Creationist Explains How Humans Could Have Hunted The Tyrannosaurus Rex

August · 04-08-13, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Many years ago I postulated my own theory on that. One day God decided to tell the world how he came to create the universe. He picked a random shepherd. Why he didn't pick the head of a major city-state, I don't know. Maybe he didn't like any of them. We'll call this random shepherd "Abraham" (or "Moses" if you like). So anyway, one day God appears to this guy, and says he wants to tell him how it was done. But God has a problem. This shepherd (or the most advanced learned man of the time) isn't going to understand quantum physics or string theory. Heck, I don't understand them and I have the benefit of thousands of years of developed science. So God decides to show him instead, filling his head with images of the Big Bang. Abraham sees this and scratches his head, then writes "God said 'Let there be light!' And there was light."

I have believed to a long time that the Bible and other religious texts make a lot more sense if you see them as just as a collection of stories designed to teach a moral.

Sammi79 · 04-08-13, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

I have believed to a long time that the Bible and other religious texts make a lot more sense if you see them as just as a collection of stories designed to teach a moral.

Like if god commands it you should murder your own child?

August · 04-08-13, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sammi79

Like if god commands it you should murder your own child?

You're missing the point.

Sammi79 · 04-08-13, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

You're missing the point.

The point I didn't miss was that you advocate the bible as a moral educator, so I simply point out that as a moral educator containing such moral lessons like being willing to murder your own child might be very confusing to someone trying to educate themselves 'morally'

There are a great many other examples, I just picked on one of the worst. Do you wish me to do some digging?

August · 04-08-13, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sammi79

The point I didn't miss was that you advocate the bible as a moral educator, so I simply point out that as a moral educator containing such moral lessons like being willing to murder your own child might be very confusing to someone trying to educate themselves 'morally'

There are a great many other examples, I just picked on one of the worst. Do you wish me to do some digging?

I didn't advocate anything. I only said that the bible and other religious texts make a lot more sense if you look at them as a collection of stories with a moral than as a history book.

You're the one trying to assign a literal meaning to them and in that you are just like the Creationists.

Sammi79 · 04-08-13, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

I didn't advocate anything. I only said that the bible and other religious texts make a lot more sense if you look at them as a collection of stories with a moral than as a history book.

You're the one trying to assign a literal meaning to them and in that you are just like the Creationists.

I'm not assigning a literal meaning - it is all fiction to me and thus has no literal meaning - it is a fantasy. I'm asking how such stories can be considered good moral teaching when they contain such abhorrent, downright blasphemous stories like the one I mentioned. [edit] I'm also saying I think that the morals of many of the stories are suspect, to say the least.

How am I like creationists?

August · 04-08-13, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sammi79

I'm not assigning a literal meaning - it is all fiction to me and thus has no literal meaning - it is a fantasy. I'm asking how such stories can be considered good moral teaching when they contain such abhorrent, downright blasphemous stories like the one I mentioned. [edit] I'm also saying I think that the morals of many of the stories are suspect, to say the least.

How am I like creationists?

Whether you agree with it or not you're still assigning a literal meaning to a bible story. I think the lesson taught by Issac is about obedience and sacrifice. You'll note that God didn't actually make Abraham kill his son.

Quote:

I'm asking how such stories can be considered good moral teaching when they...

I made no such claim. You seem to demand either perfection or total rejection of the entire text. I would not be so dismissive.

MH · 04-08-13, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sammi79

Like if god commands it you should murder your own child?

Here we go again...
Some cherry picks again.
Actually there is so much theology , philosophy and ethic based on bible.
Whole volumes of books that deal with ethics and humanism .
No one actually takes bible (old testament)literally besides ignorant atheist who try to prove some points and faithful ignorant morons.

Sammi79 · 04-08-13, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MH

Here we go again...
Some cherry picks again.
Actually there is so much theology , philosophy and ethic based on bible.
Whole volumes of books that deal with ethics and humanism .
No one actually takes bible (old testament)literally besides ignorant atheist who try to prove some points and faithful ignorant morons.

Sorry would you like me to paraphrase the entire chapter?

MH · 04-08-13, 10:39 AM

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Originally Posted by Sammi79

Sorry would you like me to paraphrase the entire chapter?

No

frau kaleun · 04-08-13, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MH

Here we go again...
No one actually takes bible (old testament)literally besides ignorant atheist who try to prove some points and faithful ignorant morons.

Post edited for shamefully poor reading comprehension on my part. :P

Betonov · 04-08-13, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

I have believed to a long time that the Bible and other religious texts make a lot more sense if you see them as just as a collection of stories designed to teach a moral.

Ironic, that's what our priest taught me.

August · 04-08-13, 10:22 AM

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Originally Posted by Betonov

Ironic, that's what our priest taught me.

He must not be a follower of Martin Luther.

Betonov · 04-08-13, 10:26 AM

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Originally Posted by August

He must not be a follower of Martin Luther.

Catholic. But very liberal. He did baptised a bastard.

Never went into a litteral interpretation of the Bible. He regarded it as a moral signpost and a history lesson. But catholics here were focused on the new testament.