PlagueOfLocust said:
Christian here, non-denominational. Yes, I believe in God.
@Darc Requiem - Don't buy into the load that the Bible is flawed from multiple translations. There are no different interpretations snuck into the text between translations; the only thing lost/added in translation is connotations. Going back to the Greek translation for some words can help shed light on certain ideas, but nothing is altered to trick anyone. In fact, the Bible, compared to other historical documents we accept without a second thought, is more historically valid than any other historical text (based on how accurate it has shown itself to be with the events catalogued within, and how soon after the events the texts were written.) But you won't hear that from your friendly neighborhood college professor.
If you believe something is out there (and why not, that strange feeling seems to be imprinted on our souls), the Bible is really the most compelling description of what it may be. Faith is the key word here, though; assuming that the only truth we can really rely on is that which we can see is such a modern, short sighted idea. Science is not the be-all and end-all of our world, or else we'd have no use for philosophy or any other fields of study. |
That defies logic. I can write something down right now. I could line up 100 people having each person recopy it and pass it down. By the time it gets to last person it will barely resemble my original thoughts. Not to mention that a good deal of the Bible was written down after the fact. Things weren't written as they occurred. In some cases it was decades after.
I disagree with your assertions about Christianity, MrStickball. While the progenitors of the religion were peaceful its followers have not been for the most part. Using your logic, I'd say 90% or more of Christians aren't really Christians. Although the same could be said for virtually all religions. Religions start off meaning well but they are more about controlling people than spreading beliefs contained in which ever holy tome is its source. People may not fear secular law but threaten them with eternal damnation and they are a lot easier to manipulate.
You seem to reference the Crusades in your post. The Crusades were a huge unnecessary blood bath started by Christians in Europe. Unfortunately the Christians and Jews of Jersusalem, who had nothing do with the Crusades, ended up being slaughtered and left without homes because of it. Christianity was spread largely by missionaries taking advantage of the "savage" peoples that were conquered and subjugated during Imperialism. When your land is being taken, your people killed, the offer of "salvation" would be quite tempting.
