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I did when I was a Christian but I havent been one for ... wow, almost a decade now.
I did know you are a guy. Did I mistakenly refer to you as a female? Sorry about that if I did.
I guess I just needed reminding of why I like and respect you. The she reference was post 62. I certainly took no offense, just wanted to be upfront on my gender. I hope you understand why I engage those who cherrypick the Bible while claiming it’s divinity.😊
I guess I just needed reminding of why I like and respect you. The she reference was post 62. I certainly took no offense, just wanted to be upfront on my gender. I hope you understand why I engage those who cherrypick the Bible while claiming it’s divinity.😊
I guess I just needed reminding of why I like and respect you. The she reference was post 62. I certainly took no offense, just wanted to be upfront on my gender. I hope you understand why I engage those who cherrypick the Bible while claiming it’s divinity.😊
That does make a difference. Aside from the 'inspiration' get - out which means they can claim divine authority for the Bible, while dodging the question of having to defend what is indefensible - it splits the 'argument for valuing the Bible' into two camps
(1) it has God's authority and we must value and respect what it says. Clearly, sherry -picking it while signing up to that claim is hypocritical and dishonest and debunks any claims the cherry-picker makes, even if it doesn't debunk the Bible.
(2) it does Not have God's authority, but it has such a lot of very splendid and worthwhile stuff in it that it should be given special and particular respect. This is a valid and (relatively) honest approach to the Bible, and is/was in fact the view of Jefferson and the basis of his "Bible". It is a question then of the opposition to make a case that in fact the Bible is no better these days than any other book on ethics or social philosophy, and arguably far less good. If that argument is substantiated, then the Bible belongs only on the shelf for mythology, because it doesn't stand up very well as history either.
Which brings up a couple of Other approaches - we should value it because it was so important for the historical growth of the West. Fair enough, just as the Bhagavad gita was important for the growth of not only India but also Southeast Asia, even though Buddhism or Islam eventually supplanted everywhere except in Bali.
The other is the 'literally true, cover-to cover'. It is arguable whether or not such people actually do 'cherry -pick' the Bible, though in fact they would deny that they are doing so. For example, trying to get over the problem of Slavery in the Bible, by excuses, evasions or sheer denial, all of which shows a degree of 'cherry -picking' since they are applying Human moral values to the Bible which they then want to amend to agree with it. That said, they are in a tougher position than the cafeteria Christian who can simply say that they don't like that bit, either, and so are excused having to defend it.
While atheists find it easier to do business with the cherry -pickers (sometimes ) their slipperiness still can be a bit of an irritation.
That does make a difference. Aside from the 'inspiration' get - out which means they can claim divine authority for the Bible, while dodging the question of having to defend what is indefensible - it splits the 'argument for valuing the Bible' into two camps
(1) it has God's authority and we must value and respect what it says. Clearly, sherry -picking it while signing up to that claim is hypocritical and dishonest and debunks any claims the cherry-picker makes, even if it doesn't debunk the Bible.
(2) it does Not have God's authority, but it has such a lot of very splendid and worthwhile stuff in it that it should be given special and particular respect. This is a valid and (relatively) honest approach to the Bible, and is/was in fact the view of Jefferson and the basis of his "Bible". It is a question then of the opposition to make a case that in fact the Bible is no better these days than any other book on ethics or social philosophy, and arguably far less good. If that argument is substantiated, then the Bible belongs only on the shelf for mythology, because it doesn't stand up very well as history either.
Which brings up a couple of Other approaches - we should value it because it was so important for the historical growth of the West. Fair enough, just as the Bhagavad gita was important for the growth of not only India but also Southeast Asia, even though Buddhism or Islam eventually supplanted everywhere except in Bali.
The other is the 'literally true, cover-to cover'. It is arguable whether or not such people actually do 'cherry -pick' the Bible, though in fact they would deny that they are doing so. For example, trying to get over the problem of Slavery in the Bible, by excuses, evasions or sheer denial, all of which shows a degree of 'cherry -picking' since they are applying Human moral values to the Bible which they then want to amend to agree with it. That said, they are in a tougher position than the cafeteria Christian who can simply say that they don't like that bit, either, and so are excused having to defend it.
While atheists find it easier to do business with the cherry -pickers (sometimes ) their slipperiness still can be a bit of an irritation.
I honestly believe that indoctrination is so effective that it plants an auto bypass that defaults to “god works in mysterious ways” which disconnects the believer from rational reasoning concerning many immoral acts by the abrahamic god and his “chosen” people. I could not accept the biblical god as righteous, or real, because it sanctioned slavery, mass rape and genocide. It was far more reasonable to believe that the israelies created this god to justify its absurdities. My best guess is that mankind is still too primitive to rationally dismiss its irrational desire to have a god that promises eternal bliss.
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) their slipperiness still can be a bit of an irritation.
