Merged (edited) General thoughts about Christianity and the bible

[Carrot Flower King]

What about the billions of muslims?

What about all the Christians who have converted to islam (agound 30 000 annually in the US alone)?

These are not good arguments for either belief.

Hindus? There's a heap of them around too and they've been at it for longer than christians, so it must be better. I mean, their stories have a lot more action in them.

 

[Foster Zygote]

Assuming that is an impossibility.

I guess it's no less likely than riding a winged snake to the moon.

 

[Helen]

I'm just gonna go ahead and go with the gods that have the best stories, so Greek. (And if they are indisposed, any gods other than Abraham's. Too preachy.)

 

[Carrot Flower King]

I'm just gonna go ahead and go with the gods that have the best stories, so Greek. (And if they are indisposed, any gods other than Abraham's. Too preachy.)

Gotta throw in a vote for either the Norse gods or the Hindu pantheon, as they all have a bunch of good stories.

In favour of Abraham's god'n'that, at least those shenanigans between Abe and god inspired bits of Dylan's Highway 61 Re-visited, which is A Good Thing.

 

[acbytesla]

Gotta throw in a vote for either the Norse gods or the Hindu pantheon, as they all have a bunch of good stories.

In favour of Abraham's god'n'that, at least those shenanigans between Abe and god inspired bits of Dylan's Highway 61 Re-visited, which is A Good Thing.

I am partial to the Egyptian gods since I studied them intensely for my job at the King Tutankhamun exhibit that toured the United States in the late 1970s.

 

[Foster Zygote]

You seem to be inferring ill-intent.

Not at all. You seem to be implying that malice is the only explanation for the unreliability of legendary oral traditions. You also appear to be assuming that the authors of the gospels intended their works to be viewed as completely accurate accounts of the history of Jesus, when it's at least as likely that they were intended to be more inspirational than historical. The "inerrant word of God" may be more of a modern Evangelical hang-up rather than something ancient Christians subscribed to.

 

[Helen]

Agree about all of the mythologies above - also all kinds of trickster gods, and similar. And Small Gods. And the God of Small Things.

And Abraham's throuple is of course woven into a lot of poetry and prose, and a million other kinds of art that I enjoy, since I am a cultural christian. I approve of all mythology, in fact, but none of the religions...

 

[JayUtah]

I am partial to the Egyptian gods since I studied them intensely for my job at the King Tutankhamun exhibit that toured the United States in the late 1970s.

That must have been fun! I loved my time living in Cairo for just that reason.

Luckily if you’re a Mormon you can have the best of both worlds.

 

[Foster Zygote]

Rusty Tyler said:
Millions of Christians worldwide.

Who historically have fought like rats in a shoe over whose interpretation of The One True Christianity® is correct.

And stories of people converting from Christianity to some other religion are common as well. Citing the number of people who believe something doesn't establish its veracity. According to recent studies, some 40% of the U.S. population thinks there's something at least suspicious about "chemtrails". That's twice the percentage of Christians worldwide.

 

[P.J. Denyer]

That's convenient.

No, when conditions change it's anything but. Ask the Dodo, or the Wooly Mammoth.

 

[P.J. Denyer]

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

Fanfic's a bitch.

 

[Darat]

Not at all. You seem to be implying that malice is the only explanation for the unreliability of legendary oral traditions. You also appear to be assuming that the authors of the gospels intended their works to be viewed as completely accurate accounts of the history of Jesus, when it's at least as likely that they were intended to be more inspirational than historical. The "inerrant word of God" may be
more of a modern Evangelical hang-up rather than something ancient Christians subscribed to.

Yep and don't forget that the established church (before and after the great schism) really didn't want the oinks reading the bible - they knew that reading the damn thing was damaging to faith!

 

[P.J. Denyer]

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

Or for that matter (since the story of Elisha has already been referenced) sends a bear to murder children for being rude.

 

[JayUtah]

You also appear to be assuming that the authors of the gospels intended their works to be viewed as completely accurate accounts of the history of Jesus, when it's at least as likely that they were intended to be more inspirational than historical. The "inerrant word of God" may be more of a modern Evangelical hang-up rather than something ancient Christians subscribed to.

Very much this. The notions of bibliotheism, bibliocentrism, and biblical inerrancy were not before the councils in any way. These are very modern contrivances. Therefore claiming that the early fathers would not have dared to sully the holy word of God by allowing embellishment or historically questionable statements just doesn't hold water. Wanting to exclude clearly heretical books, books clearly trying to mix Christianity with existing "pagan" traditions (fanfic), or clearly modern commentaries doesn't extend to ensuring inerrant authority over factual and historical claims made by the books they accepted. It's a huge mistake to project modern Christian thought backwards to the early era.

 

[P.J. Denyer]

LMAO. I am in fact well versed on the assembly of the Bible.

You go first. You tell us how you came to accept the Bible you use. Tell me why you believe this is the word of God and other writings are heretical.

He's already said. It's the feels.

 

[P.J. Denyer]

No offense intended. But this is a stupid question. I would only know post hoc.Any attempt to answer that question would be incomplete and preliminary at best.

I thought this was worth quoting as evidence of what an open mind looks like. I'm sure you could come up with possibilities, but aren't limited to your own criteria.

 

[acbytesla]

That must have been fun! I loved my time living in Cairo for just that reason.

Luckily if you’re a Mormon you can have the best of both worlds.
View attachment 71571

Lol.

It was fun. People in city after city lined up to see maybe 60 items loaned out from the Cairo museum. Which amounts to a tiny fraction of what is in Cairo. The most famous item from the exhibition was the ceremonial gold burial mask. They plastered a picture of it on everything. There were also carvings and small statues of different gods. As well as items with different Egyptian gods painted on the them. I remember Osiris, Horus, Annubis, and Isis off the top of my head. There are many others. But those probably are the most prominent ones if I remember correctly.

 

[acbytesla]

I thought this was worth quoting as evidence of what an open mind looks like. I'm sure you could come up with possibilities, but aren't limited to your own criteria.

I mean seriously, how could anyone know ahead of time what evidence would be persuasive?

 

[P.J. Denyer]

In the same sense that Joseph Smith had a personal relationship with the angel Moroni. In the same sense that Remy the rat had a personal relationship with the deceased Chef Gusteau.

From an historical perspective, the whole thing breaks down the moment Paul starts having conversations with a dead man. He may as well have claimed to have ridden to the moon on a winged snake.

Or in the same way Arnold Judas Rimmer had a personal relationship with Alexander the Great (because I have to drag it down(?) to my level).

 

[Safe-Keeper]

Now you can, but where did it originate?

As others have said, morality has evolved over time, since probably before we were even humans. You can read about this and see how moral codes have changed over time and from culture to culture. No religion required.