How to embrace God's wisdom?

[Al B. Sure!]

So the Church flip-flopped... what else is new? They've done it on every issue for the past millennium and a half.

[Imran Siddiqui]

You appear to have a strange and weird concept that Christianity is just like Islam.

[Elok]

So the Church flip-flopped... what else is new? They've done it on every issue for the past millennium and a half.

You'd prefer they were consistent and burn you alive, Saracen?

[Al B. Sure!]

You appear to have a strange and weird concept that Christianity is just like Islam.

Islam is far more internally consistent than Christianity.

[C0ckney]

why do you think you're in a position to give a lecture on what Christianity is speer?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Islam is far more internally consistent than Christianity.

That percieved "internal consistancy" is far more problematic, as random verses, used out of context, can be used in manners they weren't intended because of the concept of "literalism".

[Al B. Sure!]

Imran, whatever jihad/hijab/whatever else you take issue with notwithstanding, from a purely philosophical standpoint, Islam is better articulated than Christianity is.

[Imran Siddiqui]

You mean in the same way that Creationism is better artiulated than Evolution?

[C0ckney]

i disagree with that actually. although that's not to say that there haven't been some great islamic philosophy.

there's also been plenty of interpretation down the centuries with islam.

x-post - response to albert

[Imran Siddiqui]

Now, I do understand Alby's need for simplicity and cut-and-dry faith, but God (or at least the Christian God) doesn't work that way. He's far more complex that just "give me the rules to follow". In fact, Jesus spoke against those who were too interested in legalism.

[Boris Godunov]

Very few Christians believe that the Bible is the literal word of God, and the Bible doesn't claim to be the literal word of God (so those that do claim it, don't make much sense).

JM

You asserted this before, and I showed it was wrong then. Why do you keep saying things like this?

Just among Americans, 1/3 believe the entire Bible is literally true. That may not be a majority, but it is hardly "very few."

[Caligastia]

Summary of things I have trouble really accepting or living (at least for now):
-no more fornication
-homosexuality sinful
-can't be "racist" or "classist" (can still be somewhat sexists in the traditional sense )
-transhumanism (genetic engineering, transhuman eugenics (beyond preservation) and creating God-like AIs is a no no )
-actually loving one's enemies

The Urantia Book has an interesting take on those topics. You should check it out.

Summary:

http://www.economicexpert.com/a/Urantia.html

Text online:

http://www.urantia.com/en/print/urantia-book/read

[Imran Siddiqui]

Just among Americans, 1/3 believe the entire Bible is literally true. That may not be a majority, but it is hardly "very few."

He may have meant worldwide . And most of those 1/3rd believe the Bible is literally true until they encounter something they can't deal with.

[Elok]

You could say that very few denominations believe in biblical literalism. Of course, those very few denominations are huge and growing while many of the moderates are shriveling up...

[Jon Miller]

Actually, the Bible literalism denominations aren't the huge and growing ones.

The huge and growing ones are the 'simple' denominations though. So they haven't put a lot of thought into a lot of things, and answer with the 'literal' answer (because they haven't considered the whole Bible but just read a verse).

JM