In The Beginning ...

[Tiberius]

EVF, I am not saying that the Bible is fiction, I am saying that in order to learn more about it you are better off approaching it from the perspective that it were fiction because you get all hung up on how the notion of a supernatural god could be nothing but fiction. It seems that it is a conditional threat to what you believe.

We do approach the Bible from the perspective that it is fiction. We're atheists...what other perspective are we going to take??? I think you are trying to change our perspective to something it already is, and thus confusing us along the way as to your motives.

You don't absolutely have to read it but understand it more carefully. That is why definitions of words like sin, soul, spirit, hell, heaven, god, and satan are important. Atheist primarily form their opinions on the Bible from the teachings of Xianity which have distorted the true teachings of the Bible through pagan influence such as the immortal soul from Socrates, the trinity from Plato, hellfire from Dante and Milton, the Cross from Constantine and Tammuz, Christmas and Easter from Pagan festivals and the Rapture from John Miller.

Unfortunately, most Biblical scholars disagree with your view, and thereby your interpretation. So really, who are we meant to trust? Scholars who do this for a living, or a random stranger on a forum who claims he and he only has the correct interpretation. I mean honestly...

I do believe it is important and true.

That was my point.

Lets just consider hell. The majority of Xians teach hell is a place where the immortal soul of the sinner is punished forever in a place underground. A place where the Devil - having horns and a pitchfork runs around making sure everyone pays for not being good Xians.

If I explained to everyone here, and I have, that the Bible actually teaches hell isn't that at all, how would I demonstrate that? I would show where the Bible says straight out that the soul dies and so isn't immortal and so can't be punished forever in hell. I would show that the Bible teaches that God is in hell and that the devil was in heaven and then was sent to earth, and then would be sent to hell and then destroyed along with hell. I would show the roots of the pagan teaching and how Milton and Dante influenced Xian teaching. Greek philosophy of the immortal soul as well.

I would show that the Bible says that when we die that is it. We are just dead, until resurrection. What the spirit is because it doesn't go to hell. How Jehovah God was disgusted at the notion of someone, even a sinner, burning.

Think about what you the atheist or the believer have been taught about hell and what I can show you the Bible actually does teach on hell and how could you wuestion the importance of how your understanding of the Bible is wrong and needs improving.

I know children who know this stuff, it isn't complicated.

I think it tends to be a sort of threat to your thinking though, which is why I don't ask that you believe it to be true until you understand it more acurately.

Please...I've read the Bible passages that talk about Hell. Don't try to argue it isn't what it says in the Bible, because first perhaps you should read what it says: http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/?sea...rdsonly=no

Oh, and please don't write another thread preaching how the Bible doesn't speak of Hell. None of us want to hear any of your mindless drivel.