How do you explain all the contradictions in the Bible?

This hasn't been active lately. But, wanted to thank @noonoon for contributions like this. Really interesting that this crowd, while discussing name-calling and such to set the table, is also very willing to talk about such generally-considered controversial topics.

@Icarium I do think people can disagree or try to reach their own goals in different ways.

I'd also like to opine.. NoFap is such a cool place that has often been welcoming to those with a religious background, and of different faiths, when it was definitely established as a secular program with goals for self-improvement based on science. So, I'd like to thank a great many people here who have been welcoming to all walks of life. This is what we in America think of as religious liberty. Respect for all beliefs.

 

The Bible is fake news.

 

"grabs popcorn" continue guys...

 

Oh the naïve little lambs to think it a criticism that the Holy Scripture might contain contradictions. The dogma of the Holy Trinity is a contradiction writ large on which reason stumbles... that God could be three in one... not to mention the other dogmas.

The contradictions call into question all human diction, which is hardly surprising in that it is itself a mere creation. But imagining it somehow unchanging and eternal, we suffer the illusions of language.

 

I need a translator for this post.

 

What are woven words but translations themselves? They appear to theology on the poorer side of the artisan's rug... and they could never make a magic carpet.

 

I’ll have what he’s having ^

 

I don't care what people don't understand about the bible, I know in my heart Jesus is my savior and God Is real, no matter what people say or believe it is how I will live my life.

 

The Sixth Argument

A man educated by the Jesuits once said,
‘If God didn’t exist, we’d have to invent him’.
Was it to salvage the world from banality,
To see in the cosmos some camaraderie?
As to the life of the mind that grows dim,
It’s as good an argument as any
To match the realism of the many.

For how would anything be possible;
From the naïve trust that sponsors love,
To desire’s satisfaction in enough,
To the unaging adolescence of belief,
To the inner impulse aimed above,
And to poetry, however brief.

 

Of course, when a culture is comfortable with its religion, or rather, when the religion deeply informs the culture, then tolerance toward other beliefs should emanate naturally in an unthreatened and unthreatening manner. Peoples of various faith can live alongside each other, even if there be an official orthodoxy wherein the power of the state is invested. The Ottoman Empire was a good example of this.

Sadly, it was with the rise of ideas that respect for beliefs was undermined. For ideas lead to identity, and identities lead to nationalities, and it wasn't soon before we saw these peace-abiding peoples ripping each other apart. Ideas truly are frightening.

It seems the end game for tolerance comes when it's seen as an end in itself. We do not tolerate each other's beliefs, but rather see tolerance itself as the belief, which was at most a secondary or derivative phenomena. But without the core belief, and provoked by facile ideas, people become intolerant.... and tolerance must tolerate even the intolerant, until it can not. And tolerance then flips over into intolerance, and down into the circling whirlpool of violence.

The interminable, or terminable, problem of America's religion is its individualism.

 

The tyranny of tolerance has been a very real thing. One source of this comes from the arguments between those choosing a gay lifestyle and various religions. Other examples exist like those that want to have smoking marijuana legalized. There seems to be a push to get governments to inflict requirements on people. Some will lobby in attempts to force others to do a thing, or deprive others of proper space to do another thing. It's a dangerous precedent.

Even in America with freedoms as ideals, we have a nonstop barrage trying to change religions. Whether by political correctness, scorn, intimidation, other manipulation, or by outright legislation and enforcement. Force a group to do something like let women into their priesthood / leadership, marry a same-sex couple, and other examples. There is an odd glee in the news media when a church does implement a change. These forces of erosion have undermined the integrity of many institutions. I'd rather see us provide space for beliefs and non-beliefs alike, allow that people can choose their own way. In the end, some seem to only be content with allowing no oxygen to be consumed on others to even talk about beliefs, decrying all manner of faith. Instead of creating a forced-flatness to all ideas, let us rather allow the free dissemination and consumption of ideas, while allowing space for those that choose to believe whatever they may, and practice a religion according to their beliefs. Those are the tenets of the proper freedom of religion.

 

There is a God and a Devil. They contradict each other.

You're welcome.

 

How so?

 

They fight each other... kinda.

The truth is more deeper than that of course, but to people that doesn't understand that God keeps the Devil on a leash, it seens that way.

It is true that the Devil want's to be god, but he already lost this battle, and God uses the Devil to prepare those who are saved through blood of Jesus Christ.

 

I enjoy the fights between christians and atheists......so desperately trying to push their beliefs to one another.

 

Always better to have more people in Heaven!

 

Thanks, but I still want to know what "Demon Semen" meant.

 

I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He’s one of the reasons why I am doing NoFap. To fight against the lusts of the flesh, and so I can be pure and sincere in heart, towards my spouse.