On 2005-06-05 00:08:00, bandit1978 wrote:
"Greg- I don't need to reconcile *anything* with the Bible or Koran. I look to Jesus for inspiration- being kind to the poor and sick, for example. Not that that is always easy.
I don't read the Bible or Koran, only studied it as a child at school. I think much of it is nonsense. Occassionally, I may read a bit of independent writings on, like, Mary Magdalene or Jesus or something.
I don't really find these "holy books" to be valid or truthful. I benefit much more from being out in nature, especially at the beach, surfing, or meditating.
I realize more and more that a majority of Americans are members of a dangerous cult that calls itself "Christianity". To me, Jesus teaches tolerance and love for all, and just how dangerous a ruling government can be, and I think that many Christian churches have perversed that.
I understand that my boyfriend has "intellectual integrity". Personally, I just try to think bigger than that. I mean, if Christopher Columbus (in addition to commiting genocide), if he and everyone else just waited around for evidence that the earth was round, if they didn't just take a chance and go out to check it out... I've experienced so many "supernatural" things myself- both by chance and also by actively seeking such things- that I absolutely believe in such things. Sometimes I feel like my b-friend is jaded, and thats kind of sad.
I certainly would rather marry an aethiest than someone who believes that the first woman was made out of a man's rib. But I would like to see him realize the amazing energy that comes from the earth and the stars and all that. "
Great Answer!!
you sound just like my oldest siser. She believes that Jesus was a "teacher" connected to the universal power, here to deliver a new message of peace and love (she is an old hippy). She calls herself a christian and prays along with the other christians, but her faith hardly resembles the fundies.
She has studied the bible and understands the old testament, the polygamous war god worshipped by the Jews (yahweh), and rejects that entire concept.
I disagree with her, pointing out that Jesus said he was here representing this same god, but she rejects that and says the god jesus spoke of does not resemble the god of the old testament at all.
She is wrong in a scriptural sense, but she doesn't believe the bible as an accurate portrayal of God at all. In fact, she thinks the church itself is a corrupt institution, and to understand Jesus, you must go back to "ancient christianity", which was basically when christianity was pre church post Jesus. She doesn't believe in the ascention or any of the magical events in the bible, believes in science, and really doesn't believe in heaven in the same way christians do. She instead believes (or wishes to believe) in her own immortality as somehow a connection to the universe.
She has a kind of faith that is totally non judgmental, yet she still calls herself a christian.
While I think her christianity is a function of wishfull thinking, I would much rather have a world full of idealistic worshippers than the followers of the war gods of Islam and Christianity.
As far as your personal supernatural experiences, have you eliminated all other rational explanations, such as pyschological phenomena, pre sleep conditions, fear, stress, etc? You don't have to answer, because this is a personal thing, but what I witness is many "supernatural" occurances around stressfull events. For example, my step father just died, my mother announced at the wake that every time she approached the flag at their house, it would begin to wave. My other sister confirmed this (the other one who sees supernatural evidence of her dead son and cries if anyone suggests there is no afterlife) and it was presented as evidence of my step father contacting us. I have seen many similar events proclaimed as supernatural when in fact these people (my family who I love) in every tragic circumstance go looking for anything to match a supernatural sign. we have many such lore in my family, and I have been around most of them, and I see nothing like they claim. Why do they do it? Why is death or fear of death or serious disease almost always associated with these events? What is the motivator?
By the way Bandit, you sure you aren't my sister?
:grin:
