How Critical Thinkers Lose Their Faith in God

[DesertDevil]

As you can see from the discussion with believing Christians, they interpret it more for their own convenience.

This is very true for many Christians. But honestly, Ive never "tried" to do this. On the other hand, I am a flawed human being.

As i have stated, I believe that many things are black and white. But some things there is just no clear cut answer. So you have to take the big picture about what you know of God to find some understanding. The old saying, "WWJD". I think many questions can be answered just by applying this.

I think its human nature for us all to take the easy road out. Its much easier to justify things in ones own mind, than to search for the Truth.

 

[ALSportsJunkie]

And to answer your question. Yes. I am very well educated in all of those subjects.

And I agree with you. It would be much more difficult as a non-believer than a believer. In the big picture. But day to day? I think its far more difficult to try to follow a God, religion, or a set of rules....

What rules do you follow? Not raping, murdering, and pillaging? IMO these are all pretty easy to follow. What exactly do you miss out on a day to day because you are "following God?"

 

[ALSportsJunkie]

This is very true for many Christians. But honestly, Ive never "tried" to do this. On the other hand, I am a flawed human being.

As i have stated, I believe that many things are black and white. But some things there is just no clear cut answer. So you have to take the big picture about what you know of God to find some understanding. The old saying, "WWJD". I think many questions can be answered just by applying this.

I think its human nature for us all to take the easy road out. Its much easier to justify things in ones own mind, than to search for the Truth.

Why would a "perfect" religion allow any room for grey area at all??? If it is that important it seems to me like it should be pretty black and white.

 

[DesertDevil]

Revelations 21:8
Romans 6:23
James 2:10 (Pay attention to this one - it most likely applies to you)
Matthew 25
I could go on and on and on...

Don't take this the wrong way, but I get the feeling that you actually know very, very little about "Biblical" Christianity. I think you take the gist of it, which is an acceptance of Christ, but you only adhere to part of the law.

I dont take anything the wrong way. I appreciate the dialogue as stated before. You can think what you want of me. I am not easily offended.

But I asked you, " Where does it say the EVERY man that rejects Christ will spend eternity burning and suffering?"

NONE of these versus say this Sir. Please explain to me why you chose these versus if NONE of them say this?

 

[DesertDevil]

Why would a "perfect" religion allow any room for grey area at all??? If it is that important it seems to me like it should be pretty black and white.

We have been through this Al. I think I have more than stated my case on what I meant with that.

And I think that I have made a fair case. Whether you agree with me is another question.

 

[ALSportsJunkie]

I dont take anything the wrong way. I appreciate the dialogue as stated before. You can think what you want of me. I am not easily offended.

But I asked you, " Where does it say the EVERY man that rejects Christ will spend eternity burning and suffering?"

NONE of these versus say this Sir. Please explain to me why you chose these versus if NONE of them say this?

Please go and read them again...take the whole picture...study on the topic and you will inevitably come to conclusion that without the acceptance of Christ you are doomed to suffer in Hell. It is plain and it is there...in black and white. Have you ever THOROUGHLY examined the Bible? I am talking about a good translation too...something like the 1901 KJV.

 

[ALSportsJunkie]

We have been through this Al. I think I have more than stated my case on what I meant with that.

And I think that I have made a fair case. Whether you agree with me is another question.

We can agree to disagree, but to me it is inconsequential. Just trying to get you to do some thinking - that is all.

 

[DesertDevil]

Don't take this the wrong way, but I get the feeling that you actually know very, very little about "Biblical" Christianity. I think you take the gist of it, which is an acceptance of Christ, but you only adhere to part of the law.

Not that it matters, here is some background on myself just to give you some perspective:

I spent Sundays in Church from birth to the age of 25. I am a college graduate. I am a history teacher. I have taught/coached at private Christian high schools in the past. I have taught Bible classes at the high school level in the past.

Just because I asked you a question, doesnt mean that I dont know the answer. I or dont think I do. I am doing it for dialogue sake to see where you are coming from.

And please tell me where I only "adhere" to part of the law? Are you getting on me about being in that fantasy football league again Al?? ^<<^

 

[DesertDevil]

Please go and read them again...take the whole picture...study on the topic and you will inevitably come to conclusion that without the acceptance of Christ you are doomed to suffer in Hell. It is plain and it is there...in black and white. Have you ever THOROUGHLY examined the Bible? I am talking about a good translation too...something like the 1901 KJV.

If its there, then show me. I think thats pretty simple and fair.

 

[Doug]

It's pretty damn easy to see that the bible is pure Bullshit ! My parents told me I was Protestant , but never went to church, maybe on a holiday once in awhile.... so they didn't buy it either ( IMO). Nothing wrong with Church, you could meet decent honorable people there and make it a social thing.....however the BS biblical stuff behind it is 100% false.

I called myself an agnostic until I was about 35, then I had the balls to say this is all BS....I'm an atheist in reality and will say so publically at 48. The authors of those biblical fairy tales must have had some great drugs at their disposal.

 

[DesertDevil]

We can agree to disagree, but to me it is inconsequential. Just trying to get you to do some thinking - that is all.

Oh Ive done a lot of thinking lately Al. And a lot of reading. Trust me on that.

 

[festeringZit]

Please go and read them again...take the whole picture...study on the topic and you will inevitably come to conclusion that without the acceptance of Christ you are doomed to suffer in Hell. It is plain and it is there...in black and white. Have you ever THOROUGHLY examined the Bible? I am talking about a good translation too...something like the 1901 KJV.

1901 kjv ? Me no think you mean what you said.

 

[Bjizzle06]

The KJV is a horrible translation and no modern day biblical scholar outside of very conservative seminaries uses it. The fact that he thinks that's a good translation shows why he is an apostate.

 

[ALSportsJunkie]

1901 kjv ? Me no think you mean what you said.

You are right - I was just running off memory. It is actually the 1901 American Standard Version; Parallel to KJV. Of course their are more accurate translations...in regards to the original language of course...but how many actually use these now? Maybe 1-2%

 

[ALSportsJunkie]

The KJV is a horrible translation and no modern day biblical scholar outside of very conservative seminaries uses it. The fact that he thinks that's a good translation shows why he is an apostate.

A conservative approach to the Bible is the correct approach IMO. If you disagree, then show me how I am wrong and I will consider changing positions.

 

[DesertDevil]

Not raping, murdering, and pillaging? IMO these are all pretty easy to follow. What exactly do you miss out on a day to day because you are "following God?"

Well Al, try cutting out the things you have proclaimed that you partake in that go against the "Law":
Gambling. Cursing. Drinking. Did I miss something?

Tell me how easy that is for you on a day to day basis.

I told you in the big picture it might be easier to believe than not. I feel its harder to believe on a day to day basis.

If you disagree, please try "adhering" to the "law" for a month just for fun. See if its easy.

 

[DesertDevil]

Gambling. Cursing. Drinking.

And just so you dont think Im going self righteous on you. I broke all 3 of those yesterday. Broke one of the 3 so far today....

 

[Bjizzle06]

A conservative approach to the Bible is the correct approach IMO. If you disagree, then show me how I am wrong and I will consider changing positions.

What exactly do you mean by "a conservative approach?"

With respect to the KJV, it's pretty well documented that the KJV translators used printed greek texts of the new testament, rather than actual ancient manuscripts. One of the KJV translators, Arasmus, basically inserted the portion of 1 John 5:7 where the trinity is explicitedly stated. That part of the verse is not found in any manuscript prior to the 15th century.

For this and many many other reasons (Arasmus didn't have access to any manuscript prior to 1000 AD -- now we have manuscripts that go back to the 2nd century) all of modern biblical scholarship rejects the KJV as a reliable translation.

If you would like to know more about this, check out "The Kings James Only Contraversy" by White. You can get a used copy off amazon for a penny.

 

[ALSportsJunkie]

And just so you dont think Im going self righteous on you. I broke all 3 of those yesterday. Broke one of the 3 so far today....

All good brother. Just so you know...I appreciate what you are doing by choosing teaching as a career. One of my majors was History so we probably have a good bit in common.

 

[ALSportsJunkie]

What exactly do you mean by "a conservative approach?"

With respect to the KJV, it's pretty well documented that the KJV translators used printed greek texts of the new testament, rather than actual ancient manuscripts. One of the KJV translators, Arasmus, basically inserted the portion of 1 John 5:7 where the trinity is explicitedly stated. That part of the verse is not found in any manuscript prior to the 15th century.

For this and many many other reasons (there are 1,800 differences between the Textus Receptus used in the KJV and the Bizentine text) all of modern biblical scholarship rejects the KJV as a reliable translation.

If you would like to know more about this, check out "The Kings James Only Contraversy" by White. You can get a used copy off amazon for a penny.

Interesting. I will have to check this out sometime. Thanks for posting this.