This could be because our World lost our second saviour, and missed out on a second edition.
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This could be because our World lost our second saviour, and missed out on a second edition.
lol.....what bible are you reading? My new testament doesn't have that in it lolQuote:
Originally Posted by angry nomad
oppression of women? Where does it say that? It mentions how a woman should submit to their husband, but it also says a man should never talk down to his wife and honor her, how exactly does this condone oppressing women?
Gays going to hell? Where does it even talk about gays? it mentions "lustful" acts and whatnot, but doesn't clearly say "homosexuality is a sin", that's just what the republicans tell you :P
Overall, the main thing the bible is telling you to do is to love everyone, even your enemies. That was, after all, the commandment Jesus himself said was the most important of all commandments, if you aren't following that simple commandment, you aren't a true Christian.
Now to get back on the topic, I don't believe anybody can be anything other than what they are. You can lie to yourself and pretend not to be tempted by things you love, but you are only fooling yourself and living a lie. I hate quoting a cross dressing musician, but I'm always reminded of that quote from manson's song: "You cannot sedate, all the things you hate".
True Christianity doesn't come from following guidelines, but how you conduct yourself with others. Many of the people from the bible were certainly not perfect people by any means, and that alone is supposed to remind us that you don't have to be perfect to be accepted by God, it's how faithful you are.
Now I no longer consider myself a Christian, however, I have read enough of the bible to understand the main idea behind what a Christian should be. Also remember that Jesus rarely spoke about hell, and when he did it was usually referencing tossing out the bad garbage from the pure, he never played the fear game and scared people into believing him, rather, he was more focused on meeting up with the Holy father.
So basically, don't worry about minor things such as having sex, being gay, or any other minor crap that has little effect on those around you. Just try not to be an ass to others and don't be greedy is basically what the bible is telling you to do.
and why is it vital? it seems that we have made it so. aside from its moral teachings, most of spiritual ideology deals with things other than the day to day business of living. it concerns itself with our origins and our destinations and does so at the cost of our one great gift - logic. logic in the abstract seems to be all that separates us from the rest of creation and to abandon it seems such a waste.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ganj
how can it be a lie? why should it not be? the dogmas we grasp so greedily seem nothing more than a short-cut to the answers our logical minds push us toward. the creation of the universe, the design of the universe, our place in the universe; these are all questions for which most of us will never have answers. they are the ultimate questions and they are totally beyond our understanding. religions have always given us an easy answer and a way to feel more in control of our reality. for some, any answer is better than none.
isn't religion all about submission? giving over control of your destiny to the whims of magical beings or forces seems the ultimate form of submission. the creation of god figures (kings and emperors, as well) allows many to deny responsibility for the directions of their society and follow a predetermined path without having to think too hard about the reasons behind their actions.Quote:
Religion is not some grand scheme to coerce you into submission. And those who think that need to realize they are submitting to a more subtle evil without even knowing it.
good and evil are the constructs of a society attempting to control its own mad urges. is there evil in recognizing the transgressions of the church? is it evil to live a righteous life outside of the blessings of religious hypocrisy? is it evil to see the unjust elitism inherent in most religious institutions and deny the power of fairy tales over your life? i know that our religious members here will claim that there is no elitism and that their deity's blessings are given freely to all who submit to its omnipotence and perform the necessary rituals. isn't that statement alone proof enough of the true nature of their faith?
The bible once stated that the world was flat, and that was proven wrong, they removed it and put it under the rug. The bible has been changed so much over the years it is hard for me accept any of it. The bible was meant to be used as a guide, not to worship.
I can safely say I am not a believer, but that doesn't mean I am not a believer as well. I have a very open mind, and the bible is very narrow minded. I prefer to find answers myself to how the earth and galaxy came about, and just because these answers aren't right in front of me, doesn't mean I am going to turn to a book and think, "oh, this must be true." Unanswered questions is what keeps me living in life to seek and find out for myself.
Dr. Seuss wrote about a Cat in a Hat. It must be true though, because afterall, it says so as it's a book. ;)
The way I see the Bible, it stories of humanity. Despair and triumph.
I think everyone has a purpose. We all go through it, struggling to find who we are, why we are here, we are we suppose to go?
The path is paved for us, through these scriptures of any religion. The experiences of this path are different, and that's why everyone fights. It's the lack of understanding of how ones embarks on this path, what is the right way, what is the wrong way.
You are simply buying into a viewpoint of struggles from a certain perspective. But we all feel them. We all experience it, just in our own way.
When you are 'buying' into something, you only buy into a perspective of those who experiences are different, but still traveling on the same path.
Does it really? From what i remember, the Bible was the first text to talk about the roundness of the earth, and about the fact that it floats in the space.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nochowderforyou
Another texts, from the same time, but from another religions, would say that earth was flat, supported by elephants, turtles, and such.
"He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing."(Job 26:7)
"And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth." (Job 37:12)
"It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth (...) "(Isaiah 40:22)
I know it is common to dismiss the Old Testament, but it too was a book that was written by God. Just because the New Testament exists as well, doesnt mean that we should ignore everything God said and wanted us to do per the Old Testament. Its a record of how ... different... God is now in the new testament.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nailhead
Personally, the Bible to me is the same as almost any religious document. Its a book that is there to give us stories on how to live a good life. Its not meant to give you exact answers... its a bunch of anecdotes and short stories to give us insight into how to be good people, and how to live a good life. It doesnt matter if any of its real, as long as it helps those who read it live a better life, then the book has served its purpose.
I personally dont worship a Christian God, or any gods at all to be frank. That doesnt mean I dont believe that they could exist, it just means I havent found any reason to follow anyone specific at this time.
I know this is going to lead to a misunderstanding, but I personally think those that follow with certainty to be... idk, a bit foolish. Now that is NOT to say that they are stupid or anything else. I just have always found it slightly foolish to believe in something with certainty, if there is no certainty available for such a thing outside of yourself. And its not even the certainties regarding jesus and God and all of that, its the certainties such as the bible being the only correct religious document, all other religions leading to you burning in hell, and that there are no other Gods ever ever ever, just the christian God.
If I had a gun to my head, and was asked to describe what I subscribe to... Id say its something like a pantheon. I have no way of disproving anything about any religion, nor any way to prove any of them. But I am ok with accepting that gods could exist, but that if a god did exist, others must exist as well. There is no reason they couldnt, but also no reason they could, so in abscence of anything to prove one way or another, I accept the possibility of either gods existing together in a pantheon setting, or that no gods exist at all.
Hmm, what if Gods were spread out throughout the universe and each one takes care of it's own section and plays a game to see which ones can kill themselves off the fastest heheh
kinda reminds me of that southpark episode where they have those little tad pool lookin things that built statues of Kenny and Cartman and started going to war with eachother...all in a little fish tank haha I guess that could be what's really going on up stairs. We are the play toys of infant Gods growing up haha
turtles and elephants ?? thats disc world not the bible.
depends what version your reading but most likely the king james version which the most currently revised veriosn.
i am a spiritual person and believe in many theologies from many diferent religons, beliefs and teachings. i dont not accept one religon as being absolute as i personally see them all as being derivitive of each other and these in turn being derivitive of much older teachings.
but in turn i accept they have alot to offer. yet lacking in other respects
peace
and they are not to be taken as literaly as some people do
the bible did not ever state that the world was flatQuote:
Originally Posted by Nochowderforyou