Quote:The bible also says that your good works are like filthy rags

A very competent expression, not in it's accuracy but in it's association - filthy rags/doing work. Decent authors, poor editors, clearly.

That's a good point. You tend to get dirty after doing work. Maybe we're supposed to be like those decorative towels, that look like something useful but is only intended to look nice.

I think that "decorative towel" describes our place in gods world fairly well. We're just the scenery, his desires and urges are the important bit. That's certainly a thread running through most of these divine narratives, regardless of their origin. The capricious nature of the divine and it's ambivalence towards humanity or the human condition.

(January 9, 2015 at 8:57 am)robvalue Wrote: It begs the question; what would god have to tell you to do before you said no?

The NT is our guide. If we receive direction outside of the NT the 'answer' we give should be no.

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(January 9, 2015 at 9:02 am)Spooky Wrote:

(January 9, 2015 at 8:57 am)robvalue Wrote: It begs the question; what would god have to tell you to do before you said no?

Heh, other than half the shit in the bible?

Oh, yes what horrors soceity has witness from such commands like feed the hungry, provide for the poor, love your neighbor as yourself.

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(January 9, 2015 at 9:04 am)robvalue Wrote: It saddens me that someone is willing to surrender so completely their own judgement and take on faith that anyone, god or otherwise, must automatically be right. They are right because they say they are right. And because they are very powerful, you say they are right because otherwise they will crush you. Classic tyrant/abusive relationship.

It saddens me when people don't reseach things for themselves. That thier default logic and reason is based in stereotypes and bigoted anger toward God.

Why not test what you've said here? Or do you not even know the religion you hate so much to even do that without looking foolish?

I was thinking commandments more along the lines of obey even the cruel masters, hate yourself and your family or you aren't worthy of me, and give up everything you have, even the shirt off your back if asked, because some of you will not taste death before the world ends. Kind of screws up the thought of loving your neighbor as yourself, when you're supposed to hate yourself.

(January 9, 2015 at 9:37 am)robvalue Wrote: That is what worries me, since how can you distinguish the voice of "god" in your head from mental illness?

Sure you can.
One can test what was said against how it plays in reality.

If God gives direction in business, then look at the business to see if it flourishes or fails.

If God gives direction if wisdom, and His word look to what is say, and how it applies.

If God gives direction in family matters look at the resolution and where the family is over time.

If these things are from God then the person who receives them will be better off than when he started. In truth when one receives direction from God all aspects of life are effected, so when one is successful in all aspects and attributes these successes to God, if you believe mental illness can also be a possible explaination then it is your job to identify what specific illness that leads itself to personal and business sucess and then provide proof of this illness.

Otherwise know your whole arguement is an appeal to probability from a position of ignorance.

(If you're an idiot you might think this is what is happening)

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(January 9, 2015 at 10:07 am)dyresand Wrote:

(January 9, 2015 at 9:48 am)Chad32 Wrote: That the bible is an accurate telling of his actions and character.

And yes.. it really is.. because gods followers are packs of vicious dogs waiting for a signal to kill.

You misspelled Allah.

The God of the bible's followers are restrained by the bible.

The leash seems awfully long on that count, Drich.

(January 9, 2015 at 2:00 pm)Chad32 Wrote: Praising everything someone does, while ignoring all the things they do that would make you wretch if it was anyone else doing it.

I feel like I've said this before.

If your going to make up your own personal definitions of words then you should include them in your Orginal statement.

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(January 9, 2015 at 3:13 pm)GalacticBusDriver Wrote:

(January 7, 2015 at 9:59 am)robvalue Wrote: This is something that's been bothering me lately. Why would anyone think it's a good idea to worship anyone or anything? If Yahweh was real, I wouldn't worship him because he's a dick. But even if he wasn't, even if he was the most kind and loving God ever, why would I worship him?

I can be thankful, have admiration and respect, offer friendship, whatever. But what do either of us get out of worship?

The only real reason I can think of to worship anything is because you want to receive better treatment. Either in the form of gifts, or out of fear to avoid punishment. In other words, you're begging for stuff. The only other possible, and ludicrous reason would be that the God or whatever literally could not exist without this worship. Ironically, that is kind of true, but I doubt theists would even claim this.

So why worship anything other than for personal gain? Why not just say thank you? It's fucking creepy.

No matter what I did for someone, I would never expect nor want worship. Why would I?

More importantly, why does a god need worshipers?!? An omnimax god wouldn't, even if it deserved them.

What makes you think God needs worshiper?

Need and want are two different things.

Besides, why assume that these terrible things to which he refers would make you wretch anyway, amiright? It should certainly have been apparent to Chad by now that you have a severely truncated gag reflex.

(January 11, 2015 at 12:17 pm)Chad32 Wrote: I was thinking commandments more along the lines of obey even the cruel masters, hate yourself and your family or you aren't worthy of me, and give up everything you have, even the shirt off your back if asked, because some of you will not taste death before the world ends. Kind of screws up the thought of loving your neighbor as yourself, when you're supposed to hate yourself.

BCV?
Or are you just making stuff up to hang in with the discussion?

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(January 11, 2015 at 12:31 pm)Rhythm Wrote: The leash seems awfully long on that count, Drich.

Maybe the dog your looking at is no longer leashed.