(April 2, 2014 at 2:41 pm)Esquilax Wrote:

(April 2, 2014 at 2:23 pm)ShaMan Wrote: The bible, when read properly, contains much beauty and wisdom. The bible, when read improperly, contains much horror and invites war. Sadly, most theists read their holy books with their egos rather than their being.

What happens when you just read it with your eyes, looking at the words on the page?

You'd probably see a mix of random good things interspersed throughout a bunch of garbage and hatred.

(April 2, 2014 at 2:40 pm)ShaMan Wrote:

(April 2, 2014 at 2:38 pm)tor Wrote: Why did God create cancer?

You'd have to ask someone who believes that God created cancer. I don't think in such ways.

Where did cancer come from?

(March 27, 2014 at 11:01 pm)Revelation777 Wrote: Dear Friends,
If you can read this posting then God is still offering you an opportunity to receive His Son the Lord Jesus. Repent and turn from your sins before it is too late. Jesus paid a great price on the cross so that we can be saved. Don't reject this wonderful gift. You will not regret making Him your Lord and Savior.
Blessings,
Rev777

I doubt that it happened, but even if it did I would believe it's immoral to kill an innocent man in the place or the guilty, to save them from an eternal punishment for committing finite crimes, because they were born the victims of a curse placed on their ancestors.

(April 2, 2014 at 2:46 pm)tor Wrote:

(April 2, 2014 at 2:40 pm)ShaMan Wrote: You'd have to ask someone who believes that God created cancer. I don't think in such ways.

Where did cancer come from?

It evolved

(April 2, 2014 at 2:44 pm)ShaMan Wrote: You'd probably see a mix of random good things interspersed throughout a bunch of garbage and hatred.

And now you've officially summed up why I don't believe any of it.

(April 2, 2014 at 2:52 pm)ShaMan Wrote:

(April 2, 2014 at 2:46 pm)tor Wrote: Where did cancer come from?

It evolved

So did we. Then what is god and why do we need it?

(April 2, 2014 at 2:56 pm)Marsellus Wallace Wrote:

Got to love Jim Carrey.

(April 2, 2014 at 2:34 pm)ShaMan Wrote:

(April 2, 2014 at 2:26 pm)tor Wrote: Spiritual eyes see only nice bible parts and ignore the bad ones?

No, spiritual eyes apply understanding to the vile parts - they do not excuse them away. I will not defend the genocidal impulses of some of the people who wrote the bible, nor will I attempt to whitewash the filth so obviously composed by mankind in the name of their [God]. Through spiritual eyes, one sees what is God and what is man. When seeing clearly, the obvious crap is transformed into a discernment tool for the wise to apply in their own walk. The bible is a self-evident forgery, but is does offer wisdom to those who can see it.

That's great and everything - but what heuristics do you apply to tell which is one thing, and which is another?

I've yet to see anyone provide an adequate answer to that particular question.

(March 31, 2014 at 10:33 pm)Revelation777 Wrote: If there is a fire in the building and I yell to you to escape through the emergency fire exit and you don't, would it be my fault?

That's an interesting question. I think that if you yelled it in such a way that a reasonable persone would have trouble believing you're serious, or there were circumstances that made it hard to believe that you're in a position to know there is a fire in my building, it could be your fault if I die in the fire if you set me up to respond more slowly to a genuine warning.

'Hon, you have to get out of that building right now! I'ts on fire!'
'Really? Is it on the news or something?'

'No, Jesus told me.'
'Jesus told you?'

'Ayup!'
'I'm going to need a little more to go on, sweetie.'