Because of your False Doctrine, (On your website) You turn more people away from the lord then bring them closer. I am A devotional Christian. With a degree, It is sad how you take the bible out of context like you do. And use it for your own Mind set. ! ! !
--Scott
Hi Scott,
Thanks for writing and sharing your thoughts about my website.
I have no doctrine on my website, so are you sure that we're talking about the same site?
My site is all about moving humanity forward out of the dark-ages of religious superstition and towards an ethics based on empathy rather than dependent upon the divisive nonsense written by ancient, mostly barbaric men in their "holy" books.
Please tell me where I have taken the Bible out of context when I have quoted it virtually in its entirety in my book, and have merely compared it with itself together with a sprinkling of common sense. The only way I could be any more context-sensitive would be to stand in front of you and read the Bible from cover-to-cover as-is. But I'll bet that even then some Christians would say, "That's taken out of context."
Many people have accused me of taking things out of context, but no one has yet been able to provide me with an example. Since you boast about having a degree, I'm hoping you can help me see the light on this point. Otherwise I'll just have to assume that it's a dishonest excuse to keep from having to think about your belief rationally.
Also, if you could please enlighten me as to how I am "using the Bible for my own mind set" I would be most grateful. I don't see where I'm using the Bible in any way shape or form for my "mind set". My philosophy is to try to help people come to terms with reality who have been enslaved to such drivel. The Bible has held humankind back for so long, that it's high time that it was taken to task by some honest criticism.
The day the Muslims, Jews, and Christians lay aside their "holy" books is when we can at least start hoping for a chance at peace on Earth. Till that day I will continue to point out that the Bible cannot possibly be the word of any god. I will continue to do that by simply comparing the Bible to the Bible and asking people to please think about what it really says.
--Steve
This is were I state Fact Not opinion,
This is a (I quote) Bible believers may object that this is not an a "arbitrary claim" because it states in the Bible that God gave us dominion over the animals, and said that we could use them for food. (End Quote)
Gen 1:26 States then god said Let us make man in OUR image. according to Our likeness, Let them have dominion over Fish of the sea, over birds of the air and over the cattle *All the Earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on earth!( That is an Exact quote) Gen. 9:1-3 says: "Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall upon all of the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, now I give you everything." My Argument And what i mean by out of context is you do not go to say the whole verse rather Bits and pieces from It Trying to influence A different meaning! That's what i got out of that part! (AND THIS IS JUST MY OPINION you have a nice website)Now with Col. 3:22 You left out a little bit Well allot From the Bible (I read from a study Bible Which is NKJV) The question Of slaves and masters may appear to be OUT OF DATE and inapplicable to modern society. But on second glance there are Important principles in this passage. Even though slavery Might not be officially condoned OR practiced today. The admonition to work hard as though one was working for god. And not people, applies to employees the reward of the inheritance: The strong motivation to Serve Someone well is found in the future reward that christ gives to those who are faithful in this service. We normally think we receive eternal rewards for spiritual practices like reading the Bible,prayer, or evangelism.
And this was no copy paste I really know my bible Like I said,, I do have a degree I just did not say what it was in "theology". So you see I look at it from all angles. (Philosophical, ethnographic, historical, spiritual and others) to help understand, explain, test, critique, defend or promote any of myriad religious topics.
The scriptures you quoted on your web site mean allot more then What you Portray Them to mean. I mean the passages Above also concur with Col. 1:22, 23; and 2:18
Not to mention you are mixing Old Testament with new testament.. And yes it is a big difference. One is before and the other is after!
Not meaning to insult please do not take it that way.
And the Bible does not hold any one back, since it is rubbish to you Why don't you take a look into Revelations? And you will find ALL of the world events Right now are in those scriptures
--Scott
Hi Scott,
I don't see where you have a problem with my saying that 'many Bible believers think that the Bible states that god gave them dominion over the animals' -- and then you quote some biblical passages that state exactly that. Yes, that's my point, and those are the scriptures: where is anything being taken out of context? Nowhere. How did I try to "influence a different meaning"? I didn't. Your point is my point: the Bible states that god gave us dominion over the animals. (That's not something I believe, but I'm not claiming that the Bible doesn't say it.)
As to slavery: yes, I suppose you could derive some moral point about the work-ethic from this, but that is to ignore the context of what is being said (the very thing you accuse me of!) The writer is writing about slavery, not the employer/employee relationship! Yes, you could apply it to that sort of relationship if you wanted to, but the goal of my book is not to interpret the Bible but to take it as-it-is. As it is, the Bible condones slavery, and was used in support of slavery from the pulpits in the South during the Civil War in the United States. Look at the letter to Philemon: it is a letter supposedly written by Paul to Philemon concerning the run-away slave Onesimus who he was sending back to him! That's another New Testament instance of support for slavery. I hope in your mind I am not taking anything out of context by referencing an entire letter? (But see also Eph. 6:5; 1Tim. 6:1-5; Titus 2:9-10; 1Pet. 2:18.)
The important point is that the Bible -- which many claim is our guidebook for ethical behavior -- does not condemn slavery: it regulates it (often cruelly) and prescribes that slaves must be obedient vassals to their "masters", even to the point of accepting physical abuse as their due! This is an immoral teaching meant to keep the downtrodden from struggling against injustice. We recognize it as such today; our moral sense has matured beyond the level of the barbaric men who wrote the Bible. That is a clear example of how the Bible holds us back from moral progress.
I am well aware of the difference between the "Old" and "New" "Testaments". The aim of my book is to cure fundamentalism: which is a belief that the entire Bible (Old and New Testament) is the "word of god". As such, I cannot ignore over half of the Bible. If the Old Testament is supposed to be true, then what it relates as to "god's laws" regarding slavery are very apropos to this discussion. The Bible relates its god as having laid down laws allowing for the beating of slaves to the point-of-death, their mutilation, the stealing of their children, etc. (Ex. 21:2-6, 20-21) We can't just dismiss these facts simply because such things are in the "Old Testament"! If it is in the nature of the "unchanging" god of the Bible to issue such laws, then it matters a great deal as to whether I deem such a creature a reliable source of ethical precepts or as worthy of worship. Otherwise throw the Old Testament away, and my job is over half done.
I have read and studied Revelation (and quote it almost in its entirety in my book). It has nothing to do with today's headlines. Like all of the apocalyptic literature of its time, it is a mixture of mad ravings and symbolically disguised angry propaganda directed against the foreign occupying power (in this case the Romans).
For more information, please read my book: http://www.smmcroberts.net/religion/fundamentalism/bible/cbgw/index.html#contents
You don't have to keep mentioning your Degree; a Theology Degree does not impress me -- clear and honest thinking does.
--Steve
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