A small thanks to the resident Theists..

[max-greece]

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There are several threads running semi-concurrently on this forum that are basically of the same form, namely:

Can you explain x in the Bible?

This may take the form of apparent historical inaccuracy, moral indecency, contradictions, implausible stories and accounts and so on and so forth.

If I were to hazard a guess I would suggest that there are some tens if not hundreds of issues raised.

In just about all cases the resident theists have come up with answers - some rather good, some not so much.

Ultimately, for me and possibly other atheists, it comes down to - yes, you have explained x in a semi reasonable way, but, overall, does this strike you as reasonable?

What I mean by reasonable is, I suppose, in the legal sense as in "beyond a reasonable doubt" when deciding on guilt or innocence.

I don't want to raise specific issues as examples because it is too easy to lose focus and answer those rather than looking at the bigger picture.

In some ways it comes down to the simple question of why is God so bad at communicating? Why does so much of this stuff require jumping through hoops to explain it away?

And that ultimately becomes - is it reasonable?

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Actually I do not believe I've jumped through hoops to come to a conclusion on verses in scripture, I have said and still do I do not understand everything in the Bible. I do believe those verses I have explained over the last 3 years and I do believe I've given reasonable responses for them. Yet when the same verses, as the ones in this thread, come up time and again it shows no one was paying attention, or they just want to keep an argument going, or they just do not care. I get tired of explaining the same verses over and over especially these particular verses, because no one in the past has ever argued against what I have said about them. Atheist have certain pet verses they stand on and they do not like seeing their ideas about these verses shot down, well that's to bad IMO. When a right interpretation is made it's right and most atheist just can't stand it and will make foolish statements, or ignore the explanation like it's the plague and then come back with the same verses again. If a Christian shoots down an atheists idea about particular scriptures and they do not come back with a defense, then why should Christians have to keep putting up with the ignorance, maybe what we need is a place to store such conversations so things do not get rehashed and new members can be direct to the arguments, just sayin'.

GC

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So an unruly son cannot possibly be of a young age? Can you give us evidence to support this claim?

What I've been saying has just gone over your head again, can't you just use that brain of your's, it seems to work pretty good. Read the verses and reason, just take the time to reason please.

GC

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[Godscreated]

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Actually I do not believe I've jumped through hoops to come to a conclusion on verses in scripture, I have said and still do I do not understand everything in the Bible. I do believe those verses I have explained over the last 3 years and I do believe I've given reasonable responses for them. Yet when the same verses, as the ones in this thread, come up time and again it shows no one was paying attention, or they just want to keep an argument going, or they just do not care. I get tired of explaining the same verses over and over especially these particular verses, because no one in the past has ever argued against what I have said about them. Atheist have certain pet verses they stand on and they do not like seeing their ideas about these verses shot down, well that's to bad IMO. When a right interpretation is made it's right and most atheist just can't stand it and will make foolish statements, or ignore the explanation like it's the plague and then come back with the same verses again. If a Christian shoots down an atheists idea about particular scriptures and they do not come back with a defense, then why should Christians have to keep putting up with the ignorance, maybe what we need is a place to store such conversations so things do not get rehashed and new members can be direct to the arguments, just sayin'.

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GC

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What I've been saying has just gone over your head again, can't you just use that brain of your's, it seems to work pretty good. Read the verses and reason, just take the time to reason please.

GC

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[max-greece]

I can't resist asking - do you think if you didn't ask God directly but went straight to studying scripture you'd get your answer anyway? Do you think the answer you get might be different without the direct questioning first?

Also - are you always satisfied with the answers you get? Do you ever get an answer that disappoints you in some way? Do the answers sometimes raise other questions?

Too many questions - sorry - just trying to understand a bit more of your process.

[Doubting Thomas]

I do believe those verses I have explained over the last 3 years and I do believe I've given reasonable responses for them.

I wasn't on this board 3 years ago, so please provide a link or else explain your position.

Read the verses and reason, just take the time to reason please.

Translation: Stop using your brain and you'll see that bible passages can mean whatever you want them to mean.

[Ryantology]

'Reason' in this case appears to be 'Just accept that it means what I say it means'.

[Jackalope]

I'm sure you have, the problem is I cannot find it. Link?

BTW, to me it's irrelevant whether the passage is referring to minor or adult children. If that's the best justice that your god could muster, he's no god I would worship.

Again you are not paying attention to the verses, it does not say children.

GC

Are you not paying attention? Did you see where I said 'adult' - and that it was not age that was the issue? I don't care if the son in question is 5 or 50 - it matters not.

[Cyberman]

If a Christian shoots down an atheists idea about particular scriptures and they do not come back with a defense, then why should Christians have to keep putting up with the ignorance, maybe what we need is a place to store such conversations so things do not get rehashed and new members can be direct to the arguments, just sayin'.

Interesting. DeistPaladin tried suggesting exactly that and immediately found himself beneath a dogpile of naysayers. Now it's suddenly a good idea?

[Jackalope]

If a Christian shoots down an atheists idea about particular scriptures and they do not come back with a defense, then why should Christians have to keep putting up with the ignorance, maybe what we need is a place to store such conversations so things do not get rehashed and new members can be direct to the arguments, just sayin'.

Interesting. DeistPaladin tried suggesting exactly that and immediately found himself beneath a dogpile of naysayers. Now it's suddenly a good idea?

That's different, derp.

[Cyberman]

Silly old Stimbo!

[LastPoet]

Silly old Stimbo!

Wait, is this about irony meters? Oh, I turned mine off, the damn thing kept blowing everytime I talk to a religionist.