The Fragility of Religion/God

[Pyrrho]

Yeah, that is a briliant story We are told that if we "find God" then we will automatically worship him forever. But even in his own book, they get bored of him and worship something else when he turns his back for five minutes.

The funny thing is that they supposedly had first hand experience with the God character and yet they didn't believe it for one second.  So if they rejected what they experienced firsthand how silly is it for people thousands of years removed to believe it?

You have actually hit upon an idea I have seen expressed nicely in a book called The Atheist Debater's Handbook by B.C. Johnson, in which he points out the fact that the Bible tells a story, and then later on tells you that it is false, though in an indirect way.  The example I remember from B.C. Johnson is the case of Jesus, where his parents don't understand what he means in Luke 2 when Jesus refers to doing his father's business.  Keep in mind, an angel supposedly visited Joseph and told him to go ahead and marry Mary, even though she was pregnant and Joseph had never had sex with her, because God impregnated her.  That is a story that one is not going to forget, so the idea that Joseph has no idea what Jesus is talking about in Luke 2 is ridiculous.  The only way the story in Luke 2 could be true is if the earlier story about the virgin birth were false, as otherwise, Joseph would know exactly what Jesus was talking about.

The same basic idea applies to what is going on in the Old Testament in the story about the Jews quickly turning to a golden statue, when they (supposedly) have already witnessed miracles themselves (like the parting of the Red Sea).  If they had really witnessed those things, they would not be so quick to start worshiping something else, which means that the earlier story of the parting of the Red Sea must not be true, if it is true that they all started worshiping a golden statue.


In case you need it, here is the relevant story about Jesus:


Luke 2:

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.