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The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

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Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Logic and religion don't mix. Redemption and eternity is about going beyond what makes "common" sense. God exists on another plane of reality that doesn't exist from the human, physical frame of reference.
In the example of what we perceive as being "evil" in this world, I picture a guy sitting there whacking himself in the shins with a hockey stick going "OW this sucks! Why doesn't God stop it?" and God is shaking his head and just waiting for the lightbulb moment.*
Or you could think about someone running out onto thin ice, then God causes them to trip to save their life, and they lay there whining about the "evil" of falling down. Never seeing the big picture.
My theory is that if your frame of reference was wide enough, time itself wouldn't even exist. It's just a way set up for us idiots to keep track of things in our tiny little corner of reality. But how much do we rely on it (time-keeping) in life?
It's completely illogical.

*If humanity ever DID learn the lessons being offered, the result would be: everyone living in perfect unconditional love for everyone. (shortest Bible summary ever)
 
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Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Logic and religion don't mix. Redemption and eternity is about going beyond what makes "common" sense. God exists on another plane of reality that doesn't exist from the human, physical frame of reference.
In the example of what we perceive as being "evil" in this world, I picture a guy sitting there whacking himself in the shins with a hockey stick going "OW this sucks! Why doesn't God stop it?" and God is shaking his head and just waiting for the lightbulb moment.*
Or you could think about someone running out onto thin ice, then God causes them to trip to save their life, and they lay there whining about the "evil" of falling down. Never seeing the big picture.
My theory is that if your frame of reference was wide enough, time itself wouldn't even exist. It's just a way set up for us idiots to keep track of things in our tiny little corner of reality. But how much do we rely on it (time-keeping) in life?
It's completely illogical.

*If humanity ever DID learn the lessons being offered, the result would be: everyone living in perfect unconditional love for everyone. (shortest Bible summary ever)

You are right. I will probably never appreciate the big picture of the necessity of a children's hospital.
 
Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Meaningless and insulting drivel truncated for space

*If humanity ever DID learn the lessons being offered, the result would be: everyone living in perfect unconditional love for everyone. (shortest Bible summary ever)
Because the bible is a lot like an EULA that it's adherents can't even be bothered to scroll to the end to, they just hit accept.
 
Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Logic and religion don't mix.

This part of your post was correct, if only because science/logic typically has physical evidence on its side (though some things remain unexplained at this time). Religion's standard answer to all questioning of its allegories and dogma is, "You gotta have faith!" Two totally separate worldviews.
 
Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

That's the point. We're all extremely narrow-minded.
Would you kindly stop projecting your own faults on all others? Bob might start thinking you're trying to steal his act.

Or at least realize that you're apologetics make every action and your view of a deity completely meaningless. Afterall, you couldn't possible know anything, could you? So why would it matter in the least?
 
Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

This part of your post was correct, if only because science/logic typically has physical evidence on its side (though some things remain unexplained at this time). Religion's standard answer to all questioning of its allegories and dogma is, "You gotta have faith!" Two totally separate worldviews.

Precisely. But as always it doesn't stop people from trying to use one to explain/refute the other...
 
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Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

This part of your post was correct, if only because science/logic typically has physical evidence on its side (though some things remain unexplained at this time). Religion's standard answer to all questioning of its allegories and dogma is, "You gotta have faith!" Two totally separate worldviews.
Great. Let's make a deal: we people who like to use science, logic, and math to explain the workings of the world will agree to stop using them to point out contradictions and errors in religion the moment that pastors and theologians stop using pseudo-science, logical fallacies, and anecdotes as proof of anything.
 
Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
-- Epicurus

God is able and willing, but the actions in the Garden of Eden destroyed the perfect relationship between God and Man, and sin was born. Fortunately God promised and delivered us a Savior from sin.
 
Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Great. Let's make a deal: we people who like to use science, logic, and math to explain the workings of the world will agree to stop using them to point out contradictions and errors in religion the moment that pastors and theologians stop using pseudo-science, logical fallacies, and anecdotes as proof of anything.

I propose a different deal. Religion has now held office for roughly 3000 years. Let's let reason hold it for the next 3000, and see where we stand.
 
Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

I have long since learned that there are extremely obtuse folks on either side of the spectrum (we'll call them extremists)...trying to paint everything as black or white. To many its obvious when you run into an extremist Christian who tells everyone how to behave. I don't see very much of that on this board. Extremist atheists (non believers, whatever) have a need to position everything as black or white and set hurdles on it. They have this burning need to justify that God can't exist for some biblical reason that doesn't jive with 'reality'. The average Christian (or any other person) doesn't really care about this as a waste of time...and doesn't put some mystical bar up there in order to justify their views. They just walk the walk because its the cool and right thing to do.

Moderates don't see faith and science as competing but complementary just as with any other teammate situation. Science has been incredible in the advancement of the human condition. Likewise, I have brought out the long, long list of major societal advancements driven by a faith in Jesus that have also greatly advanced the human condition.

Just like any other 'war', its not about which side comes out on top (science or Jesus)...its about getting them to work together to take us forward.
 
Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

God is able and willing, but the actions in the Garden of Eden destroyed the perfect relationship between God and Man, and sin was born. Fortunately God promised and delivered us a Savior from sin.

Timothy, since you take a literal interpretation of the Bible, what actions in the Garden destroyed the perfect relationship between God and Man?

And once that question is out of the way, what really caused the water bottle fight?

Two equally important and vexing questions.
 
Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

I propose a different deal. Religion has now held office for roughly 3000 years. Let's let reason hold it for the next 3000, and see where we stand.
Religion holds office exactly where in the United States government? This one made me guffaw!
 
Religion holds office exactly where in the United States government? This one made me guffaw!

As recently as 5 years ago, 2/3rds of the country said they would never vote for an atheist for president. While that had gone down lately, are you really trying to say there's no religious test for public office?
 
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