What deism has done for the world

[discipulus]

I agree with all you say, but...you seem to defend the Bible as a book that exemplifies a moral code of conduct. The men spoken of that are held up as "Prophets" are some of the most bigoted, depraved men in history. (should they have truly existed and are not fictional characters)

I believe the Bible does exemplify a moral code of conduct. Revelation is progressive and this must be remembered.

The Bible was not written all at once, but was compiled over a period of some 1500 years. The Bible is not "a book" but a library (biblios) of 66 books written, on three continents, in at least 3 languages, by different types of people.

The Bible is in large part, a compilation of the history of the Jewish nation.

I believe all of the men actually existed and I have no reason to think they were fictional.

You say that the prophets were depraved and bigots. Well, do you have someone specifically in mind?

When I look at the prophets I see men. Ordinary men with all of their weaknesses, failings, and faults. I see young men and I see old men. I see men who made many mistakes and suffered for the sins they committed. Solomon and Moses come to mind. David too.

You see the Bible does not portray these men as perfect. They werent! They were far from it actually. Moses was a murderer. Paul persecuted Christians and had em thrown in Jail. Elijah asked God to just go ahead and take him because he was afraid. Thomas was your run of the mill skeptic. Judas betrayed Christ, Peter denied Him three times....David committed adultery and then had a man killed to cover it up. Jonah ran from God because he did not want God to be merciful to the people of Ninevah!

But guess what? This encourages me! It lets me know that God does'nt need someone to be perfect before He can use them. He does not ask me to get perfect and then pray to Him. He comes to these men just as they are and raises them up and changes them and uses them and shows them the right way to live. He uses them to accomplish His work and in so doing, these men are changed. Fundamentally changed by this awesome and mysterious working of God in them. Through these men, God reaches people. He warns of coming destruction so that people will change their minds and change the way they are living. God is long suffering and patient and not willing that any perish but that all should come to repentance so He sends these ordinary men and performs miracles through them so that people will see and turn from their wickedness. Many of these prophets ended up dying. They died so that others might live. These plain, ordinary men who had doubts and fears just like you and I have became mighty men of God and are remembered for this. We speak their names even today....thousands of years after they died. Women too! Mighty women of God who stood so tall above all their peers because they were raised up by God. I think of Deborah and Mary, Rebekah and Rachel, Ruth and Esther who was willing to die so that her people might live. In return for her faith she was raised up and made a Queen.

I think of the women who gave their life in the service of others. Then and even now. Much of the work of God that has been done and that is happening in the world today would not be possible if it were not for the strong, Godly, women who were willing and even now are laying down their lives for the sake of love. They stand so tall above all others and with this heavenly perspective they are able to see them that are downcast and helpless and homeless. I think of women like Mother Teresa and Eglantyne Jebb. Mighty women of God who literally impacted the lives of millions all because they had a love that burned within their hearts so strongly that it threatened to consume them...

Much could be said, and I could go on for hours of their mighty exploits...

If a person professes himself to be a Christian, he supports the Bible, in all of its confusion and depravity. Of course excusing it as a book that takes the moral high ground.

I stand by the Bible 100%. I am at times confused by some of it no doubt. And it records many depraved acts. It contains the account of the fall of man into sin and therefore I am not surprised when I read of how men can hate one another and treat one another shamefully and kill one another and do all manner of evil against each other.

The most depraved act recorded no doubt would be when Jesus's own people had Him crucified. Think of it! I scarce can take it in and my mind reels at the fact that even in the midst of it all, Jesus prayed that they be forgiven for they knew not what they were doing.....

That right there did it for me when I was searching for the truth.... when I came upon that account, I knew right then that this man, this Jesus.....something was special about Him. Something was fundamentally different than any other man I had ever read about or had ever met.

I think that no one other than God could have uttered those words.

If God exists, he isn't the version portrayed as a petulant child as the Bible depicts. If God exists, he isn't a bigot or a racist or a misogynist.

You are so right. More than you know.

God is none of those things.

The Bible was created by men to control other men. (and women)

I think the more you honestly and sincerely look at it, specifically the life of Jesus as recounted in the gospels, you will come to find a person so lovely, so pure, so humble, so meek, so gentle, and so strong that you will not be able to help but fall in love with Him.

I pray you come to know Him.

My opinion, fwiw. I do appreciate your respectful tone in discussing this, though. :-)

All that I have endured here in this forum has been worth it because it has led me to be able to talk with you.