And what would I realistically be receiving counseling for? Being irritating about you’re unexplained intolerance/disdain towards a subset of people who can’t control the way the feel and don’t intrinsically harm anyone (seemingly without reason, religious influence would be a valid reason, albeit one I wouldn’t agree with.).
I believe in God, but not by the parameters defined within the Bible/Torah. I don’t understand why or how we manage to be here on this planet, nor do I understand why everything is the way it is. Within that is my concept of “God”. An unexplainable, incomprehensible energy/force/power that kickstarted the big bang and/or created the precursors to our world as we know it. Everything afterwards probably has a scientific explanation (in my opinion that is).
Trying to humanise this force to me seems futile as I don’t have any reason to believe we will ever receive an adequate explanation behind the meaning of life.
I don’t believe we need a superior, all knowing, powerful being to dictate whether we ought to behave in a kind and just manner. Right and wrong should be independent of religious influence, it’s obvious we shouldn’t kill, steal, rape etc. I believe religion has been used as justification for countless atrocities committed throughout the course of history. Societal constructs and regulations needn’t be based upon biblical law. Law should be based upon the effects an action has on the greater populace.
One of the few things I like about Australia is the generalised lack of religious influence in comparison to when/where I lived in America. I hated being told “atheists/agnostic people just need God”. It’s an individualistic decision to decide whether you have faith or not. Upon going to synogague for years I decided not to interpret the texts literally. Not to say there isn’t a point to the philosophies taught within Judaism/Christianity… I just have a hard time believing the majority of what is told in the Torah/Bible ever actually occured.
I could be wrong though, this is just my opinion… Never say never. I value and respect all different religious beliefs… Aside from those that cause harm (as seen below)
Traditionally moral is also subjective and caters towards engrained sociocultural beliefs. I don’t believe religion should dictate this either. Certain barbaric practices mediated by religious influence have been normalised within certain cultures (arranged marriage, female genital mutilation etc) and ought to be wiped out entirely.
I think there is some good in the Bible. There are also things that IMO couldn’t come from an all loving God. You can still believe if you want, while realizing that the whole Bible can’t be the literal word of a God that loves us in a way that is consistent with Jesus’ teachings. Take what is good (loving your neighbor, helping the poor, etc…), and leave the stuff that isn’t consistent with a God that loves everyone.
This kinda sounds like picking and choosing, but I don’t believe I have met a Christian who doesn’t do this anyways (maybe many don’t know the Bible well, and don’t know their not consistent with it’s teachings?). IMO, there are too many conflicting instructions in the Bible to not pick and choose anyways.
If one makes a decision to have faith, do they actually have it? IMO, this isn’t a decision, it is a you got it or you don’t thing. Because of this, IMO it is pretty terrible to disparage someone for not having faith because it isn’t something they can control.
That means nothing. At his pleasure? Did He tell you this? This sounds more like being a God apologist because there is no rational way to explain things. He moves in mysterious ways.
So no free will?
Not even God is objective and operates on emotions; He even states as much. He is a jealous god, a wrathful god.
I know. I’m not selling space hippy, Father, Son, spirit bound to a moral code outside himself. I am saying he is also a wrathful and jealous God who will use eternal punishment. I make no bones about it.
We are bound. He goes by his nature. We’re judged by his will.
Which they wrote. You think fake healers are anything new? The priests of ancient Egypt were tricksters as well. The difference between a heretic and the orthodox is power.
No. Not in the way typically portrayed. Eccl 9:5.6, Ezekiel 18:4. Rev 20:10, 14 discusses the lake of fire (it’s only there, so think about that) and that it is actually symbolic, not literal.
It seems different groups of Christianity have different views on it. The Catholics have purgatory. People like Billy Graham believed in elimination theory (which he got back lash over).
Hell is pretty hard to square with a loving God IMO. I think it being symbolic is a good take, but not the one I took as a Christian.
Wow! You should really consider being a theologian. I have never heard such in depth analysis of the scriptures.
As long as you don’t notice the strawmen and red herrings, you are soooo deep. I bow to your wisdom. /mockery
What part do you want to be wrong about? I will humor you… BTW, I was just razzing you, I don’t have anything against you, personally or otherwise, just to be clear.
I enjoy discussion with you as well. Otherwise I would not do it.
I think the Bible is able to be interpreted many ways. Some of them unfortunate. The Fundamental Baptist school I attended interpreted the Bible in an unfortunate way (hated gay people, believed in eternal torment for the faithless, believed in faith as the determining factor for salvation over actions) IMO.
I would be open to going to a church if it is one that I don’t find objectionable when I have children. Something like the UU church perhaps.
I don’t believe there is enough proof to believe in a God, but the community and such a church provides has many benefits (as long as the IMO negative stuff is eliminated).
It was Moses who made those laws, not some random priests. Also the Bible call out priests who did things they were not supposed to do. Crooked people are everywhere.
You feel bad for rapists, mass murderers, child molesters, etc?
I do not want to get into the philosophical discussions regarding proofs of the existence of God. Well, I am not totally against it, but unless you’ve had some formal training in Philosophy, I am not interested in the conversation. I have done it too many times, where I had to explain the basics, clarify the arguments for my adversary and then counter the narrative. In short it was a massive pain in the ass and was akin to writing a term paper and often read like one. And if you are 1000% precise, you get picked apart. So it literally requires the discipline of a scholarly endeavor.
However, if you are still interested in discussing Numbers 5:16-28 , I’ll be happy to do that…
Yes that is what I believe. I don’t believe it is inspired perfectly by God though (I know many who think this).
Well, they get to go to heaven if they have faith. I have a problem with using faith as the deciding factor in heaven or hell admission. If it is faith that decides, Jeffery Dahmer is in heaven now according to the Bible.
I don’t think any of those people deserve eternal punishment either.
