California Proposition 8

[chatpilot]

I think it's pretty accurate but it helps if you have a working knowledge of the passages they are referring to.I pretty much have most scriptures in my head and use online resources to find the text I am thinking of.I was going to suggest to Dotard to go to the skeptics annotated bible web site if he really wanted to see how stupid and contradictory his so called holy book is.

[CoxRox]

I would add that Jesus was to fulfil the Mosaic Law which was temporary. It's literal application (e.g circumcision, various food laws) was only for a time (and wasn't meant to last) and was replaced with the spiritual law (circumcision of the heart).

I also don't think it need imply that God 'changes his mind' although I wouldn't have a problem with that anyway. I think it's worded in a way we can relate to.

[Edwardo Piet]

@ Chatpilot: So the quotes are all correct translations though? And they're not really out of context? They make sense on their own even if I don't get the big picture. I might read it all one day. But its so big and I don't find it that interesting. Probably because I don't actually "feel God" when I read it. Because I don't believe in that bullshit. I WANT to read it. I find it interesting. The understanding of it would be interesting, its a big book and I'm an atheist I'd like to know about it more. BUt the PROCESS of doing it. Thats really boring to me. Although I've only read little bits before I was interested in religion. If I had a copy now perhaps I'd read it....
But maybe I'd just find it really boring again, and it would take me like a year to read it because I'd read like a paragraph a day. Because I'd find it boring. Lol.
I'm not really that slow a reader I read TGD in a few hours. I spent like 5 hours in 1 day then finished it off the next day in like 1 hour.

[leo-rcc]

If I recall correctly there are slight differences in different translations of the bible. I once was on a site where you could look up verses and there would be the verse as it is in 4 different bibles. That's why bible quotes often have the name of the bible translation as a reference (King James, Gideons, new american standard, etc.)

http://bible.cc/genesis/1-1.htm

[Edwardo Piet]

I think I've heard that SAB is quoted from the King James bible. Is it not edited? Is it just quotes, that may or may not be out of context? I want to know if the quotes are as usable as if I took them from the King James myself (if I had a copy). Doesn't annotated just mean that aswell as being quoted, the quotes are commented on? But not edited? Or not necessarily?
Evf.

[leo-rcc]

This is from the preface of the SAB:

Millions of such Bibles are published and distributed each year by believers in their tireless and tiresome effort to propagate their beliefs. Consequently, nearly everyone, whether believer or skeptic, has at least one copy in his or her possession. Among these Bibles will be found many different versions, but all have one thing in common: all are believer-friendly editions that support, promote, and defend the Bible.

The Skeptic's Annotated Bible attempts to remedy this imbalance. It includes the entire text of the King James Version of the Bible, but without the pro-Bible propaganda. Instead, passages are highlighted that are an embarrassment to the Bible-believer, and the parts of the Bible that are never read in any Church, Bible study group, or Sunday School class are emphasized. For it is these passages that test the claims of the Bible-believer. The contradictions and false prophecies show that the Bible is not inerrant; the cruelties, injustices, and insults to women, that it is neither good nor just.

[Jason Jarred]

Yeah, SAB *is* the King James bible in entirety. I believe they use this version as it's legal to distribute freely, where as other versions have some limitations (Don't ask me how the word of God can be copyrighted). I find SAB useful in that many of the comments and annotations help to clarify and draw attention to important parts of the text, with amusing pictures from the Brick Testament sprinkled along the way.

It's a pirates best friend! (Well...actually midgits are pirates best friends, so let's say the SAB is a pirates second best friend)

[Edwardo Piet]

This is from the preface of the SAB:

Millions of such Bibles are published and distributed each year by believers in their tireless and tiresome effort to propagate their beliefs. Consequently, nearly everyone, whether believer or skeptic, has at least one copy in his or her possession. Among these Bibles will be found many different versions, but all have one thing in common: all are believer-friendly editions that support, promote, and defend the Bible.

The Skeptic's Annotated Bible attempts to remedy this imbalance. It includes the entire text of the King James Version of the Bible, but without the pro-Bible propaganda. Instead, passages are highlighted that are an embarrassment to the Bible-believer, and the parts of the Bible that are never read in any Church, Bible study group, or Sunday School class are emphasized. For it is these passages that test the claims of the Bible-believer. The contradictions and false prophecies show that the Bible is not inerrant; the cruelties, injustices, and insults to women, that it is neither good nor just.

Brill! Thanks.
That is exactly the sort of thing I was looking for on SAB. Some sort of preface or disclaimer. I couldn't find one though. Maybe I will now that I know its there! I'll keep looking if I have trouble finding it still. Now I know its there and I'm not wasting my time looking!
Thanks.
Evf.

[Dotard]

How dare you assume I'm Christian!? It's not my holy book.

I am an unbeliever. An Atheist. I was responding to your accusation I was engaging in "Bad Theology", whatever that is.

I have read the bible sir, I am aware of the character of God many times changing his mind. I guess somehow I thought you did not and were defending Daystar's statement about the bible not endorsing forcing beliefs on others.

And Yes, I maintain if you are a true believer then you must follow all commandments found within, including Leviticus.

And Deuteronomy. Yes, you are commanded to kill all the unbelievers.

Skeptic's Bible is a great resource and I have found it to be quite accurate aside from a few contextual problems.

[Edwardo Piet]

Cool, thats great. What about The Skeptic Annotated Koran and book of Mormon?