Merged (edited) General thoughts about Christianity and the bible

[The Atheist]

Nothing actually, except that Christians insist that their god is supernatural.

It goes a step further than that.

Old Tommy Aquinas states quite categorically in Summa Theologica that anything supernatural must be the work of his god.

 

[acbytesla]

You said

I'm not arguing for any more special status than it deserves.

I asked

Did Jesus rise from the dead? Did Noah or Adam or Methusalah live past 800 years of age?

Your answer.

Yes and yes, according to the Bible. Assuming...

So, you most certainly are arguing for more status than it deserves.

The oldest credibly documented human being in history is Jeanne Calment. She lived to be 122 years and 164 days. But write it in the Bible that people lived 7, 8, 9 times as long and you believe it? Sheesh.

 

[Rusty Tyler]

Please answer the question. Why aren’t you Mormon? They share their supernatural claims with the world. Yet you reject them.

You're assuming that I reject them.
Do you think I reject every church I don't join?

 

[JayUtah]

You're assuming that I reject them.

Are you a Mormon? Do you believe Joseph Smith was a real prophet?

 

[Rusty Tyler]

So, you most certainly are arguing for more status than it deserves.

That would be your reaction.
Probably the minority position.

The Bible is a collection of religious texts that is central to Christianity or Judaism,
and esteemed in other Abrahamic religions such as Islam. Bibles are anthologies
with varying canonical texts across traditions.

 

[Rusty Tyler]

The oldest credibly documented human being in history is Jeanne Calment. She lived to be 122 years and 164 days. But write it in the Bible that people lived 7, 8, 9 times as long and you believe it? Sheesh.

There are genealogies provided. Scoff if you care to.

 

[Rusty Tyler]

Are you a Mormon? Do you believe Joseph Smith was a real prophet?

(sigh) No, I am not a Mormon.
They make good chili and make good neighbors.

 

[JayUtah]

(sigh) No, I am not a Mormon.

Was Joseph Smith a real prophet?

 

[JayUtah]

It helps if you include the post you want me to address.

Don’t be obtuse. The quote links take you back.

 

[acbytesla]

That would be your reaction.
Probably the minority position.

No, I don't think so. I think you likely don't believe those biblical claims either.

But again you're appealing to the ad populum fallacy. The number of people that believe something or how fervently they believe it has no bearing on its truthfulness. There was a time that most people believed that the Sun orbited the moon. It doesn't.

 

[Rusty Tyler]

Was Joseph Smith a real prophet?

I would say no, with very little knowledge about it.
My religious upbringing said "No." to Mormonism. (a cult)
But my own experience... they make good chili and good neighbors.

 

[Rusty Tyler]

Don’t be obtuse. The quote links take you back.

My lack of that knowledge is obtuse? - LOL

 

[acbytesla]

There are genealogies provided. Scoff if you care to.

Again, you're appealing to the book to prove the book. So certainly I'm more than just scoffing, I'm rolling on floor peeing my pants in laughter. I not only don't think the stories are true, I don't believe you are so stupid to believe them either.

 

[acbytesla]

It's more fundamental than that. Supernatural literally means 'outside nature', ie. not a part of everything that exists. Therefore the supernatural does not exist by definition, and believing in it is delusion by definition.

Exactly. And the moment something is proven, it ceases to be "supernatural."

 

[acbytesla]

Rusty Tyler said:
Why would you conclude that a supernatural event would not be shared in writing?

Because someone shared their experience with the world.
And they weren't alone.

It's an epidemic. - LOL

I don't doubt that people have experiences. It is their attribution of those experiences that I question the most. Our minds play tricks on us. And people can and do remember things poorly. Go to any magic show and you're likely to see things that are unexplainable, even impossible. That doesn't mean magic is real.

And group pressure is real. Ever go to a typical Methodist Church? How about a Pentecostal church? The parishioners act very different don't they? Why do you think that?

 

[JayUtah]

I would say no…

You reject some supernatural claims but not others. Curious.

 

[Rusty Tyler]

No, I don't think so. I think you likely don't believe those biblical claims either.

I'm torn.
Part of me is sympathetic to the evolutionary view and another part rejects it.

If Adam was not the first man, then what original sin did Jesus pay the penalty for?

And why are we paying for the sin of Eve? - LOL

1 Corinthians 15:22
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

 

[Rusty Tyler]

Again, you're appealing to the book to prove the book.

As if you would be impressed with an article I bring up to support my view?

 

[JayUtah]

My lack of that knowledge is obtuse? - LOL

Your rather ham-fisted avoidance is obtuse.

 

[Rusty Tyler]

It is their attribution of those experiences that I question the most.

Let's try this.

Imagine this.
You are a man living in Kenya.
You have one leg that is longer than the other.
Shoes with compensating heels were the only solution for you.
Then a missionary prays for you and your short leg grows to it's correct length.

Would you tell anyone?
Why would anyone not believe you?