Horrible things in the bible

[Jackalope]

That is yet another part of the bible that is unclear. Jesus says that faith without works is bad, but he or Yahweh says good deeds are like filthy rags to him. I would think most people in the world value works because good works help society and have a concrete effect on the world. However if the religion doesn't stress faith, then it's harder to convert people to christianity. So they want you to do good deeds, but they really want you to be in their group and subject to their commandments. Faith without works is bad PR. Works without faith doesn't get money into the churches.

Yeah. Good works can be a huge help to the world, but we still need faith for salvation.

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Ok folks. If you've read this thread, you've been told that christians are hateful, murderous, baby killers, who would own slaves if we could. We're out to control the world and stamp out anyone who doesn't agree with us. Before you make any final decisions about what you think, I suggest you get to know some christians.

I certainly wouldn't use such rhetoric, rather, I'd point out that according your own scriptures, your god was perfectly hunky dory with many behaviors we decry.

Perhaps that nuance escaped you.

That doesn't exactly address my observation.

James 2:14-26English Standard Version (ESV)

Faith Without Works Is Dead
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

As soon as that book is useful as an authoritative source on, well, anything, I'll need something with a little more meat.