Why do atheists take the bible so literal?

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OutWestposted 9 years ago
Why do atheists take the bible so literal?

In their effort to disprove God many atheists are as extreme as the religious fanatics they claim to be against. They take passages literally and claim they cannot believe in such a God. One who kills and is cruel. Why not see it symbolically? Would that make it too difficult to dis-believe? And the existence of God has nothing to do with the bible anyway.
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bradmasterOCcalposted 9 years ago
Then what is the answer to your last sentence
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  it's a statement. the question is "Why do atheists take the bible so literal?"
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  Sam Shepardsposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  @OutWest Problem with your last statement is you denounce the religious belief of a certain group atheists are actually arguing with.
  Because the word in that book is often used in moral battles...
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  To finish they see the sun that sits in the right place to warm us. They see the moon and stars that light our planet , if the sun was to far we would freeze.The moon we would wobble through space.
  We have seasons that help food to grow. they deny.
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Link10103posted 9 years ago
Lol...

Just a guess, but surely the people saying the Bible is the inerrant word of God and thus is proof of their God's existence might have something to do with it.

I also don't see much of a difference between a literal genocidal maniac and a symbolic genocidal maniac. They're both not something to look up to...
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  Austinstarposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  All that is necessary to become an atheist is to read the bible. The god of the Old and New Testaments is not a god I could ever put faith in.
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  celafoeposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  no problem you can make whatever choice you are comfortable with. but then you will have to live with that choice good luck
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  And again why are some atheists taking the bible so literal as to taint the existence of God?
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  Link10103posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I just said why. And how do you get that atheists are tainting the existence of God if they take it literally, they aren't the ones that wrote the book lol. Literally or metaphorically, some parts are simply evil.
  
  Celafoe, Pascal's Wager = lame
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  To say, "I also don't see much of a difference between a literal genocidal maniac and a symbolic genocidal maniac." is taking it literal, either way. Symbolic means it represents something personal to you. Like something changed inside you for you
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  Link10103posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I highly doubt you'll find many stories about global genocide that are purely metaphorical.
  
  Why does it sound like you're annoyed that people can read? There simply isn't any way to make genocide ever seem "good", literally, metaphorically, etc...
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Titen-Sxullposted 9 years ago
There are some things that can be taken symbolically and some that really can't.

For example it doesn't make sense to say that God symbolically wants homosexuals stoned to death and witches burned, because we know that these acts carried the actual literal death penalty under the Mosaic law.

It doesn't make much sense to say the Bible symbolically condones slavery when Exodus 21 clearly states, from the mouth of God himself, that slavery is permitted.

It doesn't make much sense to say that God symbolically summoned two she-bears to maul 42 children to death when they accosted the prophet Elisha in 2 Kings.

The events of many of these stories are, of course, fictional or fictionalized fantasy versions of mundane history. Many also are told because there is a 'moral to the story'.

Generally as an atheist I take the Bible as literally or as figuratively as is required for the discussion I am in. If I am in a discussion with a believer who takes a fairly literal approach I am more inclined to take it literally.

If I am talking to a fairly liberal Christian I will sometimes ask them for their interpretation of things, as in how they make sense of the Bible without taking many of these stories and laws as being the actual literal word of God.

I don't force anyone to take it literally if that is not how they see it but I am curious as to why people hold to the myriad of interpretations that they do.

If someone wants to say, for example, that the Book of Job never really happened in history but is a mere story meant to convey a moral or a lesson that's fine. Same goes for anything from the creation to the exodus right down to the Gospels.

But again it depends very much on the context of the discussion I am in or the point I am trying to make.

Many arguments that atheists such as myself get into are with Christians that take the Bible literally and so you will see many strong atheist arguments against a literal interpretation of the Bible and it's God.

Of course it doesn't matter how you look at it, the God of the Bible is typically cruel and that doesn't go away if you cherry-pick or take things as figurative.

As for the existence of God. There are 2 billion Christians, so the question of the Christian God's existence has a lot to do with the Bible. There are 1.8 billion Muslims as well and their God is generally the same sort of God. So yes the Bible has a lot to do with the modern monotheistic view of God.
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  Austinstarposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I notice no one argues with you, Titen! Could it be that you are correct and there is no argument they can present?
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Let's briefly take the story of Noah. some might take it literal and believe if they find this ark that God exists. Others might see it as a story of faith because God told Noah to build an ark in the desert. Noah did so it is an example of faith.
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  Titen-Sxullposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  As mythology meant to teach a lesson or explain some aspect of nature (the rainbow) the story isn't so offensive. The moment people want to take it literally they are excusing genocide, animal cruelty, etc. Everyone sees it differently.
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  Austinstarposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Yes, the storymof Noah is about GENOCIDE. God worshippers conveniently overlook that one.
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  SonOfSkyrim201posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  What a fool you are Austinstar! Must we really justify our God? God is God, he can do what He likes. If you chose not to believe in Him that's your problem. Doesn't change the fact that He exists.
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  Austinstarposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Another personal attack! I have reported you both. If you want to attack, you might want to move to a more private place, send me an email. P.S. God's existance has not become a proven fact.
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  Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Strange this concept of reporting someone for attacking you. It just seems a little tattle tale to me. Like whining. Mocking someone's belief is fair game.?
  Very curious.
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  Austinstarposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I am not mocking anybody's belief. I am answering the question that was asked. My personal opinions are not meant to make fun of you, they are meant to point out inconsistencies in your "facts".
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  SonOfSkyrim201posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Not mocking anybody's beliefs? That is the biggest lie I have heard from you yet. You consistently attack people's religions and their beliefs and seem to believe that we are all brainwashed and have a low IQ.
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  Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  It sure seems that way to me. Not usually intellectually stimulating stuff just attacks on what people believe. Kind of like a generic calling believers liars.
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  SonOfSkyrim201posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Exactly. If Austinstar wants to live in her own dark world, where there is no point to anything, she can go ahead. But I rejoice in the love of God and will always believe in him no matter what she says.
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  Austinstarposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Pay attention, guys, i am NOT the one who keeps asking these types of questions. If you are offend by my words to the point of calling me names, then STOP READING MY WORDS!
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  SonOfSkyrim201posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Stop writing them.
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  Titen-Sxullposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  God is God so he can do what he wants, including genocide, slavery, all of it. Fair enough, but don't pretend he's benevolent while laying the most evil deeds imaginable at his feet. Just admit you serve an evil God.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Tit so you exist is that evil ? People say and believe what they please . does not mean it true . No you should admit
  The truth of your negative statements
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  Titen-Sxullposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I've never drowned an entire planet full of people, condoned slavery or built an eternal pit of hellfire in which to needlessly punish people. Some say God has done all of that and then some. Some versions of God are indeed evil.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Titen you say or quote other peoples beliefs most of what you heard is not accurate. So you base judgement on false details. Next if God was so bad then the way you talk and speak is bad .why are you spared the one who judges him wrong.?
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  Titen-Sxullposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Some people do believe in the God I just described, the one who commits genocide and condones slavery. I would not argue against it if no one believed in it, but millions do. Why am I spared? Because human-obsessed gods don't really exist.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Titen if they do not exist then how can you judge what is not real toExample I never had a rolls royce
  Can I judge it by anothers opinion No! So I will tell you that the things heard you judge by are wrong details
  Which makes your conclusion wrong
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  Titen-Sxullposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I'm just putting my opinions out there, I never asked others to judge based on the way I judge things. If they don't agree with me that genocide and slavery are evil acts oh well. If they believe in a God who would never do such things good on them.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Titen again genocide and slavery is also your opinion and you judge this as the meaning . If you really possessed accurate infomation which I have read your comments and realize you do not have accurate knowlege and judge wrong.
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  SonOfSkyrim201posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  If you don't believe in god that's your problem. If there's no God, then why are we here? What's the point of living? In your mind, there is none, because we're all going to die and then there's just darkness, right?
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  "if they do not exist then how can you judge what is not real" - the judgment takes places WHILE we still 'believe'. This happens to many many MANY Christians who are not content with what becomes obvious to be a manwritten book enslaving the masses.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Misfit what is your point of saying a man written book to enslave the masses , you speak untruth as well in that statement. Slavery is not being a slave if you chose or volunteer your support. People chose their religion.not slavery
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Right, and this 'religion' was 1) forced on folks in previous religions to unite them; and 2) written & instructed in such a way that it would be chosen by others. ONE savior dies instead of you. What a great way to condense the diverse populatio
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  Jay C OBrienposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I hope we can all agree, "Violence by man against man is in contradiction with any religion worthy of that name," Pope Francis 1-18-16 Read Bible with this in mind.
  See books by Raymond A. Moody, Jr. M.D. on Near Death Experiences "being of light."
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  Titen-Sxullposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Life's meaning and value emerge from its brevity and scarcity. How do things like love and loss and struggle have any meaning if life is eternal? How do my actions have value if I will carry out an infinity of them?
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  Sam Shepardsposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  @ Fardmir Shade-Song why would that be darkness when you die and there is no God ? How did you experience things before you were conceived ? Would you call that darkness? Leaping from what you don't know and naming it as something bad..
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  Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Interesting concept and question Titen. I ask myself that when doing mundane tasks over and over again. I suppose we have to find some gratification in the moment and not just the doing of the thing. Maybe we get better at that.
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  SonOfSkyrim201posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  They have meaning because we are judged according to our actions. If there's no afterlife, just darkness, why does anything matter? Why don't we just do whatever we want? We could steal, murder etc. and it wouldn't matter, right?
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Just because some of the Christian belief structure is deceptive to so many people; does NOT mean that there 'is no god' or an afterlife. We are not judged on our actions. Here is a good NDE perspective: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W-PLmMwl2o
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  Sam Shepardsposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  @ Fardmir being in time seems to matter more for me than you then. For you things only seem to matter for what could possibly happen later and not for what they are ? Common flowers smell better when I see her smile!Do you need an afterlife for that?
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Misifit if you were me in my mind , in my body, in my space and time you could say the truth in what you really know but your comments are totally based off of what you think your mental data is very short here on anyone and their background .
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  My 'mental data is very short' - sorry, no - it used to be as your's is, now. God cannot be contained within a series of man-manipulated and strategically-used ancient texts designed to enslave people. That should make you angry - why doesn't it?
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Misfit to answer your question why can we not eat the same food , wear the same clothes, like the same music, love the same Art we are all individuals.We prove that in our choice of colors and smells.We also can chose who we want to worship.No anger.
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I totally agree we can chose who we want to worship. I have no anger except when religious peeps insist laws need to be made around the bible which has been proven many times over to be nothing but manipulated - along with all other religous texts.
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  cam8510posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Fardmir Shade-Song, Austinstar is no fool first of all. Second, God is not above his own law. Biblical laws/morals are an expression of his character. That is the Bible's position. He cannot commit mass murder and be consistent with his own character
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  Angele Parrisposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  When I started high school, one of the teachers told us to take Phillipians 4: 13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me - as our motto. I just could not take this motto literally, so I chose Phillipians 4:11 & 3: 3 & 2: 14 i
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  And titen I can say with great comviction that just as you write here and communicate on hp with out seeing you physically that you exist proof as you communicate unseen God almight writes to us through the pages of the bible unseen he exist as you.
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  Titen-Sxullposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Well you could drive to my house and prove that I exist KT, a room of scientists could come to a consensus on who I am. Yet a room of theologians and believers have no consensus on God(s) after tens of thousands of years of human superstition.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  The problem with understaning these people pick and chose what they want to believe is literal
  And come to their own conclusions which you have titen
  Example a doctor writes prescription medicine in latin but
  Because certain people can not read i
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  You do the exact same thing, K&T. People like you keep insisting that those of us who do not believe haven't done our homework. Most of us have - and most 'believers' like you have not. You can't just keep saying that we are wrong over and over a
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  Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Isn't that because spirituality and faith is a wholly personal deal. As much as "religion" and non-believers try to lump us together, in the end it is completely subjective and personal.
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  You can't see anything harmful in believing this man-created religion based on fear that was meant to tame & unite people for the Roman Empire to easier rule them? Lie upon lie... WHY are you all okay with it? Your reasons for 'believing' are sca
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Misfit I will share my personal thought and experience
  People live what they like and what works for them.
  The bible have never caused me harm .or my family.
  Really it has made us more aware of appreciating life.
  The bible is circulated worldwide
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  No harm for you and your's? Since this religion was created and even today - not every family can say that. The bible is circulated worldwide bc the Roman Emperor who commissioned this religion and this 'holy book' made sure the lies were spread.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Misfit I hate lies. So could you be more formal and list them instead of saying they exist write these lies out. Be pacific. I will listen to your explanation. But you must not put belief as a word.
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  We have had this discussion - there is NOT ENOUGH ROOM within 250 characters. I keep telling you to do research - WHY should I do it for you? Would you believe me, easier? I've told you that I've written a long spotlight hub. Start there if you want.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Misfit write a hub or send me a letter from. Hp adress.
  Either you do not have the answers to these lies or you just can not back up your words.just a cop out. Until I see your proof in your claims I will decline reading your posts.
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  Titen-Sxullposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Every1 has their own version of God. If God was a real thing that could be studied, proved, we would have some basic idea of what we were discussing. Yet I haven't come across any version of God that is coherent let alone 1 4 which there is evidence.
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Full explanation: http://hub.me/akagx http://www.deism.com/bibleorigins.htm http://www.nazarethmyth.info/Fitzgerald2010HM.pdf http://www.carotta.de/subseite/texte/jwc_e/crux.html https://beyondallreligion.net/2012/01/2 … -invented/
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Titen I can agree with you that you have not yet . it does not mean you will never .when I was 10, I didn't , when I was 16,I didn't when 18 I was learning but not sure. I am almost 60 very sure with my life.So it does not mean he will not touch you
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  K&T, you are so condescending & uniformed. Basically, you're implying that 'someday he may be as wise as you'. Titen's profile contains researched hubs on this subject. I'd say both he and I are 'informed'. Time to counter-debunk if you can.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Misfit I am reading your links I am not so far being informed of something I did not know but am very surprised of you believing in men of these .
  You pick these to believe and not the ones others believe make you right
  
  I will write you a list .
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I don't need a list - I didn't say I believed in everything said in them100% and neither should you. There is not room for me to write a commentary on each one. That is why I wrote a hub. They are places to start doing your own RESEARCH.
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  Sam Shepardsposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Arguments from authority or age don't have reasonable value. Also why would something be 'right', because the other would make you feel "sad"? People in general really don't care what could be right, just what makes them feel right? Understandable...
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Titen 3:11 he has put eternity in their hearts. Here is why we plan for tomorrow for weeks months , years
  Eternity is in our hearts and there seems to never be enough time in a day to do all we need and want.
  So when paradise comes we will welcome
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getitriteposted 9 years ago
If the existence of your God has nothing to do with the bible, then are you saying that there is some kind of generic god? So what are this generic god's attributes, so that we can determine the veracity of the claim? We need to know, or it makes absolutely no sense to assert such a claim.
If you are a Christian, then the bible IS THE CLAIM. Asserting that you have the right to switch from literal to symbolic just shows blatant, obvious dishonesty.
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  Austinstarposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  The bible IS their claim! Exactly, and what a ridiculous claim it is. DNA proves the Adam/Eve story false. So there is no need for a "savior", because there is no original sin to "save" us from!
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  But this is precisely my point. DNA and Adam & Eve. Just because the story of Adam & Eve is proven wrong through science how does that mean there is no God. How does the bible actually disprove the existence of a Creator God
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  Austinstarposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  It doesn't disprove god, it just disproves the whole point of having a god in the first place!
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  Sam Shepardsposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  @OutWest is the Bible the word of God? Is the Bible used as a manual for life as if written by an infallible hand, because inspired by God? And God would not let mistakes slip in his word? Should it be followed and is it the only one...?
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  @ Sam Shepards. The "word of God" is an opinion. Mankind can surely ruin God's word easy enough. Lol
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Misfit so what is wrong is when people say you can not make a choice right unless it is theirs .Just because some one does not have your taste or view they should not be judged by human peers. Because Gods laws are pure and right. He is above all .
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  Sam Shepardsposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  @OutWest I agree, but those claims have been made more than once in the religious sections here that is why I asked your position on that.
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  goldenashilposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  http://tourneshan.com
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Titen because certain people do not know how to decipher the language they are frustrated even calling the doctor names because of their lack of education.
  The bible language is similar many will never understand .It has to be granted to decipher
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  getitriteposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  @Kiss,
  COULD YOU PLEASE STOP POSTING UNDER THE WRONG ANSWER? THIS HAMPERS THE FLOW OF IDEAS, AND CAN COMPLETELY DERAIL A MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION. Thanks
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Sorry for the irritation .but I will try to post according to the avaible reply box .but realize I am using a cell phone which limits space and boxes.
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  Steven Holtposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  NO SUCH THING AS A TRUE ATHEIST, WHO FEELS IT KNOWS IT
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Austinstarposted 9 years ago
Atheists see the bible just as they see any other collection of books. They were written by people, and by people who lived in a culture that existed over 2,000 years ago.
What was literal or symbolic during those times, just doesn't apply to today's culture and society. It's an OLD book!
Our behavior and existence as humans has evolved to the point where we can see the inaccuracies of the bibles of old. These concepts have either been proven or dis-proven by new discoveries.
People who accept the bible as literal or figurative simply cannot keep up with our changing world. They want to stay in some sort of comfort zone.
The biblical world just does not exist anymore.
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  Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  This really illustrates the Bible as an historical reference. Perhaps not relevant today except as to learn from history. But it seems odd to call it irrelevant when it clearly is relevant to so many. That fact speaks for itself.
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  Austinstarposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  What fact? The only relevance the bible has is that it was the first book printed by movable type and the first book to be cheap enough to be owned by the commoners after the Kings translated it to enslave the weak minded sheeple.
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  Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Relevant: closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand. Billions obviously believe the Bible is relevant to daily life. That is a fact.
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  Austinstarposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Billions belong to the "bible club", but billions also belong to the "quran club". Your assertion that the bible is "relevant" is NOT relevant to this question about atheists taking the bible literally. READ the question again!
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  Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Mine was a response to your answer. Stop trying to control the show - you are only an actress. How the book is relevant is relevant to how the book is considered.
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  Austinstarposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  It is not I that is trying to "control" this question/answer/comments. Sorry about your delusionary state of being. Get well soon.
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  Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Nice deflection -- but people read your words. You should incorporate some substance and merit.
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  Sam Shepardsposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  But it's heritage is everywhere in the West and Western ideas and some parts of the Philosophical tradition. I wouldn't argue that you need to follow all, but some grounding is useful to understand where we live (mentally).
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celafoeposted 9 years ago
what choice do they have? It is clear that it is impossible for one without faith to understand it. It can only be properly understood by those baptized in the Holy Spirit who reveals it to those who have faith to believe.
They have rejected God and cannot understand Spiritual things. Their choice.
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  Austinstarposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  And so you have been taught to repeat. It makes you "special" to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, right? Nobody else knows how to read and comprehend the books of your bible. Enjoy your faith.
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  celafoeposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  austinstar why are you here this is not a place for fools like you.
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  Titen-Sxullposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Having experienced the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" before becoming an atheist I can say that the Bible doesn't become any easier to understand. Reading the Bible myself and praying for God's guidance still lead me away from Christianity.
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  Austinstarposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  charlie - This is not the place for your question either. And I do not appreciate the personal attack. If you don't want "fools" to comment, don't post your question in a public forum.
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  Sandi Kroegerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Those who read and write about politics and/or religion without interjecting personal attacks to uphold their "logic" have learned some measure of human TOLERANCE! I applaud you!!
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Pv 29:11 A fool utters all his mind... I'm not a huge fan of AS, but that was a very uncool thing to say; and what do YOU know about being baptized in the HS? Not much, obviously. My experience sounds similar to Titen-Sxull. You are still very blind.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Parris if we could make a moon, a star, a sun. a seed to grow food. and return the force back when a person dies
  But we are infants needing what ever he provides to live.
  If we show disrespect for those by judging him
  We hurt ourselfs .
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  cam8510posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  1 Corinthians 2:14 says that without God's Spirit, there is no understanding of God. But evangelism is based on human reason. The Gospel is explained. The unsaved, who do not have the Spirit, UNDERSTAND AND BELIEVE....before they receive the Spirit.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Rob rejecting something does not mean it was not proof.
  Like you say you are hungry and some one gives you bread you say no I want steak.
  But you just reject food that could keep you from hunger.
  These will never be satified.
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  What about someone who WAS 'baptized in the HS' who DID believe until AFTER that experience; and then was led NOT to believe? At the risk of being deleted, read my spotlight hub on the subject. No one can understand until it happens to them.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Rob I disagree that it has to be stress for a change of belief. Can you come to be realistic and say that evidence was provided and they were satified then it was illness.
  No. You show you will not accept no other answer when
  Some One has found it
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  celafoeposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Ps 14:1
  
  14 The fool has said in his heart,
  "There is no God."
  Ps 53:1
  53 The fool has said in his heart,
  "There is no God."
  NKJV
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I have never said there is no God. Christianity lies in order to put minds into a psychological prison filled with fear, shame and lots of other crap to keep them tame and enslaved to 'The Empire'. Prove me wrong - you can't. Insisting isn't proof.
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  MichaelMcNabbposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Actually it's not clear. By saying that you were baptized by some holy spirit and became aware of god, you are admitting there was a time when you had no faith but in order to decide to get baptized required faith so which is it?
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  cam8510posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  charlie, you say it is impossible for one without faith and without the Holy Spirit to understand it. Using that "logic," it would be impossible for anyone to become a Christian. They would never be able to understand God's plan of salvation.
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tirelesstravelerposted 9 years ago
Good question. If someone is certain there is no God what's the problem?
If you are certain in your belief then you should enjoy life. The problem is when you are not certain. When there is a niggling little doubt. Christians are supposed to stand on their believes and tell others about them.
Atheists should be the most peaceful, content people on earth, because they are certain and not contained by any parameters set by God. They have complete freedom. That doesn't seem to be how this all works out does it;
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Eric dont you think that our parents as being older and wiser have the right to be respected. Our heavenly Father is the oldest as far a senoir known as the ancient of days
  We should give him priority of respected. My answer.
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  Austinstarposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Doubts are the province of those with "faith". Atheists do not have these doubts and no amount of trying to make it seem as if they do have doubts will make it true. Speak for yourself. I am not afraid of gods, hell, or your judgements.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  You see the world has accepted many misquoted and meanings .errors that have just been passed down with no correction.
  As I mention I too was a believer in what was thought not what was the real words and truth. People want to know the truth.
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I find there is a lot of misconceptions about belief. Belief does not necessarily mean in the biblical sense. It seems it is the go to statement for atheists. I don't know why it is assumed that a person who believes in God believes in judgement
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  smcopywriteposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  god knows what is in the hearts of men. there have always been doubts in men as demonstrated throughout the bible. anyone who says there is not a question in their hearts is really not facing reality. reinforcement of faith is when an answer comes
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Kiss andTalesposted 9 years ago
Sad as being the case for some . but I believe as long as there are people saying you are wrong they do not like that being said about them in any form.
Because some people believe they can not be wrong about anything. And that includes any subject.
The problem with this subject is its not like any other.
Example. Say you are on an Island with 5 people
One is a doctor. The others are just of no special
career title. Lets say you do not like the personality of this Doctor and gets on your last nerve. But others are ok with him
You get sick maybe something bit you.
The others tell you to get the doctor he can help you. You just think how much you do not like him while you are being effected by the bite.
But the doctor has the skills and knows how to keep you alive .how much would a persons pride lead them wrong with no hope
Many at this time is letting pride win.
The doctor and the others who can seperate personal issues from life and death matters will stay alive.
To compare it is the True God that has what we need to stay alive . rather people do not understand many things .does not mean that the road and answers to all human problems is not avaible to us all.
It is. Welcome it to live.
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  But many don't like the Doctor because of the Medical industry. Why deny a Creator because of the institution of religion? Why would atheists be so easily manipulated instead why not figure God out on your own terms instead of others'?
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  Titen-Sxullposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  They are selling the cure for diseases of wrath, hellfire and sin with no evidence that their disease or the cure for it - God - exist. Also, what makes you think atheists have not sought God outside of religion? I did. Many other atheists have.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Outwest true about what people like, but the comparisom was the very case what we like is a choice , sickness and death is not . saving life should be no choice it should be our duty and right as humans for each other.
  they are the same situation.
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  Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Cool insight OutWest. I go to church and to the doctor. Neither determines my ultimate belief or judgment but they are a part of it and I appreciate their input.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Eric you ask me a question and I lost the post .sorry but what I remember before I was distracted was are we to get offended when people say negative things. I was going to write you and say the true God stands for our spiritual Father.
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  The 'true God and spiritual Father' doesn't need a book about him - and he never has. Humans invented religions and they wrote the bible based off of their storytelling brilliance because it tames you and puts your soul in bondage for State Service.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Misfit rather you agree what is needed or not God allowed the process of a book to be catalog from scrolls that is in our museums from Papus. Cuniforms , and many articacts carrying his name and purpose.
  That is history before the bible was writte
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I'm not saying that there are no ancient scrolls that have been convincingly used in the process of creating the bible and the christian religion. They had to do that to combine the various religions and make it one believable one. Research C history
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  They had to misfit ? nobody has to do anything. The words written are the ideas of the heavenly Father free to believe as you wish. No one has to read anything. Not forced if you do not want to you do not. Simple. So slavery does not apply here.
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Slavery very much applies because you believe that everyone's soul is going to hell unless you believe in Jesus' plagarized salvation message that you are ordered to proliferate cross country ASAP before the apocalypse comes (still waiting).
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Misfit you post here on HP why should somebody believe your voice they know only what you write here. So with the same judgment it also should apply to you. The bible has been around longer then any of us so far it is correct from my research.
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  That is because you 'researched' with the intention of proving your beliefs instead of with an open mind to find the truth. Your research (and many like you) come up with MUCH different conclusions than the rest of us. Why do you suppose that is?
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Jesus was. Born in the Jewish line .
  His people was well versed in the laws
  That Jesus knew. But yet they viewed the law differently
  Because they wanted power and positions. We are not to be like them because the truth is more valuble.
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Jesus was created from multiple sources and inserted into the already established monotheist religion of Judaism by HIJACKING a few verses that could be made to SEEM to tie him to it - to UNITE the MANY 'gentile' religions to RULE them easier.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I can say with conviction that people who deny proof of God and say proof is not true.You see many of them come on Hp and believe in people they have never seen read their letters and hubs but they believe they exist even they will argue with you.
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Sam Shepardsposted 9 years ago
So what you are actually saying in the end is that the God of the Bible has nothing to do with God? What with people who claim the Bible to be the word of God (the one and only)? If the existence of the god you possibly believe in has nothing to do with the Judea-Christian tradition which one is it? How do you define what you believe in?

When I stated somewhere that I can "understand" some of the "God" concepts from Meister Eckart, Dionysius areopagite, Spinoza and advaita, we got spammed by people citing scripture and claiming again all other ideas to be false. Mostly again by people who themselves are clueless about most ideas, concepts, traditions, science and literature in the world.

I don't have a problem to see the Bible as parts historical fiction, symbolism, inherited myths and some facts. (I'm not a militant atheist)

If I start quoting the Upanishads, the Mahabharata or a dozen other spiritual or other kinds of life enriching texts. I have encountered enough people in discussions who are firm believers of the "word of god" to attack these texts for not being scripture and scripture being the only thing to follow. Even in just your average moral discussion these keep popping up. Or the idea that non-believers have to be saved, which is kind of a funny but denigrating idea to begin with.

In the end it is not the Bible that is problematic, radical readings of it (or any text) and squeezing the world and people through that narrow framework is. The reactions you see are mostly aimed at the people who really read it as the literal word. Since we are in a world where extremes dominate discussion you'll see mostly extreme reaction against fanatic beliefs. The same is true for parts of the militant Atheist side who see all forms of belief as problematic.

We are also mostly discussing in public or groups (showing the crowd who is wrong or right) so most of the people in middle are always ignored while extreme ideas are clashing.

(Sorry for my English)
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  Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  A most interesting approach. Extremists and fanatics do seem to be the most vocal. There is that interesting group of Christians that seem to believe learning spirituality outside the Bible is taboo. It is sad they miss so much wonderment.
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  Sam Shepardsposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Same goes for being militant atheist... Try reading descartes, leibniz, stoics or even spinoza (abstract god, more pantheist, but still some notion), many more when you can't stand the idea that someone believed such a thing. Takes out the joy...
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  So misfit who is the one passing judgement on things they know nothing about. You can say many things here on HP but you are telling people to believe your words and we do not know you. Many have known the bible longer then you.
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  Sam Shepardsposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  This is confusing you are responding in different comment sections to the same person (misfit) in another comment section? You are of course free to do so
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Sorry Sam it can be confusing . but my device on my phone does not have a comment box on evey reply or comment . that is why I name the person up front to direct my comment. When I need to answer their comment box under that person its missing
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I'm not sure what this is in response to, but as far as me 'passing judgement on things they know nothing about' is untrue. Continue your search - you'll find what many others of us have. All that info is at your fingertips and more than you want.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Misfit I am satified with my research it is not your answers because we are different in our choices and references and materials again you can know so little about a person on HP . I can not know you behind a computer neither can anybody . truth
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  What does not knowing you have to do with anything? Sure, you can 'choose' to do research only far enough and selectively enough to prove your 'beliefs' satisfactorily. But, 1+1 does not equal 3 just because you insist that it does.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Misfit found artifacts that prove the bible is authentic.
  Example. People places things exist in none religious books. Names of heavenly bodies mention. Names of animals , even diseases that still exist today. You can not deny these as facts. You do
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  Titen-Sxullposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  You can't prove the supernatural using mundane details like places or people that existed. You can't use Troy and the Trojan war to prove that Zeus and Apollo are real anymore than you can say God is real because Jericho or Jerusalem both exist.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Titen tell me why it is not your proof.we are all different I used that example to say there is proof for people when you do not see it proof for some one else. Example love
  Can up say love does not exist because it is absent in your life. No !
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  It was written thousands of years ago in a time far closer to when those artifacts were in use. They USED truths to deceive people. I am not being obtuse when I say do more research - I'm begging you to do it. No one should 'just believe' anyone else
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Really titen I will have to disagree with no man or woman that welcomes each day is trying to die. Even in hospice situation you hold on .
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  Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  They are good who love life
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Misfit Chickposted 9 years ago

Simple - atheists use literal passages from the bible to argue their points; because most Christians use such literally-ridiculous arguments to argue their's to begin with. And sorry, your statement that "the existence of God has nothing to do with the bible anyway" is just another way to insist that 'something is true' to people who don't believe it.

Also, it is usually an unwanted conversation in a place that is hard to escape from (like a bus or party); that is initiated by ambitious Christians or other religious folks who are eager for religious/spiritual conversions - so that they can rack up all those much-coveted heavenly rewards that are going to make the afterlife so cozy for them. (And WHY are atheists/agnostics always so pre-prepared - another good question. No, we don't EVER have to deal with this, LoL!

In fact, many Christians cannot argue with anyone - not even an atheist - without quoting from a book that atheists don't believe in. (Norine? TSAD, et all? But, since so many zealous religous folks insist on quoting verse after verse from the bible - doing the same thing in return can be a satisfying (if usually ineffective) comeback...

We really like to frustrate each other, don't we? Especially by using our own words against each other. Nope, no mystery here.
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  Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Why do you participate in these questions?
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  What part of my response do you have a problem with? The part where I answered this question with brutal honesty? As you know, I get tired of the repetitve nature of these recipricol 'questions'.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Misfit you are the main person saying these words to people who have the right to their personal choice. Some even being rude. When one explaines themselfs and it is not your belief something is wrong with them.
  Eric is right it is personal
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I would agree that it is personal - I've experienced it from a Christian perspective. And when multiple ex-C's tell you that there is something seriously wrong with the bible and are warning you about it, that is why we are ignored - bc its personal.
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  "the existence of God has nothing to do with the bible anyway". How is this not true? God either exists or does not exist regardless of any religious text.
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Readmikenowposted 9 years ago
I often wonder why all the obsession for the bible and Christians by atheists. How about the Koran? How about the Hindu Vedas? How about the Buddhist’s Tripitaka ? How about the Torah and the Talmud? How about the Shinto's Kojiki? A cross on a highway will cause atheists to run to court and scream separation of church and state. Why are they not upset by the call to prayer that is broadcast over loud speakers in Dearborn, Michigan? Why do Muslim bakers get to not bake cakes for gay weddings? (It's happened) If you have issue with religion, then shouldn't you have issues with ALL religions? I always look for a reason to not think of atheists as something other than hypocrites obsessed by the happiness people of faith derive from practicing their religion. I've told atheists that's the real problem. People of faith are happy with what they believe. Atheists believe in nothing, and they want people of faith to be as unhappy as they feel. Otherwise, they'd just ignore people of faith. They may even ignore what I've written, but I doubt it.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Misfit do you know every Atheist to say most . that is not possible . if you disagree with the bible that is your opinion and right but not everybody agree with you because you read a different meaning others read their own which makes sense to them
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  mybillypilgrimposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  As an equal opportunity atheist, I would never want to deprive you or anyone else, no matter what faith, of your happiness derived in your derision. Hypocrisy, however, is the one trait that all organized religions share.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Mybilly the problem with your statement is that you have not experienced all organized religion. It is impossible
  So you can not fairly say they all are hypocritical. You can say it but who could say you lived them all to believe this is true No one
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Angele Parrisposted 9 years ago
I will attempt to answer why atheists take the bible so literal. Most atheists (if not all), see God as One who should be perfect. A Deity described as all-knowing, loving and kind. Therefore, it is hard to comprehend that a kind God, could kill a whole city with fire. Rather than fix the situation, He prefers to destroy people in mass numbers. Thus some will argue that the innocent is killed along with the wicked. Many of us see better, more humane ways of solving problems, rather than choose the method God uses.

In Galatians account of Paul's calling, Paul writes that he did not go to Damascus, and that he did meet with the disciples, but went immediately to Arabia. However, Acts account is different, and records that he did go to Damascus, and stayed with the apostles a few days.

To prove a point in defense of the bible, I like to use the story of the boy who cried wolf. He cried wolf several times, and the villagers came to his help. The time the wolf came, the villagers did not show up because, they thought he was not serious, the little boy had cried wolf too many times.

I heard this story told at a library as an adult one summer. As a child I enjoyed listening to this story, and really did not question the entire scenery of this story. However, when it seems as if the story-teller is directing the story at you, and it gets personal, then, one eventually start nick picking at the picture behind the whole situation of this story.

Why a little child to watch the sheep? Didn't any of the adults realize that they were too many false alarms? Was the little boy trying to tell them something - like the wolf would eat him too and that he was too young to be an expert in trapping wolves? How would the villagers get wool for the following winter if the wolf ate all the sheep? Who wrote the story? It would seem that the wolf wrote the story, and made the moral "Don't cry wolf, until there is an actual wolf". In that case he might just get more than a sheep meal.

So back to the biblical book of Deutoronomy, where God is seen as cruel. Maybe He was simply using the same methods of punishment implemented in Egypt, in an effort to break the Egypt out of the Israelites?
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Parris there is no comparisome to humans .we are not on his level in thinking. We are not in the position to judge God , because he created life and he can remove life it is his own creation. Another thought if he gives life he can return it
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  Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  anthropomorphism.
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  The problem is that Christians tend to explain the seemingly 'evil' parts of love that don't make sense away. Everything they don't understand gets brushed off in this way instead of researched that shows how this book was pieced together by men.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Eric how do you feel about anyone talking about your parent or gaudian with lies and disrespect. I would hope you would feel as I do about his thoughts and words.
  But on the other hand we did not create the bibles thoughtsThey fight against him
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Most atheists don't have a problem with 'your parents'. The problem is with a book that you all INSIST is the unblemished word of god when it has been PROVEN to be a compilation of the Roman Empires various religions to unite them under an easy ONE.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Misfit man volunteered to write and catalog the bible which is different secretaries who never really crossed each others timeline. But they all have the same common
  Pupose and message not theirs. Again people need to learn more accurate the truth.
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  "people need to learn more accurate the truth" - I agree. Read beyond that book, where it came from and most importantly - why. When you learn the history; then you will know why people fall away from this religion, daily. Knowledge is power.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Misfit do you even know what religion most people here speak in. No .so you can not say what experience they have had already. Mine just did not start on HP So you assume wrong of what people already know
  Knowledge is power, only valuble when right
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  "Knowledge is power, only valuble when right" - and yet, blindly believe without researching beyond beliefs. It doesn't matter what religion you are - all religions are man made. No 'true' holy man EVER wrote down anything for very good reasons.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Misfit I could say the same for you , what you write on HP page Why should any believe what you say. I can not see you. You could be the very opposite of what you say. So do not judge people for what they believe and choice.
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Again as I have mentioned why take the bible stories so literal. " Therefore, it is hard to comprehend that a kind God, could kill a whole city with fire.". This is part of a story that has much deeper meaning than what is on the surface.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Outwest if you write a hub with your name as the AuthourThe same as a book no matter who publishes your words the thoughts are yours. So if your book gets popular who gets the credit and royalties you do The bible Author claimbs his book 2Tim3:16
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  God did not come down here and write the bible personally, man did. And there are other religious texts referring to the same God. Torah and Qu'ran. It's just in North America the main religion comes from the bible
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Outwest you are saying that God can not get humans to write his thoughts down. Men use secretaries all the time.
  These books are written during different time lines people who did not even personally know each other but they speak in agreement .
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  If you ever read The Bible by Karen Armstrong she sheds light on these consistencies because the scribes who wrote the rest of the bible always had the previous texts as reference.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Outwest there are many bible anylizers.no matter what people believe and they can not remove the seal of truth Many have tried and it says the same. Found relics with writing validates whats in the bible to be true .some translations have altered
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  You can't argue with K&T - he has already demonstrated that he knows absolutely everything and has no need to address the holes in this issue. 2 Tim. is everything to these people. It is why that verse was written, no doubt - look nowhere but her
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Misfit you do not have to keep posting to me. I will never change my faith especially because of you and your supporters . they say action speaks louder you lost more then you gain. I will no longer reply to you and your supporters.
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I don't have any 'supporters'; and I am not going to say nothing while you repeat your harmful belief-lies to people: like, we could not POSSIBLY have morals without the bible to tell us - especially THAT book. Insulting to the Nth degree.
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cam8510posted 9 years ago
You haven't simply straddled the issue with your question, you've hopped from one side to the other and then walked away across the top of the fence. First you stand on the Christian side and accuse atheists of wanting to disprove the Bible. Then you hop over to the other side and say the Bible has nothing to do with God. So your final position is to believe in God without the Bible. Welcome to the American Transcendentalists/Deists. They've been around for a while.

Regarding the original question. Atheists don't take the Bible literally. They choose the element of Christianity which interprets the Bible literally and then they formulate arguments against that position. There is nothing wrong with this approach. It is a selective, targeted approach to a complicated debate.
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  Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  A most thought provoking answer.
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  Austinstarposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Thank you, Chris. Mostly, as an atheist, I cannot accept the illogical things in the bible - talking snakes, donkeys, Cain & Abel being the only children on Earth, yet going to another town to choose wives, cursed by "original sin", etc....
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  cam8510posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  The illogical is praised by Christians and their God because the illogical requires faith. Also, the illogical requires the Spirit to twist the logical human mind at conversion so they can comprehend the illogical things of God. 1Corinthians 2:14
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  Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  It would seem that in order to be healthy one needs to be able to accept both the logical and the faith based. One without the other seems to lead one too far in either direction.
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Christians are told many lies in order to accept the various beliefs of their many denomenations as logical - ie. the Gospels NOT being written by the actual Apostles, but to instill FEAR. It spread like fire bc the Roman Emperor proliferated it.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Also misfit no one forced you to believe what you feel is
  Right .but you force your right on others to say they are lies. Prove the point of the lie first before you judge it a lie.
  Again what is witten in the bible is written on found artifacts .
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Atheists will do as some here have done to disprove God.
  "as an atheist, I cannot accept the illogical things in the bible"
  But if they took the stories as symbolic instead of literal their view would have to change
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  cam8510posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Outwest, I'd like for you to briefly give a symbolic interpretation to the conquest of Canaan and the slaughter of the population there. I'm serious here, not arguing. I'd like to hear the symbolic interpretation.
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  We all have personal battles to deal with Chris. But how narrow it is to take a passage written by humans literally in an effort to say a Creator does not exist. How serious is that person in actually trying to find out if God exists?
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  cam8510posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Outwest, good points. I want to respond later. I'm at work now. My earlier point refers only to the god of Israel at that time and place. Another god might be different, if one exists.
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  Austinstarposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  OW - Just for clarification, the bible really isn't the reason I am an atheist, although it is the reason I began to question 'gods' existence. No, the fact that 'gods' are nowhere to be found is what makes me an atheist. Where are these gods?
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  For sure i am not here debating God's existance but rather how are atheists any different than religious people who use the bible literally to make their decision
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Also misfit in our posts on the subject who really have shown violence toward anyone because of their beliefs
  So far not christians here. But a so called guest speaker came on and threaten to kill believers to conquer them.
  Not the first time.
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  cam8510posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  First, I've never claimed to be an atheist. But, I do argue against the Bible quite often. Many of my arguments are crafted to oppose a literal interpretation of certain parts of the Bible. That is why it looks like I interpret it literally.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Misfit you posted links I will post reply to your links.
  Because you believe this proves your poin I will give you a short list .I am aware of the subjects and name persons in your list.So if you research
  and got this ,and I am familiar .I research
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  No, I said that my HUB proved my points - you pushed for links. You spent 12 minutes on my very longwinded and semi-complex explanations. Go ahead and make your 'list' - heck, write another hub. I can't wait to read it.
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  cam8510posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I'm reading here about research. When I was a Christian, 50 years of my life, I claimed to have researched evolution/creation. Now I can admit I did no honest research. I looked for anything that would support what I had already chosen to believe.
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Ann810posted 9 years ago
It's because they are carnal-minded instead of spiritual. If they only new operating in the spirit is more beneficial than being fleshly-minded. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. Psalm 14:1

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:6
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  cam8510posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  The arrogance portrayed in this representation of Christianity is enough to make anyone look for a different way, anything but to become like "That." Even the term Gospel/Good News has been corrupted to be a laundry list of hateful comments.
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I keep saying this over and over again and I will keep saying it... Human Beings are inherently GOOD. Christians have been told this 'evil' lie about souls in order to put them into psychological bondage - and it still works. very. very. well.
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  Titen-Sxullposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Every religion thinks it has things figured out better than all of the others, some path to enlightenment, some method of "salvation". They convince you you are diseased or foolish and then conveniently sell you their "cure" and their "wisdom".
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  Ann810posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Elohim hates sin and disobedience. The people that were born with the heredity of GOODNESS in our history, got their lands stolen, were murdered, and were chained with locks to be slaves. God's wisdom is better than man's wisdom any day.
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  Titen-Sxullposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  For thousands of years people have pretended to know what the gods want and what and WHO the gods hate. People have justified hatred and slavery by claiming the be the chosen of the gods... in your case a sense of superiority has arisen.
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Yeah, and PRIDE cometh before a fall. It is amazing the superiority complexes that some people have developed over their religions. Perhaps this has something to do with the GREAT DIVIDE that they are told is SUPPOSED to exist between people!!
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RachaelLeflerposted 9 years ago
I think it's easier to mock the beliefs of people who take the Bible literally. But they're not taking into account that God is all-powerful and so He could make things like Noah and the animals surviving in the ark for example possible when to us they sound ridiculous (like an atheist YouTuber, nonstampcollector, pointed out in his videos). They sound ridiculous because a human could not do things like that, but it doesn't mean that God couldn't. So the phenomena of the Bible are a matter of faith, not science, too often they make that error. I think of the Torah as a metaphorical account of Jewish history as told by the Jews themselves, and then an account of their religious and civil laws (no separation between the two). The OT stories that seem bad now are all about how God will protect and serve His chosen people (Jews) and not let them die out even when they face threats and tragedy of every kind, as long as they remained faithful. Scientific or logical "inaccuracies" are just pointed out basically by people who aren't looking at the bigger picture.
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  cam8510posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  It is Evangelical Christians who are attempting to force the Bible and science together, not the those who don't believe the Bible. Christians have come up with the Creation Research Society, the Creation Museum, Bible and Science and on and on.
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  Austinstarposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Rachael said, "The OT stories that seem bad now are all about how God will protect and serve His chosen people (Jews)" But aren't ALL people supposed to be created by God? Why does he choose one race over another?
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Also understand I do not mean to cause and disagreement. But should a nurse not speak up just because the Doctor should know a procedure and he errors in operation. No she supports her doctor and team to come off with good results saving a life.
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  @Austinstar. I think you are the person this whole question is referring to. Your comment shows how literal you take the bible...sighting quotes even, to prove God does not exist or that you cannot believe in this God of the OT
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  @Rachael Lefler: Excellent. Exactly my point. It has a deeper meaning and not a literal one. If that is what I see you saying
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Mithun Nairposted 9 years ago
Not sure I totally understand your questions.
First, the Bible can be taken literally.

Second, atheists will go to hell while babies won't. Why? B/c atheists, usually, have reached the age of accountability and can make the decision to believe in God and Jesus or not, while babies haven't reached that point yet (by babies I'm talking about birth to like 5 or so).

Third, baptism doesn't equal salvation. The Bible doesn't say if you're baptized you are saved. Jesus says "I am the way the truth and the Light, no man comes to the father except through me." (John 14:6) and "For God so loved the world He gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). To be saved one has to repent of their sins and accept the free pardon of sin from Jesus. Baptism is simply an outward expression of an inward change. It's simply to show others that you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and savior.

Finally, those who are brought up by secular parents and reach the age of accountability most certainly be cast into hell if they choose to not accept Jesus into their hearts. If they are babies then see point 2.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Mithun while I will agree with some things you say, there are other things that do not fit.
  The bible says there will be a resurrection of the righteous and unrightous. If some one went to heaven why are they resurrected from the grave.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  If a person went to this believed hell then why
  Resurrection takes place to come back ?Acts 24:15.
  No one has burned if they are unrighteous and is resurrected.
  This is a false doctrin King James used in his translations of the 1600's
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  cam8510posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Even two Christians who have the Spirit of God can't agree on the meaning of the Bible. I thought the Spirit gave each Christian understanding beyond what unbelievers have. How can the two of you not agree on everything if you have the same Spirit?
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  There was a time I also believed the same thing. But if you carefully examine what is written and not just from one form of translations you can learn the truth. This includes Hebrew and Greek meanings as well.A fellow huber name monkyshine is good.
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  cam8510posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  It sounds to me as though you are the one who decides who is right and good, not God. You declare a translation or version acceptable or not. You declare an interpretation right or wrong. If anyone disagrees with you they are disagreeing with God.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Chris what is the scripture saying if a nurse points out an error to the doctor is it about a life .or is it about sparing the ego of the doctor The right thing would be to check it out
  Not tell the nurse are you the doctor that judges me!
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Hunter Lposted 9 years ago
Atheists don't attempt to disprove god, that is impossible, and is the one defence of religious folk. Atheists challenge people to attempt to 'prove' and justify their god... whichever of the many, many different ones they follow... especially when this 'mass belief' challenges and affects the lives of normal people.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Rob ,So far you are very nice in your expression thank you.
  But I can not agree that many even a crowd of witnesses have not shared some solid truth or evidence, it was not true of that fact .because there are Atheist who are now believers.
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  Hunter Lposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  People can be converted to anything in times of extreme stress. It's a kind of defensive reaction, or mental illness if you like. A need to belong. It doesn't make it any more viable.
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Yes, there are atheists who are now believers - and believers who are now atheists or buddists or even MUSLIM *gasp* (yes, christians convert to Islam - look it up!) Atheists attempt to disprove RELIGIONS, not 'gods' - because they don't exist.
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Maybe more accurately is that some atheists attempt to show how they do not believe in God by using bible phrases literally. "The God of Moses was a cruel God" etc
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  Sam Shepardsposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Actually often that has nothing to do with proving or disproving God. Just that some religious absolutist ideas and grounds some religious fanatics use are just plain awful and backwards. Using afterlife as a base for morality is also problematic.
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The Indexerposted 9 years ago
What is evident from all arguments by fanatics, whether they be Christian, Atheist or whatever, is that they prefer to throw the laws of logic out of the window.

What is needed is dispassionate observation of the evidence with a view to seeing how it stacks up and what implications can be drawn from it. Unfortunately, this process is abandoned very quickly when convinced religionists and anti-religionists get going!
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  @John Welford. I agree with your first statement because the fanatics from both sides are illogical
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mybillypilgrimposted 9 years ago
The simple answer to this question is that WAY to many christians DO take the bible literally, and it is laughably easy to dispel the myths and fantasies that are included in the text. The fact that so many people around the world still believe in these 2,000 year old fairy tales and disrespect and even shun those who do not buy into it is a real insult to the science that we as human beings have spent so long deciphering.
I'm sorry that the really inconvenient facts of reality and physics have spoiled your spirituality buzz. You are welcome to believe it, just don't JUDGE those who don't.
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  Austinstarposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Yes, I almost posted the parallel question, "Why do Christians take the bible so literally?" But I have sworn off asking religious questions here. The arguments are boring, repetitive, and un-intelligent.
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Sulabhaposted 9 years ago
I am a Hindu. And yet I wish to answer your question. In this world, you'll find many people who enjoy raising doubts just for the heck of it. They love attention and this is the way they get it. For all you know, they may not even remember what they said, unless it's made a big issue in the media. Thus, they may even contradict themselves on the same issue for all you know!
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Yes Sulab this is true many times said and done. to be heard is more important to some then being correct.
  Many times the truth is said and ignored not even admission of truth in any way. Some people are a one way street they only see their path
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peter565posted 9 years ago
Because you are suppose to take it literally. In a world of Christ, you are suppose to take everything literally and act according to it. But a lot of its teaching is problematic, if you take it literally.
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Who say? It is up to each individual to decide. That is exactly my point. People from both sides blindly deciding by taking this one book literally. I focused on atheists because they claim God does not exist. So why use a religious text for that
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  peter565posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Because there are lots of problematic teaching in the bible, take a few most obvious and problematic ones as example search these passages Chronicles 15:12-13 Deuteronomy 17:2-5 Deuteronomy 22:20-22 Luke 19:27 there are more problematic ones
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  But these things in the bible can be interpreted in different ways. but besides that it has nothing to do with the actual existence or non-existence of God, So why use it for that reason?
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Outwest people have a problem with its contents of moral laws and reject the rest even if it good and tells history and the future. If you accept a piece as true then all is true
  If you find fault with a piece all is false this is how people believe
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I think this is what my question is all about. How people believe in the bible. People can take it anyway they want to. Lot's of the bible are people revealing their faith. They are not literal type stories. They are meant to show examples of faith
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herrypaulposted 9 years ago
of course I believe in God; I believe in Jesus- I m a Christian.
And if you do not believe in The One God:
Why do you be? and Why do you be born?
That are simple questions, I think!
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Taylor Pecaposted 9 years ago
You're an idiot. That's a sufficient answer. Accept it.
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east-west proposted 9 years ago
"God is for understanding and not for belief"
Everything is God, says the Hindu!
If you can take Vedanta which talks about CONSCIOUSNESS as the only reality and is called as God, we are all conscious beings.
This is acceptable even to the atheists
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Outwest example the bible is a treasure. How so if we did not have it nobody would know the good and bad of anything. Even the law uses it in court and the justice system.
  It is the original book of principles our Ancestors based their morals from.
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  It is through Christian lies that you believe 'nobody would know the good and bad of anything'. You've been taught that you are born bad so that you will accept that Christ died for you and willing walk into that spiritual & psychological prison.
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  OutWestposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  @kiss and tales. I would like to respond but cannot figure out what you are saying. however i do not regard the bible as a treasure or believe people cannot tell right from wrong without it
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Outwest the point of my comment is the value of the bible. Example what is the value of your justice system ?
  Not to steal, kill, and even laws of inheritance? If there is no order who could live. The bible is old law used in our law systems
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  cam8510posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  There are a lot of sources for laws in our legal system, but no one uses that as proof that the other sources are Got-breathed, inerrant and infallible.
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  Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Dang, I just find myself not caring what these evangelists share. Word is so subjective.
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smcopywriteposted 9 years ago
faith is one of the hardest things to prove or disprove. it has been since the beginning of its existence. many people mistakenly accept the mindset as science improves so does the chance to change minds from original certainties in a religion. this has not been the case. that being said, countless folks are certain an atheist is void of any beliefs. there is one they hold. it is the non existence of god. therefore, just like anyone else with a faith there has to be something (arguments included) to prove or disprove atheism. they have a confidence taking the bible literally puts this in their pockets.
there is a difference between god and religion. religion is the specific doctrine followed because of a faith god exists. in other words, how you worship him/her. you can have faith and not have a religion.
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Officially, atheists claim a 'lack of belief' in any god - not necessarily a non-existent one. I think you have to state anti-theism for that, not sure. Great answer. If there was more faith and less religion *I* would personally feel MUCH better.
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  Austinstarposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  No, atheists claim that there is no proof of a god or gods. We are quite willing to accept proof, should it ever be presented. We don't "lack belief", we lack "proof".
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  It is on their website. Apparently, they are very picky about the wording, LoL!: Atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods. https://atheists.org/activism/resources/what-is-atheism
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Chris says some enlightment.he says if a former christain attacks the bible he is not atheist he is an anti christian
  Well said.
  Many times people believe in God but they reject his words his counsel's his laws. So people say they are Atheist
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  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  That isn't true, K&T. MANY former Christians turn to religions such as Islam (is a biggie, believe it or not), Theosophy, Buddhism, or plain 'ol Agnosticism - though probably most become simple Atheists. Once Jesus is debunked he becomes irrelev
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Steven Holtposted 9 years ago
“The temple of the most high begins with the body which houses our life, the essence of our existence. Africans are in bondage today because they approach spirituality through religion provided by foreign invaders and conquerors. We must stop confusing religion and spirituality. Religion is a set of rules, regulations and rituals created by humans, which was suppose to help people grow spiritually. Due to human imperfection religion has become corrupt, political, divisive and a tool for power struggle. Spirituality is not theology or ideology. It is simply a way of life, pure and original as was given by the Most High of Creation. Spirituality is a network linking us to the Most High, the universe, and each other…”
― Haile Selassie I
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Titen Eccles 3;11 is the scripture that says he has put eternity in their heat.
  Sorry letters and words drop from my mobile device. But there will always plenty to do not bord.
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buck3647posted 9 years ago
Even with miraculous proof, Shroud of Turin, humans, as it is written, will never be able to know God. Energy is everywhere perhaps the Shroud is an example of how our energy lives on? You don't know what you don't know.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Outwest you benifit as a citizen that people value prinple laws from the bible. Your neighbor may not steal from you becauae of the Author of the bible.May not be violent. Moral conduct and respect of you and family makes a good neighbor the bible
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Stella Kayeposted 9 years ago
This is a difficult one: nothing in religion is ever straightforward and.It's never going to be. The Bible was actually written by at least forty men over a vast time-scale so there will be inconsistencies. Believers say that as the writers were inspired by God then he would preserve the book's integrity to allow for this. Atheists don't have a book as such so perhaps their judgement of the Bible is a little harsh. Taking things too literally can damage the credibility of any piece of writing. How many things do people say in the course of the day that are never intended to be taken literally? 'I'll kill you if you're late for dinner again!' being a prime example. For a piece of writing written so far back in history, the Bible does have a valuable place in society nowadays, whether people believe in it or not..
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  dadbuzzbeeposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I like the story in the Bible about the Tower of Babel --- the builders ended up not understanding each other --- due to everyone having his/her own -----. So yes, the Bible can certainly remind us about our present day era.
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Steven Lindquistposted 9 years ago
They are my favorite, yet I wonder where they go in not belief, since of their intelligence they believe and then they are the products of their lives and fear that some would shake their branches of belief. Be blessed to know they are in the house of temple belief, they exist don they not? Or are they just figments of imagination, to live and not believe. I love talking to them, for they believe they speak so they have it in vocalization and in life that gave them thoughts to think, or did they just? Had I not, they would have been in the void of the afterlife. Being what the believed. We live in choices and all would choice to be in belief of choices, then choice if beliefs. Have that be what it ma, or not. I am nobody, just the words you read.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Outwest it is like a recipe say cake . say we do not need a certain ingredient to make a cake. So we exclude flower or eggs ,baking powder
  Yes we could leave something out but would your cake turn out good?
  The bible has been an ingredient of life
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Justin Earickposted 9 years ago
Believers are taught that their bible is the literal and inerrant word of their (thin-skinned & hate-fueled) deity. The comments on this very thread are highlighted with believers taking great delight in using scripture as a weapon to threaten eternal damnation and torture of atheists/non-christians. For atheists to ignore the ugliness and the absurdities and fail to hold a mirror to believers' and their guiding light would be an immoral abdication.
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JohnHJamesposted 9 years ago
First of all, all groups have their crazies. Atheists and the religious alike. I’ll exclude those for this argument. You touch on two distinct, but very important issues in your questions. First you ask why Atheists take the Bible literally. Then you talk about how the Bible isn’t important to the belief in the existence of a god.

The short answer to the first part is that when Atheists are challenging Christian, or any religious, belief they craft their arguments to target the arguments that they are hearing. Many times people claim that the Bible is literally true and cite historically verifiable parts as proof. Because of that the Atheists cite the horrible and magical parts as proof that it is fantasy. The idea is that if you can show example where the Bible shows good things and verifiable things to prove that it is true then you should look at the entire text. That includes not only the census data, but also the excessive violence and talking donkey. Both arguments can be equally valid since they use the same logic and source.

Atheists don’t take the Bible literally in all of their arguments. For example, when people argue about the moral teachings in the Bible an Atheist will bring up the parts of the Bible that we would consider amoral now. Like in any debate their arguments are crafted to counter the arguments that others are making.

Your second point is that the Bible isn’t important to believing in a god anyway. I would agree with you in general, but not specifically with Christianity. You don’t mention Christianity however based on your wording, and the fact that you’re posting in the “Christianity, the Bible & Jesus” section, I am assuming that you are. Many religions have gods. But Christianity is centered on the belief that Jesus is God born as a human to Mary. In that case belief in at least that part of the Bible is pretty much required.

You are right, though, you don’t have to take the Bible literally to believe in a god. Even Christians as a whole don’t agree which parts are symbolic and which parts are to be taken literally. There are estimated to be over 30,000 different denominations of Christianity. They all have slightly different beliefs. Including slightly different interpretations of which parts of the bible are to be considered literal and which are considered symbolic. They even have different versions of the Bible. That leads to very different interpretations of what their god is and wants.
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Ozinto.the same one responsible for things we can not touch like the sun.can we control it. The stars and moon are faithful no man can control these either. So when something of the Heavenly Father they can not touch it but mock it.
  He ends things
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LilaKposted 9 years ago
The real question, should regard the bible's credibility. We are talking about a book, written by human beings whose nature appeals to greed, power, and attention. The bible is supposedly "the word of God," and we are expected to believe in, and praise this book with love. Who chose what to put in the bible? What is the legitimacy of this text?
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Then the book you read is not the same book
  The one I read does not have that meaning.but simple who created it thoughts would only grant you to understand it
  Like a key to a locked chest
  You can always guess it contents not everyone has the key.
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MichaelMcNabbposted 9 years ago
The best answer to your question is a question. Why do non-atheists need to know why everyone else can see through their foolishness when they have no intention knowing any truth because truth is the least important quality in their lives?
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  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Micheal you can make a point no one can understand you if you call people foolish
  You lose credibility by attacking people verbally. If people believe something then it is not foolish to them .like what you believe you do not think it is foolish.
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Joshua 33posted 9 years ago
The sort of atheists you are describing are not true athiests. They are anti-christian. They use the bible because that is what you believe in. If they are anti-deist, they would use the vedas against hindus and the quran against muslims and so on.

If they are true athiests, in my opinion, they wouldn't bother talking to you and wouldn't be familiar with the bible at all.

In some cases, they may actually be true christians challenging your faith in order to make you stronger.
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  cam8510posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  How do you know these "not true atheists" don't use the vedas against hindus or the quran agains muslims? I can't imagine how you came upon that knowledge. Why would atheists not be familiar with the Bible? Many atheists are former Christians.
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  Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  It is always an interesting thing when people try to generalize and stereotype people with regard to beliefs. I find that 99% of folks like to avoid the subject of any spirituality. So how do we know sweeping generalities?
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  Joshua 33posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  @ Chris- exactly my point. If a former 'christian' is attacking the bible, they are not atheists. They are anti-Christian. @ Eric 99% of the people you attract in YOUR life avoid spirituality. As you do.
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  Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Wow Joshua you not only make generalizations about groups of people you jump to unfounded conclusions about individuals. It is a first for me to be called someone who avoids spirituality. I will tell my older brother, maybe he will talk to me again.
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5. 61
  Joshua 33posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  @ Eric I am responding to the words as written. I do not know you personally. When you speak of me to your older brother or anyone else for that matter, I insist that you use the most negative language possible.
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6. 94
  cam8510posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Joshua, very slick. You sidestepped my point and made a completely unimportant and irrelevant point of your own, i.e. your emphasis on anti-christian vs atheist.
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7. 61
  Joshua 33posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Did I? Was that being slick? You said many atheists are former Christians. I disagree. Had a person not been introduced to Christianity in a negative light, they would have no reason to attack the religion. An atheist believes there IS no God.
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8. 59
  Link10103posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Joshua how exactly do you magically rationalize that because an atheist was a former Christian that means they were introduced to it in a negative way?
  
  And no not all atheists are of the assumption there is no God. Enlighten yourself b4 generalizing
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9. 83
  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Do a little research - many Atheists were former Christians, including Pastors & Priests, etc. They have support organizations for these people as they are coming out of their beliefs because it can be kind of tramatic. Its true. I am a former C,
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10. 61
  Joshua 33posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  @ link look up the definition of atheist. Just look at the word a-theist. With out God. Are you saying the God of the bible is the one true God?
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11. 59
  Link10103posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Ironic you should tell me to look it up...
  
  Here ya go, pay attention to the second part as well since you even mentioned it yourself and tell me how you comprehend it:
  
  "a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings"
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12. 61
  Joshua 33posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Thank you for enlightening me, link. Now... Does anyone and everyone who denies their existence take the bible literally?
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13. 59
  Link10103posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Deflected twice, nice Joshua...
  
  I imagine it depends on the situation and what context is being used, though in the case of the Bible I don't think literal or metaphorical makes much of a difference.
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14. 61
  Joshua 33posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Thank you link. I am good at what I was created to do. Now how much longer must I endure this existence? I would prefer to go to sleep and never wake up.
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15. 48
  Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Hey Jashua, I certainly hope that your comment was metaphorical. You do know that it looks like a cry out for help. It looks like a suggestion of suicide. Please take stock and look for the good. You will find it.
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16. 61
  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  And Chris you are 4 times a trillion pennies in value research done .
  That means you are a rare treasure
  Never let anyone cause you to think less this is what the spiritual war is about every human is valueable
  even sstatics says born a conquerer
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17. 83
  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  The problem with Christians is they know it all cuz of that 'inspired' book they take so literally. God is supposed to 'move his spirit' upon people to 'inspire' them to be saved. It is amazing how his 'words' are so powerful yet his spirit is weak.
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Mr. Happyposted 9 years ago
You really answered your own question when You mentioned the extreme religious fanatics who take their Holy Books literally. Such people exist in all religious denominations.

Often times, people start arguing over the interpretation of certain passages/ideas and that divides the "faithful". Therefore, other believers to avoid arguments over interpretation, or in order to "mimic" "the word of God", they take the Holy scriptures word by word. Now, that is a little extreme and it fuels the atheists argument that religion is crazy and the texts are ridiculous. Well, yes they are if You never heard of a metaphor.

It is really easy to dismiss any Spiritual text if You take word by word what was written thousand of years ago. It's an easy attack/argument.
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1. 83
  Misfit Chickposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  This is so true and I've said it before - nontheists only argue back 'literally' when they are confronted by literal arguments. Since you argue that way - it stands to reason that is all you will listen to; and even then, NOT. C's are know-it-alls.
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Oztinatoposted 9 years ago
What a great question!
There is no logical or scientific reason for an atheist to take the Bible literally. The correct attitude for an atheist is to take an anthropological and literary view of the Bible as do actual atheist university standard studies.
The reason common garden variety online atheists decide to keep taking a literal view is to mock their own bigoted stereotype of religion as "right wing back woods fundamentalism". Such uneducated atheists do not belong to a university standard of true atheist Bible study. There are many atheist archaeologists who use the Bible as an adjunct to historical study, identifying sites, studying migration routes, getting insights into ancient figures of speech and mind sets etc. These serious scholars do NOT take a totally literal view of the Bible as such scholars have no agenda of religious persecution or mockery. Why should they? Such mockery has no place in serious scientific study and only belongs to self possessed cliques of online atheists who have axes to grind.
For an atheist to adopt the very same attitude of taking the Bible literally is actually a laughable form of self mockery! They are saying "look how stupid all religious people are but look at me I am doing the same thing". It's totally illogical and solely motivated by a screwy paternalism towards their own misguided stereotype of religious people. It's a crazy thing to do!
Of course such atheists will use many rationalizations to justify attacks and stereotyping. I'm sure we'll see many such faux pas style justifications here in this exquisite question.
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1. 61
  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Very interesting and the truth is this has been the very case of mockery.
  But knowing this will not stop what couldnt be stopped in centuries. The reason why is it is not by human power
  That the message we all are given can be controled.wiped out
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2. 59
  Link10103posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  If nothing else Oz, i always find it interesting how you create your own stereotypes of atheists, to then complain about other people using stereotypes when they dont, and then going right back to using your own stereotype.
  
  Good on ya.
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3. 78
  Oztinatoposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Link
  I'm on record on hp defending actual real atheists and have done so here if you read my answer. It's also officially in my hub about atheism. Ergo I'm not using a stereotype as I promote real atheists on hp.
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60
flpalermoposted 9 years ago
The intellectual elites of this world (as our friend from Texas) belong to a group of secular scholars, atheists, humanists, and philosophers that offer little in the way of answering the question Why does Man Exist?
They all share a common point: the denial of a creator and an absolute belief of the theory of evolution.
Since there is no God, no creator, there is no purpose for human life.
Like all atheist, humanists support and champion a system of thought that attaches prime importance to human rather than divine ideals.
Atheists and humanists stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs and look to LOGIC in solving human problems.
People determine human purpose, without supernatural influence.
Only this present life is all-important to the atheist humanist.
The elite intellectuals of this world, the atheist, humanists, evolutionists assume that there is no God, no creator. Thus for them, there is no purpose for human life.
They adopted the philosophy of “meaninglessness.”
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1. 94
  cam8510posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  You spoke of solving human problems. With a few exceptions, Christians Talk. People of science Do. I have been on both sides of this and it is an observation that Christians should actually attend to. How much of what you are about is talk?
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2. 48
  Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  This is a little harsh Chris: "Christians Talk. People of science Do". My great Doc is a Christian man of science, so was my MD father. These distinctions are too much. I love to teach my son about science and about God.
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3. 94
  cam8510posted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Eric, in specific circumstances like yours, yes, I have seen Christians who could accept science which accomplishes things in this world. In general, though, Christians gather to talk, e.g. Bible studies, prayer groups, sermons, retreats etc.
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4. 61
  Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  Outwest with out it as a guide more injustice would prevail. People would take liberties against you without a mental concious of right and wrong
  No child is born with this it has to be taught.
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5. 84
  Readmikenowposted 9 years agoin reply to this
  I always say that science and religion have one thing in common, they both take faith. You need to believe your science is correct. Science has made many mistakes. Tort attorneys love this and make a lot of money every year from it.
  reply report
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yecallposted 8 years ago
I actually did not know that atheists did this. So that is news to me. I think when you are looking to disprove anything you may desire to pick it apart bit by bit.
reply report

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Why do atheists take the bible so literal?

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Why do atheists take the bible so literal?

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