God says “Love me or die”

[fr0d0]

To me Hell is not choosing life. Like in our lives now.. if we choose destructive things over constructive things our lives are worse for it. In the lingo that's you choosing to accept the love or not.

You're an evolved, thinking being SA. The bible's metaphor is the tree of knowledge of good and evil... we are capable of knowing so the onus is upon us to choose right or wrong. I'm guessing you're a positive contributing member of society.

[Watson]

I'm really liking that response, Watson =) Very Christian

I was going to say, which book are you calling the Bible... but i'll stray from that..
Well you clearly have a very different view of this book you label as the Gospel. But you must admit, if it's content is taken literally, then we have a very corrupt instrument here. But do you really believe God would use a book to get his message out? You've seen it for yourself.. Because of this book and all the other plagiarized versions (which we can dispute), the world is home to thousands of different religions. Do you really think God would be so foolish as to present a book, which has been translated God knows how many times, as HIS Gospel? I know I wouldn't.. and I consider that to be pretty straight forward logic. Using a piece of written language which can be interpreted in so many ways.. just seems ridiculous. Surely God isn't trying to make this difficult for us?

Of course not! God would never try to make it difficult for us. But you must admit that it is within human nature to perceive and interpret things in vastly different ways, since we have the free will to do so. I mean...we wouldn't be talking about this if we all had the same view point, would we?

Of course, if the Bible is taken utterly literally then it is going to seem terrible and bloodthirsty. But that's now hot it's meant to be taken, so the point is moot.

First you have to consider that, before the Bible was actually written down, it was passed down by word of mouth for hundreds of years. The men who initially wrote it were scholars in their field of understanding God, and put into words what they felt God to be, what they understood Him as. The term 'inspired Word of God' is somewhat skewed nowadays, because it doesn't literally mean "God put these words in the people's heads", it means that these men were inspired by their understanding of God to write what they knew about Him down.

So Gd doesn't use the Bible, the book of Him as a means to communicate Himself to us, we use the Bible, a book, to communicate God to others.

And if what you mean about which one, I'm talking the Christian Bible.

[Mr Camel]

Watson, I have been asking these questions so, so many times and you have given me the best response yet!

I truly respect your way of thinking.
After realising where exactly I stand, I knew that if I ever did chose faith, I'd never chose the old fashioned view of the Christian bible. Well first I thought I'd never consider the bible as part of my faith at all but then I heard other people's interpretations. You have really helped me open my understanding of the way the Bible and religion itself, can be interpreted and used for guidance and self preservation.

The reason I post on this forum is because I wish to understand the mind and the best way to do this is to study it in others'.

[Watson]

And I must say that that is one of the most lovely things I've ever had said to me! I'm pleased to have helped at all.

I also agree that the best way to understand the mind is to study it in others...(part of why I despise psychology as a science, but that's a whole 'nother debate...xP)

[Autumnlicious]

Amazing how God offers some Truth but none of you fanbois can prove or show evidence of such. The best you can do is offer a sophistry.

[fr0d0]

And what sort of evidence would you like Syn?

*sets trap*

[BioLogos]

Amazing how God offers some Truth but none of you fanbois can prove or show evidence of such. The best you can do is offer a sophistry.

What kind of evidence would you find satisfactory?

[Watson]

HA HA Same question here, Syn. What kind of evidence would you like?

[fr0d0]

Something's wrong with this picture

[tavarish]

Here is evidence that would be satisfactory for most: (correct me if I'm mistaken)

How to Convert an Atheist
Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rqUsC2KsiI
Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qmcOG-na...DF955634EA

I know it would work for me. It's not unreasonable and well within the realm of "God's nature" to do so.