Contradictions in religion (spin-off from the gay marriage 2 thread)

[Link]

Originally posted by Yorick: quote: Originally posted by Link: quote: Very wise

This is kinda scary. Why is it wise? Will you smite us if we don't change our minds? Or am I just misinterpreting things? [/QUOTE]I am allowed to praise another persons post. I considered his words wise and well thought out so I said so. How is there a problem? [/QUOTE]Then I probably misunderstood your post. No offence taken, I hope.

[James G.]

To me contradictions in Reading the Bible comes from not looking at the human story. Beginning, logically, with the creation of the earth and of man, the story of the race sprung from the first human pair continues through the first 11 chapters in Genesis.
In the 12th chapter begins the history of Abraham and of the nation of which Abraham was the ancestor. It is that nation, Isreal, with which the Bible narative is thereafter cheifly concerned from the 11th chapter of Genesis to the 2nd chapter of the Acts. The Gentiles are mentioned, but only in connection with Isreal.

The central theme of the Bible is Christ. He is the benefactor of the world, over the Church, and desire of all nations.

The Bible is a progressive unfolding of truth. Nothing is told at once, and once for all.

But it is clear that Isreal so fills the scene only because entrusted with the accomplishment of great world-wide purposes.

James

[Faceman]

[img]graemlins/thewave.gif[/img] Welcome to Ironworks James [img]graemlins/thewave.gif[/img]

and may I say that the current Events forum is an unusually sophisticated place to make you first post (most people come in through the game forums first - at least I did)

I'm going away for the weekend so promise me that you won't close the topic and don't make too much too large statements before I get back

SeeYa

[John D Harris]

Originally posted by Faceman: Okay let's clear something up. I do not believe in god either. In fact I'm an agnostic. The main point is not that god IS omnipotent, omniscient, yadayada but that IF god exists he is omnipotent, omniscient, yadayada Why? Because this is the definition of god in the Bible. So it's rather trivial: If the god from the Bible (i.e. the omnipotent, omniscient one) does exist he is omnipotent, omniscient. Duh! Now Kant proved that god's existence or inexistence cannot be proved so I won't argue if god exists or not. Now there is a third possibility. There is a god who is not omnipotent and omniscient and can be experienced scientifically but has just not yet been discovered by us. However here would be to argue if that still would make him a valid "god" and if yes: By what parameters (omnipotence obviously aside) does a being become a god?

Very interesting reasoning, I like the first one. I've used it many times talking to fellow christians that maintianed there is no Extra terrestial life. The God I worship is capitable of overseeing an infinite amount of worlds, each teaming with life. He knows how many hairs, feathers, scales,anteni, or Kingon bumps are on each head, and can multiple that number by Pi then find the square root of the product before I can even ask Him.

[ 08-15-2003, 08:02 PM: Message edited by: John D Harris ]

[John D Harris]

*************MOMENTARY SIDE TRIP*************
The other day I heard a story of a radio staion in the bay area that was knocked off the air by a lighting strike. It seems the radio people or at least the DJ's claimed that God had done it. They Dj's had as a guest, the daughter of the preacher that is so veimnetly against homosexuals (I forget his name), during the interview the DJ's claim that the daughter stated she was going to pray the God struck them. Then Walla the radio staion gets hit by lighting,a week or so later. Now what struck me as funny was here these guys claim God had struck their station with lighting. Now what would you do if you HONESTLY believed God had struck your station with lighting? Would you go around complaining about it or would you change your life? Remember they claim that they believe God had struck their station with lighting after this woman had prayed that God would strike them down. I mean talk about a sign!!!! [img]smile.gif[/img]
***********Now BACK TO OUR REGULAR PROGRAMING**********

[ 08-15-2003, 06:48 PM: Message edited by: John D Harris ]

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Chewbacca: On the whole walk on water bit, scientists have recently constructed a small robot that can walk on water similair to the way certian bugs do. But thats besides the point. I would rather consider any potential metaphor concerning Jesus walking on water than whether or not it is fact. Lets say the water is symbolic of emotions, sometimes calm, sometime turbulent. Lets say walking on this water is symbolic of keeping clear mind regardless of emotional state. This is my take on that as metaphor. I'll leave my two cents on the bar on my way out.

But imagine if it's physical as well as metaphorical. Jesus said, that with faith you can move a mountain. What if he wasn't being metaphorical?

[John D Harris]

Originally posted by Chewbacca: If the Bible is percieved in a certain way, like you have illustrated Faceman, like Yorick has illustrated and like John D. is in the process of illustrating it can be fairly argued that the bible has "few" or "no" contradictions. I still dont see it this way and I think I have outlined "enough" why. When it comes down to it, I can only restate my multi-faceted gem analogy. It boils down to a matter of perception for this soul. This answer is going to be unsatisfactory for certain camps in the discussion, who believe absolute truth discounts individual perception. I have no arguement for this other than absolute truth is a matter of perception.

Well I asked you for your proof and you laid it out it would be very disrespectful of me to to ignor you as if you and your opinion didn't matter.

I don't believe abosulte truth discounts individual perception, I beleive we can see absolut truth from diffent view points, the real question is what will we do when the absolute truth is finally revealed in all it's Glory? Are we willing to change and accept it or are we going to fight for our perception of it? As for me I hope that when the day comes, I possess the testostorone glands to say you're right God I'm wrong, please forgive me I stand before you a sinner begging for your mercy. I certainly don't deserve it.

[Timber Loftis]

Originally posted by John D Harris: *************MOMENTARY SIDE TRIP************* The other day I heard a story of a radio staion in the bay area that was knocked off the air by a lighting strike. It seems the radio people or at least the DJ's claimed that God had done it.

The fact that the insurers use the "Act of God" defense to deny coverage doesn't mean God really did it. [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/biglaugh.gif[/img]

[Timber Loftis]

Hey, Yorick, hope you experienced as little unpleasantness as possible during the blackout NYC had. I'm surprised to see you were back posting on the 15th -- I thought you were still blacked out then.

[Yorick]

We had power back at 6am on the 15th. Some areas of NYC got it back much much later. Some were still blacked out till the 16th.

I'd just finished transferring files to my firewire drive and powered down when the power went. I was about to head down to the subway. Either one of those scenarios would have been detrimental. Instead I was in between both, so I was fine at home.

Thanks for asking.