Freethought & Rationalism Archive

worldling · 03-03-2003, 11:36 AM

Just what is the attraction of them? Seriously.

What is it that leads a poor fool to decide that Holy Book X (Torah, Koran, Bible, Vedas, whatever) is the infallible Word of God, and the Ultimate Authority on Everything?

Shake · 03-03-2003, 11:40 AM

:notworthy
Ha ha ha! I love your 10C limerick! It's classic!

Edit to add it so others can see:

Quote:

The Ten Commandments aren't really that great.
They don't mention racism or rape;
They don't ban molestations,
Of young congregations -
You would think that priests wrote them... oh, wait.

Great stuff!

Selsaral · 03-03-2003, 11:41 AM

L. Ron Hubbard must have had a good answer to this.

spurly · 03-03-2003, 09:34 PM

As someone who believes that one of the books you mentioned contains holy writings, I will try to answer that question.

One reason I hold that it is more special than any other book is becaue it is a book that reveals God to us. We see him as he works through history to bring people back into a vibrant relationship with himself and with the community in which they live.

We can tell some about God from nature. From nature we can tell that a God exists (intelligent design), and that he is a god who loves beauty and variety. We can deduce that he is very creative in the use of his power. And we can see that he is very orderly, just like the systems he designed.

But other than that, we would not have known who he was if he had not taken the time to reveal himself to us. So to me, the Bible is not a list of do's and dont's, it is actually the unfolding of who God is to human kind.

Kevin

Hayden · 03-04-2003, 02:10 AM

I have several books that reveal to me who Jack Ryan is. We see him working throughout history, averting political and military disasters. He prepares to lay down his life more that once, in order to save his fellow man.

These books aim to bring us into a relationship with Jack Ryan, and with his prophet Tom.

HR

hezekiah jones · 03-04-2003, 05:10 AM

spurly:
One reason I hold that it is more special than any other book is because it is a book that reveals God to us.

In other words, the bible is the word of god because the bible says it's the word of god?

spurly:
We see him as he works through history to bring people back into a vibrant relationship with himself and with the community in which they live.

Merrily killing, torturing, and damning to hell all the way. God's got some issues, don't he.

spurly:
From nature we can tell that a God exists (intelligent design) ...

Good grief. Welcome to the 18th century.

Godless Dave · 03-04-2003, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by spurly
As someone who believes that one of the books you mentioned contains holy writings, I will try to answer that question.

One reason I hold that it is more special than any other book is becaue it is a book that reveals God to us.

But why that one book, and not the other books that reveal God or gods to us?

Lobstrosity · 03-04-2003, 05:59 AM

Spurly, just out of curiosity, have you actually read the entire Koran?

Tom Sawyer · 03-04-2003, 06:33 AM

worldling,

I think that people like holy books because it gives them a sense that they can personally read the word of their God(s). These books tell then that God isn't some ephemeral concept but someone who interacts with the world and affects lives. God becomes someone whom they can know and learn from rather than a distant being that is beyond their comprehension.

Which book provides these things for a person depends mainly on geography.

philechat · 03-04-2003, 08:11 AM

Wow...the Bible IS the holy book? But I prefer Shakespeare anytime, and Joyce, Shelley, Yeats, and Proust. For some reason the book written by God is aesthetically inferior to the works of mere mortals...or is my judgment clouded again due to the lack of Holy Spirit?

03-03-2003, 11:36 AM	#1
worldling Regular Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: UK Posts: 156	Holy Books Just what is the attraction of them? Seriously. What is it that leads a poor fool to decide that Holy Book X (Torah, Koran, Bible, Vedas, whatever) is the infallible Word of God, and the Ultimate Authority on Everything?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

03-03-2003, 11:41 AM	#3
Selsaral Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan Posts: 3,095	L. Ron Hubbard must have had a good answer to this.

03-03-2003, 09:34 PM	#4
spurly Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 710	As someone who believes that one of the books you mentioned contains holy writings, I will try to answer that question. One reason I hold that it is more special than any other book is becaue it is a book that reveals God to us. We see him as he works through history to bring people back into a vibrant relationship with himself and with the community in which they live. We can tell some about God from nature. From nature we can tell that a God exists (intelligent design), and that he is a god who loves beauty and variety. We can deduce that he is very creative in the use of his power. And we can see that he is very orderly, just like the systems he designed. But other than that, we would not have known who he was if he had not taken the time to reveal himself to us. So to me, the Bible is not a list of do's and dont's, it is actually the unfolding of who God is to human kind. Kevin

03-04-2003, 02:10 AM	#5
Hayden Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 712	I have several books that reveal to me who Jack Ryan is. We see him working throughout history, averting political and military disasters. He prepares to lay down his life more that once, in order to save his fellow man. These books aim to bring us into a relationship with Jack Ryan, and with his prophet Tom. HR

03-04-2003, 05:10 AM	#6
hezekiah jones Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: WI Posts: 4,357	spurly: One reason I hold that it is more special than any other book is because it is a book that reveals God to us. In other words, the bible is the word of god because the bible says it's the word of god? spurly: We see him as he works through history to bring people back into a vibrant relationship with himself and with the community in which they live. Merrily killing, torturing, and damning to hell all the way. God's got some issues, don't he. spurly: From nature we can tell that a God exists (intelligent design) ... Good grief. Welcome to the 18th century.

03-04-2003, 05:59 AM	#8
Lobstrosity Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 719	Spurly, just out of curiosity, have you actually read the entire Koran?

03-04-2003, 06:33 AM	#9
Tom Sawyer Talk Freethought Staff Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Toronto, eh Posts: 42,293	worldling, I think that people like holy books because it gives them a sense that they can personally read the word of their God(s). These books tell then that God isn't some ephemeral concept but someone who interacts with the world and affects lives. God becomes someone whom they can know and learn from rather than a distant being that is beyond their comprehension. Which book provides these things for a person depends mainly on geography.

03-04-2003, 08:11 AM	#10
philechat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Mind of the Other Posts: 886	Wow...the Bible IS the holy book? But I prefer Shakespeare anytime, and Joyce, Shelley, Yeats, and Proust. For some reason the book written by God is aesthetically inferior to the works of mere mortals...or is my judgment clouded again due to the lack of Holy Spirit?

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.