire and has been burning ever since.

But that still doesn't make the bible wrong. If the bible is like a bicycle to get you from A to B you can't really blame the bicycle if you follow the yellow streak and get lost in the nearby desert.

Bobzammel

Some Gnostics believe that Satan was the God of the Old Testament, since the OT is more physical and materialistic than the more spiritual, minimalist NT.
Of course this creates huge problems, since Jesus qoutes the OT over and over again. Paul, however, seems more hostile to the Old Testament, and stops just short of saying the OT's law is evil.

Rhea

You people would save me a lot of trouble if you would start your posts with, "Well I don't believe following the Bible is the right path", you know.

If you don't believe in the Bible, then your answer should read, "so one would have to or something like that.

My question is about people who believe the Bible is to be followed. SO now that we understand that, how do you think THEY can tell whether it's God's or Satan's?

Amos, your answer coincides exactly with most Atheists, "The Bible doesn't make sense, so I don't believe a God wrote it." So we're on the same page, (I think) (right?).

Bobzammel

BTW on the same topic, many Christians believe that the Angels which dictated to Joseph Smith and Muhammad were Satan "In disguise as an angel of light".

Amos

Yes and no, Rhea. The bible makes perfect sense to some but not to those who study it (that follows doesn't it?). We are close but I reserve the right to say that the bible is inerrant and inspired by the mythmakers who gave us their idea of God. In the end God does not exist because if we can become God there would be two of us.

Rhea

Bumping to see if any new theists have any enlightenment for me on this.

Nowhere357

Good question, Rhea!

I am an agnostic atheist.

First, I presuppose that god must represent good and right. Satan then must represent evil and wrong.

So as I study the bible with your question in mind, I would pay attention to whether the bible seems to reflect good and right, OR evil and wrong. I know if the bible was written by satan, it would be hard to see the evil and wrong; it would be disguised as good and right.

Well, there is plenty of "love your neighbor" and "golden rule" stuff, which sounds good and right.

But wait - there seems to be a whole lot of divinely inspired slaughter, cruelty, injustice, hate, intolerance...

Sounds kinda evil and wrong.

Add in the threat of eternal damnation if you don't "accept" jesus, and I think theists will be very annoyed at your question!