OK, now I've got your attention, here is my wager for theists. Go take your holy book and start at page one, read it from cover to cover and at the end of each chapter or verse, ask yourself the following questions.
1. If I were in god's place, how would I have acted differently?
2. Would a loving god do this?
3. Do these descriptions of earth agree with what we now know about the universe?
4. Are these the writings of an educated person or persons by any modern standard?
5. Is there a plausible motive for a group of mortals to write these stories to gain power over others?
If all theists diligently went through this exercise, who would agree there would be less killing over religion in the world?
2007-03-08 08:10:21 · 11 answers · asked by Devil in Details 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Second best wager I've seen all day (I like Father K's... Pangel's Wager).
1. I would not have created people only to set them up and then leave them to figure things out on their own.
2. No
3. No
4. No
5. Yes
and final answer: I would agree
2007-03-08 08:19:53 · answer #1 · answered by Kallan 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have done this before.
1- I probably would have, but that is mostly because I am human, filled with human frailties, emotions, and faults. I am not a holy god.
2- Yes, if you understood the principles behind that statement
3- They very much agree if you take them in the context in which they were written.
4- Most of them are. The vast majority of the writers whose works make up the Bible were highly educated, having come from the upper and ruling classes. The only difference between the writers and us today is the advances in knowledge, but not the advances in wisdom.
5- Sure there is. However, there is an equally if not more plausable reason; because the events discribe the history of God's interaction with Man.
Would there be less killing over religion? As far as Christianity goes, to a point. This exercise would reinforce the teachings of love, compassion, and justice that the Bible holds. However, like every other faith system (including atheism), Christianity is filled with weak, sin-corrupted people who still do wrong. The teachings are good, but the execution of those teachings always leaves much to be desired.
2007-03-08 08:23:23 · answer #2 · answered by Tim 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
1. Yes.
2. No.
3. No.
4. No.
5. Yes.
2007-03-08 08:14:55 · answer #3 · answered by ZER0 C00L ••AM••VT•• 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
1.) With the little information that we have, we are in NO position to debate with God on his actions
2.) Same as above
3.) How do they disagree? The bible was written for everyone. Only in the last 50 years did we gain the view of the universe that we have today and frankly, I do not think that the Bible disagrees with it, but does give an accurate general portrayl.
4.) Same as above... The education of the writers of the bible is extremely high, especially in areas of sociology and observations on the human condition.
5.) How does the writing of the bible give one group control over another? Help the poor, be a positive force, obey those in authority, you will be held accountable for your actions by a higher court... Where is the control that you assert? Governments wield far more control than this and no one NO ONE EVER debates their assertions of soverinty.
Who is killing over religion??? There are many motives to kill. Before people like you focus on religion why don't we stop people from killing over shoes....
2007-03-08 08:22:03 · answer #4 · answered by TK421 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I can see you haven't done this. Perhaps if you did you would discover that we have a loving God, who made the universe, and wrote a Bible using educated people to write it down for us (after all, God is the author). The only motive for these things is love, and power is not an issue. The only reason there are killings in the world is because they don't embrace the true God.
2007-03-08 08:18:23 · answer #5 · answered by Fish <>< 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Pascal's fiddle? Does that count? I'd better take a swig anyway.
I've always maintained that I would not want to abide forever in the company of any God who behaved the way literalist Christians portray him, no matter how hot the ectoplasmic furnace was.
2007-03-08 08:22:14 · answer #6 · answered by skepsis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would guess that 15% of theists would be willing to read the Bible cover to cover 5% would finish reading it and 3% would remain theists after doing so.
Most would prefer to get the highlights at church.
2007-03-08 08:15:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I'd say it's a slam dunk! Assuming honest answers, of course.
2007-03-08 08:18:11 · answer #8 · answered by Dawn G 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh come on! Most of the nasty Christians haven't read their bible to begin with, if they won't do it at the begging of their coreligionists, they aren't doing it for you!
2007-03-08 08:15:00 · answer #9 · answered by LabGrrl 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
In Georgia, or New Jersey, or California, I am not about to take advise from an atheists on how to read the Bible. I hope no one else does.
Peace
2007-03-08 08:17:15 · answer #10 · answered by Lovee 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋