tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558253513796745662.post2797659746799126727..comments2023-08-13T07:09:16.921-04:00Comments on Contextual Criticism: Fundamentalist Christian rancor and hate, Part IILowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15305748075301453010noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558253513796745662.post-75065567626819056322008-11-11T16:27:00.000-05:002008-11-11T16:27:00.000-05:00I read various versions of the Bible, plus several...I read various versions of the Bible, plus several versions of the Koran, plus as many of the Eastern philosophies as I could, in addition to Native American, African Greek and Roman mythology. Have you?<BR/><BR/> There are many common threads that wove their way thru the ancients lives, in an effort to understand why things happed to them. Many of the Myths of today’s religions are common to all. Science has found some answers and will continue to try. So far, you have been waiting over 2000 years for Jesus to return. The Jews have been waiting over 6000 years for a first coming. In the meantime bad and good things happen to people, in spite of prayer. Science has saved lives, while waiting. Religious fools have prevented the saving of lives while they argue as to if God approves or doesn’t. Since sincere people are on both side of that argument, I am in favor of saving lives while the arguments go on.<BR/><BR/>I suspect, rather than know, because the existence of God is based on faith, not evidence that can be proven.<BR/><BR/>Yes I do approach life by reason, not faith. I managed to stay alive at almost 82, in spite of close calls starting at age 12, when my heart stopped beating. By 19 the Navy had me preparing to not make it past a few years,. Since then I have managed to miss some bombings in the Middle East by minutes, two life threatening illnesses, etc. I still do not pray and am glad science is not waiting around for a first or second coming to save me and you. We learn by asking questions. You might try it. It will not diminish your faith, if you sincerely believe. There are many things we do accept on faith, like the sun will rise tomorrow, or good people do suffer and some bad people seem top be rewarded for no apparent reason. You can determine your own fate to a large degree. Prayer does not always work, etc<BR/><BR/>Try not to preach to me. It will not change me.<BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>BobAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558253513796745662.post-71062675614877296872008-11-10T20:27:00.000-05:002008-11-10T20:27:00.000-05:00Bob,So when you say "I suspect" regarding Biblical...Bob,<BR/><BR/>So when you say "I suspect" regarding Biblical contradictions you mean to say you guess, postulate, and speculate that there are contradictions, not that you've actually studied and found them? Your premise for throwing out the bible is solely on "what-if" reasoning? Do you approach all of life like this--anything not within your field of view is truth based on what you make up in your head?<BR/><BR/>You pose the question on who would certify the Bible is the actual word of God. So the only thing holding you back from believing is some form of certification? In what form of certification would you need for you to believe, or would that really not satisfy you either?<BR/><BR/>Of course you realize 'relative' truth is not truth, don't you? Only if there is an Ultimate Truth can there be any truth--whether you decide to believe Ultimate Truth or not is irrelevant, since your belief in it does not negate that it is.<BR/><BR/>As far as choosing what to believe, the Bible says: "There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12).<BR/><BR/>I'm still praying for you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558253513796745662.post-61647979530171446142008-11-09T10:52:00.000-05:002008-11-09T10:52:00.000-05:00I suspect that both the Old and New Testaments hav...I suspect that both the Old and New Testaments have so many contradictions, or unknowns, etc, that neither can be used as true reference to or for anything. One is too free to surmise, conjecture, change, interpret etc. Which is the actual word of God and how can anyone certify it?<BR/><BR/>A long as we are free to choose which is true, there is no truth. When do people realize they are quoting quotes from a wide variety of “experts” none of whom were there to witness, read, hear or see anything that could pass as reliable eye witness.<BR/><BR/>BobAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-558253513796745662.post-72438413381383582432008-11-08T22:25:00.000-05:002008-11-08T22:25:00.000-05:00Jacob,You lambast Ms. Parker as biblically illiter...Jacob,<BR/><BR/>You lambast Ms. Parker as biblically illiterate yet say "She doesn't reference the verse so it's hard to put it in context, if, indeed, it even appears in the bible." What a contradiction!<BR/><BR/>A simple search for the phrase on Google we find the reference is Exodus 23:3), and a follow-up search on <A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com" REL="nofollow">www.biblegateway.com</A>, we see the quote (here, in context):<BR/><BR/>“You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. <B>You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute.</B> If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it" (Exodus 23:1-5, New King James)<BR/><BR/>So, this part of the Bible, specifically the Old Covenant (law) God made with Israel, it is teaching to be impartial in dealing with the accused, but moreso to not be corrupt. This is exactly Ms. Parker's argument, that Obama will tilt justice in the favor of an agenda (I don't know if he will do this--this is just the point she is making). Your analysis is in error.<BR/><BR/>I included verses 4 and 5 to illustrate that God wants us to love others (as is a theme in your posts), but not only when it is convenient, but especially when people are your enemy. This level of giving is something no government will ever be able to achieve through legislation or through the spreading of wealth.<BR/><BR/>While this country does not have the Bible as a founding document, the founding fathers certainly had Biblical morals and were heavily influenced by the Bible. I don't see how that can be missed by reading the Declaration of Independence. <BR/><BR/>Do you want to be blown away how Biblically illiterate George Washington was? Is <A HREF="http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/GW/gw004.html" REL="nofollow">this "trash"</A>, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com