Free will and original sin

Celticguy said:
Left out the "with comprehension" part. Makes a big difference.
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The Bible is a series of books, written by various people in various very different periods, then heavily edited, and you need a very thorough education indeed to understand it: a First in Theology is about as academically brilliant as you can get, and you need at least three languages even to get started, which doesn't stop some barely-literate people from assuming that their particular reading is somehow 'true'. I think you assume that, because the whole thing belongs to periods when the existence of a single God was very advanced thinking, let alone when later, a simple carpenter is seen as somehow part thereof, it is all guaranteed by a 'God', and therefore a demonstration of the existence of that same figure, and existence which most modern developments seem to make a lot less likely. Don't you think this is rather unscholarly arrogance?
 
Penderyn said:
So we might as well act as if we have choice, since that's the way we are programmed anyway! :)
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So you believe we're all ambulatory meat computers responding solely to biochemical programming and of no more value than the sum of our basic components? That death is no more than a meat robot burning out like an incandescent light bulb?

I disagree but understand it's a common atheist belief. It allows Socialist Atheists like Mao and Stalin to murder millions of human beings without a second thought.
 
Dutch Uncle said:
Agreed about those following the same path as Jesus. The same goes for those who follow Buddha's path.

OTOH, others see Trump as a person who solely seeks self-gratification, even at the expense of those close to him. He epitomizes narcissism. If he actually believed in a God or gods, he's be worshiping the Greek god Dionysus (Bacchus in Rome).

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If everyone genuinely modeled their conduct on lives on Siddhartha Gautama, Jesus, Muhammad (at least the ethical principals they taught) the world would be in pretty good shape, imo.

Irrespective of whether one accepts the divinity of Jesus, the NT in it's historical context is one of the most important and radical pieces of literature ever written. And everyone in western civilization - agnostic, atheist, and devout - have been fundamentally influenced by it's ethical code, social critiques, and principal of spritual equality.
 
ThatOwlWoman said:
Awesome!

Just like a reader who opens up the first book of Tolkien's LOTR trilogy, a reader of the Bible must be prepared to suspend disbelief and rationality, and prepare to immerse him/herself into the realm of fantasy.

Or just treat it as a semi-fictional work of history, literature, wisdom, the human condition.
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So you dont understand literature at all huh.....
Ill act surprised.
 
Penderyn said:
The Bible is a series of books, written by various people in various very different periods, then heavily edited, and you need a very thorough education indeed to understand it: a First in Theology is about as academically brilliant as you can get, and you need at least three languages even to get started, which doesn't stop some barely-literate people from assuming that their particular reading is somehow 'true'. I think you assume that, because the whole thing belongs to periods when the existence of a single God was very advanced thinking, let alone when later, a simple carpenter is seen as somehow part thereof, it is all guaranteed by a 'God', and therefore a demonstration of the existence of that same figure, and existence which most modern developments seem to make a lot less likely. Don't you think this is rather unscholarly arrogance?
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Wrong again. Back to google for you.
 
jacksonsprat22 said:
Here is the logic. If you read the Old Testament you will convert to Judaism. If you read the New Testament you will convert to Christianity. If you read the Quaran you will convert to Islam.
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If you are born in the West you most likely are a Christian, if you are born in India you are most likely a Hindu, if you are born in Saudis Arabia you are most likely a Muslim as well. Religion is fascinating to me.
 
Phantasmal said:
If you are born in the West you most likely are a Christian, if you are born in India you are most likely a Hindu, if you are born in Saudis Arabia you are most likely a Muslim as well. Religion is fascinating to me.
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Yes. Amazing how 'universal' religions are all history and geography based.
 
jacksonsprat22 said:
Here is the logic. If you read the Old Testament you will convert to Judaism. If you read the New Testament you will convert to Christianity. If you read the Quaran you will convert to Islam.
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Actually, if you read them all you will walk away from organized religion, and find your own path.
 
Phantasmal said:
If you are born in the West you most likely are a Christian, if you are born in India you are most likely a Hindu, if you are born in Saudis Arabia you are most likely a Muslim as well. Religion is fascinating to me.
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Remember Kudzu? She knew a LOT about world religions. Wonder where she went?
 
Celticguy said:
Both are of course. My point is you dont understand the point of it, how it works.
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Your monosyllabic responses and attempts at pithy retorts provide no indication you have any profound knowlege of scripture, theology" and Christian history.

At least Owl and Pendryn are capable of demonstrating they have thought this topic through
 
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