Religion
In reply to the discussion: The burden of proof is on believers [View all]Brettongarcia
(2,262 posts)The Bible warned hundreds of times that there have always been bad and as it says "false" things, even in our holiest men and angels. Even in core Christian apostles like St. Peter (Mat. 16.23). Therefore? The Bible finally told us not to have so much "faith"; but to "test everything," valuing material evidence: "fruits," "works," "signs," "deeds," and "proofs."
Or as the Bible says: "Certain people ... made shipwreck... of faith"; "test everything." So rather than following believers? We ask them to work miracles, to prove they are from God: "When Pharoah says, 'prove yourself by working a miracle,' then you shall."
Finally the Bible tells us explicitly to honor scientific evidence, "science," over faith. In say Dan. 1.4-15 KJE; 1 Kings 18.20.40.
And if an alleged spokesman from God, a believer, a defender of the faith, cannot produce real physical, material wonders, miracles, here on this physical earth, and in a timely way, as material evidence that his god is real? Then far from continuing to believe and follow and "have faith," the Bible actually told us to simply conclude that the believer, and his god, are false. And we are supposed to say this to such people:
"Set forth your case, says the LORD; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.... Tell us what is to happen.... Behold, you are nothing, and your work is nought; an abomination is he who chooses you" (Isa. 41.21-24).
"Both prophet and priest are ungodly" (Jer. 23.9).
"Behold, I am against the prophets, says the LORD" (Jer. 23.31).
"Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see! Who is blind but my servant" (Isa. 43.18).
Many people think the Bible commands us to follow religious leaders with total "faith." But there's an amazing series of books that make the case that the Bible actually stressed reason, evidence, over faith. The case is that: 1) the Bible itself says hundreds of times that there are many bad and "false" things in religion; even in core Christian apostles like St. Peter, the Bible says (Mat. 16.23). 2) Therefore, rather than having "faith" in them, amazingly the Bible began to note problems even with Faith.
And then, since there are so many problems with holy men, and faith in them? Finally 3) the Bible itself began telling us to follow material evidence and even science, instead (Dan. 1.4-15 KJE; 1 Kings 18.20-40; Mal. 3.10; etc.).
(Free online book drafts on the Science of God, by Dr. Woodbridge Goodman, Ph.D. http://woodbridgegoodman.wordpress.com/)