Ethics aside, how different are these two actions?

[Computer-Noob]

I don't really consider myself an Atheist, since while I don't follow any religion, I also don't reject the possibility of a creationist belief to be true. But I always defended christianity and the like (I think the term is Abrahamic religions) when someone blamed the Crusades on them by saying that it isnt the fault of the religious texts, but the people who follow them, for either accidently or purposely interpreting them in a sense that they believe justifies the murder of people who don't follow the same religion.

But I know some people who choose to believe certain aspects about the bible, such as the whole "God created the world in seven days". Some people I know think it may have taken longer, but if you had a book that said "On day 40004259287561..." It would turn people away from the truth and bored them, and so it's just more important to get to the gyst of it.

Honestly though, to choose certain aspects of religious text and believe that they are literal, while doing otherwise for different sections, is the same, isn't it?

What are your thoughts?

 

[Deleted]

In before "religion sux".

I think that if the existence of a God is possible, but following a bunch of rules is silly. Out of laziness and because it wouldn't make sense to waste time like that. If someone believes in God then they just have to believe in their heart, not go to this building, wear this, say that every day, not do this, that etc.

 

[The Austin]

I've always considered the bible very symbolic.

If it says the world was created in 7 days, than it probably means something that we mortals can't possibly comprehend.

Humans can no more fathom god than penguins can fathom nuclear physics.

 

[Johnnyallstar]

Here's the issue within the issue of the "7 day creation" within the church. Christians are supposed to believe every word as truth, but when "7 days" becomes something that isn't "7 days" it becomes a major point of argument.

So the question becomes, are we to believe every word in it? Or are we able to accept what we want out of it? What our personal hermeneutic (how we translate it in our minds) dictates exactly what we are supposed to get, but what if our hermeneutic is flat out wrong?

 

[deleted_scifidownbeat]

DELETED

 

[oppp7]

I hope I'm not misinterpretting you...
I'd say they are the same thing because in either situation you are treating a certain part with more concern for whatever reason than another. I think that sections are meant to be literal, however, and some aren't.

 

[scrambledeggs]

I've always considered the bible very symbolic.

If it says the world was created in 7 days, than it probably means something that we mortals can't possibly comprehend.

Humans can no more fathom god than penguins can fathom nuclear physics.

???

 

[Cherry Cola]

I'm not a big fan of Religion myself.

Recently saw a documentary that talked a bit about the issue over most mayor religions nowadays preaching about the end of the world, and that while such things were okay in the past due to the end of the world being an unattainable concept for humans, today we have the power to actually destroy our planet, meaning that "If the world does come to an end here, or if it limps into the future, decimated by religion-inspired nuclear terrorism, let's remember what the real problem was: that we learned how to precipitate mass-death, before we got passed the neurological disorder of wishing for it".

 

[Pimppeter2]

How many carpenters and sheep herders do you think could count past 10 way back when?

 

[Misterian]

I can only say this much:

they say god created man in his own image, so I see little reason to believe God isn't just as flawed as we are.

 

[scrambledeggs]

My question is:

Where did the rest of the universe come from? Did it take a few weeks? Or did the people who wrote the bible just not yet know about the existence of other planets, conveniently lining up with their lack of mention?

Food for thought.

 

[The Austin]

I've always considered the bible very symbolic.

If it says the world was created in 7 days, than it probably means something that we mortals can't possibly comprehend.

Humans can no more fathom god than penguins can fathom nuclear physics.

???

.....OK....
Thank you for that entirely pointless little..... Thing.

I still stand by my previous statements....

 

[Julianking93]

This is one of the main reasons I refute religions.

People from the crusades up to modern times take the bible literally (and not just a few people either) and when they pick and choose what they want to believe, the credibility goes out the window.

If it's supposed to be a strict set of rules, why is it that people choose to follow certain aspects and ignore others?

 

[spinFX]

If someone claims to be a Christian, Muslim or whatever and doesn't follow everything their book says then they are a phony.

And I believe anyone who follows the Bible/Koran/Whatever will be ostracized because those books are evil. Sure there are some good things in them but a) you don't need a 2000+ year old book to teach you right from wrong and b) there is a tonne of evil in the books too, even the Abrahamic god is evil by any definition (in a lot of things he does)

I have zero respect for people who claim to be religious and don't follow their own rules 100%. I mean it's the word of God right? How can you disobey even 1 sentence and expect to be taken seriously.

 

[Thyunda]

Well, being atheist, I've found that my life has actually been more rewarding than most religious people I know. They often restrict themselves based on their religion, and people are even persecuted for it. And for what? What makes religion so appealing to people? This is something I will never understand. Say the religion brought everyone together, they had a good song and dance, ate good food and drank good wine once a month, that's a reason to want to be a part of it. It might seem selfish, but why put ourselves down to worship a deity we can't even be certain of?
Any religion that tries to cut you off from others, or puts limits on your life can't be a good thing. Religion is meant to bring people together and make them happy, not make them feel guilty for every small enjoyment they have.

 

[Sirch.Cajnos]

Personally my whole problem with religion is the people who run it. I believe that religion is something you find inside yourself, not something that is boldfacedly told to you.

For example: my spiritual beliefs are based off a retrospective view of the events of my life, not a pamphlet

 

[Jaygee02]

This is one of the main reasons I refute religions.

People from the crusades up to modern times take the bible literally (and not just a few people either) and when they pick and choose what they want to believe, the credibility goes out the window.

If it's supposed to be a strict set of rules, why is it that people choose to follow certain aspects and ignore others?

That's people for you. The same way people will take a 40 min lunch break instead of a 30 min break, or conveniently forget to inform the umpire they handballed, or complain about the guy cutting them off in traffic when they forgot to indicate. Rules are something we follow selectively.

 

[chris11246]

This is one of the main reasons I refute religions.

People from the crusades up to modern times take the bible literally (and not just a few people either) and when they pick and choose what they want to believe, the credibility goes out the window.

If it's supposed to be a strict set of rules, why is it that people choose to follow certain aspects and ignore others?

My main problem with the bible is that it is not gods exact words its mans transcribing of them which means that its not a perfect translation and it has been handled by humans for centuries which means that unless god is protecting it parts have been changed. Therefore it cannot be taken literally and people should believe in the overall message to be good to others and try to help.

 

[belderiver]

I think people are allowed to pick and choose what they want to believe, and that atheists twist themselves into rhetorical knots when they say "look at this ridiculous bible passage, how can anyone believe this?" and "everyone must believe everything in the Bible to qualify as Christian." That's just not fighting fair, frankly.

I also think it's both really ignorant and really convenient to suggest that a Christian must believe everything and can't pick and choose. Christians, like other people, can recognize that the text is both political and dictated by man. Reflecting on and engaging with holy books is, in my opinion, a lot more "Christian" than just taking it all word-for-word. On top of that, saying that you must believe in it all ignores religious sects like the Quakers who don't necessarily believe in the Bible at all.

 

[omega 616]

If religion can make people like this,


I want nothing to do with it.

If there is a god do you think he will be interested in our lives? A thing with unlimited power and awareness, listening to us asking to win the lottery or help somebody.

There is also loads of contradictions and things that don't add up in the bible, I can't remember any off the top of my head though.

I don't mind people being religious, I do mind when they get preachy or condemn me to hell when they realize I am not one of them.