Religion

digonswine

(1,487 posts) Fri May 31, 2013, 08:36 PM May 2013

I visit this group quite a bit- [View all]

there is plenty of snark and give-and-take.
I have not seen a good example, though, of someone providing a rational justification(yes--I speak of Christians) for choosing certain things to believe from the Book and some to disregard.
This seems on the surface to be an old saw.
I see much avoidance and misdirection.
Not understanding or lacking an experience counts for nothing.
So, just for clarity--I want to know how people pick things to believe and how they pick things to ignore(in the bible). And then how to square the circle.
For the record-this may seem like a demand to justify a belief-I can't say that it is not

109 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

I visit this group quite a bit- [View all] digonswine May 2013 OP

How to read the Bible. rug May 2013 #1

That is not terribly helpful- digonswine May 2013 #2

And what, pray tell skepticscott May 2013 #5

That is for them to figure out- digonswine May 2013 #14

God in the end makes that call. hrmjustin May 2013 #43

Well, from the perspective of a Christian skepticscott Jun 2013 #62

But if a person is acting contrary to what Christ taught and claims to be a Christian, pointing that hrmjustin Jun 2013 #72

Every Christian acts contrary to what the Bible says skepticscott Jun 2013 #73

You are correct that there are no true Christians, but we still need to practice what we preach. hrmjustin Jun 2013 #74

Please don't put words in my mouth skepticscott Jun 2013 #75

Sorry to put wrds in your mouth and I would never say that last line you posted and I do not know hrmjustin Jun 2013 #76

You said skepticscott Jun 2013 #86

No I am not clear how you single out catholics? hrmjustin Jun 2013 #87

The question is skepticscott Jun 2013 #88

I make no judgements on denominations. hrmjustin Jun 2013 #89

It tells me skepticscott Jun 2013 #90

LOl ok SKeptiscott! hrmjustin Jun 2013 #91

If they Believe in the teachings Jesus LostOne4Ever May 2013 #6

You need to listen to the other Christians- digonswine May 2013 #11

Anyone who claim Catholics are not true Christian LostOne4Ever May 2013 #19

You clearly get it digonswine May 2013 #23

wow that is rather stunning. Warren Stupidity Jun 2013 #64

Yep LostOne4Ever Jun 2013 #66

You believe that "that Catholics are not true Christians"? rug May 2013 #7

No- digonswine May 2013 #9

Well, as far as the OP is concerned, the best I can do is point you here. rug May 2013 #15

sounds like you just described searching for the right justifications.. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #21

That's an interesting observation. rug May 2013 #25

in my edit downthread.. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #31

I wouldn't say it's hypocrisy. rug May 2013 #32

agreed. we are in general rationalizing not rational beings.. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #38

Live long and prosper. rug May 2013 #39

Peace. And long life. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #40

Please tell me- digonswine May 2013 #28

In what regard, Charley? rug May 2013 #29

Many people miss this. It's about living the faith not not just Leontius Jun 2013 #79

This message was self-deleted by its author hrmjustin May 2013 #36

And you won't skepticscott May 2013 #3

I thought I would try- digonswine May 2013 #8

Well, this is an exceeding telling post. cbayer May 2013 #12

I see a fruitless result digonswine May 2013 #22

What reaction is that? cbayer May 2013 #26

and thank you for so doing. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #24

Fruitless results huh! hrmjustin May 2013 #27

Do you find problems with the scholarship in Classics? Bad Thoughts May 2013 #41

Geez, thanks for the spoiler. rug May 2013 #42

Caesar didn't say "Et tu, Brute?" Bad Thoughts May 2013 #45

What I heard was, he said it in Greek, the languabge of the Senate. rug May 2013 #47

Hard to imagine Strom Thurmond speaking Greek. eom. Bad Thoughts May 2013 #52

Conscience and intelligence can be good companions when one reads struggle4progress May 2013 #4

Are there no books in your life where you take some of the information cbayer May 2013 #10

I do all of those things- digonswine May 2013 #13

Many, if not most, people believe that it is a book cbayer May 2013 #16

Good point- digonswine May 2013 #20

So you approach your life and written material with some cbayer May 2013 #30

No- digonswine Jun 2013 #63

Great response here and it gives me joy to read it. cbayer Jun 2013 #67

Those books do not purport to be the word of God. nt Deep13 May 2013 #44

Only some believers would say that the entire bible is the "word of god". cbayer May 2013 #50

That's the point of the OP's squestion. Deep13 May 2013 #51

What difference does it make? cbayer Jun 2013 #58

Are you suggesting that whether or not God is real,... Deep13 Jun 2013 #60

It makes no difference to me personally. How about you? cbayer Jun 2013 #68

1. I care about the truth. Deep13 Jun 2013 #95

The truth is something you have to find in your own heart. I agree with cbayer's comments. MissMarple Jun 2013 #96

What you dismiss as "window dressing" skepticscott Jun 2013 #97

You can believe what ever you want and for what ever reason. MissMarple Jun 2013 #103

The truth isn't in anyone's heart... Deep13 Jun 2013 #106

Heart, soul, mind, the conscious self... MissMarple Jun 2013 #107

As a believing Episcopalian/Anglican I use the three legged stool for my faith. hrmjustin May 2013 #17

try adding expereience nt Thats my opinion Jun 2013 #80

I see what you are saying. hrmjustin Jun 2013 #81

I don't read the Bible like I would a math book... goldent May 2013 #18

There are many contradictions and absurdities in the Bible. Manifestor_of_Light May 2013 #33

The bible is a book of it's times. That is how it should be read. hrmjustin May 2013 #46

Written by ignorant, superstitious Bronze Age nomads. Manifestor_of_Light May 2013 #48

I am more into the stuff about Jesus. hrmjustin May 2013 #49

Yes. Manifestor_of_Light May 2013 #54

Well we will just have to agree to disagree on the fact he existed. hrmjustin May 2013 #55

So you fact-check anything you read there? okasha Jun 2013 #94

that stuff was written by iron age people, somewhat less ignorant, and equally superstitious. Warren Stupidity Jun 2013 #65

Have you got anything to back up your assertion about the New Testament being molded in the Leontius Jun 2013 #82

Are you completely ignorant of the history of the early church? Warren Stupidity Jun 2013 #85

I know the history of the early Church quite well, better than you evidently Leontius Jun 2013 #98

Google council of nicea Warren Stupidity Jun 2013 #104

Council of Nicea Leontius Jun 2013 #109

Iron Age, actually. Deep13 May 2013 #53

No offense, but it only pretends to stem from the Bronze Age. In fact, nothing in the Bible dimbear May 2013 #56

Even the Prophecies Bad Thoughts May 2013 #57

Judge them by the fruits of their labors, the success of their work. dimbear Jun 2013 #61

Wrong. okasha Jun 2013 #92

.... Dawson Leery May 2013 #34

IME, you won't get a straight answer from most believers here.. Phillip McCleod May 2013 #35

Perhaps you could elaborate, because this seems to be an inherently cbayer May 2013 #37

i'd rather stay on topic.. Phillip McCleod Jun 2013 #70

Oh, ok. Your response didn't seem particularly on topic, though. cbayer Jun 2013 #71

In the Old Testament, the first books are the laws of the early Jewish people JDPriestly Jun 2013 #59

Thoughtful response goldent Jun 2013 #69

I tend to focus on what touches me personally or in a broader world view sense. pinto Jun 2013 #77

I had to put that one down- digonswine Jun 2013 #78

You raise a legitimate question. Thats my opinion Jun 2013 #83

Well said! hrmjustin Jun 2013 #84

You mean the "modern scholarship" skepticscott Jun 2013 #93

I am curious why you seem to single out Christians. hrmjustin Jun 2013 #99

Certainly others do it, too. digonswine Jun 2013 #100

Ok, sorry to sound accusatory! hrmjustin Jun 2013 #101

Ain't nuttin' digonswine Jun 2013 #102

Well, maybe cultural habit, insularity, superstition, naivete, and fear play their parts. MissMarple Jun 2013 #105

It depends on if you believe in communion with God or not el_bryanto Jun 2013 #108