When I posted the video
Your God Is Too Small, far too many people didn't understand the message that was being put forth (or at least didn't get the same message out of it that I did). My understanding of the video was that the acts performed by the god of the Bible are insignificant in the scope of the cosmos as we know it. The god of the Bible creates light on the first day, but the source of light (or lights, as the moon is considered a light source) days later. The god of the Bible creates planets, comets, stars, and everything we see in the sky in one fell swoop, after creating the sun and the moon, almost as an afterthought.
There is nothing in the Bible that indicates some sort of higher power influenced its writings. No amazing moral revelations... I'd think that a book written by the supreme moral authority would mention something about outlawing slavery and making women equal to men. No stupendous divulgence of scientific knowledge that could help out the chosen people. For God so loved his people that he told them not to touch pigs, but didn't think that teaching them that using soap to prevent illness and disease would be helpful.
The Bible shows no evidence of being written with anything more than the knowledge available to bronze age Middle Eastern men. And if it gives no evidence of being anything more than a book written by mere mortals, why should it be given the designation "holy"?
Comments (69)
You talk a lot of logical sense, Krisko. I hope people attempt to read this with an open mind. Me? I love ya anyway. ;)
I think the Bible could have impressed me if it had more explosions.
I'm a Christian, but I don't really hold much stock in the Bible, because it was written by man. Even if it was divinely inspired, men held the pens. And you just know that any opportunity a human has to express their own opinions, they're going to.
This comment being a case-in-point.
The Bible has some wisdom, and it has some opinions that the world would be better without. And by no means should it be followed blindly without thought and reason.
First off, and I know this will come as a shock, but the Bible wasn't written for the purpose of impressing you. The purpose is the topic at hand here, and I'd like to point out that the Bible doesn't promote slavery or keeping women down, but that's not really relevant either way. It doesn't matter if you live as a slave or a free man, oppressed or coddled. These are all things of little consequence. You'll never get much from the Bible if you focus on the things of this world. It's not supposed to be an encyclopedia. Unless the Bible leads you spiritually to God, you're misusing it, and it's no wonder you're not impressed.
@grammarboy - [I'd like to point out that the Bible doesn't promote slavery or keeping women down, but that's not really relevant either way.]
Yes it does, and yes it is. If the Bible is meant to be a tutorial for morality, it's absolutely relevant.
[Unless the Bible leads you spiritually to God, you're misusing it, and it's no wonder you're not impressed.]
The point is that there's nothing to indicate that I SHOULD use it to find god, as there's no indication it's anything different from the hundreds of other "holy" books written by men with no greater knowledge of the world than you or I.
I don't think that people "don't" get the reasoning. I am sure they do but they're too brainwash to want to see difference. The guilt that has them tamed from being condemned from an "all powerful" God, condemn to an eternal hell for not believing. They decide to miss out of the pleasure of life (and or hiding their hypocritical lives) and sometimes lead miserable lives so that they might be mediocre and live a semi happy life. I actually wonder what the bible would look like if "God" picked disciples now ... what would be different... especially incorporating all the new information that exist... would they try and add that "god" then created everything else first to benefit and brainwash society to their whims then?
Actually, the bible talks about both.
Women ARE equal in the bible, just different - they were created with a different kind of strength. Even evolution talks about this... men being "hunter gatherers," and women being "nurturing" this is not really different from what the bible says.
It also is addressing the fact that people HAD slaves at the time, (and telling those who did how to treat them well) not condoning it.
@GodlessLiberal - I really don't feel like getting into a theological debate. I'm sure that you'd love to selectively look up some passages that make it look like the Bible says "Yay slavery and misogyny!", but spare me. I've been a Christian all my life, and I know that's just not the case.
It's not intended to be a tutorial for morality. Morality is of little value. All that religion is like "filthy rags". As I said, you're focusing on things in human terms when you really need to worry about your relationship with God. That's the whole point, and it is clear. Look at basically anything Jesus said.PS- the picture is hilarious
Gutless Liberal has his own "holy" book. It's titled Understanding Boylovers and Loved Boys by David Riegel.
"My understanding of the video was that the acts performed by the god of the Bible are insignificant in the scope of the cosmos as we know it."
That one statement invalidates anything you have to say about the Bible. The reason?
Because the Bible was not written by people like us. You, like all Godless liberals create an arbitrary standard and then demand everything conform to that standard if it is to be valid.
That isn't reasonable. It isn't scientific. It isn't academic.
It's just you.
And that is a HUGE problem because you have no authority to set standards for people and cultures of any era, especially eras of the distant past.
@Chibi_Son_Gokou - I don't know what's more pathetic about you.
1) You don't have the chutzpah to actually address my arguments, so you resort to calling me a pedophile.
2) You come to my site to pointlessly insult me, yet block me from your site.
3) You know the the name and author of an actual book about condoning pedophilia.
I think this all speaks so much more about you than about me.
@GodlessLiberal - This is the same dude who pays lip service to Jenn@Datingish... you know this, right?
I recently listened to Leviticus on CD. It made more sense listening to it all at once. There are lots of cleanliness guidelines and I was amazed to find even instruction on mold remediation. A lot of it would be worth a look for application in third-world, low tech environments.
@Chibi_Son_Gokou - I've been really kind and civil to you up until now. But now I have to say what most want to say: Stop being a fuckhead.
@GodlessLiberal - I always address your arguments and you always respond with insults.
Why is that?
@Chibi_Son_Gokou - That's seriously disrespectful. If you disagree with someone, debate the validity of their points and bring up your own (preferably with reason and tact). Unfounded slander doesn't win you the argument, and you're the one who looks bad.
That is exactly it. The bible reflects how humans saw the world around them at that point in time. There are some good morals in the bible, I'll give it that, but it is in no way holy. It was written by man, and is full of the opinions of man.
"For God so loved his people that he told them not to touch pigs, but didn't think that teaching them that using soap to prevent illness and disease would be helpful."
in those time there wasn't soap like we had today. That's also another reason why boys had to be circumcised so that nothing dirty got stuck there.
Anyway, the term "Holy" actually means "set a part." So to most people when they see the word holy they think something that is sacred. Which God is, but they don't use it in the Godly sense. From what I've personally seen it is used in a more worldly sense.
I really don't know why this would mean anything to you, but I figured i'd say just to let people know. Maybe you already knew, i don't really know. I just thought i'd say it. :)
@Panda9490 - Yeah, and that's also in regards to the "washing" and how many times etc... There are a lot of things that were told to them to protect them from "germs" etc.
@Chibi_Son_Gokou - *facepalm* you know... I love you and I tolerate just about everyone. Hubby has same condition as you... but seriously babe, I think you need to really think before you post things if you don't want flaque... Try to be diplomatic or "relevent"...
I'm Christian and I'm not sure how I view the bible personally. Though I'm inclined to believe what @ange_lae - says. Other than that, I'm not entirely sure. I do think a lot of it is written in a different time with a different mindset than now. Because hell, I'm not going to stone someone for any kind of crime now ;P
p.s
I love the picture. ;)
@Chibi_Son_Gokou - Fail.
This was a good post. One criticism. The one thing I always wish about your site, to be honest, is that you broadened it to do other things than attack people of faith. You seem to be a smart person, and could probably do some amazing posts.
As far as I know, the Bible was written by different prophets of God, and he spoke through them. I figure that's why the Bible seems like it was written by humans instead of a higher being - because it was.
@lonelywanderer2 - I totally agree with you. GL is a sweet, funny, fantastic guy. I wish that he broadened what he wrote about a BIT more (he has done it a bit, but, let's be honest, not too much) I absolutely adore him to be honest. :)