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Guest bob young
Posted

Pastor Frank wrote:

> "bob young" <alaspectrum@netvigator.com> wrote in message

> news:45DD267D.C7E6E557@netvigator.com...

> > Neil Kelsey wrote:

> >> On Feb 20, 11:55 pm, "Pastor Frank" <P...@christfirst.edu> wrote:

> >> > "Neil Kelsey" <neil_kel...@hotmail.com> wrote in message

> >> > news:1171932846.054146.59080@j27g2000cwj.googlegroups.com...

> >> > > On Feb 19, 3:46 pm, Padraic Brown <elemti...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> >> > >> On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 15:26:16 -0500, "Bill M" <w...@bellsouth.net>

> >> > >> wrote:

> >> >

> >> > >> >The Bibles are nothing more than books of myths, fables,

> >> > >> >contradictions,

> >> > >> >human and animal sacrifices, genocide, slaveholding, misogyny,

> >> > >> >destruction,

> >> > >> >barbarisms, and impossible tales. They are not accurate history and

> >> > >> >certainly are not the words of any god unless he is an insane and

> >> > >> >totally

> >> > >> >untrustworthy monster. They are not even good fiction.

> >> >

> >> > >> There's a lot of good ethical and moral foundation in there, too,

> >> > >> but

> >> > >> you always leave that sort of thing out of your diatribes. The myths

> >> > >> are generally inspiring, often teaching good behaviour traits and

> >> > >> are

> >> > >> usually engaging stories. The Bible isn't intended to be "accurate

> >> > >> history". On the whole, it is actually pretty good fiction. There is

> >> > >> a

> >> > >> fairly recent retelling of the Bible's subtext (Richard Elliott

> >> > >> Friedman's "The Hidden Book in the Bible"); once you get away from

> >> > >> the

> >> > >> Bible as a Bible and look at it as literature, even a Bible-fixated

> >> > >> "atheist" such as yourself can enjoy what merits it offers.

> >> >

> >> > > As an atheist who loves literaure, I had to read the Bible in order

> >> > > to

> >> > > understand all the references. This is just my opinion, but if you're

> >> > > telling me the Bible is good fiction (I agree that it's fiction) then

> >> > > Celine DIon is a good singer. I realize it's ancient writing, and as

> >> > > such holds a certain historical interest, but I think the writing is

> >> > > generally strident, contradictory, repetitive, and boring when it's

> >> > > not psychedelically weird. I think there are many examples of earlier

> >> > > and better writing from other cultures than the Bible. Homer,

> >> > > Gilgamesh, Monkey (from China), just to name a few.

> >> >

> >> > How can you "love literature" and miss the extraordinary Philosophy

> >> > of

> >> > life explained and demonstrated by Jesus Christ entirely?

> >>

> >> I didn't miss it, Frank, I just wan't impressed. Jesus seemed like a

> >> prissy prick to me. And read Bertrand Russell's "Why I Am Not A

> >> Christian" for some criticisms into the character of Jesus Christ, he

> >> said it far better than I ever could. Give me the philosophy of life

> >> explained and demonstrated by Shakespeare any day.

> >

> > The whole conception of God is a conception derived from the ancient

> > Oriental

> > despotisms. It is a conception quite unworthy of free men. When you hear

> > people

> > in church debasing themselves and saying that they are miserable sinners,

> > and all

> > the rest of it, it seems contemptible and not worthy of self-respecting

> > human

> > beings. We ought to stand up and look the world frankly in the face. We

> > ought to

> > make the best we can of the world, and if it is not so good as we wish,

> > after all

> > it will still be better than what these others have made of it in all

> > these ages.

> > A good world needs knowledge, kindliness, and courage; it does not need a

> > regretful hankering after the past, or a fettering of the free

> > intelligence by

> > the words uttered long ago by ignorant men.

> > Bertrand Russell (W.N.C.p23)

> >

> Most of these sentiments are well represented by Christ, except, that

> God represents an overriding principles which no man-made laws can put to

> naught. I.e. this is enshrined in the American constitution. "The

> proposition that all men were created equal" is one of those God-given

> rights, which then cannot be abolished by man.

 

[CHUCKLE] It was MAN Frank who desired those nice things, early man, and he

made up gods to protect them and make them work, in the absence of established

Rule of Law.

 

He made up his laws later; when a developed intelligence made it possible.

>

> Therefore what is given by God is a divine right which cannot be

> abolished by man, however what is given by man, can be taken away by men.

 

See above

>

>

> --

> Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

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Guest bob young
Posted

Pastor Frank wrote:

> "Neil Kelsey" <neil_kelsey@hotmail.com> wrote in message

> news:1172081769.902448.177620@v33g2000cwv.googlegroups.com...

> > On Feb 20, 11:55 pm, "Pastor Frank" <P...@christfirst.edu> wrote:

> >> "Neil Kelsey" <neil_kel...@hotmail.com> wrote in message

> >> news:1171932846.054146.59080@j27g2000cwj.googlegroups.com...

> >> > On Feb 19, 3:46 pm, Padraic Brown <elemti...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> >> >> On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 15:26:16 -0500, "Bill M" <w...@bellsouth.net>

> >> >> wrote:

> >>

> >> >> >The Bibles are nothing more than books of myths, fables,

> >> >> >contradictions,

> >> >> >human and animal sacrifices, genocide, slaveholding, misogyny,

> >> >> >destruction,

> >> >> >barbarisms, and impossible tales. They are not accurate history and

> >> >> >certainly are not the words of any god unless he is an insane and

> >> >> >totally untrustworthy monster. They are not even good fiction.

> >>

> >> >> There's a lot of good ethical and moral foundation in there, too, but

> >> >> you always leave that sort of thing out of your diatribes. The myths

> >> >> are generally inspiring, often teaching good behaviour traits and are

> >> >> usually engaging stories. The Bible isn't intended to be "accurate

> >> >> history". On the whole, it is actually pretty good fiction. There is a

> >> >> fairly recent retelling of the Bible's subtext (Richard Elliott

> >> >> Friedman's "The Hidden Book in the Bible"); once you get away from the

> >> >> Bible as a Bible and look at it as literature, even a Bible-fixated

> >> >> "atheist" such as yourself can enjoy what merits it offers.

> >>

> >> > As an atheist who loves literaure, I had to read the Bible in order to

> >> > understand all the references. This is just my opinion, but if you're

> >> > telling me the Bible is good fiction (I agree that it's fiction) then

> >> > Celine DIon is a good singer. I realize it's ancient writing, and as

> >> > such holds a certain historical interest, but I think the writing is

> >> > generally strident, contradictory, repetitive, and boring when it's

> >> > not psychedelically weird. I think there are many examples of earlier

> >> > and better writing from other cultures than the Bible. Homer,

> >> > Gilgamesh, Monkey (from China), just to name a few.

> >>

> >> How can you "love literature" and miss the extraordinary Philosophy

> >> of

> >> life explained and demonstrated by Jesus Christ entirely?

> >

> > I didn't miss it, Frank, I just wan't impressed. Jesus seemed like a

> > prissy prick to me. And read Bertrand Russell's "Why I Am Not A

> > Christian" for some criticisms into the character of Jesus Christ, he

> > said it far better than I ever could. Give me the philosophy of life

> > explained and demonstrated by Shakespeare any day.

> > And I do love literature. How can you bury your nose in the Bible and

> > never experience the writings of Jane Austen, Laurence Sterne,

> > Fielding, TS Eliot, Homer, Faulkner, and plenty of other brilliant

> > authors far superior to the anally retentive goatherders with an

> > agenda who conjured up the Bible?

> >

> Those are required reading at most schools, and none of their authors

> are much into philosophy. Shakespeare did hit upon one important part of the

> puzzle of life when he said: Life is of the stuff dreams are made of. But

> most authors follow the ancient Greek tradition of illustrating the lives of

> fate driven people, who act in the throws of their own folly.

> Christ is altogether different and what He said deals with how people

> feel about things.

 

I have told you countless times, there is no way of knowing what Christ ever

said [assuming he ever said anything] the biblical 'stories' have been handled

by at least three translators over the eons into different languages before

English, with each translator's own creative bits added on [you know how

arrogant creative humans can be Frank] so it is crass stupidity to claim anyone

ever 'said' anything in the Bible. So I will put your sentence into the proper

context ready for next time, as I assume you will not want to look crassly

stupid again:

 

Christ is altogether different and what, it is claimed, He said, deals with how

people

feel about things.

 

Now Frank it reads with 'honesty'

> He knew, that people mostly do what they feel like and

> seldom bother to think. Christ changes people's feelings for the better,

> and thus the quality of their actions improves also, ....that all despite

> the musings of Bertie Russell, whose actions btw demonstrated moral

> depravity.

 

Rubbish. BR was a pacifist and a much sought after lecturer by every

university in the USA in his time. He talked clear cut logic and common

sense. Surely you must have heard of those Frank ?

>

> "anally retentive goat herders with an agenda indeed!!!!! Are they any

> worse than you chanting atheist mantras "with an agenda"?

>

> --

> Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Guest Padraic Brown
Posted

On Sat, 24 Feb 2007 20:22:14 -0500, "Chris Morris"

<Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote:

>

>"Pastor Frank" <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote in message

>news:45e0cae1$0$16340$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...

>> "Padraic Brown" <elemtilas@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>> news:g0ppt2l3q08bc4b90dg6i19ivn7t1il15o@4ax.com...

>>> On Wed, 21 Feb 2007 15:18:07 -0500, Christopher A.Lee

>>> <calee@optonline.net> wrote:

>>>>On Wed, 21 Feb 2007 14:29:04 -0500, "Bill M" <wmech@bellsouth.net>

>>>>wrote:

>>>>>"Padraic Brown" <elemtilas@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>>>>>news:67kkt255767b21pl9a9p2rgd76e0n3gfoa@4ax.com...

>>>>>> On 19 Feb 2007 16:35:32 -0800, "flightlessvacuum"

>>>>>> <flightlessvacuumster@gmail.com> wrote:

>>>>>>>On Feb 20, 12:46 pm, Padraic Brown <elemti...@yahoo.com> wrote:

>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>> Also, you are once again falling into your usual trap of fixation on

>>>>>>>> the negative. One would think you're really a Moslem or something,

>>>>>>>> trying to prosletyse your own religion over others. Oh, that's

>>>>>>>> right!

>>>>>>>> You're an Atheist trying to prosletyse your religion over others.

>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>Calling Atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair color.

>>>>>>

>>>>>> Apples and oranges, really. A real atheist wouldn't even engage in the

>>>>>> above kind of nonsense. There would be no need for him to continually

>>>>>> press the point that there is no God nor would there be a need for him

>>>>>> to continually try to disparage the beliefs of others. For Bill M, his

>>>>>> "atheism" is faith of a curious kind.

>>>>>

>>>>>In your idiotic 'opinion' just like your religion!

>>>>

>>>>He's paranoid. We don't "disparage the beliefs of others".

>>>

>>> Paranoid? THat's a laugh. Go study the definition of "paranoid" to

>>> learn what it really means. As a group, "atheists" _do_ disparage the

>>> beliefs of others. You yourself provide a good example of this. Review

>>> how many times the beliefs of others have been called "delusional" or

>>> "moronic" in the last couple weeks.

>>>

>>>> Like most

>>>>theists he has neither the common sense nor courtesy to keep his

>>>>beliefs to himself.

>>>

>>> You have absolutely no clue what my beliefs are, apart from the few

>>> that have been appropriate to the discussion. I really don't recall

>>> ever discussing them with you. If you don't like people discussing

>>> their beliefs, you don't have to read these kinds of threads.

>>>

>> Christopher has been agitating for the abolition of the free speech

>> provision in the constitution and the imposition of strict censorship laws

>> for years. But praise the Lord, apart from outlawing religion in schools,

>> he is making little headway.

>

>While I agree with you Christopher is a bit of menace to society, there is

>not now nor has there ever been a ban on religion in school.

 

Legally, perhaps not, but in practice there often is.

>In fact to

>speak of History would be impossible without talking of Religion. Also the

>individuals are free to pray in a non-disruptive manner if they wish and

>even read their Bible or any Holy book they wish during non-instruction

>time. There has been great confusion about this at the School level and most

>of it is unfortunately fueled by those making the false claim that the

>Supreme Court outlawed the Bible, Prayer and God from School. This never

>happened, but what did happen was an end to forced prayer, forced Bible

>study and Forced reverence to any God.

 

Whether that's a good thing or not remains to be seen. To be honest,

most kids (unless brought up in a heavily religious environment) are

not going to be really impressed one way or the other with (official)

prayer in schools. Kids that are brought up secular would mumble

through and then promptly forget about it. Just like the Pledge.

>Of course there are notable

>exceptions for instance the illegal insertion of Under God into what was

>otherwise a secular pledge, but I have never been for forced patriotism

>either. Lastly I leave you with this thought, for as long as their are Tests

>in School there will always be Prayer.

 

That is certainly true! And oh for the poor Atheist kids that have

absolutely no recourse except for pre English test despair! ;)))

 

Padraic

 

--

Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Guest Chris Morris
Posted

"Pastor Frank" <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote in message

news:45e0f804$0$16342$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...

> "Chris Morris" <Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote in message

> news:jIOdnUYLVrc6eX3YnZ2dnUVZ_hCdnZ2d@adelphia.com...

>> "Pastor Frank" <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote in message

>> news:45e0cae1$0$16340$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...

>>> "Padraic Brown" <elemtilas@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>>> news:g0ppt2l3q08bc4b90dg6i19ivn7t1il15o@4ax.com...

>>>> On Wed, 21 Feb 2007 15:18:07 -0500, Christopher A.Lee

>>>> <calee@optonline.net> wrote:

>>>>>On Wed, 21 Feb 2007 14:29:04 -0500, "Bill M" <wmech@bellsouth.net>

>>>>>wrote:

>>>>>>"Padraic Brown" <elemtilas@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>>>>>>news:67kkt255767b21pl9a9p2rgd76e0n3gfoa@4ax.com...

>>>>>>> On 19 Feb 2007 16:35:32 -0800, "flightlessvacuum"

>>>>>>> <flightlessvacuumster@gmail.com> wrote:

>>>>>>>>On Feb 20, 12:46 pm, Padraic Brown <elemti...@yahoo.com> wrote:

>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>> Also, you are once again falling into your usual trap of fixation

>>>>>>>>> on

>>>>>>>>> the negative. One would think you're really a Moslem or something,

>>>>>>>>> trying to prosletyse your own religion over others. Oh, that's

>>>>>>>>> right!

>>>>>>>>> You're an Atheist trying to prosletyse your religion over others.

>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>Calling Atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair color.

>>>>>>>

>>>>>>> Apples and oranges, really. A real atheist wouldn't even engage in

>>>>>>> the

>>>>>>> above kind of nonsense. There would be no need for him to

>>>>>>> continually

>>>>>>> press the point that there is no God nor would there be a need for

>>>>>>> him

>>>>>>> to continually try to disparage the beliefs of others. For Bill M,

>>>>>>> his

>>>>>>> "atheism" is faith of a curious kind.

>>>>>>

>>>>>>In your idiotic 'opinion' just like your religion!

>>>>>

>>>>>He's paranoid. We don't "disparage the beliefs of others".

>>>>

>>>> Paranoid? THat's a laugh. Go study the definition of "paranoid" to

>>>> learn what it really means. As a group, "atheists" _do_ disparage the

>>>> beliefs of others. You yourself provide a good example of this. Review

>>>> how many times the beliefs of others have been called "delusional" or

>>>> "moronic" in the last couple weeks.

>>>>

>>>>> Like most

>>>>>theists he has neither the common sense nor courtesy to keep his

>>>>>beliefs to himself.

>>>>

>>>> You have absolutely no clue what my beliefs are, apart from the few

>>>> that have been appropriate to the discussion. I really don't recall

>>>> ever discussing them with you. If you don't like people discussing

>>>> their beliefs, you don't have to read these kinds of threads.

>>>>

>>> Christopher has been agitating for the abolition of the free speech

>>> provision in the constitution and the imposition of strict censorship

>>> laws for years. But praise the Lord, apart from outlawing religion in

>>> schools, he is making little headway.

>>

>> While I agree with you Christopher is a bit of menace to society, there

>> is not now nor has there ever been a ban on religion in school. In fact

>> to speak of History would be impossible without talking of Religion. Also

>> the individuals are free to pray in a non-disruptive manner if they wish

>> and even read their Bible or any Holy book they wish during

>> non-instruction time. There has been great confusion about this at the

>> School level and most of it is unfortunately fueled by those making the

>> false claim that the Supreme Court outlawed the Bible, Prayer and God

>> from School. This never happened, but what did happen was an end to

>> forced prayer, forced Bible study and Forced reverence to any God. Of

>> course there are notable exceptions for instance the illegal insertion of

>> Under God into what was otherwise a secular pledge, but I have never been

>> for forced patriotism either. Lastly I leave you with this thought, for

>> as long as their are Tests in School there will always be Prayer.

> I see. All books can be proscribed ("forced") reading and study

> material in class, the Bible being the sole exception, because it makes

> atheists in class feel uncomfortable. LOL

> It's time we get back to democracy and government by the people and for

> the people, instead of government by decrees from an unelected supreme

> court.

 

You seem to not understand there are not just Atheists in classrooms, but

there are also Pagans, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Ect. How would you

feel if all or any of these groups had their Holy Texts forced upon

Students? Would you want the teacher to begin each day with a reading from

the Koran, or the Satanic Bible for that matter? Should the students begin

their day by reciting the Charge of the Goddess?

 

We have never been a Democracy in this nation and thank the Goddess for that

small favor. We are in fact and have been for over two hundred years a

Democratic Representative Republic. We do not make our laws by vote of a

majority and the majority may not rule over, dictate or remove the rights of

the minorities in this Nation. That is what the First Amendment is all

about, it protects the minority from the whims of the Majority. As a last

note I would like to point out that in every Nation of the world where

Christians have had the Political Power to do so they have brought blood

shed and murder. It was for this very reason the founders made sure that

Religion could not be in control of Government to prevent the spilling of

blood in religious wars as it had happened in Europe.

Guest Chris Morris
Posted

"Pastor Frank" <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote in message

news:45e0f807$0$16342$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...

> "Chris Morris" <Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote in message

> news:v4qdnbBhSfKbeH3YnZ2dnUVZ_vWtnZ2d@adelphia.com...

>> "Pastor Frank" <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote in message

>> news:45e0caed$0$16340$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...

>>> "Chris Morris" <Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote in message

>>> news:37mdnVHEvvfulELYnZ2dnUVZ_rSjnZ2d@adelphia.com...

>>>>

>>>> Most Christians do not make the Spiritual Error of believing they can

>>>> know the full will of the Divine by reading a book written by men for

>>>> men of a long distant time. They look for the Divine message that

>>>> speaks

>>>> to the heart and the soul and not to words written on the page that

>>>> hide

>>>> the Divine Truths.

>>>

>>> Communications, despite its limitations are part of the divine plan.

>>

>> It helps to not confuse our desires with the Divine will.

>>

> What divine will? You mean the one expressed through scripture? Or do

> you claim to have a direct line to God, needing no books?

>

 

No book is needed to know the teachings of the Divine. Pagans have no sacred

or Divinely inspired writings and yet we have always known the Truths that

your Jesus passed down to you. Love is the fulfillment of the Law has been

known to us since the beginning. I suggest you take the advice as written in

Job 12:7-10, I know many Pagans including myself are familiar with and agree

with the sentiments within it.

 

"But ask the Beasts, and they shall teach thee: and the fowls and the air,

and they shall tell thee: Or Speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee,

and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all

these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul

of every living thing, and the breath of mankind?"

 

Also in Jeremiah 8:7:

 

"Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle

and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but many

people know not the judgment of the Lord."

 

This clearly speaks to the fact that the text is not needed to discover the

will of the Divine you merely must look and listen with your Spirit and your

Heart the spiritual wisdom there is to be found if you are willing to

listen.

Guest Pastor Frank
Posted

"Chris Morris" <Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote in message

news:Xeadnbog-6KRdH3YnZ2dnUVZ_hynnZ2d@adelphia.com...

> "Pastor Frank" <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote in message

> news:45e0cae9$0$16340$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...

>>

>> I am sure, that lots of stories in the Bible are "fiction" or at best

>> semi-historical, But then they are not meant to be History nor Science,

>> but are mere vehicles to illustrate moral and ethical issues and

>> standards. That in itself does in no way diminish their veracity and

>> importance.

>

> On this we can indeed agree, it is those that insist that the Bible must

> be the inerrant word of God and thus must be true and taken literally that

> are at issue.

If you want to claim limited Biblical truth, you need to set the limit,

and who can do that? Therefore it is better to regard the Bible as the

inerrant Word of almighty God in poetic format and therefore true by

definition. The only error can occur in its interpretation. You don't even

have to be a great orator or lawyer to interpret the Bible as the authors

intended.

 

 

 

--

Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Guest Pastor Frank
Posted

"Gospel Bretts" <bretts1962@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:us32u2952ljk8i15qq4oq5lpri1lv92vac@4ax.com...

> On Sun, 25 Feb 2007 11:32:26 +0800, "Pastor Frank"

> <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote:

>>"Chris Morris" <Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote in message

>>news:jIOdnUYLVrc6eX3YnZ2dnUVZ_hCdnZ2d@adelphia.com...

>>> "Pastor Frank" <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote in message

>>> news:45e0cae1$0$16340$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...

>>>> "Padraic Brown" <elemtilas@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>>>> news:g0ppt2l3q08bc4b90dg6i19ivn7t1il15o@4ax.com...

>>>>> On Wed, 21 Feb 2007 15:18:07 -0500, Christopher A.Lee

>>>>> <calee@optonline.net> wrote:

>>>>>>On Wed, 21 Feb 2007 14:29:04 -0500, "Bill M" <wmech@bellsouth.net>

>>>>>>wrote:

>>>>>>>"Padraic Brown" <elemtilas@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>>>>>>>news:67kkt255767b21pl9a9p2rgd76e0n3gfoa@4ax.com...

>>>>>>>> On 19 Feb 2007 16:35:32 -0800, "flightlessvacuum"

>>>>>>>> <flightlessvacuumster@gmail.com> wrote:

>>>>>>>>>On Feb 20, 12:46 pm, Padraic Brown <elemti...@yahoo.com> wrote:

>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>> Also, you are once again falling into your usual trap of fixation

>>>>>>>>>> on

>>>>>>>>>> the negative. One would think you're really a Moslem or

>>>>>>>>>> something,

>>>>>>>>>> trying to prosletyse your own religion over others. Oh, that's

>>>>>>>>>> right!

>>>>>>>>>> You're an Atheist trying to prosletyse your religion over others.

>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>Calling Atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair color.

>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>> Apples and oranges, really. A real atheist wouldn't even engage in

>>>>>>>> the

>>>>>>>> above kind of nonsense. There would be no need for him to

>>>>>>>> continually

>>>>>>>> press the point that there is no God nor would there be a need for

>>>>>>>> him

>>>>>>>> to continually try to disparage the beliefs of others. For Bill M,

>>>>>>>> his

>>>>>>>> "atheism" is faith of a curious kind.

>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>In your idiotic 'opinion' just like your religion!

>>>>>>

>>>>>>He's paranoid. We don't "disparage the beliefs of others".

>>>>>

>>>>> Paranoid? THat's a laugh. Go study the definition of "paranoid" to

>>>>> learn what it really means. As a group, "atheists" _do_ disparage the

>>>>> beliefs of others. You yourself provide a good example of this. Review

>>>>> how many times the beliefs of others have been called "delusional" or

>>>>> "moronic" in the last couple weeks.

>>>>>

>>>>>> Like most

>>>>>>theists he has neither the common sense nor courtesy to keep his

>>>>>>beliefs to himself.

>>>>>

>>>>> You have absolutely no clue what my beliefs are, apart from the few

>>>>> that have been appropriate to the discussion. I really don't recall

>>>>> ever discussing them with you. If you don't like people discussing

>>>>> their beliefs, you don't have to read these kinds of threads.

>>>>>

>>>> Christopher has been agitating for the abolition of the free speech

>>>> provision in the constitution and the imposition of strict censorship

>>>> laws for years. But praise the Lord, apart from outlawing religion in

>>>> schools, he is making little headway.

>>>

>>> While I agree with you Christopher is a bit of menace to society, there

>>> is

>>> not now nor has there ever been a ban on religion in school. In fact to

>>> speak of History would be impossible without talking of Religion. Also

>>> the

>>> individuals are free to pray in a non-disruptive manner if they wish and

>>> even read their Bible or any Holy book they wish during non-instruction

>>> time. There has been great confusion about this at the School level and

>>> most of it is unfortunately fueled by those making the false claim that

>>> the Supreme Court outlawed the Bible, Prayer and God from School. This

>>> never happened, but what did happen was an end to forced prayer, forced

>>> Bible study and Forced reverence to any God. Of course there are notable

>>> exceptions for instance the illegal insertion of Under God into what was

>>> otherwise a secular pledge, but I have never been for forced patriotism

>>> either. Lastly I leave you with this thought, for as long as their are

>>> Tests in School there will always be Prayer.

>>

>> I see. All books can be proscribed ("forced") reading and study

>> material

>>in class, the Bible being the sole exception, because it makes atheists in

>>class feel uncomfortable. LOL

>> It's time we get back to democracy and government by the people and

>> for

>>the people, instead of government by decrees from an unelected supreme

>>court.

>

> LOL. The dickhead Pastor Frank is still here. I look forward to once

> again reading your inanities, Pastor Frank. Your stupidity is not only

> amusing, it reinforces my conviction that Xians are completely lacking

> in simple logical abilities.

>

Tell us about your superior "logic abilities" you keep bragging about

and do demonstrate them occasionally. Mere "convictions" don't count.

 

 

 

--

Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Guest Pastor Frank
Posted

"bob young" <alaspectrum@netvigator.com> wrote in message

news:45E1106A.431776BB@netvigator.com...

> Pastor Frank wrote:

>>

>> Most of these sentiments are well represented by Christ, except, that

>> God represents an overriding principles which no man-made laws can put to

>> naught. I.e. this is enshrined in the American constitution. "The

>> proposition that all men were created equal" is one of those God-given

>> rights, which then cannot be abolished by man.

>

> [CHUCKLE] It was MAN Frank who desired those nice things, early man, and

> he

> made up gods to protect them and make them work, in the absence of

> established

> Rule of Law.

> He made up his laws later; when a developed intelligence made it possible.

>

>> Therefore what is given by God is a divine right which cannot be

>> abolished by man, however what is given by man, can be taken away by men.

>

> See above

>

Non sequitur. You concede then, that what government bestows, government

can take away. We object to that and prefer having our right vested in God,

where no one can take them away.

 

 

 

--

Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Guest Pastor Frank
Posted

"bob young" <alaspectrum@netvigator.com> wrote in message

news:45E12B08.949F5316@netvigator.com...

> Pastor Frank wrote:

>> "Neil Kelsey" <neil_kelsey@hotmail.com> wrote in message

>> news:1172081769.902448.177620@v33g2000cwv.googlegroups.com...

>> > On Feb 20, 11:55 pm, "Pastor Frank" <P...@christfirst.edu> wrote:

>> >> "Neil Kelsey" <neil_kel...@hotmail.com> wrote in message

>> >> news:1171932846.054146.59080@j27g2000cwj.googlegroups.com...

>> >> > On Feb 19, 3:46 pm, Padraic Brown <elemti...@yahoo.com> wrote:

>> >> >> On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 15:26:16 -0500, "Bill M" <w...@bellsouth.net>

>> >> >> wrote:

>> >>

>> >> >> >The Bibles are nothing more than books of myths, fables,

>> >> >> >contradictions,

>> >> >> >human and animal sacrifices, genocide, slaveholding, misogyny,

>> >> >> >destruction,

>> >> >> >barbarisms, and impossible tales. They are not accurate history

>> >> >> >and

>> >> >> >certainly are not the words of any god unless he is an insane and

>> >> >> >totally untrustworthy monster. They are not even good fiction.

>> >>

>> >> >> There's a lot of good ethical and moral foundation in there, too,

>> >> >> but

>> >> >> you always leave that sort of thing out of your diatribes. The

>> >> >> myths

>> >> >> are generally inspiring, often teaching good behaviour traits and

>> >> >> are

>> >> >> usually engaging stories. The Bible isn't intended to be "accurate

>> >> >> history". On the whole, it is actually pretty good fiction. There

>> >> >> is a

>> >> >> fairly recent retelling of the Bible's subtext (Richard Elliott

>> >> >> Friedman's "The Hidden Book in the Bible"); once you get away from

>> >> >> the

>> >> >> Bible as a Bible and look at it as literature, even a Bible-fixated

>> >> >> "atheist" such as yourself can enjoy what merits it offers.

>> >>

>> >> > As an atheist who loves literaure, I had to read the Bible in order

>> >> > to

>> >> > understand all the references. This is just my opinion, but if

>> >> > you're

>> >> > telling me the Bible is good fiction (I agree that it's fiction)

>> >> > then

>> >> > Celine DIon is a good singer. I realize it's ancient writing, and as

>> >> > such holds a certain historical interest, but I think the writing is

>> >> > generally strident, contradictory, repetitive, and boring when it's

>> >> > not psychedelically weird. I think there are many examples of

>> >> > earlier

>> >> > and better writing from other cultures than the Bible. Homer,

>> >> > Gilgamesh, Monkey (from China), just to name a few.

>> >>

>> >> How can you "love literature" and miss the extraordinary

>> >> Philosophy

>> >> of life explained and demonstrated by Jesus Christ entirely?

>> >

>> > I didn't miss it, Frank, I just wan't impressed. Jesus seemed like a

>> > prissy prick to me. And read Bertrand Russell's "Why I Am Not A

>> > Christian" for some criticisms into the character of Jesus Christ, he

>> > said it far better than I ever could. Give me the philosophy of life

>> > explained and demonstrated by Shakespeare any day.

>> > And I do love literature. How can you bury your nose in the Bible and

>> > never experience the writings of Jane Austen, Laurence Sterne,

>> > Fielding, TS Eliot, Homer, Faulkner, and plenty of other brilliant

>> > authors far superior to the anally retentive goatherders with an

>> > agenda who conjured up the Bible?

>>

>> Those are required reading at most schools, and none of their authors

>> are much into philosophy. Shakespeare did hit upon one important part of

>> the

>> puzzle of life when he said: Life is of the stuff dreams are made of. But

>> most authors follow the ancient Greek tradition of illustrating the lives

>> of

>> fate driven people, who act in the throws of their own folly.

>> Christ is altogether different and what He said deals with how people

>> feel about things.

>

> I have told you countless times, there is no way of knowing what Christ

> ever

> said

>

Irrelevant! By your standards all authors living or dead are under

suspicion of having had their words edited over time etc. That's just as

likely as you being merely a semi literate impostor using the handle of the

REAL Bob Young who is far more intelligent than you appear to be. Did I blow

your cover, or did I? ROFL

 

 

 

--

Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Guest Pastor Frank
Posted

"Chris Morris" <Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote in message

news:I6udnWggIOTwzXzYnZ2dnUVZ_q6vnZ2d@adelphia.com...

> "Pastor Frank" <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote in message

> news:45e0f807$0$16342$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...

>> "Chris Morris" <Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote in message

>> news:v4qdnbBhSfKbeH3YnZ2dnUVZ_vWtnZ2d@adelphia.com...

>>> "Pastor Frank" <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote in message

>>> news:45e0caed$0$16340$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...

>>>> "Chris Morris" <Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote in message

>>>> news:37mdnVHEvvfulELYnZ2dnUVZ_rSjnZ2d@adelphia.com...

>>>>>

>>>>> Most Christians do not make the Spiritual Error of believing they can

>>>>> know the full will of the Divine by reading a book written by men for

>>>>> men of a long distant time. They look for the Divine message that

>>>>> speaks

>>>>> to the heart and the soul and not to words written on the page that

>>>>> hide

>>>>> the Divine Truths.

>>>>

>>>> Communications, despite its limitations are part of the divine plan.

>>>

>>> It helps to not confuse our desires with the Divine will.

>>

>> What divine will? You mean the one expressed through scripture? Or do

>> you claim to have a direct line to God, needing no books?

>

> No book is needed to know the teachings of the Divine. Pagans have no

> sacred or Divinely inspired writings and yet we have always known the

> Truths that your Jesus passed down to you. Love is the fulfillment of the

> Law has been known to us since the beginning. I suggest you take the

> advice as written in Job 12:7-10, I know many Pagans including myself are

> familiar with and agree with the sentiments within it.

> "But ask the Beasts, and they shall teach thee: and the fowls and the air,

> and they shall tell thee: Or Speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee,

> and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all

> these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand is the

> soul of every living thing, and the breath of mankind?"

> Also in Jeremiah 8:7:

> "Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle

> and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but many

> people know not the judgment of the Lord."

> This clearly speaks to the fact that the text is not needed to discover

> the will of the Divine you merely must look and listen with your Spirit

> and your Heart the spiritual wisdom there is to be found if you are

> willing to listen.

You sound like another Jim Jones or Koresh looking for converts. We

born-again Christians would rather hold fast to the inerrant Word of God as

found in our NT Bibles.

 

 

 

--

Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Guest Dubh Ghall
Posted

On Fri, 23 Feb 2007 21:33:29 +0800, "Pastor Frank"

<PF@christfirst.edu> wrote:

> Christ isn't about "Divine Truth" nor "Universal Wisdom" etc. etc.

 

.... In fact, Frank's version of "Christ", isn't about anything, that

anyone other than Frank, suggests.

 

The bible contains many descriptions of God, but Frank, has deemed

that one tiny aspect of God, is the most important, and so denies all

others, unless he himself states it.

Guest Dubh Ghall
Posted

On Wed, 21 Feb 2007 19:19:47 +0800, "Pastor Frank"

<PF@christfirst.edu> wrote:

>"Neil Kelsey" <neil_kelsey@hotmail.com> wrote in message

>news:1171932846.054146.59080@j27g2000cwj.googlegroups.com...

>>

>> So if the Bible isn't accurate why base your life on it?

>>

> Tell us what "accuracy" you need to implement Christ's directives below.

>

 

That also counts as lying, Frank.

Guest Dubh Ghall
Posted

On Wed, 21 Feb 2007 19:36:49 +0800, "Pastor Frank"

<PF@christfirst.edu> wrote:

>"Christopher A.Lee" <calee@optonline.net> wrote in message

>news:s0jkt2h3me6gdgm1pa4jbjq6rt579uqo76@4ax.com...

>> On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:46:26 -0500, Padraic Brown

>> <elemtilas@yahoo.com> wrote:

>>>

>>>Also, you are once again falling into your usual trap of fixation on

>>>the negative. One would think you're really a Moslem or something,

>>>trying to prosletyse your own religion over others. Oh, that's right!

>>>You're an Atheist trying to prosletyse your religion over others.

>>

>> And you are a deliberately nasty, bigoted liar who knows that atheism

>> isn't a religion and doesn't proselytise.

>> Shove your crucifix up your ass and bugger yourself with it.

>>

> Atheist rebuttals always end in violence, don't they?

 

 

Not at all, Frank. If you lie about people, and offer gratuitous

insults, it is only reasonable to expect the same in return.

Guest Dubh Ghall
Posted

On Sat, 24 Feb 2007 20:22:14 -0500, "Chris Morris"

<Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote:

>

>"Pastor Frank" <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote in message

>news:45e0cae1$0$16340$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...

>> "Padraic Brown" <elemtilas@yahoo.com> wrote in message

snip

>>>

>>> You have absolutely no clue what my beliefs are, apart from the few

>>> that have been appropriate to the discussion.

 

Irrelevant.

 

>>> I really don't recall ever discussing them with you.

 

You invited us to join in, by xposting to an atheist NG.

>>>If you don't like people discussing their beliefs, you don't have

>>>to read these kinds of threads.

 

If you don't like atheists deriding your superstition, them don't post

it to atheist NGs.

>>>

>> Christopher has been agitating for the abolition of the free speech

>> provision in the constitution and the imposition of strict censorship laws

>> for years.

 

No he hasn't Frank, and you know it; So why do you lie about it?

 

The constitution gives you freedom of speech, and Christopher, and

every other American atheist will fight to defend that.

 

What they will fight against, is YOUR idea, that freedom of speech,

gives you the right to force your religious views on other peoples

children.

 

While you do not want your children force fed, Islam, or Hinduism, or

Satanism, you complain like crazy when Hindus, or Muslims, or

Satanists, are protected by the same rules.

 

>>But praise the Lord, apart from outlawing religion in schools,

>> he is making little headway.

>

>While I agree with you Christopher is a bit of menace to society,

 

....But then, I imagine that applies to anyone who forcibly disagrees

with you.

 

>there is

>not now nor has there ever been a ban on religion in school.

 

You waste your time.

 

Frank cares nothing for the truth.

>In fact to

>speak of History would be impossible without talking of Religion. Also the

>individuals are free to pray in a non-disruptive manner if they wish and

>even read their Bible or any Holy book they wish during non-instruction

>time. There has been great confusion about this at the School level and most

>of it is unfortunately fueled by those making the false claim that the

>Supreme Court outlawed the Bible, Prayer and God from School.

 

Oh dear.

 

This isn't going to go down well, with Frank,or several other xtian

fanatics in these groups.

Guest Dubh Ghall
Posted

On Sun, 25 Feb 2007 11:32:26 +0800, "Pastor Frank"

<PF@christfirst.edu> wrote:

>"Chris Morris" <Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote in message

>news:jIOdnUYLVrc6eX3YnZ2dnUVZ_hCdnZ2d@adelphia.com...

snip

>ced patriotism

>> either. Lastly I leave you with this thought, for as long as their are

>> Tests in School there will always be Prayer.

> I see. All books can be proscribed ("forced") reading and study material

>in class, the Bible being the sole exception, because it makes atheists in

>class feel uncomfortable. LOL

 

I told you that it wouldn't go down well.

 

> It's time we get back to democracy and government by the people and for

>the people, instead of government by decrees from an unelected supreme

>court.

 

 

Frank, that supreme court, is populated by judges, appointed by the

governments which you, the people, democratically elect.

Guest Christopher A.Lee
Posted

On Sun, 25 Feb 2007 18:35:19 GMT, Dubh Ghall <puck@pooks.hill.fey>

wrote:

>On Sat, 24 Feb 2007 20:22:14 -0500, "Chris Morris"

><Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote:

>

>>

>>"Pastor Frank" <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote in message

>>news:45e0cae1$0$16340$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...

>>> "Padraic Brown" <elemtilas@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>snip

>>>>

>>>> You have absolutely no clue what my beliefs are, apart from the few

>>>> that have been appropriate to the discussion.

>

>Irrelevant.

>

>>>> I really don't recall ever discussing them with you.

>

>You invited us to join in, by xposting to an atheist NG.

>

>>>>If you don't like people discussing their beliefs, you don't have

>>>>to read these kinds of threads.

 

Translation: like most theists he sociopathically sees nothing wrong

with telling them to people who otherwise wouldn't know how deluded he

is.

>If you don't like atheists deriding your superstition, them don't post

>it to atheist NGs.

 

Yep.

>>> Christopher has been agitating for the abolition of the free speech

>>> provision in the constitution and the imposition of strict censorship laws

>>> for years.

 

Why doesn't the barefaced liar cite one single place where I do that,

with context?

>No he hasn't Frank, and you know it; So why do you lie about it?

>

>The constitution gives you freedom of speech, and Christopher, and

>every other American atheist will fight to defend that.

 

It also gives us the freedom of speech to tell them where to shove it

when they push it where it is neither wanted nor needed. And to treat

bullying psychopaths like Frank as what they are.

 

It's not even a constitutional issue but one of common sense and

courtesy towards those outside his religion.

 

And the negative reaction to his nastiness, stupidity and bullying.

>What they will fight against, is YOUR idea, that freedom of speech,

>gives you the right to force your religious views on other peoples

>children.

 

Yep.

>While you do not want your children force fed, Islam, or Hinduism, or

>Satanism, you complain like crazy when Hindus, or Muslims, or

>Satanists, are protected by the same rules.

>

>>>But praise the Lord, apart from outlawing religion in schools,

>>> he is making little headway.

>>

>>While I agree with you Christopher is a bit of menace to society,

>

>...But then, I imagine that applies to anyone who forcibly disagrees

>with you.

 

Remember, this is the sociopath who rudely and stupidly talks as

though his "the Divine" were real, universally granted etc to those

who don't already believe as he does.

 

Who like most theists doesn't like this being pointed out.

 

Who resorts to stupidity, slander and nastiness when told to put up or

shut up.

>>there is

>>not now nor has there ever been a ban on religion in school.

>

>You waste your time.

>

>Frank cares nothing for the truth.

>

>>In fact to

>>speak of History would be impossible without talking of Religion. Also the

>>individuals are free to pray in a non-disruptive manner if they wish and

>>even read their Bible or any Holy book they wish during non-instruction

>>time. There has been great confusion about this at the School level and most

>>of it is unfortunately fueled by those making the false claim that the

>>Supreme Court outlawed the Bible, Prayer and God from School.

>

>Oh dear.

>

>This isn't going to go down well, with Frank,or several other xtian

>fanatics in these groups.

>

>

Guest Chris Morris
Posted

"Padraic Brown" <elemtilas@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:kts1u21mplklmdkmura3i7kmr7knqjf79f@4ax.com...

> On Sat, 24 Feb 2007 20:22:14 -0500, "Chris Morris"

> <Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote:

>

>>

>>"Pastor Frank" <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote in message

>>news:45e0cae1$0$16340$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...

>>> "Padraic Brown" <elemtilas@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>>> news:g0ppt2l3q08bc4b90dg6i19ivn7t1il15o@4ax.com...

>>>> On Wed, 21 Feb 2007 15:18:07 -0500, Christopher A.Lee

>>>> <calee@optonline.net> wrote:

>>>>>On Wed, 21 Feb 2007 14:29:04 -0500, "Bill M" <wmech@bellsouth.net>

>>>>>wrote:

>>>>>>"Padraic Brown" <elemtilas@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>>>>>>news:67kkt255767b21pl9a9p2rgd76e0n3gfoa@4ax.com...

>>>>>>> On 19 Feb 2007 16:35:32 -0800, "flightlessvacuum"

>>>>>>> <flightlessvacuumster@gmail.com> wrote:

>>>>>>>>On Feb 20, 12:46 pm, Padraic Brown <elemti...@yahoo.com> wrote:

>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>> Also, you are once again falling into your usual trap of fixation

>>>>>>>>> on

>>>>>>>>> the negative. One would think you're really a Moslem or something,

>>>>>>>>> trying to prosletyse your own religion over others. Oh, that's

>>>>>>>>> right!

>>>>>>>>> You're an Atheist trying to prosletyse your religion over others.

>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>Calling Atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair color.

>>>>>>>

>>>>>>> Apples and oranges, really. A real atheist wouldn't even engage in

>>>>>>> the

>>>>>>> above kind of nonsense. There would be no need for him to

>>>>>>> continually

>>>>>>> press the point that there is no God nor would there be a need for

>>>>>>> him

>>>>>>> to continually try to disparage the beliefs of others. For Bill M,

>>>>>>> his

>>>>>>> "atheism" is faith of a curious kind.

>>>>>>

>>>>>>In your idiotic 'opinion' just like your religion!

>>>>>

>>>>>He's paranoid. We don't "disparage the beliefs of others".

>>>>

>>>> Paranoid? THat's a laugh. Go study the definition of "paranoid" to

>>>> learn what it really means. As a group, "atheists" _do_ disparage the

>>>> beliefs of others. You yourself provide a good example of this. Review

>>>> how many times the beliefs of others have been called "delusional" or

>>>> "moronic" in the last couple weeks.

>>>>

>>>>> Like most

>>>>>theists he has neither the common sense nor courtesy to keep his

>>>>>beliefs to himself.

>>>>

>>>> You have absolutely no clue what my beliefs are, apart from the few

>>>> that have been appropriate to the discussion. I really don't recall

>>>> ever discussing them with you. If you don't like people discussing

>>>> their beliefs, you don't have to read these kinds of threads.

>>>>

>>> Christopher has been agitating for the abolition of the free speech

>>> provision in the constitution and the imposition of strict censorship

>>> laws

>>> for years. But praise the Lord, apart from outlawing religion in

>>> schools,

>>> he is making little headway.

>>

>>While I agree with you Christopher is a bit of menace to society, there is

>>not now nor has there ever been a ban on religion in school.

>

> Legally, perhaps not, but in practice there often is.

 

This is something that is being corrected many School Officals are still

making errors in this, but there are many efforts that are working to better

educate the educators on this matter including the First Amendement Project.

 

>>In fact to

>>speak of History would be impossible without talking of Religion. Also the

>>individuals are free to pray in a non-disruptive manner if they wish and

>>even read their Bible or any Holy book they wish during non-instruction

>>time. There has been great confusion about this at the School level and

>>most

>>of it is unfortunately fueled by those making the false claim that the

>>Supreme Court outlawed the Bible, Prayer and God from School. This never

>>happened, but what did happen was an end to forced prayer, forced Bible

>>study and Forced reverence to any God.

>

> Whether that's a good thing or not remains to be seen. To be honest,

> most kids (unless brought up in a heavily religious environment) are

> not going to be really impressed one way or the other with (official)

> prayer in schools. Kids that are brought up secular would mumble

> through and then promptly forget about it. Just like the Pledge.

 

Perhaps but I know I being someone of a non-Christian faith would not have

been silent with a prayer issue and in fact when it was attempted at my High

School Graduation I was not silent.

 

>>Of course there are notable

>>exceptions for instance the illegal insertion of Under God into what was

>>otherwise a secular pledge, but I have never been for forced patriotism

>>either. Lastly I leave you with this thought, for as long as their are

>>Tests

>>in School there will always be Prayer.

>

> That is certainly true! And oh for the poor Atheist kids that have

> absolutely no recourse except for pre English test despair! ;)))

>

> Padraic

>

> --

> Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

>

Guest Chris Morris
Posted

"Pastor Frank" <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote in message

news:45e15f1e$0$16375$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...

> "Chris Morris" <Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote in message

> news:Xeadnbog-6KRdH3YnZ2dnUVZ_hynnZ2d@adelphia.com...

>> "Pastor Frank" <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote in message

>> news:45e0cae9$0$16340$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...

>>>

>>> I am sure, that lots of stories in the Bible are "fiction" or at best

>>> semi-historical, But then they are not meant to be History nor Science,

>>> but are mere vehicles to illustrate moral and ethical issues and

>>> standards. That in itself does in no way diminish their veracity and

>>> importance.

>>

>> On this we can indeed agree, it is those that insist that the Bible must

>> be the inerrant word of God and thus must be true and taken literally

>> that are at issue.

> If you want to claim limited Biblical truth, you need to set the limit,

> and who can do that? Therefore it is better to regard the Bible as the

> inerrant Word of almighty God in poetic format and therefore true by

> definition. The only error can occur in its interpretation. You don't even

> have to be a great orator or lawyer to interpret the Bible as the authors

> intended.

 

Well there are in fact many problems with your assumptions in that matter

first is the problem of Ancient Hebrew, which without vowel markings was in

fact never a precise language. This is why debate plays a central role in

Jewish Tradition since there can not be any certainty that you have the

right translation and reading for the words in the Torah. The second issue

is we do not have the original texts of the Authors of any of the books of

the Bible nor do we have second third or even fourth hand copies of the

texts. We have is many books that were handed were copied and recopied

mostly by non-professional scribes who were simply those in the Early Church

who could read and write at greater or lesser levels. Now there is also the

issue of both the intentional and unintentional changes to the texts that

have occurred over the years as well. We know that the Bible has been

changed over the Centuries in many ways a conservative estimate was 30,000

places of changes, we of course now know this is way lower than what is

actually occurred. Textual critics, theological scholars that study the

Bible in it's oldest forms seeking to reconstruct the original autograph as

closely as possible, agree that the Bible has changed and often done so for

theological reasons of the scribes. When the scholars look at a text and

find different readings one of the measures they use is the more difficult

reading is most often the correct one since the Scribes were more likely to

change a text to make it easier not harder. There are also other issues

including the writings we have are not all written by the Authors they have

been attributed to, we know this by comparing known texts with the styles of

the suspect text also in the dating of texts. For instance it is generally

accepted by Scholars that 2 Peter was not in fact written by Peter, and most

of the letters attributed to Paul and passages of some that were written by

Paul have been written or altered at later times and by other authors. The

whole subject of the Early Church history and how the New Testament books

were chosen is rather fascinating to anyone taking the time to research it a

bit and very enlightening. The point is not to say there are not Spiritual

Truths in the Bible for they are most assuredly there, but the Bible itself

was written by men for others of their own time and in a distance place and

can not be read literally and objectively.

Guest Chris Morris
Posted

"Pastor Frank" <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote in message

news:45e15f29$0$16375$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...

> "bob young" <alaspectrum@netvigator.com> wrote in message

> news:45E12B08.949F5316@netvigator.com...

>> Pastor Frank wrote:

>>> "Neil Kelsey" <neil_kelsey@hotmail.com> wrote in message

>>> news:1172081769.902448.177620@v33g2000cwv.googlegroups.com...

>>> > On Feb 20, 11:55 pm, "Pastor Frank" <P...@christfirst.edu> wrote:

>>> >> "Neil Kelsey" <neil_kel...@hotmail.com> wrote in message

>>> >> news:1171932846.054146.59080@j27g2000cwj.googlegroups.com...

>>> >> > On Feb 19, 3:46 pm, Padraic Brown <elemti...@yahoo.com> wrote:

>>> >> >> On Mon, 19 Feb 2007 15:26:16 -0500, "Bill M" <w...@bellsouth.net>

>>> >> >> wrote:

>>> >>

>>> >> >> >The Bibles are nothing more than books of myths, fables,

>>> >> >> >contradictions,

>>> >> >> >human and animal sacrifices, genocide, slaveholding, misogyny,

>>> >> >> >destruction,

>>> >> >> >barbarisms, and impossible tales. They are not accurate history

>>> >> >> >and

>>> >> >> >certainly are not the words of any god unless he is an insane and

>>> >> >> >totally untrustworthy monster. They are not even good fiction.

>>> >>

>>> >> >> There's a lot of good ethical and moral foundation in there, too,

>>> >> >> but

>>> >> >> you always leave that sort of thing out of your diatribes. The

>>> >> >> myths

>>> >> >> are generally inspiring, often teaching good behaviour traits and

>>> >> >> are

>>> >> >> usually engaging stories. The Bible isn't intended to be "accurate

>>> >> >> history". On the whole, it is actually pretty good fiction. There

>>> >> >> is a

>>> >> >> fairly recent retelling of the Bible's subtext (Richard Elliott

>>> >> >> Friedman's "The Hidden Book in the Bible"); once you get away from

>>> >> >> the

>>> >> >> Bible as a Bible and look at it as literature, even a

>>> >> >> Bible-fixated

>>> >> >> "atheist" such as yourself can enjoy what merits it offers.

>>> >>

>>> >> > As an atheist who loves literaure, I had to read the Bible in order

>>> >> > to

>>> >> > understand all the references. This is just my opinion, but if

>>> >> > you're

>>> >> > telling me the Bible is good fiction (I agree that it's fiction)

>>> >> > then

>>> >> > Celine DIon is a good singer. I realize it's ancient writing, and

>>> >> > as

>>> >> > such holds a certain historical interest, but I think the writing

>>> >> > is

>>> >> > generally strident, contradictory, repetitive, and boring when it's

>>> >> > not psychedelically weird. I think there are many examples of

>>> >> > earlier

>>> >> > and better writing from other cultures than the Bible. Homer,

>>> >> > Gilgamesh, Monkey (from China), just to name a few.

>>> >>

>>> >> How can you "love literature" and miss the extraordinary

>>> >> Philosophy

>>> >> of life explained and demonstrated by Jesus Christ entirely?

>>> >

>>> > I didn't miss it, Frank, I just wan't impressed. Jesus seemed like a

>>> > prissy prick to me. And read Bertrand Russell's "Why I Am Not A

>>> > Christian" for some criticisms into the character of Jesus Christ, he

>>> > said it far better than I ever could. Give me the philosophy of life

>>> > explained and demonstrated by Shakespeare any day.

>>> > And I do love literature. How can you bury your nose in the Bible and

>>> > never experience the writings of Jane Austen, Laurence Sterne,

>>> > Fielding, TS Eliot, Homer, Faulkner, and plenty of other brilliant

>>> > authors far superior to the anally retentive goatherders with an

>>> > agenda who conjured up the Bible?

>>>

>>> Those are required reading at most schools, and none of their

>>> authors

>>> are much into philosophy. Shakespeare did hit upon one important part of

>>> the

>>> puzzle of life when he said: Life is of the stuff dreams are made of.

>>> But

>>> most authors follow the ancient Greek tradition of illustrating the

>>> lives of

>>> fate driven people, who act in the throws of their own folly.

>>> Christ is altogether different and what He said deals with how

>>> people

>>> feel about things.

>>

>> I have told you countless times, there is no way of knowing what Christ

>> ever

>> said

>>

> Irrelevant! By your standards all authors living or dead are under

> suspicion of having had their words edited over time etc. That's just as

> likely as you being merely a semi literate impostor using the handle of

> the REAL Bob Young who is far more intelligent than you appear to be. Did

> I blow your cover, or did I? ROFL

Actually Frank in the Ancient world this was a well known problem and if you

read the Bible carefully you will even see it mentioned in the passages.

Scribes often changed the original authors words when they were copying

them.

Guest Chris Morris
Posted

"Pastor Frank" <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote in message

news:45e15f30$0$16375$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...

> "Chris Morris" <Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote in message

> news:I6udnWggIOTwzXzYnZ2dnUVZ_q6vnZ2d@adelphia.com...

>> "Pastor Frank" <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote in message

>> news:45e0f807$0$16342$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...

>>> "Chris Morris" <Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote in message

>>> news:v4qdnbBhSfKbeH3YnZ2dnUVZ_vWtnZ2d@adelphia.com...

>>>> "Pastor Frank" <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote in message

>>>> news:45e0caed$0$16340$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...

>>>>> "Chris Morris" <Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote in message

>>>>> news:37mdnVHEvvfulELYnZ2dnUVZ_rSjnZ2d@adelphia.com...

>>>>>>

>>>>>> Most Christians do not make the Spiritual Error of believing they can

>>>>>> know the full will of the Divine by reading a book written by men for

>>>>>> men of a long distant time. They look for the Divine message that

>>>>>> speaks

>>>>>> to the heart and the soul and not to words written on the page that

>>>>>> hide

>>>>>> the Divine Truths.

>>>>>

>>>>> Communications, despite its limitations are part of the divine

>>>>> plan.

>>>>

>>>> It helps to not confuse our desires with the Divine will.

>>>

>>> What divine will? You mean the one expressed through scripture? Or do

>>> you claim to have a direct line to God, needing no books?

>>

>> No book is needed to know the teachings of the Divine. Pagans have no

>> sacred or Divinely inspired writings and yet we have always known the

>> Truths that your Jesus passed down to you. Love is the fulfillment of the

>> Law has been known to us since the beginning. I suggest you take the

>> advice as written in Job 12:7-10, I know many Pagans including myself are

>> familiar with and agree with the sentiments within it.

>> "But ask the Beasts, and they shall teach thee: and the fowls and the

>> air, and they shall tell thee: Or Speak to the earth, and it shall teach

>> thee, and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not

>> in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand

>> is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of mankind?"

>> Also in Jeremiah 8:7:

>> "Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle

>> and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but many

>> people know not the judgment of the Lord."

>> This clearly speaks to the fact that the text is not needed to discover

>> the will of the Divine you merely must look and listen with your Spirit

>> and your Heart the spiritual wisdom there is to be found if you are

>> willing to listen.

> You sound like another Jim Jones or Koresh looking for converts. We

> born-again Christians would rather hold fast to the inerrant Word of God

> as found in our NT Bibles.

 

And yet when someone shows you the words in the Bible you refuse to listen

to the plain written word though you claim it is without error.

Guest Chris Morris
Posted

"Dubh Ghall" <puck@pooks.hill.fey> wrote in message

news:fvb3u2t1t5bvee1q385taqu1jddpgct16b@4ax.com...

> On Sat, 24 Feb 2007 20:22:14 -0500, "Chris Morris"

> <Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote:

>

>>

>>"Pastor Frank" <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote in message

>>news:45e0cae1$0$16340$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...

>>> "Padraic Brown" <elemtilas@yahoo.com> wrote in message

> snip

>>>>

>>>> You have absolutely no clue what my beliefs are, apart from the few

>>>> that have been appropriate to the discussion.

>

> Irrelevant.

>

>

>>>> I really don't recall ever discussing them with you.

>

> You invited us to join in, by xposting to an atheist NG.

>

>>>>If you don't like people discussing their beliefs, you don't have

>>>>to read these kinds of threads.

>

> If you don't like atheists deriding your superstition, them don't post

> it to atheist NGs.

>

>>>>

>>> Christopher has been agitating for the abolition of the free speech

>>> provision in the constitution and the imposition of strict censorship

>>> laws

>>> for years.

>

> No he hasn't Frank, and you know it; So why do you lie about it?

>

> The constitution gives you freedom of speech, and Christopher, and

> every other American atheist will fight to defend that.

>

> What they will fight against, is YOUR idea, that freedom of speech,

> gives you the right to force your religious views on other peoples

> children.

>

> While you do not want your children force fed, Islam, or Hinduism, or

> Satanism, you complain like crazy when Hindus, or Muslims, or

> Satanists, are protected by the same rules.

>

>

>>>But praise the Lord, apart from outlawing religion in schools,

>>> he is making little headway.

>>

>>While I agree with you Christopher is a bit of menace to society,

>

> ...But then, I imagine that applies to anyone who forcibly disagrees

> with you.

 

He has a habit of attacking me without reading what he is attacking first.

 

>

>>there is

>>not now nor has there ever been a ban on religion in school.

>

> You waste your time.

>

> Frank cares nothing for the truth.

>

>>In fact to

>>speak of History would be impossible without talking of Religion. Also the

>>individuals are free to pray in a non-disruptive manner if they wish and

>>even read their Bible or any Holy book they wish during non-instruction

>>time. There has been great confusion about this at the School level and

>>most

>>of it is unfortunately fueled by those making the false claim that the

>>Supreme Court outlawed the Bible, Prayer and God from School.

>

> Oh dear.

>

> This isn't going to go down well, with Frank,or several other xtian

> fanatics in these groups.

 

I never really cared what others thought when I speak my mind especially

when it is backed in the facts, history and the law.

Guest Chris Morris
Posted

"Christopher A.Lee" <calee@optonline.net> wrote in message

news:iol3u2deq6qgj8gatgicss8jnu161mhdf1@4ax.com...

> On Sun, 25 Feb 2007 18:35:19 GMT, Dubh Ghall <puck@pooks.hill.fey>

> wrote:

>

>>On Sat, 24 Feb 2007 20:22:14 -0500, "Chris Morris"

>><Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote:

>>

>>>

>>>"Pastor Frank" <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote in message

>>>news:45e0cae1$0$16340$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...

>>>> "Padraic Brown" <elemtilas@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>>snip

>>>>>

>>>>> You have absolutely no clue what my beliefs are, apart from the few

>>>>> that have been appropriate to the discussion.

>>

>>Irrelevant.

>>

>>>>> I really don't recall ever discussing them with you.

>>

>>You invited us to join in, by xposting to an atheist NG.

>>

>>>>>If you don't like people discussing their beliefs, you don't have

>>>>>to read these kinds of threads.

>

> Translation: like most theists he sociopathically sees nothing wrong

> with telling them to people who otherwise wouldn't know how deluded he

> is.

>

>>If you don't like atheists deriding your superstition, them don't post

>>it to atheist NGs.

>

> Yep.

>

>>>> Christopher has been agitating for the abolition of the free speech

>>>> provision in the constitution and the imposition of strict censorship

>>>> laws

>>>> for years.

>

> Why doesn't the barefaced liar cite one single place where I do that,

> with context?

>

>>No he hasn't Frank, and you know it; So why do you lie about it?

>>

>>The constitution gives you freedom of speech, and Christopher, and

>>every other American atheist will fight to defend that.

>

> It also gives us the freedom of speech to tell them where to shove it

> when they push it where it is neither wanted nor needed. And to treat

> bullying psychopaths like Frank as what they are.

>

> It's not even a constitutional issue but one of common sense and

> courtesy towards those outside his religion.

>

> And the negative reaction to his nastiness, stupidity and bullying.

>

>>What they will fight against, is YOUR idea, that freedom of speech,

>>gives you the right to force your religious views on other peoples

>>children.

>

> Yep.

>

>>While you do not want your children force fed, Islam, or Hinduism, or

>>Satanism, you complain like crazy when Hindus, or Muslims, or

>>Satanists, are protected by the same rules.

>>

>>>>But praise the Lord, apart from outlawing religion in schools,

>>>> he is making little headway.

>>>

>>>While I agree with you Christopher is a bit of menace to society,

>>

>>...But then, I imagine that applies to anyone who forcibly disagrees

>>with you.

>

> Remember, this is the sociopath who rudely and stupidly talks as

> though his "the Divine" were real, universally granted etc to those

> who don't already believe as he does.

>

> Who like most theists doesn't like this being pointed out.

>

> Who resorts to stupidity, slander and nastiness when told to put up or

> shut up.

 

As I have pointed out to you again and again I do not give a flying rats ass

if you believe what I do it does not effect me at I accept that not everyone

has the same point of view. It is you that seems to believe if others are

not Atheists then they are morons

 

>>>there is

>>>not now nor has there ever been a ban on religion in school.

>>

>>You waste your time.

>>

>>Frank cares nothing for the truth.

>>

>>>In fact to

>>>speak of History would be impossible without talking of Religion. Also

>>>the

>>>individuals are free to pray in a non-disruptive manner if they wish and

>>>even read their Bible or any Holy book they wish during non-instruction

>>>time. There has been great confusion about this at the School level and

>>>most

>>>of it is unfortunately fueled by those making the false claim that the

>>>Supreme Court outlawed the Bible, Prayer and God from School.

>>

>>Oh dear.

>>

>>This isn't going to go down well, with Frank,or several other xtian

>>fanatics in these groups.

>>

>>

Guest Dubh Ghall
Posted

On Sun, 25 Feb 2007 04:02:03 -0500, "Chris Morris"

<Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote:

 

snip

>>

>

>No book is needed to know the teachings of the Divine. Pagans have no sacred

>or Divinely inspired writings

 

Define pagan.

Guest Christopher A.Lee
Posted

On Sun, 25 Feb 2007 14:55:49 -0500, "Chris Morris"

<Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote:

>

>"Dubh Ghall" <puck@pooks.hill.fey> wrote in message

>news:fvb3u2t1t5bvee1q385taqu1jddpgct16b@4ax.com...

>> On Sat, 24 Feb 2007 20:22:14 -0500, "Chris Morris"

>> <Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote:

>>

>>>

>>>"Pastor Frank" <PF@christfirst.edu> wrote in message

>>>news:45e0cae1$0$16340$88260bb3@free.teranews.com...

>>>> "Padraic Brown" <elemtilas@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>> snip

>>>>>

>>>>> You have absolutely no clue what my beliefs are, apart from the few

>>>>> that have been appropriate to the discussion.

>>

>> Irrelevant.

>>

>>

>>>>> I really don't recall ever discussing them with you.

>>

>> You invited us to join in, by xposting to an atheist NG.

>>

>>>>>If you don't like people discussing their beliefs, you don't have

>>>>>to read these kinds of threads.

>>

>> If you don't like atheists deriding your superstition, them don't post

>> it to atheist NGs.

>>

>>>>>

>>>> Christopher has been agitating for the abolition of the free speech

>>>> provision in the constitution and the imposition of strict censorship

>>>> laws

>>>> for years.

>>

>> No he hasn't Frank, and you know it; So why do you lie about it?

>>

>> The constitution gives you freedom of speech, and Christopher, and

>> every other American atheist will fight to defend that.

>>

>> What they will fight against, is YOUR idea, that freedom of speech,

>> gives you the right to force your religious views on other peoples

>> children.

>>

>> While you do not want your children force fed, Islam, or Hinduism, or

>> Satanism, you complain like crazy when Hindus, or Muslims, or

>> Satanists, are protected by the same rules.

>>

>>>>But praise the Lord, apart from outlawing religion in schools,

>>>> he is making little headway.

>>>

>>>While I agree with you Christopher is a bit of menace to society,

>>

>> ...But then, I imagine that applies to anyone who forcibly disagrees

>> with you.

>

>He has a habit of attacking me without reading what he is attacking first.

 

And you carry on with your habit of lying about those who tell you to

put up or shut up when you rudely and stupidly talk as though your

beliefs were real, outside your religion.

Guest Chris Morris
Posted

"Dubh Ghall" <puck@pooks.hill.fey> wrote in message

news:0hq3u25bf24a018uev0b3pc0o20e8lagbb@4ax.com...

> On Sun, 25 Feb 2007 04:02:03 -0500, "Chris Morris"

> <Draccus@adelphia.net> wrote:

>

> snip

>>>

>>

>>No book is needed to know the teachings of the Divine. Pagans have no

>>sacred

>>or Divinely inspired writings

>

> Define pagan.

>

I have a faith that is Pre-Christian in my case my family never converted to

Christianity as most of the people of Europe did in the past. Being Pagan is

a belief in the Divine forces that exist in all of Nature we follow the

changing of the seasons with rituals that mark those changes and honor those

who have gone before us. We believe in reincarnation with many lives lived

in order to learn the Spiritual lessons that will allow us to reunite with

the with the Divine. The Divine is the force that binds the universe

together and is neither male nor female. We give honor to the Divine through

the God and Goddess who are the intermediary aspects of the Divine that we

can relate to on a more personal basis and more directly and through whom as

they are closer to the Divine than we are selves are , but still accessible

easier for us to comprehend. Being Pagan means knowing that the walls

between the physical and the spiritual world are illusion as is time itself

creations that man has put in place for and by his own mind. We accept that

not all paths are the same for all people we must all find that which is

right and works for ourselves. Also we do not believe it is possible to come

to our path unless you chose to, no one can be forced and no one can be

recruited. Each must find the path that is best suited for their own needs.

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