I can't help but laugh at your research project analogy. I was never threatened with eternal torture for a bad effort on a project.
Also, you're doing exactly what I said you would do. "You don't get it. Read it again. Read it harder." It's typical apologist BS. Have a different opinion than a believer? You're obviously doing it wrong. It can't be the source material's fault. God works in mysterious ways. He wants you to work hard at your faith. But! Get it wrong, or come to the wrong conclusion based on vague biblical accounts that can't even agree on the basics (like the death and resurrection of Jesus), and it's eternal torture for you!
You can see the problem with that, right?
And the threat of hell has always been the stick. It's what evangelicals use as their last resort to increase the flock. Always. Every pastor I've seen, every theist I've talked to both in real life and online, including some friends, does the same thing. They try to present the glory of god, and how awesome he is. And when that doesn't sway me (and why would it? I only have the word of dead Middle Eastern people and believers to go on), it eventually becomes a question on whether I want to rot in hell, even though there's no compelling evidence for that, either. It's hilarious in its predictability.
Ridicule comes easily when the ideas presented hold little value. And sometimes memes can convey a thought more efficiently than words. Just because a meme is used, that doesn't mean the idea(s) presented are meaningless. That you rage against the delivery mechanism rather than the message is telling.
And, honestly? No, I haven't read the entire bible. I see no reason to. Just like, I'm sure, you haven't read the qua'ran. I've read certain passages, and through most of Genesis. All I've found is poorly written nonsense that I'd rather not waste my time with. At least the Greeks knew how to weave an epic tale. Much better monsters, too.
But, having been raised in a non-practicing Catholic family, I know the basics. And they're anything but compelling. And the same tired arguments people like you attempt to use - you're doing it wrong, read more, read it again, etc. - ring hollow precisely because of the metadata I've mentioned a few times already. The many, many divisions under the Christian umbrella is evidence enough that you guys don't have the answers. There's no reason for me to believe in your image of god rather than, say GC's, or Drich's, or Lek's, or prof's.
And, of course, this is all a distraction from my earlier points, which I'm sure is intentional. All the verses you've referenced tell me is that the authors and collators of the bible recognized it was a hot mess of inconsistency, and felt forced to add a few "Trust us! Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!" lines to wave it away.
I have no reason to believe god actually works like that because I have no reason to believe the bible is his infallible word. And even if it was, all it tells me is that god is immoral because he knowingly sends (or, creates the conditions in which people inevitably send themselves) to hell because he enjoys playing these games of faith. Games that are laughably inefficient and convoluted. Either way, I see no reason to place any value on such a creature. No reason to attempt to learn more from it.
Also, you're doing exactly what I said you would do. "You don't get it. Read it again. Read it harder." It's typical apologist BS. Have a different opinion than a believer? You're obviously doing it wrong. It can't be the source material's fault. God works in mysterious ways. He wants you to work hard at your faith. But! Get it wrong, or come to the wrong conclusion based on vague biblical accounts that can't even agree on the basics (like the death and resurrection of Jesus), and it's eternal torture for you!
You can see the problem with that, right?
And the threat of hell has always been the stick. It's what evangelicals use as their last resort to increase the flock. Always. Every pastor I've seen, every theist I've talked to both in real life and online, including some friends, does the same thing. They try to present the glory of god, and how awesome he is. And when that doesn't sway me (and why would it? I only have the word of dead Middle Eastern people and believers to go on), it eventually becomes a question on whether I want to rot in hell, even though there's no compelling evidence for that, either. It's hilarious in its predictability.
Ridicule comes easily when the ideas presented hold little value. And sometimes memes can convey a thought more efficiently than words. Just because a meme is used, that doesn't mean the idea(s) presented are meaningless. That you rage against the delivery mechanism rather than the message is telling.
And, honestly? No, I haven't read the entire bible. I see no reason to. Just like, I'm sure, you haven't read the qua'ran. I've read certain passages, and through most of Genesis. All I've found is poorly written nonsense that I'd rather not waste my time with. At least the Greeks knew how to weave an epic tale. Much better monsters, too.
But, having been raised in a non-practicing Catholic family, I know the basics. And they're anything but compelling. And the same tired arguments people like you attempt to use - you're doing it wrong, read more, read it again, etc. - ring hollow precisely because of the metadata I've mentioned a few times already. The many, many divisions under the Christian umbrella is evidence enough that you guys don't have the answers. There's no reason for me to believe in your image of god rather than, say GC's, or Drich's, or Lek's, or prof's.
And, of course, this is all a distraction from my earlier points, which I'm sure is intentional. All the verses you've referenced tell me is that the authors and collators of the bible recognized it was a hot mess of inconsistency, and felt forced to add a few "Trust us! Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!" lines to wave it away.
I have no reason to believe god actually works like that because I have no reason to believe the bible is his infallible word. And even if it was, all it tells me is that god is immoral because he knowingly sends (or, creates the conditions in which people inevitably send themselves) to hell because he enjoys playing these games of faith. Games that are laughably inefficient and convoluted. Either way, I see no reason to place any value on such a creature. No reason to attempt to learn more from it.
"I was thirsty for everything, but blood wasn't my style" - Live, "Voodoo Lady"
