Merged (edited) General thoughts about Christianity and the bible

[Darat]

How about we don't know? And wouldn't presume to make it up.

What we do appear to know is that their origin story appears to have been made up.

Certainly the gospels can't agree on Joseph's lineage. But of course Joseph's lineage should be of no interest to a Christian - Joseph wasn't Jesus's father, Jesus did not come from the seed of Joseph. It's one of the areas that Christian apologetics gets tied into knots because of the misunderstanding of the word for "young woman", there was no prophecy that said the messiah would be born to a virgin.

 

[Rusty Tyler]

Why would I discount the Bible as evidence that the Bible is true?

Would you treat any other ancient book that way?
Attacking the Bible seems to have an agenda behind it.

 

[Rusty Tyler]

That it's almost lunchtime.

For you, or for the bear? - LOL

 

[Darat]

It's meaningful to me. (having studied it)
He was writing letters to the churches he had visited. You can discount that if you like.
But I view his writings in that way. We also have the account in the Acts of the Apostles as to what he was up to.

Even the letters that weren't by him but were added into the bible anyway?

 

[Rusty Tyler]

How about we don't know? And wouldn't presume to make it up.

What we do appear to know is that their origin story appears to have been made up.

Based on a lack of maps to identify Nazareth?

 

[Rusty Tyler]

Even the letters that weren't by him but were added into the bible anyway?

The letters that weren't by him? Like what?

 

[Darat]

Would you treat any other ancient book that way?
Attacking the Bible seems to have an agenda behind it.

Ah - if there is one common trait of Christians - it's that they believe they are the persecuted.

Introduce the same arguments about the Koran or any other religious texts and you will find they are "attacked" in the exact same way with the exact same agenda.

 

[Rusty Tyler]

You know a significant amount of evolution by natural selection typically takes hundreds of thousands to millions of years, right?

That's convenient.

 

[Mojo]

For you, or for the bear? - LOL

My gut doesn't know about the bear.

 

[Rusty Tyler]

Introduce the same arguments about the Koran or any other religious texts and you will find they are "attacked" in the exact same way with the exact same agenda.

The Quran deserves to be attacked.
And the Bible to a much lesser degree.
I mean, is there really any comparison?

 

[Darat]

The letters that weren't by him? Like what?

You are unaware of the fraudulent letters?

Of the thirteen letters six were not written by him.

ETA: Couldn't remember what they are called so looked it up - do a search on "deutero-Pauline" if you are genuinely interested in learning which letters weren't by Paul.

 

[Rusty Tyler]

My gut doesn't know about the bear.

Seriously - LOL
You are running for your life. Why?

 

[Carrot Flower King]

Would you treat any other ancient book that way?
Attacking the Bible seems to have an agenda behind it.

No.

Having been brought up in one of the many flavours of christianity, attending Sunday school and church for many years, having a qualification in religious education to boot, I happen to know more about the bible, especially the christian bits, than I do about the Koran or any other religion's texts, so it is easier for me to critique the bible.

That and living in a nominally christian country, which has an established church and allows religionistas to play a part in making our laws.

 

[Mojo]

The Quran deserves to be attacked.
And the Bible to a much lesser degree.
I mean, is there really any comparison?

Yes, there is. They even share some of the same characters.

 

[Carrot Flower King]

That's convenient.

But true.

Oh, and sickle cell anaemia. Look it up: interesting.

 

[acbytesla]

It's meaningful to me. (having studied it)
He was writing letters to the churches he had visited. You can discount that if you like.
But I view his writings in that way. We also have the account in the Acts of the Apostles as to what he was up to.

So? Does this mean that his writings were true? Why believe any of Paul's writings? Half of which were very likely not written by him.

 

[Darat]

That's convenient.

It really isn't but of course I have already given you examples of evolution that has happened within the span of a single human lifetime but of course you aren't interested in that. At least now I know you are not discussing in good faith.

Revelation 21:8

8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters,
and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

I now understand why you don't want there to be eternal suffering for the likes of liars.

 

[Mojo]

Seriously - LOL
You are running for your life. Why?

My gut doesn't know that I'm running for my life.

 

[Darat]

The Quran deserves to be attacked.
And the Bible to a much lesser degree.
I mean, is there really any comparison?

Which work includes a god that makes people eat their own children as his punishment?

 

[Darat]

No.

Having been brought up in one of the many flavours of christianity, attending Sunday school and church for many years, having a qualification in religious education to boot, I happen to know more about the bible, especially the christian bits, than I do about the Koran or any other religion's texts, so it is easier for me to critique the bible.

That and living in a nominally christian country, which has an established church and allows religionistas to play a part in making our laws.

Well put.