Fullmetal Phantom: Oh, a lot of the Bible - and of other holy books - works wonderfully if it's taken as heavily metaphorical.
For example, the story of the Creation in Genesis is a great poetic account, and if taken as symbolic, comes across as pretty accurate compared to what we believe really happened, as shown by scientific evidence. However, taken completely literally, it becomes preposterous.
Literalism is a really bad approach to holy books, in my opinion. I can just about understand the idea of an infallible scripture written by God himself, but the idea of scripture being inspired by God but written by fallible humans, dependent on context and heavy on symbolism makes the thing far more plausible and understandable. It's the morals that are important, not the individual words.

The bible has th ten commandments. You are informed to follow those. I do follow those(most..sometimes it's hard to respect your father when he doesn't want you as his child... and doesn't talk to you), but that's just because I have high morals... Those are the 10 basic ones to follow. And by being who I am, I don't think I break them.

I think you should perhaps study up on some other realigions out there... I don't think being a christian is as easy as you say, since in some countries it is not allowed. Missionaries can be killed.

There are more realigions out there that most people don't even know about..

~~~

Oh everyone, I learned something new recently. There is a book that is older than the bible, has all the same people in it and such... But in it, Adam AND Eve ate the apple together, Eve was not the one who tempted adam. It was a serpant, who was not the devil, just an evil serpant.

Here's the really interesting thing though.. It considers Mary(The one some people think married Jesus), a disciple. Also, in that book, Jesus is more human like. Sure he doesn't commit sins, but he does laugh, and show emotions. Unlike in the Bible that there is now where he's very serious all the time.

Also I do think Jesus married Mary, because the fact is back then, they referred to their spouses at time as brother or sister. It was symbolic. Him kissing her a lot could either meant passing on grace, or that they were married plus that. I don't think he had children though...

It's alright. A lot of things aren't easy.. Though I have to wonder, if sodomy(It basically means the crime of two guys...You know...doing stuff...) is bad, and I'm a lesbian, so I can't commit it(it really only refers to males), does that still mean I'm going to hell? *is curious*

I worked at a Christian publisher, and even there, where everyone believed in God and Jesus, it was generally accepted that the Bible wasn't God's speech directly to paper.

Regardless of whether God exists and whether Jesus was really the son of God, the bible was written by men. Beyond that, the new testament wasn't even written until tens of years after Jesus died.

During that time, the writers of the bible were preaching the same stories that turned up in the Bible. When you're performing for an audience (which preaching is, holy or not), you take note of what people react to. If people don't seem overly interested in one part, maybe you cut it out, or maybe you boost it up a bit. You see the parts that excite people, and you emphasize them, take the details that seem most interesting and give them a larger role.

Over a period of time, the story changes. I think most people have experienced this in their own life when they've repeated stories to multiple people.

That's not to say that what they wrote wasn't true, but I'm sure it's not exactly the same as what happened. You can see that just in how much each apostle's story varies from the others.

There also started out with a lot more testimonies about Jesus, and there was a committee that sorted out which were real and which weren't. It's certainly possible they made mistakes.

One thing many biblical scholars have said is that the parts where Jesus or the apostles are shown in a negative or imperfect light are most likely true because the writers were unlikely to make up something that made them or their lord look bad.

As for the old testament, much of it is myth, especially the earlier parts. For example, one of the creation stories was first told when the Isralites were being lorded over by a paganistic culture that worshiped the sun and the moon. So, in the story God creates the sun and the moon. This was basically a way for the storyteller to say, "Our God created your gods. So there!"

If you read closely, most of the old testament doesn't claim that there IS only one God, just that you shouldn't worship any other Gods. During the time that much of it was written, every culture had their own gods, and they were always trying to prove that their god or gods were the best. It wasn't until later that the religion morphed into claiming that no other gods existed.

<<,, Okay, I'm done rambling. I just want to add at the bottom here that I'm not saying anything about Christianity being wrong. This is just stuff I've learned from reading a lot about religion, and much of it is written by religious scholars who have full faith in this belief system. Knowing the history of the bible isn't bad and isn't against the religion.

I'm not really an expert on this area, but this is my belief.

What's interesting about this is that in the case of homosexual relationships being condemned, some don't seem to fit into everything else at all (suggesting that they were put there by the king), and others boil down to lust, not homosexuality.

It is also stated that God loves all who love.

So whether you read it literally or metaphorically...unless, for instance, you're holding back your feelings to the point where you're willing to rape someone, or otherwise hurt another or yourself because of it, I don't believe you're condemned to Hell. And if I'm wrong, and it is a sin, and the Christian God is running the show...you aren't in denial, you admit it at least to yourself, and therefore you also admit it to God. You are a good person, you are capable of love, are you not? From what I know of you, I think you're fine. :)

Lol, alright then. No I'm not going to do anything bad. I'm too nice for my own good...

the bible is a HUGE contradiction.. it makes me giggle.. you read one thing and they turn around and say something else to contradict said thing.... it makes me mad sometimes...

Also a lot of stories are really sick >.> its really gruesome lol like sacrifices and god doing this and that to teach people a lesson.. most things are probably just mythes.. just like other things.. there could have been a huge flood.. was it's good doing? No..it's nature.. same as no.. with the floods and hurricanes.. its just nature and how it works so saying God caused it.. is a little unlikely but gives a good story or myth to tell.

I don't know I'm not Christian anymore.. I once was and I read a lot.. I think its also kind of funny when you read the satanic bible [no I don't worship the devil] it's a lot more.. like... everyday and realistic..the comandments seem more to this day then others so I think it's ironic....

:shrugs:

Staff Sergent, maybe everyone you have met who believes in a religion were closed minded or forced their religion on others, but not everyone is. If they were Christians and acted that way, that's really not how a Christian should act. And Christianity is not a religion. :3 It's simple faith in God and Christ.
<3

Oh, and about that site. I read some of what it said and about the one of the girl who got raped. God did not make that happen, sin made that happen. I am not trying to preach to you at all, I'm just saying you may not want to rely on that site.

Re: The Bible- A book of myths? History? Or God's word?
 

Because being 'the chosen people' of an omnipotent father figure is fuel for the massive human ego :P

If there is a God, as described by most monotheistic religions, surely there's been a misinterpretation as to his intentions. It seems that in history, many cultures used their faith and religion to empower themselves and lay waste to anyone who didn't agree with them. It still seems to be the mindset of many christians to pity people outside of their faith, particularly when they, like me, don't have any faith in particular.

I think the real question is, if there IS a God, and he has a universal message for all of humanity, are we smart enough to put aside our egos and interpret it properly? Or will we continue bombing the s#$% out of each other on account of which God we pray to?

Before I start, I'd like to say that I'm hovering between Wicca and Atheism. I was at one point a satanist. Either way, if this were ye olde times, I'd be burnt at the stake as a witch straight away. My policy is as long as you don't take offense at my religion (or lack thereof) I won't take offense at yours.

1. What do you think the bible is?
The bible is a book. Whether it is a book of well dressed lies or not, some people believe it, and it makes them better people. That's their problem, not mine.

2. Do you think it is accurate?
None of it. The Old Testament is so old, it is highly unlikely to find the honest truth about anything. I'm sorry if my opinion offends anyone, I really am, but the New Testament is the worlds biggest lie. Why do I think this? The higher up people in Christianity put a filter on the books they would accept for it. And guess what happened to the ones they didn't like? They attempted to erase them to hide evidence that what the books they liked told people was wrong. I am not saying that modern Christianity is a bad thing, though.

3. Should everything in it be taken literally?
I have the perfect quote for this.
"When you talk to god, it's called prayer. When god talks to you, it's called Schizophrenia." If you take the entirety of the Bible as the literal truth, I pity you.

4. What do you think might not be true, or do you think is true about the bible?
What isn't true? Quite a lot of it.
What is true? Well, I know one thing about the Bible, it helps a lot of people live better lives.

5. What do you think of God?
God is an idea. Your concept of God and/or Gods is your own, whether you subscribe to a religion or not. I have no problem with those who follow religions. None at all.

But I can't imagine a god that says "Live like this, and I will love you. Disobey me and you will burn for an eternity in Hell. Those who do not follow how I want you to live will also go to Hell." It's just not what an 'all loving' god would do.

The only religion in the world I *really* have a problem with, no offence to anyone who is part of that religion, is Catholicism. My points:

The money spent on all the old buildings could have been used to better the lives of thousands of people.

'Heretic' burning.

Superstitious CRAP that poisons the minds of otherwise good people, leading them astray in the name of 'God.'

Have we had any proof that God exists? Nope. While we haven't had any proof that he, she or they do not/does not exist, it is human nature to demand proof. That is why Science has always been advancing.

What is all this 'My god is better than your god' rubbish?! Needless killing in 'Holy Wars' will never stop so long as religion exists. There is no such thing as a 'Just' war!

I recently found out that in some places, there are theatre companies that go around putting on graphic plays to YOUNG CHILDREN about just what happens in Hell to the sinners to SCARE them into becoming Christians to save themselves from the 'eternal' horror they see on stage. THIS IS WRONG! Wrong on SO many levels! How can you do this to your children?! How do those actors sleep at night? Seriously! HOW?!

Other notes:
Religion is becoming unnecessary. And to be honest, the world is a worse-off place for it. While the internet and such is bringing the world closer together, people are becoming slowly colder. The average serious relationship lasts between 18 months and two years. Socially, it seems humankind is devolving while fooling itself into believing it is moving on to better heights than before. If global warming doesn't kill us all, fights over religion will. There's all this ruckus about Science VS Religion, but thinking about it, wouldn't it be better if the two worked together? Sadly I fear this will never happen.

"Science and religion are not at odds, science is simply too young to understand."

I don't believe in the bible at all really. Since I was written then more then one person it probably isn't very accurate.

1. What do you think the bible is?
A collection of writings from back in the day supposable the teachings of christ.

2. Do you think it is accurate?
Not in a million years, though it does teach valuable lessons, there are parts that are missing and parts that are contradicting. Also that fact that it's written by man and edited by man makes me untrusting.

3. Should everything in it be taken literally?
No, an old man did not build a giant ark and gather 2 of every animal on the earth.

4. What do you think might not be true, or do you think is true about the bible?
Anyone who does not believe in god will be punished.

5. What do you think of God?
God is there

I think it god as more like...a higher power of some sort. Science can only explain things to a certain point and after that, I think that it was god's doing. He doesn't control everything because we have the power of free will, if god controlled everyone and our paths were set then that's a little depressing.

The Bible was written by men so, I don't think any of that stuff really happened. I think that similar things may have happened and the people who wrote the Bible embellished them. That is not to say that I don't believe in God or Jesus Christ, I just don't think that things happened the way they were written in the Bible.

Hmm what I mean is like, it all started somewhere and it all lead to where we are today. God started it at the beginning and god controls that balance of the universe he doesn't control us, he just makes sure every thing's balanced. I'm one of those yin & yang people. Every thing's balanced out and without one the other cannot exist.

I pretty much feel the same way about The Bible as what you said, many parts of it do seem to be true but people may have stretched them a bit and maybe added some other stuff to give the stories more of a moral sense.

Not sure if I should get myself into this kind of discussion, too easy to step on people's toes with my views... I'm not religious at all, and to me the Bible is nothing but a story. I doubt much of what's in there holds any truth. I do believe that Jesus was a real person, but I don't believe in any of his "powers". I don't believe in God.

To be honest it actually scares me that so many people seem to believe in and follow the Bible.

And that's all from me on the matter, running away now before I get burned at the stake :lol: