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RE: Why the "There are so many interpretations of the Bible" claim is confused
October 7, 2015 at 6:15 pm
(This post was last modified: October 7, 2015 at 6:51 pm by Homeless Nutter.)
(October 7, 2015 at 1:00 pm)RoadRunner79 Wrote: [...]
I had a guilty satisfaction when he called my arguments "silly".
Well, good for you. Isn't that why religion is so popular - because it allows dumb people to feel smug, through shameless violation of logic?
Here are some key differences between Richard Dawkins and your god, that may explain/clarify your confusion:
1. Richard Dawkins is not omnipotent, or omnipresent, as your god - allegedly - is.
2. Richard Dawkins doesn't claim to have any super-powers, that you claim your god has.
3. Dawkins' claims are disprovable - even though you can't disprove them. It's impossible to disprove an imaginary being, like god that can be redefined at any time to suit the needs of its proponent - with no concern for testability, or even consistency.
4. Richard Dawkins doesn't give a f*** about you. Your god - allegedly loves you and wants to be your boyfriend.
"The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one." - George Bernard Shaw
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RE: Why the "There are so many interpretations of the Bible" claim is confused
October 7, 2015 at 6:17 pm
(This post was last modified: October 7, 2015 at 7:22 pm by Simon Moon.)
(October 6, 2015 at 11:51 pm)Delicate Wrote: A common claim about Christianity is "There are so many interpretations of the Bible! How can you know if any of it is true!"
What people who make this claim don't realize is that the differences over interpretation account for a minuscule fraction of what the Bible really says. So, while the Bible's stance on certain issues might not be wholly precise, the main claims are pretty clear.
No, the Bible is untrue because it makes claims about: dragons living in Babylon, the sun being created after plants, healing leprosy with the blood of birds, many 'holy men' leaving their graves and wondering around Jerusalem, 3 hours of darkness at noon (mysteriously no other culture reports this) and so many other ridiculous claims.
Quote:For instance, it's pretty clear, not just from the Bible, but from historical record, that there was a man named Jesus. The Bible is pretty clear about most of his claims, and the basic facts of his life, etc.
The hell it is.
There are zero contemporaneous accounts of Jesus outside of the Bible.
Quote:The problem with people who make this claim is the overly broad and inaccurate generalizations.
The vast majority of discovered Biblical texts are for the most part identical to each other, and the minor discrepancies that do exist are over things like grammar and prepositions (like "on" versus "upon").
Identical versions of the majority of he Bible, does not lend any credibility to the BS claims contained in the Bible.
Quote:What knowledgeable atheists can rationally affirm is that only certain parts of the Bible might be ambiguous. The others are more or less clear.
Not a very good way for an omnipotent, omniscient deity to communicate his message, is it?
You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.
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RE: Why the "There are so many interpretations of the Bible" claim is confused
October 7, 2015 at 6:18 pm
God wants a personal relationship with you, but whenever you try to send him flowers you can't find him. He is much disappointed and heartbroken. You're gonna go to hell.
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RE: Why the "There are so many interpretations of the Bible" claim is confused
October 7, 2015 at 7:12 pm
(October 7, 2015 at 6:15 pm)Homeless Nutter Wrote: (October 7, 2015 at 1:00 pm)RoadRunner79 Wrote: [...]
I had a guilty satisfaction when he called my arguments "silly".
Well, good for you. Isn't that why religion is so popular - because it allows dumb people to feel smug, through shameless violation of logic?
Here are some key differences between Richard Dawkins and your god, that may explain/clarify your confusion:
1. Richard Dawkins is not omnipotent, or omnipresent, as your god - allegedly - is.
2. Richard Dawkins doesn't claim to have any super-powers, that you claim your god has.
3. Dawkins' claims are disprovable - even though you can't disprove them. It's impossible to disprove an imaginary being, like god that can be redefined at any time to suit the needs of its proponent - with no concern for testability, or even consistency.
4. Richard Dawkins doesn't give a f*** about you. Your god - allegedly loves you and wants to be your boyfriend.
5. Richard Dawkins actually exists.
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RE: Why the "There are so many interpretations of the Bible" claim is confused
October 7, 2015 at 7:14 pm
(This post was last modified: October 7, 2015 at 7:14 pm by Edwardo Piet.)
6. Richard Dawkins used to be a Professor - God has no degrees whatsoever or education whatsoever.
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RE: Why the "There are so many interpretations of the Bible" claim is confused
October 7, 2015 at 7:25 pm
(October 7, 2015 at 6:15 pm)Homeless Nutter Wrote: 4. Richard Dawkins doesn't give a f*** about you. Your god - allegedly loves you and wants to be your boyfriend.
Whoa, wait a minute now. Nobody told me that.
I do believe I'm starting to see this God dude in a different light!
(How's my hair look?)
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RE: Why the "There are so many interpretations of the Bible" claim is confused
October 7, 2015 at 7:27 pm
Richard Dawkins would care if he knew I was real 
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RE: Why the "There are so many interpretations of the Bible" claim is confused
October 7, 2015 at 10:12 pm
7. Dawkins has neither committed genocide nor commanded people to commit genocide.
A Christian told me: if you were saved you cant lose your salvation. you're sealed with the Holy Ghost
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
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RE: Why the "There are so many interpretations of the Bible" claim is confused
October 7, 2015 at 10:56 pm
(This post was last modified: October 7, 2015 at 11:04 pm by RoadRunner79.)
(October 7, 2015 at 6:15 pm)Homeless Nutter Wrote: (October 7, 2015 at 1:00 pm)RoadRunner79 Wrote: [...]
I had a guilty satisfaction when he called my arguments "silly".
Well, good for you. Isn't that why religion is so popular - because it allows dumb people to feel smug, through shameless violation of logic?
Here are some key differences between Richard Dawkins and your god, that may explain/clarify your confusion:
1. Richard Dawkins is not omnipotent, or omnipresent, as your god - allegedly - is.
2. Richard Dawkins doesn't claim to have any super-powers, that you claim your god has.
3. Dawkins' claims are disprovable - even though you can't disprove them. It's impossible to disprove an imaginary being, like god that can be redefined at any time to suit the needs of its proponent - with no concern for testability, or even consistency.
4. Richard Dawkins doesn't give a f*** about you. Your god - allegedly loves you and wants to be your boyfriend.
Please enlighten me on my violation of logic... And I wasn't being smug, just trying to be consistent. Am I incorrect in believing that logic/reason should be consistent?
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RE: Why the "There are so many interpretations of the Bible" claim is confused
October 7, 2015 at 11:18 pm
(October 7, 2015 at 10:56 pm)RoadRunner79 Wrote: Please enlighten me on my violation of logic... And I wasn't being smug, just trying to be consistent. Am I incorrect in believing that logic/reason should be consistent.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence - was my point. You're comparing apples and oranges. That's not "consistent logic" - just childish "I know you are, but what am I?" kind of debating tactic.
If you really want to meet Richard Dawkins - you can. He has public appearances, book-signings and such. And there's little remarkable, or unbelievable about who he is and what he does. Plus - his theories regarding evolution are just as valid in the eyes of science, as they would be if Dawkins didn't actually exist.
No matter how hard one may want to - there is no confirmed way to meet god. And the claims that are being made about him are very outlandish and contrary to scientific understanding and common sense. And if he doesn't in fact exist - the vast majority of religious teachings is utterly useless and a giant waste of time.
"The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one." - George Bernard Shaw
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