Reply #61: Heh, just doesn't seem fair does it? I don't believe your "condemned [View All]

[54anickel]

to eternal torment because you have the audacity to question the validity or worshiping..." But what I believe doesn't mean shit.

Guess it depends on the definition used for blasphemy. When I read that verse, I understand it to mean "the crime of assuming to oneself the rights or qualities of God". Nothing there about questioning. I suppose Bush would meet that one though, since he claims God talks to him - but I digress. :shrug:

Of course I don't see anything in that book about saying magic words to get the reward of eternal paradise when I read it either. Guess that's how someone must have interpreted something in there at one time or another. Of course, what if that someone was a blasphemer? I don't think the misogynistic god of Abe would condemn me for questioning that either. Why have the ability to question and reason and then not be allowed to use it?

It's a book, full of words that can be interpreted in about as many ways as there are readers of it. Back in the days when it was written, the virtues of being "charitable, decent, kind, loving, respectful, polite etc. etc." didn't come some easy to a lot of folks - where's the damned the reward in that? Hence, the book. Call it the misogynistic god of Abe guide to being a decent human being. Call it Being Humane for Dummies if you want. Some people need or want books and guidance, others don't. Some people need or want to be able to belief in a higher power to try and make sense of it all, some don't. Whatever trips your trigger and rolls your socks.

I sort of like reading some of the individual books in the Bible within the history and social context that they were written. It's like reading a novel and imagining going back in time to when it was written. Once in a while I get an "ah-ha, that's the message" moment. Gotta admit the OT doesn't trip my trigger - can't understand most of it.

Now that I'm hung up on definitions and words, I've gotta ask - which are you a heretic or an atheist? They seem mutually exclusive to me. Then again, it depends on the definitions I guess. :hi: