Are you religious?

[MontyVeda]

Genuine question: What is to be made of all the beastly stuff in the Old Testament?

I don't see how you can have a Holy Book and say that half of it is wonderful and live your life by it, but the other half is ... well, er, what is to be made of the beastly stuff in the OT?

That's one thing i don't quite 'get'.

I'd assume that being a Christian is about following the word of Jesus... which means reading the gospels of matty, mark, luke and johnny, which is the nearest one can get to 'the word of Jesus'.
So as a Christian, it should be OK to dismiss the entire old testament, and all the chapters of the new testament after the gospels of matty, mark, luke and johnny.

...unless of course Jesus said "thou shalt read the old testament." and "thou shalt read all the books of the yet to be published Bible... even the scary bit at the end!"

 

[numbnuts]

I had read parts of the Bible at school and at church, but never read it from cover to cover, well I have just done that........and I'm still none the wiser

 

[clarion]

The Bible is mainly nonsense.

 

[ComedyPilot]

The Bible is mainly nonsense.

So is Hello Magazine, Shoot, The Guardian and the Yellow Pages.

Basically anything a man (sic) has a hand in producing should not be treated as gospel.

 

[Fnaar]

 

[400bhp]

That's one thing i don't quite 'get'.

I'd assume that being a Christian is about following the word of Jesus... which means reading the gospels of matty, mark, luke and johnny, which is the nearest one can get to 'the word of Jesus'.
So as a Christian, it should be OK to dismiss the entire old testament, and all the chapters of the new testament after the gospels of matty, mark, luke and johnny.

...unless of course Jesus said "thou shalt read the old testament." and "thou shalt read all the books of the yet to be published Bible... even the scary bit at the end!"

No

 

[Rev]

It doesn't make sense to attribute personality traits to the non belief in something that does not exist. You could just as easily claim that this apparent pedantry of mine is due to my non belief in Thor.

Would attributing personality traits like pride to non belief make sense? Or has one missed part of the point?

 

[Rev]

Why are the believers bothered what anyone thinks or says about them or their beliefs, as long as it's not inciting or condoning actually harming them. After all, all of us non believers are going to rot in hell for eternity whilst they're enjoying eternal happiness, aren't we?

Who are these believers?
What belief is it that they share?
Do you really think all religious people believe in a hell?
Apart from one slightly delusional individual who claims to know all about all religions, but lets leave that where it belongs. Who has the stupidity or audacity to claim that they will judge all religious experiences, observances and practices as a simple homogeneous whole?
Who is to say a rationalist secular Buddhist and a Salafi Muslim can be judged as the same by someone who has absolutely no knowledge of either?
Oh and since when have all religious people believed in damnation or eternity?

 

[Rev]

Why do many posters think that being religious means a belief in god?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Like I said, not interested in a whinge-off with you, I gave my opinion, make of it what you want.

I shall take that as a 'no' then.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

[QUOTE 2370519, member: 45"]Lovely bloke, Graham Kendrick is.[/quote]
Of the two I prefer Matt Redman myself.

 

[Primal Scream]

Why do many posters think that being religious means a belief in god?

Run that one past me again--and with an explanation please

 

[Saluki]

Ha - only if you quote it!

"Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose"

Matt 5:17
New Living Translation. I happened to have that version to hand.

 

[Rev]

Run that one past me again--and with an explanation please

I am not sure how else to ask it......errmmmm why would being religious necessitate a belief in god, gods, goddesses the grand poo bar snake demon or divinity in general?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Run that one past me again--and with an explanation please

I've a Jain friend in India who could explain it to you. He's very religious but doesn't believe in a God. He has a few million buddies who feel the same way.

and any number of members of the CofE including some of the clergy, are religious but atheists.