God's first day on the job

[BornReady]

In the beginning God creates the heavens and the earth. He creates a man and a woman and puts them on the earth. Being a man and a woman they did what men and women do. And before long there was Cain and Able. Cain killed Able and God must deal with the situation. But he's new at being God and there's no manual. What should he do? Well he does pretty much nothing. Before long the murder situation is out of control. The blood of victims is crying out from the ground to God. Clearly something must be done. So God decides to wipe everyone out. Well, almost everyone. Noah and his family will be spared. After seeing everyone drown, God is sorrowful. He realized he overreacted and promises never to do it again.

But people continue to murder each other. Something must be done. Doing nothing didn't work. Killing everyone was a moral disaster. Then a novel solution occurred to God:

Whoever sheds human blood,
by humans shall their blood be shed;
for in the image of God
has God made mankind. (Genesis 9:6)

Today many Christians think of God as all knowing and all wise, unable to make a mistake. But that is not how he is portrayed in the bible. The God of the bible improves as time passes. Thoughts?

 

[Leananshee]

Just that if you look to the Bible as some kind of absolute truth that you have to rationalize to keep your head on straight then something's amiss. Hell, God makes a bet with the devil with Job, tells Moses to kill his kid to test him, and so on. Much of the story attributed to Jesus is arguably attributable to the cult of Mithras. There are, of course, good things as well, but they're all stories, possibly divinely inspired, but still written by men trying to make sense of the world around them.

In other words, it's not just God that improves as time passes according to and within the stories of the Bible. Our understanding of religion and faith is drastically different from even 100 years ago, and almost incomprehensibly different from when these books were written.

 

[MoonOwl]

God & His Wife's Son's science experiment needs some work....

 

[BornReady]

There are, of course, good things as well, but they're all stories, possibly divinely inspired, but still written by men trying to make sense of the world around them.

Yep, you can't really understand the bible until you get that.

In other words, it's not just God that improves as time passes according to and within the stories of the Bible. Our understanding of religion and faith is drastically different from even 100 years ago, and almost incomprehensibly different from when these books were written.

Bingo! Very good.

 

[doombug]

Yep, you can't really understand the bible until you get that.

Really? I tend to agree with the statement but I don't think it is a requirement to understand the bible. Why do you think it is?

 

[doombug]

Just that if you look to the Bible as some kind of absolute truth that you have to rationalize to keep your head on straight then something's amiss. Hell, God makes a bet with the devil with Job, tells Moses to kill his kid to test him, and so on. Much of the story attributed to Jesus is arguably attributable to the cult of Mithras. There are, of course, good things as well, but they're all stories, possibly divinely inspired, but still written by men trying to make sense of the world around them.

In other words, it's not just God that improves as time passes according to and within the stories of the Bible. Our understanding of religion and faith is drastically different from even 100 years ago, and almost incomprehensibly different from when these books were written.

Mithras? Which parts of Jesus's story can be attributed to the Mithras Cult?

 

[Codrus]

Mithras? Which parts of Jesus's story can be attributed to the Mithras Cult?

a quick search found this...not that im picking sides...just found it interesting

http://www.near-death.com/experiences/origen048.html

 

[Codrus]

.....tells Moses to kill his kid to test him, and so on.... .

it was Abraham that was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac on Mt. Moriah

 

[Leananshee]

a quick search found this...not that im picking sides...just found it interesting

http://www.near-death.com/experiences/origen048.html

Yeah, that's pretty much it. Thanks for the link, Cod!

it was Abraham that was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac on Mt. Moriah

And thanks again, I noticed I had written Moses instead (ever think one and say the other?) and just didn't change it.

 

[Codrus]

Yeah, that's pretty much it. Thanks for the link, Cod!

And thanks again, I noticed I had written Moses instead (ever think one and say the other?)

every day dude....
and np..glad to help while im here

 

[Leananshee]

Yep, you can't really understand the bible until you get that.

Really? I tend to agree with the statement but I don't think it is a requirement to understand the bible. Why do you think it is?

Because if you look at the Bible as literal word-for-word truth rather than as stories that can still have information relevant to today, then you end up with people who try to push creation "science", who push for abstinence-only sex ed while the teen pregnancy and STD rate skyrockets, who spout off about the end days and a one-world government, etc. And even those folks just pick and choose passages that fit what they want to believe, but refuse to admit it.

 

[doombug]

Because if you look at the Bible as literal word-for-word truth rather than as stories that can still have information relevant to today, then you end up with people who try to push creation "science", who push for abstinence-only sex ed while the teen pregnancy and STD rate skyrockets, who spout off about the end days and a one-world government, etc. And even those folks just pick and choose passages that fit what they want to believe, but refuse to admit it.

I think that would happen anyway. Look at politics nowadays and see how polarized views are king.

 

[doombug]

a quick search found this...not that im picking sides...just found it interesting

http://www.near-death.com/experiences/origen048.html

But many articles make statements as if they are facts but really are based on very little if any proof.

Here is an article: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithraic_mysteries

Here is an excerpt from the article:
" No written narratives or theology from the religion survive, with limited information to be derived from the inscriptions, and only brief or passing references in Greek and Latin literature. Interpretation of the physical evidence remains problematic and contested."

I have yet to see anything from a credible source that proves Christianity was taken from pagan beliefs. Many people are quick to cling to this idea without any proof.

 

[Minor Axis]

In the beginning God creates the heavens and the earth. He creates a man and a woman and puts them on the earth. Being a man and a woman they did what men and women do. And before long there was Cain and Able. Cain killed Able and God must deal with the situation. But he's new at being God and there's no manual. What should he do? Well he does pretty much nothing. Before long the murder situation is out of control. The blood of victims is crying out from the ground to God. Clearly something must be done. So God decides to wipe everyone out. Well, almost everyone. Noah and his family will be spared. After seeing everyone drown, God is sorrowful. He realized he overreacted and promises never to do it again.

But people continue to murder each other. Something must be done. Doing nothing didn't work. Killing everyone was a moral disaster. Then a novel solution occurred to God:

Whoever sheds human blood,
by humans shall their blood be shed;
for in the image of God
has God made mankind. (Genesis 9:6)

Today many Christians think of God as all knowing and all wise, unable to make a mistake. But that is not how he is portrayed in the bible. The God of the bible improves as time passes. Thoughts?

If we are talking about a perfect all mighty diety, as God is generally perceived, this is the perfect example of why stories out of the Bible are the concoctions of humans, framed by human perception, and it illustrates the general disconnect between the perception of perfection, how we choose to describe it and the actions of a so-called perfect being. It's the human version of God.

 

[doombug]

After seeing everyone drown, God is sorrowful. He realized he overreacted and promises never to do it again.

Where exactly does the bible say this? Perhaps Minor Axis can answer this simple question.

 

[BornReady]

It's the human version of God.

Exactly. The bible and all other religious texts are human books about the divine. Not divine books about humans.

 

[doombug]

Exactly. The bible and all other religious texts are human books about the divine. Not divine books about humans.

What's wrong BR, you can't answer the question I asked you? Where does the bible say what you claim in your OP?

 

[Minor Axis]

it was Abraham that was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac on Mt. Moriah

One of my favorite Bible stories is The Story of Job. God takes a bet with the Devil...you know, the God that should not even allow a Devil to exist, to totally fuck up a faithful follower just to test him. NO worries though, after passing he get a new family and twice a much livestock, a real reward from God. :clap

 

[Codrus]

One of my favorite Bible stories is The Story of Job. God takes a bet with the Devil...you know, the God that should not even allow a Devil to exist, to totally fuck up a faithful follower just to test him. NO worries though, after passing he get a new family and twice a much livestock, a real reward from God. :clap

I'm starting to think that god is addicted to gambling and should seek help ...

 

[Leananshee]

Is this where I interject Einstein's famous quote, "God does not play dice!"?

Of course, Heisenberg did kinda prove him wrong on that note.