Hi, I'm a former Christian

Graduate Thinker Joined: Mar 26, 2008 Posts: 549

Julio wrote:

Cygnus wrote:

Quote:

I said “symbolically” burn ONE Bible, which is what we actually do when we expose it as a dangerous weapon, I think.

So in other words, completely challenge and expose it?

As I said, and reiterate: the Bible is not the Book of God, but the weapon of man. Translating: God would hate this book if he existed; why should we do less than that… Better hate an evil book than the people who use it, I would say…

While you may be right and the bible is a weapon of man, there are many who disagree. You would only alienate them by opposing the bible with hatred. The only way for Christians to see the error of their ways is to approach it in a way that cannot be perceived as hostile.

Intern Joined: Feb 21, 2006 Posts: 231

Hating or detesting a book is harmless if we don’t hurt people.
But you may be right in the sense that MANY people don’t realize the evil the book has caused in the world, and still love it.
The thing is, when poison is around, in this case emotional, intellectual and psychological, causing victims aplenty, hating the source of that poison is the natural reaction.
I “hate” the Bible, subjectively, but still study it to better decipher its “appeal” and danger.
Many books are continually being written AGAINST the Bible, and it is still the number one bestseller. Why?

Graduate Thinker Joined: Mar 26, 2008 Posts: 549

Quote:

Hating or detesting a book is harmless if we don’t hurt people.
But you may be right in the sense that MANY people don’t realize the evil the book has caused in the world, and still love it.
The thing is, when poison is around, in this case emotional, intellectual and psychological, causing victims aplenty, hating the source of that poison is the natural reaction.

All the same, when trying to challenge Christianity, the best course of action is one that doesn't push away those who already take the bible as truth. When a Christian sees an atheist who declares that they hate the bible, the Christian doesn't listen to his arguments because he or she is too offended and only pushes back just as strongly.

Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 6:28 am

Julio wrote:

It is the Bible that makes people like that, friends.

It's more complicated then just the book itself; the bible is just an excuse. It's the human tendency to follow dogmatically any belief without examining the reality or consequence of the belief that causes most of these problems. Many books, including the bible, can and have been used for this purpose.

Graduate Thinker Joined: Mar 26, 2008 Posts: 549

People can follow anything dogmatically- even-and maybe particularly-sports teams.

Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 2:25 pm

Cygnus wrote:

People can follow anything dogmatically- even-and maybe particularly-sports teams.

True, but generally they don't define their worldview or moral standards by a particular sports team. What I speak of often falls into the purview of religious, nationalistic, political or even sometimes economic dogma.

Intern Joined: Feb 21, 2006 Posts: 231

[quote="Cygnus"]

Quote:

All the same, when trying to challenge Christianity, the best course of action is one that doesn't push away those who already take the bible as truth. When a Christian sees an atheist who declares that they hate the bible, the Christian doesn't listen to his arguments because he or she is too offended and only pushes back just as strongly.

You're quite right. Christians are as much aggressive as Muslims and for minor subjective issues can pick up lethal weapons and go “recover Jerusalem for the Lord!”
They never understand – and I’ve tried this “philosophy” – that it was God who firstly lost the “holy city”, sort of policy. They want to help God save the world, even if it takes splitting the earth in half!
Julio.

Intern Joined: Feb 21, 2006 Posts: 231

MockingGods wrote:

Julio wrote:

It is the Bible that makes people like that, friends.

... It's the human tendency to follow dogmatically any belief without examining the reality or consequence of the belief that causes most of these problems...

Yes; unfortunately, one can only EXAMINE the reality late in life, much later, after the first twenty or thirty years of subliminal indoctrination under religious brainwashing ... for millions it is too late.
Religion thrives on obstructing our capacity to EXAMINE, sad to say.
The most common WEAPON to dissuade an inquisitive mind [to examine] is the FEAR one; fear of a cruel god who gave us Free Will, but wants to be applauded for it, unless he gets offended for not paying him dues… etc.
It is right at this point where I personally feel very offended with religion!


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