How do you reconcile your god, the mass murderer?

[The Grand Nudger]

In my opinion, one of the biggest mistakes of the church was to elevate the Bible to God-like status, even if done so inadvertently.

They didn't have much of a choice in the matter, god never got round to coming back round.  All they had were stories, they shitcanned the ones they didn't like and deemed the rest "genuine".

[JairCrawford]

In my opinion, one of the biggest mistakes of the church was to elevate the Bible to God-like status, even if done so inadvertently.

They didn't have much of a choice in the matter, god never got round to coming back round.  All they had were stories, they shitcanned the ones they didn't like and deemed the rest "genuine".

They believed He came back in the form of a Spirit even in the very early church days, though. Even the early writings of Paul circa 50's A.D. attest to this belief. Of course many could have mistakenly thought the second coming in the flesh was imminent, but that did not stop the early church from believing in prophecy and spiritual gifts, etc. It would not be until later that such ideas as "Sola Scriptura" would develop.

[Bow Before Zeus]

When I discuss the xtian god, I use the bible as the basis of who he is and what he has done. Yes, I'm an atheist and I know he doesn't exist and that the bible is a fairytale but as the only source text for xtianity, that is the reference. Otherwise I would be discussing/debating with every xtian's idea of what god/xtianity is. With over 2 billion xtians, that is too many ideologies to contend with.

That gives you all the more reason to study the Bible personally, to avoid the muddied waters of the world's religions.

I read the NT 3 times and did my  best to read the OT but I just couldn't get through all the begats. After several pages of begats I just had to tap out. But reading the NT several times was enough to see the bible for what it is: inconsistent, incoherent and incomplete babble.

[The Grand Nudger]

They believed He came back in the form of a Spirit even in the very early church days, though. Even the early writings of Paul circa 50's A.D. attest to this belief. Of course many could have mistakenly thought the second coming in the flesh was imminent, but that did not stop the early church from believing in prophecy and spiritual gifts, etc. It would not be until later that such ideas as "Sola Scriptura" would develop.

They believed many things. I'd go as far as to say that it would be later when ideas like "christianity" would develop.

[Banned]

That gives you all the more reason to study the Bible personally, to avoid the muddied waters of the world's religions.

I read the NT 3 times and did my  best to read the OT but I just couldn't get through all the begats. After several pages of begats I just had to tap out. But reading the NT several times was enough to see the bible for what it is: inconsistent, incoherent and incomplete babble.

If you find inconsistencies etc, it is up to you to find out the truth that will prove perfect consistency.


Jesus said "If you continue in my word, you are my disciples." - Continue. 
The objections that the reader comes up with are to be addressed and sorted out, it is only by thorough study and reasoning that the mind is fortified and the reader is rewarded with a deeper understanding of truth.

Strive to enter the narrow gate, for broad is the way to destruction. Few enter the narrow gate, the multitudes just meander down the easy road.
If you want to live in the new world and travel to other planets in the universe, and have power and never die, and have a permanent family with some of your faithful ancestors...study and prove the truth. The future is far too good to miss out on.

---

That gives you all the more reason to study the Bible personally, to avoid the muddied waters of the world's religions.

The bible is -part- of those "muddied waters'.  You can't avoid them by wading around in them.

Yes, the Bible is the most abused and the most loved book, and it is not possible to read it without some difficulty at some time. 


There is another aspect of the Bible, it is the medium or instrument provided by God, to speak to the mind. The pages are just words, and difficult passages, but if you connect with God through prayer, the difficult passages will be made plain to you, as evidence that you are being educated by the Spirit.

Just an academic approach, or any other attitude in reading, puts the reader in the position of getting it wrong, at the cost of their own salvation.
Because of this the Bible is called a double edged sword, it cuts both ways, it destroys the proud, and saves the humble.

Of course, they can do what they want now, without any indication that they have forfeited their future security.
And it is this lack of consequence that is seen by many as proof that there is no such thing as Divine Authority.

But the Bible is the Authority of God on earth, and it is obvious that it can be trashed quite easily, but if treasured, it provides the direct connection to heaven.

[Fake Messiah]

If you find inconsistencies etc, it is up to you to find out the truth that will prove perfect consistency.

Not true because there are many different christian denominations which cling to certain rules in the bible while other denominations cling to other that are contradictory. Like divorce or some believe in transubstantiation (Catholics) while other denominations (Anglicans) find it idiotic.

if you connect with God through prayer, the difficult passages will be made plain to you

so why have christian denominations warring against each-other for dogmatic truths when all they needed was to pray?

[The Grand Nudger]

Yes, the Bible is the most abused and the most loved book, and it is not possible to read it without some difficulty at some time. 

There is another aspect of the Bible, it is the medium or instrument provided by God, to speak to the mind. The pages are just words, and difficult passages, but if you connect with God through prayer, the difficult passages will be made plain to you, as evidence that you are being educated by the Spirit.

I'm not sure what passages would be difficult, or require the assistance of ghosts to read.  You mean..the ethnic cleansing and sex trafficking stuff?  

Just an academic approach, or any other attitude in reading, puts the reader in the position of getting it wrong, at the cost of their own salvation.
Because of this the Bible is called a double edged sword, it cuts both ways, it destroys the proud, and saves the humble.

It sounds to me like you might be a book worshipper.   Magic book does this, magic book does that.  You know what I think it does?  Sits on the shelf.    

Of course, they can do what they want now, without any indication that they have forfeited their future security.
And it is this lack of consequence that is seen by many as proof that there is no such thing as Divine Authority.

Well, that and you folks are always promising a dollar tomorrow for a hamburger today, while blaming all of your own simplemindedness of some "god". But..sure, yeah..it's that too. The list is long.

But the Bible is the Authority of God on earth, and it is obvious that it can be trashed quite easily, but if treasured, it provides the direct connection to heaven.

Then I won't mind not going to heaven. I don't need to die to worship a despot, I could do that right here on earth. So imma go ahead and keep reading magic book for what it is. You can tell yourself pretty lies about it all you like, and then -you'll- have a "difficult passage" to handle, but not me. You might need to ask a ghost to tell you what it means. Not me. You might worry that you'll get thrown into the pit by your loving god for getting it wrong. Not me.

---

so why have christian denominations warring against each-other for dogmatic truths when all they needed was to pray?

They do pray, god tells them they have it right and the other guys are full of shit.  Apparently, he tells them -all- that. The guy appreciates a good joke.

[Bow Before Zeus]

I read the NT 3 times and did my  best to read the OT but I just couldn't get through all the begats. After several pages of begats I just had to tap out. But reading the NT several times was enough to see the bible for what it is: inconsistent, incoherent and incomplete babble.

If you find inconsistencies etc, it is up to you to find out the truth that will prove perfect consistency.


Jesus said "If you continue in my word, you are my disciples." - Continue.
The objections that the reader comes up with are to be addressed and sorted out, it is only by thorough study and reasoning that the mind is fortified and the reader is rewarded with a deeper understanding of truth.

Strive to enter the narrow gate, for broad is the way to destruction. Few enter the narrow gate, the multitudes just meander down the easy road.
If you want to live in the new world and travel to other planets in the universe, and have power and never die, and have a permanent family with some of your faithful ancestors...study and prove the truth. The future is far too good to miss out on.

I have found the truth and consistency. It's called science. It can't be found in the babble. We know that.

It is science and medicine that has extended the lives of modern society. It is science that is sending us to other planets. It is science that expands the boundaries of what is possible. Not the babble, not religion. It is religion that holds us back.

[Banned]

If you find inconsistencies etc, it is up to you to find out the truth that will prove perfect consistency.

Not true because there are many different christian denominations which cling to certain rules in the bible while other denominations cling to other that are contradictory. Like divorce or some believe in transubstantiation (Catholics) while other denominations (Anglicans) find it idiotic.

if you connect with God through prayer, the difficult passages will be made plain to you

so why have christian denominations warring against each-other for dogmatic truths when all they needed was to pray?

The churches today aren't so divided, they have a few main common errors which they hold on to, but you are right, if they were all connecting to God in prayer they would show perfect consistency. The same applies to inconsistencies within a congregation.

---

I have found the truth and consistency. It's called science. It can't be found in the babble. We know that.

It is science and medicine that has extended the lives of modern society. It is science that is sending us to other planets. It is science that expands the boundaries of what is possible. Not the babble, not religion. It is religion that holds us back.

I agree that there is a far greater consistency in science. 

It was an institution with a religious garb that obscured science and moved against it. 
But it was the protestant reformation, that ran against the Papacy which opened up the way for scientific discovery.
So false religion obscures the truth about nature, and true religion appreciates the truth in nature.

The protestant reformation ended when the churches slid back to Rome, where they sit today. When the reformation ended, so did scientific advancement.

But make no mistake about the Papacy having records and resources to science, this institution kept the world in the dark, by keeping the info from them. Thousands of scientists and doctors died after having their knowledge 'extracted.'

The world has been kept ignorant of a whole different genre of science, which will be used by the US, with permission from the Papacy, for specific reasons...

but haven't we diverged enough from the thread topic?

[Bow Before Zeus]

I have found the truth and consistency. It's called science. It can't be found in the babble. We know that.

It is science and medicine that has extended the lives of modern society. It is science that is sending us to other planets. It is science that expands the boundaries of what is possible. Not the babble, not religion. It is religion that holds us back.

I agree that there is a far greater consistency in science. 

It was an institution with a religious garb that obscured science and moved against it. 
But it was the protestant reformation, that ran against the Papacy which opened up the way for scientific discovery.
So false religion obscures the truth about nature, and true religion appreciates the truth in nature.

The protestant reformation ended when the churches slid back to Rome, where they sit today. When the reformation ended, so did scientific advancement.

But make no mistake about the Papacy having records and resources to science, this institution kept the world in the dark, by keeping the info from them. Thousands of scientists and doctors died after having their knowledge 'extracted.'

The world has been kept ignorant of a whole different genre of science, which will be used by the US, with permission from the Papacy, for specific reasons...

but haven't we diverged enough from the thread topic?

Conspiracy theories aside, there is more scientific advancement today than there has ever been. It's a very exciting time to be living in the world. Some of my favourites are quantum computing, AI, space travel.