Conversation Board - Biblical Fables?

Alan McDougall

Super Member

Offline

Posts: 2104
South Africa
Gender: male

Biblical Fables?
Aug 7^th, 2008 at 5:42am

Fables in the Bible
Many of the stories in the Old Testament are totally unbelievable, I am amazed that I was taught for so many years by people who should have known better that these were actual historical events. It is so obvious now that these are myths and fables, with no more historical accuracy than the stories about Atlantis & Lemuria. I can't believe grown up people still believe in these myths, and worse still teach them to impressionable young minds. Let's take a look at a few of the more ludicrous stories.

Creation and the Fall

Ok, so nobody apart from a few fanatics seriously believes the world was created in 6 days as described in Genesis. But even if you maintain that the 6 days represent 6 ages, there are still ridiculous paradoxes that stand out. For example:

• Genesis Plants are made on the third day, without the sun to drive the process of photosynthesis.

• All creatures are apparently created as herbivores (Genesis ch1 v

30). So what happened to the dinosaurs?
There are countless others - the Genesis account doesn't even remotely match what science tells us about the origins of the earth, however much you try to twist it to fit the facts.

Noah's Ark
This is basically a reworking of the much older "Epic of Gilgamesh". The idea that there was a worldwide flood is completely unsupported by any kind of evidence. After building the ark, God gave Noah 7 days warning of the flood. There are somewhere between 8 million and 10 million species inhabiting the earth (not including the 30 million different types of insect). Since there was a male and a female of each species on the ark, Noah had just one week to collect polar bears from the North Pole, lions from Africa, spiders from South America and tigers from India and the Far East. Even assuming he could travel around the world at the speed of light, there would have to be an average of 30 animals per second going through the ark's single door. How did the cone beetle survive the year at sea, bearing in mind it can only survive on a particular type of tree only found in California?

Another ridiculous idea is that God created the rainbow as a sign that he would never again wipe out humanity in a global catastrophe. Are we expected to believe that light behaved differently a few thousand years ago when passing through raindrops? Only the incredibly naive can surely believe this!?

The "worldwide flood" somehow seems to have missed out the Chinese and other civilisations that were around at the same time, since they have no record of it.

Finally, the whole idea was to rid the wicked people from the world. Did it work?

Tower of Babel
The Tower of Babel myth is ludicrous - the idea that the entire world spoke a single language until God became angry at their attempt to build a skyscraper and cursed them all with different languages. Where is the evidence for a worldwide language? All ancient cultures evolved their own languages separately, there was most likely some kind of cross-pollenation as people moved around, but there is more evidence for the existence of Bigfoot than a single common language.

Joshua and the Sun

Joshua 10:12-14: It was on the day when the Lord gave up the Amorites into the hands of the children of Israel that Joshua said to the Lord, before the eyes of Israel, Sun, be at rest over Gibeon; and you, O moon, in the valley of Aijalon. And the sun was at rest and the moon kept its place till the nation had given punishment to their attackers. (Is it not recorded in the book of Jashar?) So the sun kept its place in the middle of the heavens, and was waiting, and did not go down, for the space of a day. And there was no day like that, before it or after it, when the Lord gave ear to the voice of a man; for the Lord was fighting for Israel.

Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous? Not only does this imply that the Sun orbits the Earth, but even if it happened as described and the earth stopped moving to give the appearance of the Sun standing still, the gravitational effects would be devastating. Funny that there is no record of such an incredible celestial event in the records of all the other civilisations that were present at the same time.

Yahweh defeated by "chariots of iron"

Judges 1:19 Yahweh was with Judah; and drove out the inhabitants of the hill country; for he could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.

So Almighty God, who creates universes at the blink of an eye, was defeated by a tribe because they had chariots of iron? Isn't it insulting to ascribe this claptrap to the Source of everything?

Incredibly, I was taught as a child that all of these stories were true and happened as described in the Bible. I cannot believe that the people who taught me such outrageous fables didn't have the common sense to see that this is all absolute nonsense. In my opinion people who claim that the Bible is enerrant and everything happened as stated should have their heads examined.

Thomas Paine writing in "The Age of Reason" makes the perfectly good point that the Bible is full of utterly irrelevant stories that add absolutely nothing of value: When Samson ran off with the gate-posts of Gaza, if he ever did so, (and whether he did or not is nothing to us,) or when he visited his Delilah, or caught his foxes, or did anything else, what has revelation to do with these things?

If they were facts, he could tell them himself; or his secretary, if he kept one, could write them, if they were worth either telling or writing; and if they were fictions, revelation could not make them true; and whether true or not, we are neither the better nor the wiser for knowing them. When we contemplate the immensity of that Being, who directs and governs the incomprehensible WHOLE, of which the utmost ken of human sight can discover but a part, we ought to feel shame at calling such paltry stories the word of God.

What do you think?

Alan

Back to top

Blessings and Light

Alan McDougall

IP Logged

Starboom

Full Member

Offline

Posts: 135
Norway
Gender: male

Re: Biblical Fables?
Reply #1 - Aug 7^th, 2008 at 4:44pm

I too believed those stories until my early teens, as my father is a christian and I attended the church. Now I look at the bible as pretty much hogwash. Not only that, but there are things in the bible that are downright dangerous. Lines like ""Do not practice homosexuality; it is a detestable sin..", creates anxiety and self-hatred, even infliction of pain upon others. And that's one line only.

Yes, there are several positive messages in the bible, but most of those positive messages can be found other places, in pagan beliefs, new age beliefs, and so on, without the negative baggage. Overall, I think the world should let go of christianity, but I suppose fear and tradition will make it stay with us until we're extinct.

Back to top

One more season.

IP Logged

AboveTheWeepingWorld

New Member

Offline

Posts: 8
Wakefield, England
Gender: male

Re: Biblical Fables?
Reply #2 - Aug 7^th, 2008 at 6:51pm

To be perfectly honest, the vast majority of Biblical stories and fables would appear to be partially, or in most cases entirely unbelievable.

It can be argued that many are metaphors carrying moral messages, many of which can indeed benificial if lived by, but many of which are outdated and adherence to them causes untold suffering and hatred which can only be detrimental to society. All morals are arbitrary.

Christianity's morals can also clearly be seen in other religions, both predating and following its conception and rise to prominence, and other biblical concepts, such as the notions of altruism and charity are clearly visible in political ideologies such as Socialism.

As Stjerneeksplosjon said, it is most definitely time to end the grip which the Abrahamic faiths have on this world before it is too late, but this is something which is highly unlikely to happen, as indoctrination refuses to allow it, due to such religions being far too deep-rooted in society.

Luke

Back to top

IP Logged

blink

Ex Member

Re: Biblical Fables?
Reply #3 - Aug 7^th, 2008 at 7:11pm

Written records, no matter where or when they are created, often contain errors. Not only that, but they are subject to interpretation.

Therefore, I think my opinion about the believability of the Bible is not actually the place where I would start in my study of it.

Take any word on this page. Let us find the truth in that word.

It is equally "just an opinion" for us to remove a particular passage and interpret it.

If we each grew up in an environment in which the principles of love, caring, kindness, fairness, etc. etc. etc. were taught in a different manner.....well, I can always have my little fantasy.

The written word is a miracle. We can agree or disagree. That is also a miracle. I am surprisingly glad that we are having this discussion.

again, blink

Back to top

IP Logged

DocM

Super Member

Offline

Afterlife Knowledge Member

Posts: 2168

Re: Biblical Fables?
Reply #4 - Aug 7^th, 2008 at 8:04pm

Is it that people in this discussion fail to see the forest for the trees? I'm not sure. The Bible, both old and new testament is not a purely historical record. If it were, it would be a thing to be memorized, but without a particular story to tell, or meaning. To take it as such is missing the point. The Abrahamic faiths that revere these stories were the first people to believe in one God. The first to codify the golden rule of "do unto others" (or do not do unto others). The first to embrace the compassionate and well thought out ten commandments - which, by the way are applicable to the workings of the afterlife and karma. The first people to talk of a covenant between man and the God of the universe. There is nothing inconsistent with these ideas and the evidence acquired from NDEs, OOBEs, seances, EVPs and explorations at TMI.

The bible is rife with allegory. The stories are meant to be interpreted in sequence from the creation story to Abraham's first contact and God's covenant with man, and in context with reference to man's relationship to God and his fellow man.

There is much beauty in the judeo-christian ideals and values that have infused our consciousness from these texts. Love thy neighbor as thyself. Love your enemies. I even take a great deal of comfort in the unity implied by the Hebrew Shema:

"Hear O Israel, the lord our God, the lord is one." This is often the start and finishing prayers of many events. When we speak of the unity of all things in terms of spirit, can anyone put it in a more simple or straight-forward way?

Matthew

Back to top

IP Logged

Justin aka asltaomr

Ex Member

Re: Biblical Fables?
Reply #5 - Aug 8^th, 2008 at 1:29am

Well said Matthew, i especially like your last quote. It seems that much of the Bible, especially the "O.T." is largely symbolic in nature--which can make for a confusing and contradictory reading if taken too literal.

And just because so many interpret perhaps too literally and in a limiting way, doesn't mean the whole thing is rotten and worthless.

Back to top

IP Logged

recoverer

Super Member

Offline

Afterlife Knowledge Member

Posts: 5027
Gender: male

Re: Biblical Fables?
Reply #6 - Aug 8^th, 2008 at 3:13pm

Stjerneeksplosjon"

Hogwash comes in many forms. For example, I was into the guru scene for quite a while, and there are so many fake gurus it's ridiculous. In many cases people are better off being involved in some form of religion that some guru's cult. At least ways Christian preachers refer to God and Christ, unlike gurus who point to themselves.

Going by various experiences it is clear to me that Christ is a key part of divine reality. Others have found the same without taking on a fundamentalist mindset. Perhaps you might forget about your hostility towards Christianity a bit, and see if there is another way to consider what Christ is about. When I did so I found that various energetic blocks were cleared, including in my heart chakra.

If you allow your hostility towards Christianity to guide you, you'll have a difficult time seeing the entire situation clearly. As opposed to focusing on the Christians who do things such as speak against homosexuality, perhaps you might consider how many Christians have been influenced by their faith in a positive way and do good things for others. You might consider how many people have avoided a lower realm partly because of their faith. You might consider how many Christians are humble enough to have feelings of reverence and grattitude for higher levels of being. You might consider how on the spirit level Christ provides help to many.

Consider this example. I was working as a volunteer at a hospital. I was speaking to a former drug addict who was clean for about 8 months. He said that he gave his life to Christ. He said some things that sounded fundamentalist. Even though I had told myself I wouldn't try to convert any patients to my way of thinking, but instead just share love, I started to say something that contrasted to his way of thinking. I felt energy come alive on my left cheek. I feel the presence of Christ in this way. I received the message to not try to change the patients way of thinking, because Christ was taking care of him in a way that suits him. There are all kinds of people in this World with different needs. The spirit of Christ knows how to help them accordingly.

One more thing about the patient. Would it be better for him to be a drug addict than a Christian? Did anybody else reach out to him and change his life for the better in an effective way?
Starboom wrote on Aug 7^th, 2008 at 4:44pm:

I too believed those stories until my early teens, as my father is a christian and I attended the church. Now I look at the bible as pretty much hogwash. Not only that, but there are things in the bible that are downright dangerous. Lines like ""Do not practice homosexuality; it is a detestable sin..", creates anxiety and self-hatred, even infliction of pain upon others. And that's one line only.

Yes, there are several positive messages in the bible, but most of those positive messages can be found other places, in pagan beliefs, new age beliefs, and so on, without the negative baggage. Overall, I think the world should let go of christianity, but I suppose fear and tradition will make it stay with us until we're extinct.

Back to top

« Last Edit: Aug 8^th, 2008 at 7:11pm by recoverer »

IP Logged

Starboom

Full Member

Offline

Posts: 135
Norway
Gender: male

Re: Biblical Fables?
Reply #7 - Aug 11^th, 2008 at 6:10pm

Good post, recoverer.

recoverer wrote on Aug 8^th, 2008 at 3:13pm:

Hogwash comes in many forms. For example, I was into the guru scene for quite a while, and there are so many fake gurus it's ridiculous. In many cases people are better off being involved in some form of religion that some guru's cult. At least ways Christian preachers refer to God and Christ, unlike gurus who point to themselves.

I agree. Personality cults are pretty much the worst and most misleading 'spirituality' there is. People would be better off with moderate religion, certainly. But the bible is nonetheless chock full of contradictory, hostile and dangerous advice. The parts concerning Jesus are probably the wisest ones. Still, who follows what the biblical Jesus suggests? Not 99% of Christians, that's pretty clear.

recoverer wrote on Aug 8^th, 2008 at 3:13pm:

Going by various experiences it is clear to me that Christ is a key part of divine reality. Others have found the same without taking on a fundamentalist mindset. Perhaps you might forget about your hostility towards Christianity a bit, and see if there is another way to consider what Christ is about. When I did so I found that various energetic blocks were cleared, including in my heart chakra.

Perhaps Christ is important in some way. Or maybe it's a being with many names and forms, I don't know. If I appear hostile to Christianity, remember that I strongly oppose all that which slows down human progress or reverts it, something Christianity as a concept is guilty of (I'm referring here for example to the development of Catholicism, and the dark ages in Europe). As for chakras, I have never experienced them, so I can't comment.

recoverer wrote on Aug 8^th, 2008 at 3:13pm:

If you allow your hostility towards Christianity to guide you, you'll have a difficult time seeing the entire situation clearly. As opposed to focusing on the Christians who do things such as speak against homosexuality, perhaps you might consider how many Christians have been influenced by their faith in a positive way and do good things for others. You might consider how many people have avoided a lower realm partly because of their faith. You might consider how many Christians are humble enough to have feelings of reverence and grattitude for higher levels of being. You might consider how on the spirit level Christ provides help to many.

I was a Christian until my late teens, so I know the concept of Christianity and the history of it, and the tales in the bible, so I think I have a clear enough picture of what it is. I must tell you, I have nothing against Christians as a group, or as human beings. My father and his wife are both Christians, and they are loving and caring, and I love them. Of course Christians do great things, just like non-Christians do great things, it's what most people do. And I'm glad that so many have found the religion a big help in the everyday struggle. It still doesn't change the nature of the bible, and the millions of souls that have struggled because of it.

recoverer wrote on Aug 8^th, 2008 at 3:13pm:

Consider this example. I was working as a volunteer at a hospital. I was speaking to a former drug addict who was clean for about 8 months. He said that he gave his life to Christ. He said some things that sounded fundamentalist. Even though I had told myself I wouldn't try to convert any patients to my way of thinking, but instead just share love, I started to say something that contrasted to his way of thinking. I felt energy come alive on my left cheek. I feel the presence of Christ in this way. I received the message to not try to change the patients way of thinking, because Christ was taking care of him in a way that suits him. There are all kinds of people in this World with different needs. The spirit of Christ knows how to help them accordingly.

That's quite an experience, I would think. I'm glad for him that he found a way out via Christ. I'm not sure what to do with your example, though, except acknowledging it as a nice story. I do agree with your sentiments about people having different needs.

recoverer wrote on Aug 8^th, 2008 at 3:13pm:

One more thing about the patient. Would it be better for him to be a drug addict than a Christian? Did anybody else reach out to him and change his life for the better in an effective way?

Now what else can I do but answer no to a question like that? You keep pointing to things that are worse than Christianity, while I in my initial reply pointed to things that are better. Now I ask you: Would you agree that a Christianity following the basic tenets of Jesus, while discarding the remainder of the bible, would be a better religion than it now is? I ask this because Jesus' way of life is about the only non-destructive, non-megalomaniac and loving thing about the bible. The rest seems to be made by authors whose personal opinions and fear greatly colored the books. Luckily, many Christians decide to discard the negative things, but how can they then even call themselves Christians, when the Bible is upheld as THE book, the holy scripture for all to see? The last comment is of course besides the point, it just boggles the mind how humans can omit details so things seem better or more harmless than they really are.

Back to top

One more season.

IP Logged

recoverer

Super Member

Offline

Afterlife Knowledge Member

Posts: 5027
Gender: male

Re: Biblical Fables?
Reply #8 - Aug 11^th, 2008 at 7:00pm

Stjerneeksplosjon:

I can't say for certain, but I figure that religion is something the human race made use of as it was growing throughout the years. Eventually things will reach the point where it will be much more clear what spiritual truth is about, and there won't be a need for beliefs that lead to the seperatism religion sometimes leads to. It'll be understood that love is the most important thing. It'll be understood that you can't completely love that which is divine, if fear is one of your motivations for doing so.

Regarding the Bible, I figure it was put together by many men. If men can make mistakes about spiritual truth today, certainly they could make mistakes during the years when the Bible was put together. I believe that God would want me to feel completely free to use my heart and intelligence to determine which portions come from men who represent higher truth, and which don't. For example, I don't care about rules which explain when you are supposed to kill somebody and when you are supposed throw stones at them. I don't want to do either. I figure Jesus tried to get people to stop throwing stones. Yet some still seek to do so. For whatever reason, they figure throwing stones has more to do with spiritual truth than loving your neighbor as yourself. Sooner or later they'll find out better, because going by what I heard, there aren't any stones in heaven.

Back to top

IP Logged

recoverer

Super Member

Offline

Afterlife Knowledge Member

Posts: 5027
Gender: male

Re: Biblical Fables?
Reply #9 - Aug 11^th, 2008 at 7:26pm

Some more thoughts. This is rather simplistic, but I've seen people be Christians in two main ways. Some people really emphasize the fear aspects such as God will punish you, satan is all over the place, and they lose the ability to listen to their hearts, conscious, and common sense. This type of person tends to believe that God wants them to force their beliefs on everybody else.

Some people simply have Christianity as a belief system almost in a background kind of way, don't over dwell on the fear aspects, pretty much listen to their hearts, conscious and common sense when it comes to knowing right from wrong, and don't get into everybody else's business.

If people simply lived according to love and helped others find out how fun it is to do so, things would become a lot simpler.

Back to top

IP Logged

harvey

Junior Member

Offline

Posts: 61

Re: Biblical Fables?
Reply #10 - Aug 11^th, 2008 at 8:56pm

Alan McDougall wrote on Aug 7^th, 2008 at 5:42am:

Fables in the Bible
Many of the stories in the Old Testament are totally unbelievable, I am amazed that I was taught for so many years by people who should have known better that these were actual historical events. It is so obvious now that these are myths and fables, with no more historical accuracy than the stories about Atlantis & Lemuria. I can't believe grown up people still believe in these myths, and worse still teach them to impressionable young minds. Let's take a look at a few of the more ludicrous stories.

Creation and the Fall

Ok, so nobody apart from a few fanatics seriously believes the world was created in 6 days as described in Genesis. But even if you maintain that the 6 days represent 6 ages, there are still ridiculous paradoxes that stand out. For example:

• Genesis Plants are made on the third day, without the sun to drive the process of photosynthesis.

• All creatures are apparently created as herbivores (Genesis ch1 v

30). So what happened to the dinosaurs?
There are countless others - the Genesis account doesn't even remotely match what science tells us about the origins of the earth, however much you try to twist it to fit the facts.

Noah's Ark
This is basically a reworking of the much older "Epic of Gilgamesh". The idea that there was a worldwide flood is completely unsupported by any kind of evidence. After building the ark, God gave Noah 7 days warning of the flood. There are somewhere between 8 million and 10 million species inhabiting the earth (not including the 30 million different types of insect). Since there was a male and a female of each species on the ark, Noah had just one week to collect polar bears from the North Pole, lions from Africa, spiders from South America and tigers from India and the Far East. Even assuming he could travel around the world at the speed of light, there would have to be an average of 30 animals per second going through the ark's single door. How did the cone beetle survive the year at sea, bearing in mind it can only survive on a particular type of tree only found in California?

Another ridiculous idea is that God created the rainbow as a sign that he would never again wipe out humanity in a global catastrophe. Are we expected to believe that light behaved differently a few thousand years ago when passing through raindrops? Only the incredibly naive can surely believe this!?

The "worldwide flood" somehow seems to have missed out the Chinese and other civilisations that were around at the same time, since they have no record of it.

Finally, the whole idea was to rid the wicked people from the world. Did it work?

Tower of Babel
The Tower of Babel myth is ludicrous - the idea that the entire world spoke a single language until God became angry at their attempt to build a skyscraper and cursed them all with different languages. Where is the evidence for a worldwide language? All ancient cultures evolved their own languages separately, there was most likely some kind of cross-pollenation as people moved around, but there is more evidence for the existence of Bigfoot than a single common language.

Joshua and the Sun

Joshua 10:12-14: It was on the day when the Lord gave up the Amorites into the hands of the children of Israel that Joshua said to the Lord, before the eyes of Israel, Sun, be at rest over Gibeon; and you, O moon, in the valley of Aijalon. And the sun was at rest and the moon kept its place till the nation had given punishment to their attackers. (Is it not recorded in the book of Jashar?) So the sun kept its place in the middle of the heavens, and was waiting, and did not go down, for the space of a day. And there was no day like that, before it or after it, when the Lord gave ear to the voice of a man; for the Lord was fighting for Israel.

Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous? Not only does this imply that the Sun orbits the Earth, but even if it happened as described and the earth stopped moving to give the appearance of the Sun standing still, the gravitational effects would be devastating. Funny that there is no record of such an incredible celestial event in the records of all the other civilisations that were present at the same time.

Yahweh defeated by "chariots of iron"

Judges 1:19 Yahweh was with Judah; and drove out the inhabitants of the hill country; for he could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.

So Almighty God, who creates universes at the blink of an eye, was defeated by a tribe because they had chariots of iron? Isn't it insulting to ascribe this claptrap to the Source of everything?

Incredibly, I was taught as a child that all of these stories were true and happened as described in the Bible. I cannot believe that the people who taught me such outrageous fables didn't have the common sense to see that this is all absolute nonsense. In my opinion people who claim that the Bible is enerrant and everything happened as stated should have their heads examined.

Thomas Paine writing in "The Age of Reason" makes the perfectly good point that the Bible is full of utterly irrelevant stories that add absolutely nothing of value: When Samson ran off with the gate-posts of Gaza, if he ever did so, (and whether he did or not is nothing to us,) or when he visited his Delilah, or caught his foxes, or did anything else, what has revelation to do with these things?

If they were facts, he could tell them himself; or his secretary, if he kept one, could write them, if they were worth either telling or writing; and if they were fictions, revelation could not make them true; and whether true or not, we are neither the better nor the wiser for knowing them. When we contemplate the immensity of that Being, who directs and governs the incomprehensible WHOLE, of which the utmost ken of human sight can discover but a part, we ought to feel shame at calling such paltry stories the word of God.

What do you think?

Alan

Well said, Alan! But, it's the old testament you're quoting from. The Jews Bible! Can't for the life of me wonder why christians have this awful, hullabaloo of warlike and cruel suggesstions on how to treat your neighbours, others nations, family who disobey, other belief systems, kill, kill, kill them all and let God sort them out! writings.
....mixed in with beautiful, compassionate, prayers and other texts.

Maybe these positive chapters, prayers, and verses in the jews bible are just put there to make it acceptable?...After all, if it were all negative stuff, very few would follow or tow the line with this religion!? As for the stuff you wrote about, Alan. Well. Only the very gulliable would believe it. What astounds me is the amount of christians that beleive this BS! The main culprits are the fundy crowd led by their pastors in $1000 designer suits, mansions, luxury cars, that speil out this rubbish from their preaching palaces and pray TV channels!

But! On the other hand, like others have said on this thread, I find that at least 50% of christians to be good, well meaning, and very nice people, who would go out of their way to help others and I mean strangers in need. One just has to see all the charities of all the various major christians religions that operate in your own countries and in 3 world nations, and have been for many, many years. By the way I'm not a christian. Harve.

Back to top

IP Logged

betson Super Member Offline Afterlife Knowledge Member Posts: 3445 SE USA Gender:	Re: Biblical Fables? Reply #11 - Aug 11^th, 2008 at 10:22pm Whoa, Folks! Please reread the Posting Guidelines. They are indexed above this forum. This site is dedicated to building valid afterlife knowledge. Sorry --There's just not enough space for all the valid complaints we have built up over our lifetimes about how our spirits have been trampled. Bets
Back to top	There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. Shakespeare IP Logged

Shining

New Member

Offline

Posts: 5

Re: Biblical Fables?
Reply #12 - Aug 12^th, 2008 at 12:26am

[Alan writes:
........If they were facts, he could tell them himself; or his secretary, if he kept one, could write them, if they were worth either telling or writing; and if they were fictions, revelation could not make them true; and whether true or not, we are neither the better nor the wiser for knowing them. When we contemplate the immensity of that Being, who directs and governs the incomprehensible WHOLE, of which the utmost ken of human sight can discover but a part, we ought to feel shame at calling such paltry stories the word of God.

What do you think?]

I think you sound very angry. What does this rant have to do with afterlife knowledge?

Back to top

IP Logged

betson Super Member Offline Afterlife Knowledge Member Posts: 3445 SE USA Gender:	Re: Biblical Fables? Reply #13 - Aug 12^th, 2008 at 10:23am You're right, Shining, It could be read as an angry approach. But what he often does is set up a controversial question and then procede to build answers. Perhaps he's misjudged his audience? There's alot of different ways of talking on this site, shining from all over the globe. Lots to choose to learn from Bets
Back to top	There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. Shakespeare IP Logged

Starboom

Full Member

Offline

Posts: 135
Norway
Gender: male

Re: Biblical Fables?
Reply #14 - Aug 12^th, 2008 at 11:25am

I went to bed right after writing my reply to recoverer. After a couple minutes it hit me that I may be arguing against myself. The past few years I've tried to maintain that things and concepts in themselves cannot be harmful, but that the people using them are the ones provoking the harmfulness. Some things can be potentially more harmful than others, yet that still doesn't mean that they are good or bad in and of themselves. Yet in last night's reply I was very much arguing against that logic; instead I insisted that the bible was inherently dangerous. After that little epiphany I spent about ten minutes trying to decide if this meant that the whole of my reply was void. I tried to think of different concepts and things, trying to determine if they were of neutral, positive or negative value. And I found myself applying mostly neutral values on things. But there are a few concepts that can't be defended. Like, for example, the concept of murder. Murder is in itself quite harmful, I'd say. So, I came to the conclusion that my reply did contain, after all, at least some valid points. But I have to retract my general impression that the bible is in itself dangerous. Looked at objectively, it is a book full of myths, legends and advice. Some unfortunate, some nice, but it's up to people how they're going to apply it to their world. Blaming the bible for violence, murder, suffering, etc - would be like blaming a movie or a video game for the very same. Just the thought makes me laugh. And so, in my eyes, while the bible is potentially very harmful, it can't be blamed for anything.

Back to top

One more season.

IP Logged