40%

Pepe Silvia wrote:

Paul David wrote:

so is the story of Noah and the arc, and God killing nearly every living thing on the planet just a tall tale in the eyes of christians, or a part of the bible they can explain away as being hyperbole?

I don't get how people who quote the bible as a means to live also can discredit some of its passages.

convenience?

redrock wrote:

The bible is full of examples of the wrath of god towards those that 'sinned' (whatever the sin may be). Basically, if you didn't 'comply', you were in deep doo-doo! It's obviously also full of 'love' for the 'righteous' (again, whatever those may be). So, be good and I love you and will be nice to you, don't follow my teachings and you will be at the receiving end of my wrath - I'll make you suffer/kill you (and you will go to hell as well....).

That apart, I really can't understand how supposedly educated people can still believe that events that are 'common' and perfectly explained scientifically can still be seen as a 'god' thing.

I don't know that education really has anything to do with it; yes, science can explain it, as we see it, but they may believe that God is behind the science of things as well.

Paul David wrote:

.... yes, science can explain it, as we see it, but they may believe that God is behind the science of things as well.

True. God's will. But then back to square one as to why a benevolent god would do such things....

LikeAnOcean wrote:

Electric_Delta wrote:

What's wrong with people having faith in something, exactly?

Depends on where you put that faith. Why would anyone want to put their faith in a god that punishes us with natural disasters?

I think I'd put my faith elsewhere, maybe be a little more optimistic about the unknown.

God has His reasons for the judgements He allows on the world.

As for optimism, it's all over the Bible. I couldn't be more optimistic about the nature of God and what comes after this life.

shadowcast wrote:

God works is mysterious ways....Mass death, disease, naughty priests and popes covering them up just to name a few. I think the God in the bible has a low self esteem problem.

Also, how did the bible get to be the word of God and not have mans spin and additional things added to it throughout the years? I mean now-a-days with mass communication like Internet, phones, e-mail & texting people still get the facts or stories crossed up or incorrect. Back in those days everything was communicated by word of mouth so there had to be some twisting of the bible. So instead f the word of God you might get the word of "Jimmy the stone thrower."

Isaiah 54:10- Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Proverbs 3:23-26- Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.

Doesn't sound to me like the Creator has any self-esteem problems. In terms of the perversions carried out by Catholic priests:

1 Thessalonians 4:3: For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.

Believe it or not, a hand full of abusive priests and the Westboro Baptist Church do not speak for Christianity. The Bible will point these offenders out for what they are.


As for the purity of the message, check out this website:http://www.faithfacts.org/search-for-truth/questions-of-christians/how-do-you-know-that-the-bible-is-true

shadowcast wrote:

GEN 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
GEN 2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

Come on...really?? This is how cow's were formed and how they got their name?

Yes.

shadowcast wrote:

Electric_Delta wrote:

shadowcast wrote:

GEN 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
GEN 2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

Come on...really?? This is how cow's were formed and how they got their name?

Yes.

Well, I'm calling out a bullshit (pardon the pun) on the whole Adam naming all the animals. While we are on the subject of animals I am also calling a bullshit on the whole Ark thing as well. So what about dinosaurs?

I hope you'll reconsider your positions, my friend.

As far as dinosaurs are concerned, check out this link: http://agards-bible-timeline.com/q3_bib ... saurs.html

was adam a cro magnon man? a neanderthal? what about an australopithicus? how are the fossils of primitive man explained? adam could not have named all of those creatures whatever they are called today, it would have been a series of different grunts and clicks and stuff for each animal. he could not have done any of that, let alone understood a formal language if spoken to by eve or god or a snake when he would have had the brain the size of an apple...

Godfather. wrote:

Electric_Delta wrote:

redrock wrote:

True. God's will. But then back to square one as to why a benevolent god would do such things....

Man was never meant to fall into sin, as was the case at the Garden of Eden. When sin entered in, God's judgements entered in also.

Jesus Christ is proof of God's benevolent nature. He is loving, but He is fair.

:thumbup: XLNT post Electric Delta


Godfather.

Yup that damn cunning snake and delicious fruit!!!!