[Brother Temperance]

Re: ANNOUNCEMENT: Biblical Audit Underway

Obviously that's not for us to know. Why does he create retards that will eat their own poo?

Good question. Hey, Dances, why do you think (if that's not too strong a word to use) God created you?

[Old Iron Crotch]

Re: ANNOUNCEMENT: Biblical Audit Underway

Good question. Hey, Dances, why do you think (if that's not too strong a word to use) God created you?

God didn't create me - my mom and dad did.

[Talitha]

Re: ANNOUNCEMENT: Biblical Audit Underway

God didn't create me - my mom and dad did.

[Professor Brown]

Re: ANNOUNCEMENT: Biblical Audit Underway

Jenny,

You had asked how the Bible could contain error. Is it that God lacks omniscience or omnipotence or both? This, of course, is a false dichotomy. An omniscient and omnipotent God has chosen to act through weak and biased human beings.

Those include the human beings who composed, transcribed, edited, selected, translated, and offered glosses upon the Holy Bible. Based on the Bible itself, you see countless instances of the chosen people of God screwing up -- either through ill intent, weakness, recklessness, negligence, fits of passion, or simple momentary lapses. Denying the humanity of the Bible's authors is itself highly un-Biblical.

"Brother Temparence," you asked whether it wouldn't be simpler for the Holy Spirit to help us get it right the first time. God doesn't always choose the simplest path. It would have been simple for Him to create human beings immune to temptation, thereby avoiding the Fall and making salvation history a moot point. It seems that the struggle is part of what God wants for us, including the struggle with Scripture. So yes, He could have dropped the Bible down from the sky, in English, perfectly annotated, gone on Oprah to promote it, and set up a website to answer Frequently Asked Questions. Simpler, but He asks more of us than that.

"Brother V," you asked why I would undercut the one book that supports my faith as a Christian. Every example of Christian love that exists in the world supports my faith as a Christian. My faith is a living thing, because my God is a living God. Some would say your faith is a museum piece, intricate, fragile, and of limited use in today's world.

Professor Brown

[JennyD]

Re: ANNOUNCEMENT: Biblical Audit Underway

Jenny,

You had asked how the Bible could contain error. Is it that God lacks omniscience or omnipotence or both? This, of course, is a false dichotomy. An omniscient and omnipotent God has chosen to act through weak and biased human beings.

Then, my dear Mrs. Brown, you also say that God has CHOSEN to deliberately mislead people by allowing His message to be distorted.

In that case, once again, how do YOU decide which verses are "accurate", and which are, as you say, "distortions"? Also, who gives YOU the authority to do so?

"Brother Temparence," you asked whether it wouldn't be simpler for the Holy Spirit to help us get it right the first time. God doesn't always choose the simplest path. It would have been simple for Him to create human beings immune to temptation, thereby avoiding the Fall and making salvation history a moot point. It seems that the struggle is part of what God wants for us, including the struggle with Scripture. So yes, He could have dropped the Bible down from the sky, in English, perfectly annotated, gone on Oprah to promote it, and set up a website to answer Frequently Asked Questions. Simpler, but He asks more of us than that.

Is it your opinion that God intentionally sets out to mislead the "stupid", and asks that only the "intelligent" like yourself figure out the truth, that only the "intelligent" like yourself might be Saved(c)?

Sorry, dear, that's not the God we believe in. Our God is no respecter of persons, and does not intentionally mislead people. Maybe yours does.

"Brother V," you asked why I would undercut the one book that supports my faith as a Christian. Every example of Christian love that exists in the world supports my faith as a Christian. My faith is a living thing, because my God is a living God. Some would say your faith is a museum piece, intricate, fragile, and of limited use in today's world.

Professor Brown

Then why would not every example of Muslim love in the world convince you to be a Muslim? Why would not every example of Buddhist love (and there are many, they're quite kind and gentle people generally) convince you to be a Buddhist?

People of other faiths are quite capable of showing love. They just happen to be condemned to Hell for denying Christ. However, that does not explain why you choose Christianity over, say, Wicca, when Wiccans certainly can show love. Several times a day, with whatever happens by.

[Ahimaaz Smith]

Re: ANNOUNCEMENT: Biblical Audit Underway

Based on the Bible itself, you see countless instances of the chosen people of God screwing up -- either through ill intent, weakness, recklessness, negligence, fits of passion, or simple momentary lapses.

Chapter and verse, please. If you're going to make scurrilous accusations about our religion, you'd better back them up with facts. Otherwise, you're no professor at all.

In that case, once again, how do YOU decide which verses are "accurate", and which are, as you say, "distortions"?

I'd like to hear the answer to that one, too.

However, that does not explain why you choose Christianity over, say, Wicca, when Wiccans certainly can show love. Several times a day, with whatever happens by.

Good point, Sister Jenny, though I don't know that I'd treat Wiccan love (which is, let's face it, pretty much exclusively lesbian love) as love in any Christian sense.