General

Admin Mode: I will remind people to remain polite in this topic due to it's potentially volatile nature, thank you.

To me, all the fantastical things described in the Bible likely recount actual events. But these have all been filtered through the lens of the human mind. Many dozens of times. Translated and retranslated over and over again.

The entirety of the bible is subject to the fallibility and prejudice of man. This is what I believe engendered the verses like Leviticus 20:13, not the will of God. And the Old testament was violent because, in my opinion, God was learning. Some of the bible I believe can be trusted as it is written, such as the part about there being nothing before God created the Universe. So he had no prior knowledge of how to discipline naughty children *which is what we amount to sometimes.* And you have to realize that in the eyes of an Eternal God, who had indeed created humans in his image with an eternal aspect *the soul*, wouldn't see death as a severe punishment. But none of that really matters anymore with the coming of Christ and the New Covenant. Which I've come to realize may have been an epiphany of sorts for God.

*not exactly on topic with what I was talking about but I feel it needs to be said*

And as to the "young earth" concept...there is a bible verse that explains the irrelevence of time to the Divine.

Psalm 90:4 For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.

This one verse suggests to me that the notion that God created the Universe in 7 literal days would be inaccurate. More likely the creation of the Universe took incalculable eons *much as science now believes* and it was represented to the Prophets in a way that they would understand. And that being days.

But I digress. I'm a Christian and I was raised a Christian my whole life. I have found strength in my faith in times of weakness or stress. And while I am a Christian I don't care much for organized religion. Though religion in and of itself is not a bad thing.

However, you have to make this choice on your own. All I can do here, or anyone else for that matter, is give you all the information you need.

Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Which says to me we all need to come of our own accord, with wonder and hope in our hearts.

No one can make you believe, only you can do that.

what she said. Belladonna, your as smart as they come.

To each his or her own of course. If finding a form of spiritual release is the thing for you, then by all means go for it. But if you look for happiness in religion, be wary of the promises they tend to make about the afterlife.

I couldn't have said it better!

I couldn't have said it better myself. Choosing to take on a religion is not something to dive into headlong without any reflection. It's something that needs to be contemplated and prayed *or meditated* on.

And to Bubba, I hope you find what you're looking for whatever your decision ends up being.

Or rather a Monotheist, such as a Christian, as there are two other prominent Monotheistic religions and probably some lesser known ones too.

I'm not religious because I care whether or not my beliefs are true. That being said, if you feel like religion brings you some sort of comfort, I say go for it. Just don't expect others to believe it unless you can back it up with evidence.

well I'm a chirstian and it works for me - though not to say it does for all

"And most religions require some degree of sacrifice." That seems to be the underlying theme of all of them, mainly the Abrahamic faiths. Sacrifice pleasure in the here and now, and you will be rewarded after death. Also, you must believe claims that have absolutely no evidence to back them up.

*sighs* Shutting this.