While so many people seek answers in the scripture, and believe that the bible is written by god, those who have studied in depth the source of the bible find too many holes in the sources for me to agree that it's a good source of guidance today by itself. It's not a terrible thing, there is good in it, but if it's taken too literally, there's an awful lot of contradictory rules in there. Are you really going to stone people for wearing clothing woven from different textiles? or kill them for planting mixed crops in the same field? how about slavery, that's approved of in the bible too... see what I mean? The bible does need some editing IMO. yeah, I know, blasphemy huh?
The scriptures may have been assembled by people of good will who were trying to offer guidance and structure to the followers of their religion, mostly I see it as being assembled by people of not so good will, as a means of control by the various church hierarchies (i.e. fat white men who wanted wealth and obedience.) from many well intended historical references. I have to say that especially the new testament is an odd assortment of writings that have very little to do with god. Each version is rearranged by the bosses of each individual version of faith, to suite their own purposes. Do this, don't do that, eat this, don't eat that, follow me, pay me money, agree with this and don't agree with that. If you talk to anyone who has truly studied theology there no doubt that the gospels were NOT written by the apostles Mathew Mark Luke or John, they are an assembly of things that people decided were something they might have said or written...
There's a little too much smiting, stoning, raping and pillaging, and other horrific examples of behaviour approved of by the angry side of god in the old testament as well, to support the idea of a loving god in my opinion. If someone actually followed the scripture, they'd probably be schizophrenic with all the conflicting rules etc. Oh yeah? How many people use the 'god told me to' defense when exactly that happens? Maybe not THAT many, but...
All that being said, there are many many many good people of good will who follow their faith in the best way they can. I value them and am happy to acknowledge that they are wonderful people. I don't think any religion is bad, the fellowship and friendship that can be found is worthwhile and helpful and that can bring a lot of happiness. I really really don't mean to preach about it, that was one of the main things about it when this thread was started. I absolutely respect everyone's right to their beliefs. I'm just very briefly saying why I do not believe in the scripture as was originally talked about by the OP.
I believe in a higher power, not the god in the bible though. I was raised religiously in a church, and there's a lot of good in much of it, but this quote which has been attributed to Abraham Lincoln sums up a lot of what I think... When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad, and that is my religion.
Adding to say, 'feeling good' does not mean selfish things that make people feel good like drinking or eating banana splits or whatever. I mean doing good works, treating others as I would like to be treated, giving to charity and honoring my elders and those who also 'do good'. Doing those sorts of things make me happy, so perhaps the god you believe in does care if I'm happy, if my beliefs (or lack thereof) means that means I'm condemned to 'hell' by your god, so be it.
Thanks to you all for having this discussion without fighting or fueding. It is indeed a blessing to read all of your thoughts.
