Word of God

[Snoopy]

Originally Posted by juantoo3

6. For one, the "golden rule" of "do unto others as you would have them do to you" is found in various forms across all of the major world faiths and a great majority of the minor world faiths.

Hi,

Yes, I wonder why? Maybe because if this was how we actually all lived our lives, the world would be a lot more snuggly a place.

s.

[libertylover76]

I have to go with Dondi to the extent that an imperfect thing can help you understand a perfect thing, because I would agree wholeheartedly that the Bible is very imperfect.

I also agree with Dondi that the experience of god/gods is subjective.

Since I have never experienced such a thing, in spite of my years of effort to do so, I have to conclude that these gods that people talk about are things they make up in their own heads to explain certain feelings they have and to give them comfort in times of emotional turmoil. They are welcome to it. No harm in telling yourself that "God has a reason."

When people try to claim that their gods actually have an effect on the world, then I challenge believers to prove that claim. They never do.

[Cage]

Originally Posted by libertylover76

I have to go with Dondi to the extent that an imperfect thing can help you understand a perfect thing, because I would agree wholeheartedly that the Bible is very imperfect.

I also agree with Dondi that the experience of god/gods is subjective.

Since I have never experienced such a thing, in spite of my years of effort to do so, I have to conclude that these gods that people talk about are things they make up in their own heads to explain certain feelings they have and to give them comfort in times of emotional turmoil. They are welcome to it. No harm in telling yourself that "God has a reason."

Have you ever experienced Love, libertylover? I try not to put negative attributes on to God, even though many have been throughout our existence. [Look at the OT] Jesus gave me another perception of God who John defines as "Love", and that is the God I choose to serve. Love makes a difference in the world as far as I can see.



Much Love,

[libertylover76]

Why not just have love then?

[Cage]

Originally Posted by libertylover76

Why not just have love then?

Because it was Jesus who led me to the Love of God, and it was his teachings that helped me embrace it. Besides, there's lots of good stuff in the Bible.


Much Love,

[libertylover76]

Because it was Jesus who led me to the Love of God, and it was his teachings that helped me embrace it.

That's fine for you, as I said.

Besides, there's lots of good stuff in the Bible.

There's lots of good stuff in lots of philosophies.

This question is for everyone: What makes the Bible so special, then?

[Cage]

Originally Posted by libertylover76

That's fine for you, as I said.

Yes, it does work for me, but I think many are lead away from this because of harsh Christian attitudes. Yes, I'm quite sure of it...

There's lots of good stuff in lots of philosophies.

Yes there is, and I would never lead a person away from anything that helps to define truth as 'I' know it. There are many venues that lead to the 'path' I've chosen, and a think they are, or can be useful, just as the Bible can be. I have chosen the Bible as a helpful guide for life; others are certainly free to choose what they wish,and I certainly won't judge for what speaks to them personally.

Not everyone will view The Bible as I view it, nor will everyone embrace much of what's inside. I think Love is the only 'righteous' path, but I also think there are other philosophies that can lead a person into the bosom of this path, so all is well where I'm standing.

This question is for everyone: What makes the Bible so special, then?

Because it speaks to the hearts of many people, and these people cherish what it can offer them. I personally think that too much faith is placed on the Bible, and not nearly enough on the Love of God. I do think the scripture was inspired, though.



Much Love,

[Jn_jean]

Why people do not believe in God?

[Thomas]

Hi libertylover76 –

A word of caution –
"Since I have never experienced such a thing, in spite of my years of effort to do so, I have to conclude that these gods that people talk about are things they make up in their own heads to explain certain feelings they have and to give them comfort in times of emotional turmoil."

Reading this at face value implies that because you have not experienced something, it does not exist. which seems a bit supremacist on your part?

How about concluding that if God exists, you have had no experience of Him?

Your original questions:
1. Consistently self-contradictory.
Biblical scholarship has covered this point in some depth. The various traditions that weave the stuff of Scripture have been highlighted, although there is still much work to be done.

2. The history is bogus.
Two points:
It is the perception by a people of God, and of the world, who did the best with what they knew.
Just over a century ago science insisted that Moses could not have written the Pentateuch because writing was not invented then ... then archeologists discovered writing older even than Moses ... all secular sciences are under revision ... in a few generations the science you live by will be deemed bogus ... and I bet most of what we understand as history would be ogus if we knew what was really going on...

3. The science is pure nonsense.
Ditto. When the inventor demonstrated the phonograph, scientists accused him of throwing his voice... And as science does not possess all the answers, it's not really in a position to make absolute statements.

4. None of the predictions have come true.
That's a matter of opinion.

5. I don't understand how the OT points to Jesus or the Christ, any more than Nostrodamus' writings point to "Hisler." Sure, after-the-fact the NT was written to try to tie into the OT, but so what?
If you don't understand, ask someone to explain. If you don't want to understand, don't vex yourself.

Thomas

[libertylover76]

Originally Posted by Jn_jean

Why people do not believe in God?

Because it's unbelievable.

[lunamoth]

Originally Posted by libertylover76

Because it's unbelivable.

I'll add a brief thought here: Belief is trust so the question becomes why might people choose to trust, or not to trust, God or the Bible?

There is a faith in God in Christianity that is not based upon a literal-factual interpretation of the Bible. Not to say that the Bible does not describe some events that are historically true, but like all scripture and as Dondi has pointed out the focus is on the the Word points to.

2 c,

luna

[libertylover76]

Thomas,

You are correct in that if I have never experienced something, then that does not mean that it does not happen. I should have said something more along the lines of:

Personal experience is fine, if all you are going to say is that you have had a personal experience. No matter how moving it has been for you, it cannot be the basis of an objective claim, such as, "God exists." Since many of those who believe in god/gods claim the foundation of their belief is a personal experience with god/gods, and I have never had such an experience, I cannot rely on what they say as evidence of the existence of god/gods. I have also come to the conclusion, when comparing religious personal experiences with other personal experiences that people report, that the primary purpose of religion is to explain feelings that people have and to give them comfort in times of emotional turmoil.

I have to apologize for responding to streetbob2006's post about the structure of the Bible with the bullet points. Focussing on those particular issues generally results in people talking past each other because of different understandings of science, history, predictions, consistency, etc.

If you want to have an in-depth discussion about the structure of the Bible as a book, I'm all for it. But we'd need to be sure to develop common understanding of the framework in which we will be conducting the discussion.

My response to this statement

How about concluding that if God exists, you have had no experience of Him?

is: If God exists, why have I had no experience of Him?

[Cage]

Originally Posted by libertylover76

Because it's unbelivable.

What concept of God is unbelievable, libertylover? That God couldn't have possibly created all we know? Hell, we all create with our minds. First a concept, then a visual, then it manifests through action, right? Is it so hard to believe that it is possible, or do you simply 'choose' not to believe?

We are all creators, and the logic is there, imo.


Much Love,


btw, what kind of 'experience' are you looking for when it comes to God?

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by libertylover76

is: If God exists, why have I had no experience of Him?

What kind of experience are you looking for?

ETA: Cage, you beat me to it be in seconds!

[Cage]

Originally Posted by Dondi

Cage, you beat me to it be in seconds!

lol, yup...I guess I did.

Love,