Quote Originally Posted by Oneironaut
In my reading of the Bible, I haven't really found a whole lot of good morals, and I don't see the point in communicating morals via myths made up by ancient agricultural societies. The Bible is openly racist (Yahweh has a "chosen people" and orders them to indiscriminately kill off "sinful peoples"), sexist (tells wives to submit unquestioningly to their husbands), pro-slavery (try reading Exodus 21, the chapter after the Ten Commandments that Biblical moralists love to trot around), and homophobic (tells us to stone the gays).

We can see, from our modern perspectives, why things like slavery and stoning gays is wrong, which proves that we don't need religion to look for moral advice. We can use basic ideas like equality, sympathy and cooperation to determine how we should act toward others. We should not judge the righteousness of an action by whether or not it is a "sin" which somehow offends a magical sky wizard; we should judge the righteousness of an action by what the consequences of those actions are for others. Morality is constructed by societies of people who want to get along with each other and cooperate to protect each other from threats to their lives and liberties; we can stop pretending that it is imposed on us by some "higher power" who only bothered to tell us about it in some dubious ancient texts that we don't have the originals of.

Come on,oneironaut. This looks like itâ??s right off of Atheist .....Religious pamphlets. Reading the Bible, you would have noted why those societies were taken out. Your religious pamphlets have convenient omissions.

Read "The Book" ..You will find good morals and love ........It's in all of the gospels, all of the wisdom books, What is fascinating is to listen to Ecclesiastes on CD. Or proverbs...absolutely incredible. Their was a time I couldn't wait to get in my car to listen. The book of Ruth.... full of His acceptance and Love. Ruth was a moabite. The instructions were to not intermarry with them. Some scream contradiction!!! He was already revealing his Grace and mercy.

King David saw this,...... The Lord Called David.. "a man after ~ My Own ~ Heart". David took the wife of one of his most faithful Generals, one evening while her husband was on tour. She got pregnant, He had her Husband killed. David and Bathsheba both would be stoned by the law. David saw "Grace in the eyes of God". He asked for forgiveness. The fruit of their sin died. The baby did not live. But of his many, many wives, the two of them had Solomon, God anointed as the next king, who He also blessed with tremendous wisdom,... wrote Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Grace and mercy. Bringing Good from much pain and harm

Gods law is perfect,.....strangely..... He uses it to reveal His Loving kindnesses and forgiveness. If He had any less of a standard,
He would proportionately be less honorable, and loving....... Fascinating paradox. Think about it......In spite of His tight Law.....Gods' offers Love, mercy and forgiveness...........His sweetness is magnified...Contradictions?? Look at it..... It's beautiful. .....Both represent Him.

The book Ruth is full of Ruth's love for her mother in law, The Love of God for Her. The favor of God poured out on Her. God placed Her right in the middle of the blood line of Jesus. . . this is just one thread of the Fabric of his love woven thru the scriptures. The Harlot in Jericho. Jesus lineage right thru her.... clear to Him. Do you think that was by accident? The Lord wastes nothing........ A prostitute. He chose to be one of Christâ??s ancestral mothers. I do not know ~ better morals and love.
Proverbs......It is the Glory of God to conceal a matter. It is the Glory of Kings to search them out. God's covering and love continue to adorably flow thru the entire book.

The Gospels man, get a bible with ~ The Lords words in red. The heart of God comes thru
Don't read your propaganda..... also, I don't buy it...... Rat poison kills at 5% strength. This crap is undilute.

Lets see these contradictions your talking about. You disregard so much, What you are trying to hang onto has no handle, I noticed you deny the scriptures except for the passage about seed bearing plants. Now thatâ??s convenient.

Pull your pants up. Your duplicity is showing.