Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Fr.Andrew · 07-11-2003, 04:19 PM

This didn't seem to fit in the Biblical Criticism forum, so I thought I'd try here.
Sprinkled throughout the Bible are some wonderful sentiments contained in some beautiful language, imo, no matter your theistic persuasion. I believe that the strongest atheist can find something worthwhile and uplifting in there.
Most people probably have a favorite passage for one reason or another--the 23rd Psalm is always a big one--and I'm wondering if the denizens of this forum would share theirs. Just for a diversion.
My own is Ecclesiastes 19-21. I love animals--human and non-human--and I firmly believe that "...a man hath no preeminence above a beast...":
"For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?"

Ronin · 07-11-2003, 10:34 PM

I Thessalonians ~

5:15
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

5:21
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Hebrews ~

13:9
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.

I Peter ~

4:15
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

Phillippians ~

4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

...and the Golden Rule, some verses on the benefits of works and:

John ~

15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Thanks for the thread Fr.Andrew...it has been awhile since I tried to squeeze goodness from that book...entirely out of context, unfortunately.

Scandal · 07-12-2003, 09:20 AM

I've always liked this one:

John 17:21 May they all be one, just as, Father, you are in me and I am in you.....

Scandal

Biff the unclean · 07-12-2003, 02:47 PM

This one from Mark is a little long but it has a good ending

5:12
And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. (13) And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand) and were choked in the sea. (14) And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. (15 ) And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. (16 ) And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. (17) And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

Gee, 2000 dead pigs washing up on the beach, I wonder why they ran Jesus out of town?

emotional · 07-12-2003, 03:09 PM

I like this one, from Isaiah 6:

1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple. 2 Above Him stood the seraphim; each one had six wings: with twain he covered his face and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one called unto another, and said: Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory. 4 And the posts of the door were moved at the voice of them that called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I: Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 6 Then flew unto me one of the seraphim, with a glowing stone in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar; 7 and he touched my mouth with it, and said: Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin expiated. 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said: 'Here am I; send me.'

Just awesome!

ju'iblex · 07-12-2003, 06:28 PM

John 1:1 here, from a purely poetic standpoint, this line is genius. makes me wish i came up with it myself.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

spacedOut · 07-12-2003, 06:37 PM

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

-John 8:32

RevDahlia · 07-12-2003, 06:58 PM

Most of Ecclesiastes.

Secular Pinoy · 07-12-2003, 07:44 PM

Prov 3:13 - Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

Prov 14:15 - A simple man believes everything, But the prudent man carefully considers his ways.

Prov 31:8-9 - Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 - For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

1 Cor 13:4-8 - Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

1 Cor 13:11 - When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

John 3:16 - For god so loved the world... <Just Kidding!>

yguy · 07-12-2003, 07:48 PM

I know you'll love this one, Fr. Andrew:

Luke 17

1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

07-11-2003, 04:19 PM	#1
Fr.Andrew Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Betsy's Bluff, Maine Posts: 540	Favorite verse? This didn't seem to fit in the Biblical Criticism forum, so I thought I'd try here. Sprinkled throughout the Bible are some wonderful sentiments contained in some beautiful language, imo, no matter your theistic persuasion. I believe that the strongest atheist can find something worthwhile and uplifting in there. Most people probably have a favorite passage for one reason or another--the 23rd Psalm is always a big one--and I'm wondering if the denizens of this forum would share theirs. Just for a diversion. My own is Ecclesiastes 19-21. I love animals--human and non-human--and I firmly believe that "...a man hath no preeminence above a beast...": "For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?"

07-12-2003, 02:47 PM	#4
Biff the unclean Banned Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: an inaccessible island fortress Posts: 10,638	Miss Piggy This one from Mark is a little long but it has a good ending 5:12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. (13) And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand) and were choked in the sea. (14) And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. (15 ) And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. (16 ) And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. (17) And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. Gee, 2000 dead pigs washing up on the beach, I wonder why they ran Jesus out of town?

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07-11-2003, 10:34 PM	#2
Ronin Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 5,047	I Thessalonians ~ 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Hebrews ~ 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. I Peter ~ 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Phillippians ~ 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. ...and the Golden Rule, some verses on the benefits of works and: John ~ 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Thanks for the thread Fr.Andrew...it has been awhile since I tried to squeeze goodness from that book...entirely out of context, unfortunately.

07-12-2003, 09:20 AM	#3
Scandal Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arizona Posts: 131	I've always liked this one: John 17:21 May they all be one, just as, Father, you are in me and I am in you..... Scandal

07-12-2003, 03:09 PM	#5
emotional Banned Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Boxing ring of HaShem, Jesus and Allah Posts: 1,945	I like this one, from Isaiah 6: 1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple. 2 Above Him stood the seraphim; each one had six wings: with twain he covered his face and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one called unto another, and said: Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory. 4 And the posts of the door were moved at the voice of them that called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I: Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 6 Then flew unto me one of the seraphim, with a glowing stone in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar; 7 and he touched my mouth with it, and said: Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin expiated. 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said: 'Here am I; send me.' Just awesome!

07-12-2003, 06:28 PM	#6
ju'iblex Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sydney Australia and beyond the realms of Gehenna Posts: 6,035	John 1:1 here, from a purely poetic standpoint, this line is genius. makes me wish i came up with it myself. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

07-12-2003, 06:37 PM	#7
spacedOut Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Heart of Dixie Posts: 104	"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." -John 8:32

07-12-2003, 06:58 PM	#8
RevDahlia Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Austin, TX, USA Posts: 4,930	Most of Ecclesiastes.

07-12-2003, 07:44 PM	#9
Secular Pinoy Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Quezon City, Philippines Posts: 1,994	Prov 3:13 - Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. Prov 14:15 - A simple man believes everything, But the prudent man carefully considers his ways. Prov 31:8-9 - Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 - For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. 1 Cor 13:4-8 - Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. 1 Cor 13:11 - When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. John 3:16 - For god so loved the world... <Just Kidding!>

07-12-2003, 07:48 PM	#10
yguy Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,199	I know you'll love this one, Fr. Andrew: Luke 17 1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

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