I've rejected the Bible for YEARS. None of it makes sense to me, none of it seems real. One of the turning points for me was when I read Pauls first letter to Timothy and saw the attitude toward women, which simply made me angry at God. He made me intelligent and strong and creative and then told me I had no right to teach a man? I had pretty much let it go - moved on in my spiritual life - but in the news today they quoted Timothy 1 and I was surprised that it still hurt... somehow those words still have God behind them to me. Any tips from ex-Christians or understanding Christians who won't preach to me?
2006-08-21 05:25:35 · 8 answers · asked by ZombieTrix 2012 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I do recognize that the basic tenant of Christianity go against what I, as a theist and as a person who accepts scientific explanations, believe to be "God's laws" (gravity, the imposibility of virgin births and resurrections, etc.), but I'm still somehow injured by this one section of a book that i have pretty much written off as fiction in most other respects. Call it residual Christianity.
These thoughtful responses are wonderful... thank you all so much!
2006-08-21 05:48:00 · update #1
I will quote my mother--"Some woman must have done Paul wrong".
2006-08-21 05:33:01 · answer #1 · answered by freelancenut 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
an ex-Christian here myself, and came to the conclusion that it wasn't true for the same reason. God is a man? And HE sent a man to earth to go around with twelve male apostles to save us? Sorry, that's BS. The Creator, who is above all, can not be so narrow as Christians try to portray.
Now I'm an eclectic and read everything I can get my hands on. I don't believe ANY religion has a map to "heaven" or to the Great Spirit, but I do believe there are little pieces of truth scattered out there, the trick is finding them. Both Jesus and Buddha (as well as others) stated that each person had to work out their own "salvation" - in other words, their own spiritual growth and enlightenment. Of course some verses in the Bible will still strike you, because those verses are true, but that doesn't mean that the whole bible is true. I have read quotes from many religions and philosophy that struck me just as much.
I truely believe that a spiritual life is a very lonely journey. Why do you think that prophets of all religions have been isolated?
2006-08-21 12:43:51 · answer #2 · answered by bregweidd 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Bible need not be all true (that is, literally true) or untrue. There are lessons in it which even those who don't have religious faith or have lost it can accept. Every generation arrives at its own understanding of the Bible. So can you. Paul's view of women was probably historically and even personally conditioned but he is very eloquent on the subject of love and charity (in the Pauline sense). Paul was sure that the resurrection of the dead was a supreme reality. Even if you can't believe that, you may find other things he stresses acceptable. "Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have no love, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal." That said, Paul has tended to appeal to the more "puritanical" among us. The sincerity of your quest will help you.
2006-08-21 12:50:14 · answer #3 · answered by tirumalai 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a Christian because of reason, but you seem to be saying you rejected the Bible out of emotion. Sounds like your more hung up about defining and defending your role as a woman than your spiritual path. There is a difference between not wanting to value something because you find it hurtful and actually not valuing it at all. Basically I'm saying you are still a Christian, you just don't want to be because of the things you read that conflict with your ego. That will never give you full seperation, though it may give you the distance to look more objectively at tha Bible and see how convoluted it is.
2006-08-21 12:42:00 · answer #4 · answered by neil s 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Fact: when the bible was translated MAN put what he felt needed to be there. Do I think the bible is 100% false, no of course not, but I DO NOT for one second think God made me, intelligent, funny, outgoing, for no reason. I think alot of the bible, especially views on women where added by man. I honestly believe God created Adam and Eve, Not Eve to serve Adam. I hope you find the peace in this that you are looking for. Good luck to you.
2006-08-21 12:40:53 · answer #5 · answered by celtic925 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Women are set apart for a Divine purpose. Don't stop reading just because you didn't like the view of a couple of chapters. Take time and read the Book of Esther. God set her aside to do great things..As he did you.. Trust the fact that you can't change the things you don't have wisdom over. Read, get educated. knowledge is power...
2006-08-21 12:46:48 · answer #6 · answered by tracienmark 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Paul was the organizer. To organize he had to use all the social mores of his day and encourage the men to overcome the woman. It was a social way of the day. Why read more into the Bible than a history lesson?
2006-08-21 12:34:33 · answer #7 · answered by jmmevolve 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
how do you deal with a branch dividian? try and explain to the branch dividian why he is in a cult and hope to get him out before its too late
2006-08-21 12:33:25 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋