Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and more

[Question.Everything]

I have been reading there forums for some time out of interest of others' views. What I have found is nothing short of disturbing.

Let me start with a short introduction. I am an 18 year old male, and am not a christian. In fact, I have no religious beliefs at all.

Now now, before you all jump for your pitchforks and call me Darwinistic atheistic hippie hellspawn, take a moment to read further.

First of all, I am not here to question the existence of your god, or any god at all. It is not in any persons power to prove or disprove the existence of a god. I am here to have a discussion about morality and how it pertains to religion.

Also please be aware that there is a difference between fact, opinion, and belief.

Although I have no religion, I do not like the term "atheist". Just as religions, it is another label used to further separate and segregate people. Religions (and lack thereof) undeniably separate people and cause hatred between them. These forums are a perfect example: people are shamelessly showing their hatred of blacks, jews, muslims, gays and just about anything else.

Wait, I thought it was a Christian value to love and accept others? How odd.

I accept others and their beliefs. If you believe in a god, thats fine. If not, thats fine too. Honestly, it doesn't affect my life all. What I am concerned about are peoples' morals. Especially if it is skewed and distorted. Morality is a set rules or a guideline of how a person lives. I believe that people have some inherent good in them, some more than others obviously. We also learn to be compassionate from our everyday experiences, which we use to build on our morals. What really stuck a nerve was that someone posted something along the lines of: "If you do not believe in God, then you do not have morals". Why is this? You say because the Bible is ultimate moral guideline.

Im not exactly sure what your beliefs on the Bible are, but many people seem to believe that it is the direct "word of God" (ie God wrote the Bible himself). This is proven not to be true. The Bible has been rewritten and translated and reinterpreted numerous times. No one knows if someone has changed something for their own personal gain. You might have heard the phrase "Not everything you read on the internet is true" This is because anyone can write information on the internet. Something similar can be said about the Bible. So I urge you to take everything in with a grain of salt, and maybe not interpret everything literally.

Again, I'm not questioning the existence or morality of your God. I'd just like people to sometimes use their own judgement from the lessons that they have learned in life.

Please discuss. And lets remain mature about this.

[Redeemed Papist]

Re: Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and more

Tell us what church you go to and what your favorite Bible verse is and how you came to find Jesus.

[Question.Everything]

Re: Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and more

I thought I had made it clear, but heres a breakdown anyway:

Church: none
Bible Verse: none
How I came to find Jesus: N/A

Now that I have clearly introduced myself, cant we have a nice discussion?

[Dr Laurence Niles]

Re: Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and more

tl;dr

What is your real purpose here, Darwinistic, hippie?


YIC

[Redeemed Papist]

Re: Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and more

I thought I had made it clear, but heres a breakdown anyway:

Church: none
Bible Verse: none
How I came to find Jesus: N/A

Now that I have clearly introduced myself, cant we have a nice discussion?

2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Not really, no!

[Pastor Isaac Peters]

Re: Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and more

Wait, I thought it was a Christian value to love and accept others? How odd.

Please provide direct quotations of the relevant Scripture.

[Question.Everything]

Re: Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and more

I hope that's sarcasm. If not, so much for a mature conversation.

I am genuinely interested in your views and opinions. I find them amazingly extreme and baseless.

[Brother Jared]

Re: Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and more

The Bible is completely unlike a book which humans would write. The Bible condemns all mankind, including the writers, and teaches there is no way they can be saved except by accepting a gift. Namely, Christ. The Bible is very honest and descriptive of the sins of its characters. Including as you say, people making things up try to make themselves look good. The Bible tells their stories realistically, with all their shortcomings. The message of the Bible has changed the wretchest sinners into the most loving, virtuous persons. No other message ever has done that. On the other hand, neglect of the Bible has always meant sin, suffering, and sorrow.

Speaking of morals; The standards of the Bible are the highest known to us. They are impossible for man to achieve or comprehend without divine help. Man would never set such unreachable standards for himself.

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:20-21)

[Redeemed Papist]

Re: Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and more

I hope that's sarcasm. If not, so much for a mature conversation.

I am genuinely interested in your views and opinions. I find them amazingly extreme and baseless.

Romans 1:19-22
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

You're not doing very well on the being-worth-talking-to stakes.

[Question.Everything]

Re: Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and more

Romans 1:19-22
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

You're not doing very well on the being-worth-talking-to stakes.

Well, Im questioning the moral validity of the Bible, and you try to prove it by using quotes from it? Thats like using a word to define itself: in other words, completely redundant.

Please provide direct quotations of the relevant Scripture.

Incredible! You willingly throw away basic human compassion because a book told you that you could.

[Dr Laurence Niles]

Re: Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and more

Well I'm invoking Nile's Law:

As soon as the validity of the Bible is brought into question the discussion is over.


YIC

[Rev. M. Rodimer]

Re: Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and more

I hope that's sarcasm. If not, so much for a mature conversation.

I am genuinely interested in your views and opinions. I find them amazingly extreme and baseless.

Whether you like the term or not, you're an atheist.

I assume you haven't read the Bible. So, I'll give you a quick breakdown:

The Bible contains a number of historical records, such as the creation of the Earth, the Flood, the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt, and Jesus' time on Earth.

It also contains many Commandments, which humans are required to follow.

If a Christian asks Jesus to forgive his sins, and then sins no more, he goes to Heaven after death. If not, or if he is not a Christian (like you), he will be cast by God into Hell, which is God's Lake of Fire, where he will be burned alive for all time.

The Bible tells us that homosexuals, adulterers, witches, apostates, and anyone who tries to lead us away from God (among others) should be executed. The standard method of execution is stoning.

We are also commanded to follow secular laws. Therefore, we cannot presently execute such people.

However, we can speak out against their agendas to recruit more people to their cause, and steer more souls into Hellfire. We can also warn them, which is what we do.

We do not hate these people; we pity them, because they (like you) are choosing damnation.

Why do you hate yourself so much?

[Question.Everything]

Re: Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and more

The Bible is completely unlike a book which humans would write. The Bible condemns all mankind, including the writers, and teaches there is no way they can be saved except by accepting a gift. Namely, Christ. The Bible is very honest and descriptive of the sins of its characters. Including as you say, people making things up try to make themselves look good. The Bible tells their stories realistically, with all their shortcomings. The message of the Bible has changed the wretchest sinners into the most loving, virtuous persons. No other message ever has done that. On the other hand, neglect of the Bible has always meant sin, suffering, and sorrow.

Speaking of morals; The standards of the Bible are the highest known to us. They are impossible for man to achieve or comprehend without divine help. Man would never set such unreachable standards for himself.

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:20-21)

Thank you for the reply

I'm sure that if your interpretation God exists, his morals are unquestioningly high. However, my point was that people after the events of the Bible (not characters in the Bible) have changed the Bible numerous times. Additionally, the Bible was not written by God, but is simply but a collection of mortal men, and the resulting Bible is only their mortal interpretation.

[Pastor Isaac Peters]

Re: Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and more

Incredible! You willingly throw away basic human compassion because a book told you that you could.

A book inspired by God, and God's commandments trump liberal, secular notions of "basic human compassion."

[Redeemed Papist]

Re: Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and more

Well, Im questioning the moral validity of the Bible, and you try to prove it by using quotes from it? Thats like using a word to define itself: in other words, completely redundant..

Question away. Nobody actually cares about your questions because God's word is perfect.

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

That's why we are here - and we're not here to entertain your whining and God-hating but feel free to bang on if you like.

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

You see, God's word is against you so nothing you can say from your own opinion has any weight.

Proverbs 18:2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but that his heart may express itself.

God's calling you out as a fool that's full of himself and his own internally revealed wisdom.

Good luck!