Just so you see another side of the coin?

Question

Just so that people know where certain people are coming from on this most contraversial of topics..

..people who have not been raised Christian tend to think that the bible is just a story book..if your child came to you telling you that Harry Potter was completely true and wanted to live their life according to all of the aspects of the book, you would say "sweetie it's just a story" and that'd be the end of it. Now, it could be said that some people believe all that was written in the bible, and therefore they should just be able to get on with it, and yes that's true...EXCEPT...that for some reason people who have read this book tend to (not everyone who is Christian of course) use it to put other people and other lifestyles down (I am thinking of people who are gay as an example) which is clearly against the Christian ethic of loving your fellow man.

I think it's the superiority aspect that gets a lot of people wound up on this topic (although this can be applied to both sides)

Answer 1

I read the Bhagavad Gita which is a much harder book than the bible so all christians must now succombe to my command muahahahahaha

it is interesting how different parts of christianity so thoroughly embed themselves into the part or version of the bible they believe in when there are so many alternative nuances.

Also odd that if you were born in, say India you could grow up adamently believing the Krshna is the almighty God head but if the person were brought up in the states they would 100% believe in either the christian god or money

Answer 2

I am not gay and have no interests in men in that way and will never have. But I can understand how a woman can be born inside a mans body. I can see how a man can be born in a woman's body. Did you know that two people could be born with their heads stuck together? Or connected at the hip or anywhere else. How long ago was it that religious people quit killing these poor people because they were of the devil? Just because you know what you know now if you was to go back in time 150 years you would be tied to a stake and a fire set to burn you up to send you back to the devil. Your only crime would be that you were smarter then you should have been. That would mean to them that the devil was working through you.

We should be past that but a lot of people are not. This book that is known by the name of Bible is just as you stated above.. Just simply a storybook and nothing more. People are trying to live by it and even if it was a recording of how things was at that time. Well times are not the same, we know a lot more and we as well know that people don't choose to be gay no more then they choose to be white or black or Asian or even an Arab. I did not pick to be born in the USA but I was. And one religion I know of thinks I should be dead because of my place of birth.

Religion really needs to be removed from the public eye. It should be kept to the adults and not impressed on anyone under the age of 18. It should be looked at the same as child porn when children are involved. It is ok for you as an adult to have your porn or your religion but you should not ever allow a child to be mixed in with either. It is brainwashing and is many times worse then seeing a nude person.

Religion promotes death. I just don't see how that is a good thing...

Answer 3

Not sure what the question is here. I'm not sure if I agree 100% with the whole believing thing. I was brought up in a Christian home, but when I started to think for myself, and not believe what everyone told me was true, I began to think that the Bible may just be a book of stories.
As for the gay issue, I don't think you have to be Christian to be anti-gay. Usually most are because God says it's wrong, so therefore it must be true. I've been told, however, that Christians aren't trying to put other people down, they are just enlightening them and letting them know they are sinners.

Answer 4

I was in Borders last week or so and I overheard a little boy who caught the ear of a woman sitting in a chair, minding her own business, reading. The little boy proceeded to go off on a rather manic, lengthy story about the power of Chi and how he honestly BELIEVED that he had supernatural powers and the ability to "Start fires with his mind and how he had indeed started a few by the power of the mind alone." (which I found REALLY disturbing considering) He was articulate, seemingly intelligent and yet at the same time, rambled on and on and on about the supernatural and telekenesis as in, psychic powers that he had and how his "Friends" (Which I am positive are actually imaginary considering...) has witnessed him performing miracles.

At first his father was no where to be found. Then eventually he showed up, while this child (about 7 yeard old) proceeded to yammer on at great length such stories obviously of a disturbed and quite manic nature, his father, while oogling this poor young woman, not only allowed this conversation completely free of embarassment or concern, then continued to elaborate on, and encourage this child by calling him "The Chi master."

It was completely and totally disturbing and the young woman found it uncomfortable and equally as troubling as I did but what can you say to discourage such a young, already influenced child, completely encouraged by an adult who is supposed to know better?

Im not saying I disbelieve these things. I actually have a lot of respect for metaphysical sciences. But... Considering, is Harry Potter a good influence on such malliable, young innocent children when there is no perspective, nothing to counter balance these interests? No adult to teach them?

What good is any of it if it is allowed to destroy the mind of even one child? It is more than just artistic expression when a woman is allowed to use such a catalist to take herself out of poverty at the expense of even one child via these "Stories." that considering... are far more damaging than the bible ever was or will be.

Basically... what I am trying to say is what's the difference what you believe if it is taken out of context and called truth by an ignorant human being void of accountability, intelligence or responsability?

Answer 5

The Bible, like any other holy book is open to interpretation of the reader....just as the same statistics can back either side of the argument. The book is there as a guide, to comfort and reassure. the ethos in all holy books is to love everyone and judge none... People who use the Bible to condemn, only make a mockery out of themselves and prove how far away from the teachings of their spiritual leaders they were.

Surely superiority is not a value held high esteem in any religion?!

Answer 6

I think you are completely wrong. If you were not raised in church, simply by watching television you would get the idea that the Bible was more than a story book.

When we start swearing on a stack of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire's", then maybe you'll have an argument.

Answer 7

The bible is the biggest load of clap trap I have ever read. As for the gay issue, yes it is a sin in the eyes of christianity - unless you are a catholic priest hanging about with a choirboy in which case it is fine!

Answer 8

I think that you are missing the important fact that most atheists in religious countries (like the USA) HAVE read the bible, and studied OTHER religions as well, and studied the origins and the history of christianity... and that is WHY they are atheists.

"A thorough reading and understanding of the Bible is the surest path to atheism” ~ Donald Morgan

Answer 9

i think the problem is far more basic that that. its my god is better than your god, what you going to do about it? push me, shove you... its religious intolerance at teh end of the day. bigotry by any other name.

we seem to forget on page whatever of the bible it says quite clearly, and all me were created equal. and this is the ethos by which i live my life. all men are equal, everyone gets a slice of the pie, and no one gets left out, and more importantly no one falls out over it...

for one thing its bad bussiness, your yen are as good as my sterling is against your dollar, or drachma. we live in one world, with one massive expanding population, and yet we fight, tooth and nail, consuming raw materials and making things which will destroy us one way or another...

if everyone were to put away their guns, and discuss their issues, and pool their resources..poverty would dissapear, think of what we could create, instead of destroy, ravage and burn....

utopian ideal maybe, and its not going to happen, because to many powerful people strand to make a whole lot of money out the suffering and death of innocents, and i honestly believe its a crime against humanity..to profit in this way... but im just one voice, with an opinion, and a conscience.. my god is not anyone elses god. its a construct of my mind, my interpretation of the greatest charade ever played...and my version makes a lot more sense than anything ive ever heard...

and all men and women are created equal. LL&P

Answer 10

wow! i'm in the middle of writing the sequel to the bible... "The Holy Bible II: Jesus strikes back!" there will be some car chases and this guy named Ugathrotore will have an amulet that Jesus has to get if he's ever going to prove to the dean that his fraternity of misfits is capable of winning a death defying balloon race across the country. there will be action, adventure, off the wall hilarity and everybody wants to know... will Jesus ever get laid? all will be answered in "The Holy Bible II: Jesus strikes back!"