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I would like to suggest for interested viewers the book Leaving Fundamentalism, a collection of stories by former fundamentalists like pcamps and myself, who met Christ in a new and more compelling way without the need of a "perfect" book.
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In a time when religious conservatives have placed their faith and values at the forefront of the so-called “culture wars,” this book is extremely relevant. The stories in Leaving Fundamentalism provide a personal and intimate look behind sermons, religious services, and church life, and promote an understanding of those who have been deeply involved in the conservative Christian church. These autobiographies come from within the congregations and homes of religious fundamentalists, where their highly idealized faith, in all its complexities and problems, meets the reality of everyday life. Told from the perspective of distance gained by leaving fundamentalism, each story gives the reader a snapshot of what it is like to go through the experiences, thoughts, feelings, passions, and pains that, for many of the writers, are still raw. Explaining how their lives might continue after fundamentalism, these writers offer a spiritual lifeline for others who may be questioning their faith.
In fairness, I tried to find a book of compositions by "liberal" Christians who left their obviously "godless" ways to become fundamentalists. As near as I can determine there are none.
It appears that once one has escaped hell on earth--no one wishes to return.
The Bible is inerrant and truth........protected by God and it will stand forever. Jesus quoted from scripture and that's all the validation you need.
Jesus rarely quoted from the scripture. In fact I have seen atheists on this forum quote it more than Jesus ever did in a 3 year ministry. Listen to Jesus and hear what he really did give credence too. The bible is not the voice of God, Christ in you is.
These all-or-nothing conclusions are just tiresome. It isn't either/or, few things in life are.
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Scripture is one of those few things. Scripture, if really "God breathed" (divinely inspired), would be inerrant. If it isn't, then the writing isn't divinely inspired unless you are willing to disclaim perfection in God. Are you?
“For all the books which the Church receives as sacred and canonical, are written wholly and entirely, with all their parts, at the dictation of the Holy Ghost; and so far is it from being possible that any error can co-exist with inspiration, that inspiration not only is essentially incompatible with error, but excludes and rejects it as absolutely and necessarily as it is impossible that God Himself, the supreme Truth, can utter that which is not true. …Hence, because the Holy Ghost employed men as His instruments, we cannot therefore say that it was these inspired instruments who, perchance, have fallen into error, and not the primary author. For, by supernatural power, He so moved and impelled them to write-He was so present to them-that the things which He ordered, and those only, they, first, rightly understood, then willed faithfully to write down, and finally expressed in apt words and with infallible truth. Otherwise, it could not be said that He was the Author of the entire Scripture. (Providentissimus deus, 20, 1893)
Last edited by Aristotle's Child; 02-13-2016 at 06:35 PM..
Reason: typo
Some Christians pick and choose what parts of the bible they will decide to take literally and what parts they will not. Are only parts of the Bible inspired?
When the creation account in Genesis describes the Moon being a light source of its own and not "reflecting light" as the world teaches.
Would it be so hard for God to inspire the writer to write " the lesser light reflects the greater light"
In Genesis people are living to be almost 1000 years old.
Book of Joshua describing the Sun and the Moon standing still. (not the earth, if earth that we are told is rotating 1000 miles per hour was to suddenly stop, what would happen to the earth?)
Would it be so hard for God to inspire the writer to say the earth stood still ?
The creation of the life on earth being about 6000 years ago and more...etc.
If we as Christians believe that Satan is real and has deceived the whole world and is in control of this planet, why would it be so hard to believe that he is not controlling all of the important information that is put out to the masses, especially information that would cause people to doubt the Bible?
By what authority do Christians have the right to choose not to believe some parts and believe others?
If someone says, I do not believe in a literal creation account nor Adam and eve, or perhaps some of the other above issue I mentioned, but then say I believe that Jesus is the Son of God and he did many miracles and was raised from the dead. By what reason? Because with that logic, a Christian can chose to just believe what ever he or she wants from the bible and no other Christian can say anything about it.
well i believe that satan isnt evil and that the bible isnt only inspired of god but evil influences too.
Scripture is one of those few things. Scripture, if really "God breathed" (divinely inspired), would be inerrant. If it isn't, then the writing isn't divinely inspired unless you are willing to disclaim perfection in God. Are you?
“For all the books which the Church receives as sacred and canonical, are written wholly and entirely, with all their parts, at the dictation of the Holy Ghost; and so far is it from being possible that any error can co-exist with inspiration, that inspiration not only is essentially incompatible with error, but excludes and rejects it as absolutely and necessarily as it is impossible that God Himself, the supreme Truth, can utter that which is not true. …Hence, because the Holy Ghost employed men as His instruments, we cannot therefore say that it was these inspired instruments who, perchance, have fallen into error, and not the primary author. For, by supernatural power, He so moved and impelled them to write-He was so present to them-that the things which He ordered, and those only, they, first, rightly understood, then willed faithfully to write down, and finally expressed in apt words and with infallible truth. Otherwise, it could not be said that He was the Author of the entire Scripture. (Providentissimus deus, 20, 1893)
And this is where you go so far off base: "inspired" in no way means "dictated,' but more like urges or even so far as impels. Such a definition of "inspire" is entirely the product of a wish for a more concrete authority than that given and a failure of faith in what Jesus promised. This is understandable only when there is no experience and understanding of the promised Spirit.
So in THIS case you don't take Scripture literally for what it says. Is revenge your god's modus operandi?
It was in David's day.
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Or THIS verse doesn't reflect the God of love. It is either "god breathed" or not. And if David wants revenge he is usurping the right of God according to another verse:
Deut. 32:35a
or this verse:
Romans 12:19
Or maybe God "changes" over time despite Scripture stating He is unchangeable.
It could be that, since God is love, that His vengeance is with a view to loving correction.
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What makes you different from us liberals?
That I'm conservative maybe?
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And man written. Some of the stuff in the Bible--if it reflects your god---is pure halitosis on his part.
Well of course the Bible was written by men putting pen to paper. But it is God-breathed.
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Trying to keep Scripture "perfect" is like trying to herd cats--it's a never ending proposition without a chance of a good result.
I didn't know we were talking about keeping Scripture perfect. I thought the topic is concerning the Bible being inspired.
Euse, where can you buy those God breathed ink pens ?.
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to become fundamentalists. As near as I can determine there are none.
