02-20-2007, 07:38 PM
Okay to start off this post I'm going to warn that if you are easily offended or simply to self righteous to listen and step outside of what you already think you know then stop reading now.
In this essay you will find no scriptures, nor references; not because I don't want to research them but because in this post they will not matter. From what I see on this board, many people seem to have fallen back on the bible as a crutch. Lots have turned away from organized religion and decided to rely purely on the bible. The main problem with this kind of thinking, is that none of you can prove where the bible came from. Now I'm not talking about where in history or calling in to question whether or not it was inspired but instead who/what it was inspired by. To Illustrate this point I will use a number of examples from not only the bible. (From historical stand point)
But from things that people already know in every day life.
To start out I'd like to talk about other religions, be them Christian, Pagan, Muslim, Buddhism or what ever one you can think of. They all share a major problem. One problem that some people have already figured out. That is that they are "organized religion" What I want to look at here will apply to all of them. So to be CLEAR I am not attacking "God", "Faith" or "Spirituality". But all of these religions claim to have it right.
But I don't think any of them do. Also I have come to realize that the problem is not the organization of religion but the organization of faith. (In this case I will focus on the Christian beliefs and the bible because this is a Christian discussion board.) What I mean by this is that the bible it self is a way of organizing ones faith. In fact in the long run it is not necessary and useless beyond a certain point.
Here we go now with some examples that illustrates this. In Moses' absence while retrieving the 10 commandments the Israelites made a golden calf. They said to Aaron (and I'm paraphrasing) Let us build a golden calf so that we may bow down to it And an so we can make sacrifices to it. So Aaron thinking he was doing the right thing made one or at least he was talked into it. Now lets look at this story. They were punished for what they did. (More on this later) The thing we need to look at is why? Was it because of there idolatry? Sure. What it because of the fact they were screwing like rabbits. Maybe. Drinking and frolicking about and all the other things they were doing Yes yes and yes. However People tend to not look at what and why they made the calf in the first place. They in fact were not worshiping a false god. likely out of habit due to the fact the Egyptians used SO MANY Statues and Idols to represent their gods they wanted one of there own. Something tangible they could see touch and look upon. They had not yet even gotten the commandment to not worship these sorts of things as moses smashed upon arrival and had to go back. (Strange god did not protect the commandments he wrote with his own hand?) The thing is that the calf was suppose to represent a channel to god. In a way to be close to him have something to hold on to. In fact this is the very same mentality we show the bible today. When we need a book to reaffirm that which we should already feel in our hearts is that not a problem? when we title a book "THE HOLY BIBLE" Is that not making it an idol to? If god did not protect the laws he put literally in stone what is protecting the words in the bible from being twisted of the years? Nothing.
I will however not deny the value of the bibles message. It teaches us many useful things. Like to love one another. Not to steal. Not to Kill. (and for the Scottish not to love sheep. :sheepy: ) Not to mention that Noah was a drunk, and Jesus turn water to wine. Go figure.
let us also look at another great teacher of our time. One who teaches us all of these things. Not to steal to accept each other for who we are. In fact most of the things the bible dose teach. "Barney" Yes the big purple Dino. Quite possibly as annoying as someone knocking on your door to convert you. His message is still clearly a good one. Does the source of this things really matter. I don't think so. According to the example set in the bible nether did Jesus. He used only the world around him and illustrations to teach people telling them to be good people regardless of the old testament in fact he replaced it. Yes Gods son changed god's law.
Jesus did not need a bible... or holy documents. He had old laws and and things from the past but quoting them was NOT what he was remembered for. No it was for the things he did and said on his own that he was remembered for. So as far as I'm concerned The bible should ONLY be a starting point, and only for some as most other "Holy Books" also contain the same positive messages at there core. Which would indicate that it is better to learn from what you have and teach from what you experience.
Next I'd Like to talk about the harmony of the bible itself. People say it is the most harmonious book in the world. I agree it is for the most part. However is lacking in one major place and that is its depiction of god in the old testament they paint him to be a angry, vengeful, child killing, jealous and unforgiving deity. (:rant:) Not that the say that is all he is. In fact he was also very loving as well. The real change comes in the New Testament where he is painted to be a All knowing, loving, forgiving understanding being of companion that tells us if we try we will be saved. If were good at heart in the end his spirit will pour down and let us know truth. :thumbsup: This is fine at first glance however if god is "Perfect" Why did he change his style? If he knew best from the beginning why change for a bunch of imperfect sinners? It really dose not make sense.
The bible is often called spiritual food, and people say that if you open your heart to it and god you will be saved. Isn't that the same reasoning that ensnared Eve in the garden of Eden with the Tree of Good and Evil? Did not the devil say Eat this and you will be like god? How is this any different from us saying read this and you will be saved? Is not the devil said to make himself out like a angel of light? Do we have any way of knowing that we're not being deceived into using books like the bible and others to be Holy or the word of God when that is not the intent originally. Or that it was exactly what was intended, however, not by god?
This brings me to my next point. It is said that the bible is inspired by god. What real proof of this do we have. It sure dose seem inspired though. but who by? This is the devils world so could he not have inspired it himself? Or at least changed it over the years? How do we know that it is real? Is it the feeling we get? Many people "feel" for other faiths as well so that is nothing special on it own. What does this mean? Maybe that the reason they "FEEL" something is not because of the bible but because the are learning to have faith in something. Don't we all want to believe in something? Isn't that the real first step? If it will be put into our hearts in the end. Isn't it enough to be a good person and to be a spiritual one as long as you do believe and are open to truth?
In closing I want to again make clear that in no way am I attacking god. But trying to say that the single most important thing in life when talking about faith and spirituality is that we have it. that we are open and do our best to see and spreed the good that is in the world. WITH or WITHOUT the bible or ANY OTHER HOLY BOOKS. They are the Epicenter of Organized religion. With out the bible and similar documents there would be much less to fight over. Good would still exist without them and so would are belief in god. As soon as this collection of story's went from historical documentation that may or may not be 100% right to a holy book that contains the indisputable word of god they became a problem. The way we treat the book today IS idolatry. The lessons that can be learned can be learned in most places and that we can not prove no matter how hard we try that it was in fact inspired by god and not someone else as the devil can influence as well. the fact the bible follows the same religious format as most other religion means it dose not stand out. It dose not mean god is not out there. I just don't think there is any need for any thing other than the feeling and connection with god that we all carry in our hearts in our own unique and personal way. As soon as we get snared by reasoning on scripture and prophecy on bible and religion it takes away from the time we could spend out in the world doing good and learning about each other. When we do this we are the blind leading the blind. When we treat the bible this way it to becomes a snare and a racket.
Vision
In this essay you will find no scriptures, nor references; not because I don't want to research them but because in this post they will not matter. From what I see on this board, many people seem to have fallen back on the bible as a crutch. Lots have turned away from organized religion and decided to rely purely on the bible. The main problem with this kind of thinking, is that none of you can prove where the bible came from. Now I'm not talking about where in history or calling in to question whether or not it was inspired but instead who/what it was inspired by. To Illustrate this point I will use a number of examples from not only the bible. (From historical stand point)
But from things that people already know in every day life.
To start out I'd like to talk about other religions, be them Christian, Pagan, Muslim, Buddhism or what ever one you can think of. They all share a major problem. One problem that some people have already figured out. That is that they are "organized religion" What I want to look at here will apply to all of them. So to be CLEAR I am not attacking "God", "Faith" or "Spirituality". But all of these religions claim to have it right.
But I don't think any of them do. Also I have come to realize that the problem is not the organization of religion but the organization of faith. (In this case I will focus on the Christian beliefs and the bible because this is a Christian discussion board.) What I mean by this is that the bible it self is a way of organizing ones faith. In fact in the long run it is not necessary and useless beyond a certain point.
Here we go now with some examples that illustrates this. In Moses' absence while retrieving the 10 commandments the Israelites made a golden calf. They said to Aaron (and I'm paraphrasing) Let us build a golden calf so that we may bow down to it And an so we can make sacrifices to it. So Aaron thinking he was doing the right thing made one or at least he was talked into it. Now lets look at this story. They were punished for what they did. (More on this later) The thing we need to look at is why? Was it because of there idolatry? Sure. What it because of the fact they were screwing like rabbits. Maybe. Drinking and frolicking about and all the other things they were doing Yes yes and yes. However People tend to not look at what and why they made the calf in the first place. They in fact were not worshiping a false god. likely out of habit due to the fact the Egyptians used SO MANY Statues and Idols to represent their gods they wanted one of there own. Something tangible they could see touch and look upon. They had not yet even gotten the commandment to not worship these sorts of things as moses smashed upon arrival and had to go back. (Strange god did not protect the commandments he wrote with his own hand?) The thing is that the calf was suppose to represent a channel to god. In a way to be close to him have something to hold on to. In fact this is the very same mentality we show the bible today. When we need a book to reaffirm that which we should already feel in our hearts is that not a problem? when we title a book "THE HOLY BIBLE" Is that not making it an idol to? If god did not protect the laws he put literally in stone what is protecting the words in the bible from being twisted of the years? Nothing.
I will however not deny the value of the bibles message. It teaches us many useful things. Like to love one another. Not to steal. Not to Kill. (and for the Scottish not to love sheep. :sheepy: ) Not to mention that Noah was a drunk, and Jesus turn water to wine. Go figure.
let us also look at another great teacher of our time. One who teaches us all of these things. Not to steal to accept each other for who we are. In fact most of the things the bible dose teach. "Barney" Yes the big purple Dino. Quite possibly as annoying as someone knocking on your door to convert you. His message is still clearly a good one. Does the source of this things really matter. I don't think so. According to the example set in the bible nether did Jesus. He used only the world around him and illustrations to teach people telling them to be good people regardless of the old testament in fact he replaced it. Yes Gods son changed god's law.
Jesus did not need a bible... or holy documents. He had old laws and and things from the past but quoting them was NOT what he was remembered for. No it was for the things he did and said on his own that he was remembered for. So as far as I'm concerned The bible should ONLY be a starting point, and only for some as most other "Holy Books" also contain the same positive messages at there core. Which would indicate that it is better to learn from what you have and teach from what you experience.
Next I'd Like to talk about the harmony of the bible itself. People say it is the most harmonious book in the world. I agree it is for the most part. However is lacking in one major place and that is its depiction of god in the old testament they paint him to be a angry, vengeful, child killing, jealous and unforgiving deity. (:rant:) Not that the say that is all he is. In fact he was also very loving as well. The real change comes in the New Testament where he is painted to be a All knowing, loving, forgiving understanding being of companion that tells us if we try we will be saved. If were good at heart in the end his spirit will pour down and let us know truth. :thumbsup: This is fine at first glance however if god is "Perfect" Why did he change his style? If he knew best from the beginning why change for a bunch of imperfect sinners? It really dose not make sense.
The bible is often called spiritual food, and people say that if you open your heart to it and god you will be saved. Isn't that the same reasoning that ensnared Eve in the garden of Eden with the Tree of Good and Evil? Did not the devil say Eat this and you will be like god? How is this any different from us saying read this and you will be saved? Is not the devil said to make himself out like a angel of light? Do we have any way of knowing that we're not being deceived into using books like the bible and others to be Holy or the word of God when that is not the intent originally. Or that it was exactly what was intended, however, not by god?
This brings me to my next point. It is said that the bible is inspired by god. What real proof of this do we have. It sure dose seem inspired though. but who by? This is the devils world so could he not have inspired it himself? Or at least changed it over the years? How do we know that it is real? Is it the feeling we get? Many people "feel" for other faiths as well so that is nothing special on it own. What does this mean? Maybe that the reason they "FEEL" something is not because of the bible but because the are learning to have faith in something. Don't we all want to believe in something? Isn't that the real first step? If it will be put into our hearts in the end. Isn't it enough to be a good person and to be a spiritual one as long as you do believe and are open to truth?
In closing I want to again make clear that in no way am I attacking god. But trying to say that the single most important thing in life when talking about faith and spirituality is that we have it. that we are open and do our best to see and spreed the good that is in the world. WITH or WITHOUT the bible or ANY OTHER HOLY BOOKS. They are the Epicenter of Organized religion. With out the bible and similar documents there would be much less to fight over. Good would still exist without them and so would are belief in god. As soon as this collection of story's went from historical documentation that may or may not be 100% right to a holy book that contains the indisputable word of god they became a problem. The way we treat the book today IS idolatry. The lessons that can be learned can be learned in most places and that we can not prove no matter how hard we try that it was in fact inspired by god and not someone else as the devil can influence as well. the fact the bible follows the same religious format as most other religion means it dose not stand out. It dose not mean god is not out there. I just don't think there is any need for any thing other than the feeling and connection with god that we all carry in our hearts in our own unique and personal way. As soon as we get snared by reasoning on scripture and prophecy on bible and religion it takes away from the time we could spend out in the world doing good and learning about each other. When we do this we are the blind leading the blind. When we treat the bible this way it to becomes a snare and a racket.
Vision