What do people mean by, "This is the Word of God?"

[Berzerker]

This is the Word of God when it agrees with me.

yup

Everyone has this silly notion that what God thinks is good has to fall in line with what our intuitive moral sense thinks is good. wtf is that? If our intuitive moral sense is what should guide us, why do we need God?

God is that intuitive moral sense...

I see that this thread started with using Spong as authority. Spong, who not long ago proposed a new reformation, where most of what is Christianity was to be removed. Like God not a personal God, prayer not working, Jesus not being God's son, since God is not personal, miracles not being real, Jesus not dying for our sins, the resurrection not being real. And I could go on. Really, what is left of Christianity in that?

Treat others the way you want to be treated?

Nothing would be left that makes Christianity original/unique.

Sorry Jon, but there aint much that is unique to Christianity...not even his Birthday.

The death of children, ox, etc. etc. is usually in reference to the heathen tribes living in the land (Israel) that must be rooted out in order to obtain God's blessing.

Aint much unique about Islam either

Moses never wrote any part of the Old Testament. AFAIK, people began compiling the texts of the Old Testament centuries after Moses' death.

What was Abram's religion? In Joshua 24:2-6 I think, upon entering the "promised land" Joshua explains to the people how their fathers served other gods long ago in the land between the 2 rivers (Mesopotamia). Thats Abraham and his fathers in the land of Sumer.

Being a servant is far different from being a slave.

servants go free after 6 years

[SlowwHand]

A serf was bound to the land. A slave could be sold. The serf went with the land. Lower than slaves.

[Odin]

Moses never existed and there certainly was no exodus from Egypt. The Hebrews seem to have moved into the Levant from NW Arabia during the "Ancient Dark Ages" (the period between 1400BC and 1000BC), a period when there was a pulse of migration from Arabia in general.

[SlowwHand]

Whatever, Odin.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Berzerker

What was Abram's religion? In Joshua 24:2-6 I think, upon entering the "promised land" Joshua explains to the people how their fathers served other gods long ago in the land between the 2 rivers (Mesopotamia). Thats Abraham and his fathers in the land of Sumer.

okay, and . . . .?

[SlowwHand]

Maybe atheists should go to church and learn from people who studied theology. It's evident a mere person of faith won't suffice.

[Jon Miller]

I know all about Christmas Beserker. And I have never run into anything like Christianity (how it is suppose to be) in my studies of other religions. I studied religions for a number of years (when I was a teen), I don't suggest I am/was an expert, but I did know general ideas... and also knew Christianity... which not near as many people know as one would think.

It is true, some versions of Christianity are very similar to other religions. That isn't the Christianity that I follow though.

Jon Miller

[Berzerker]

the dying and resurrected god is not unique to Christianity

[Berzerker]

okay, and . . . .?

You say Moses didn't author the Torah, but we have to go even further back to find the origins of the religion.

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by Berzerker
the dying and resurrected god is not unique to Christianity

I know that....


JM

[Dr Strangelove]

Bishop Spong was a tortured man. The last 20 years of her life his wife suffered from progressively worsening paranoia and he blamed himself and other Christians in part. Her problems began in the 1960s when Rev. Spong stood up against segregation. His family endured repeated threats from the KKK and a variety of other non-affiliated bigots. The cruelest blow of all, during his tenure here in Lynchburg they even suffered abuse from clergy of other denominations whom I shall not name. Eventually she became delusional. He moved north, but her condition just gradually worsened. In her last years he lost faith entirely. Some might say that he was tested or punished by God, but lets not forget one thing - it was at the hands (or mouths) of other so-called Christians that their suffering began.

[Odin]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Maybe atheists should go to church and learn from people who studied theology. It's evident a mere person of faith won't suffice.

I know Christian theology better then the average bible-thumper and I'm an Atheist. Indeed, that is why I came to reject Christianity, the theology is bonkers and is based on philosophy that is bonkers.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Maybe atheists should go to church and learn from people who studied theology. It's evident a mere person of faith won't suffice.

Actually, I think it's the fanatical Bible thumpers who are in dire need of bible study and theological courses; they are, ironically enough, the ones who suffer a great deal from Bible illiteracy.

[Straybow]

Originally posted by Berzerker
the dying and resurrected god is not unique to Christianity

When oversimplified to the absurd that way, perhaps. But then you haven't really made a point.

[Berzerker]

whatever