bible is metaphor or fact?? - Page 8

ML: Exactly correct, I am free to respond at will! LOL 

after reading responses....still not sure what the actual argument is...fact is the event of what happened metaphor is the "lesson" / the "point" in the event...so would it not be true that bible is metaphor and  fact....to make a story timeless and to preserve the lesson of the event lesson becomes a metaphor for past, present and future....

....i must be missing something....

                     O_O

OMG....i read this and thought i was going to die from laughing....priceless statement, i have got to frame this...

 

gsd4: I was answering GSD Travels question:

 

There is nothing else to explain...nothing else to offer...You have to either believe by faith or re read my post..Why would I believe in myth...It has been explained over and over and over..

Because A NON believer will not understand until you decide to believe so there is no amount of time or words on this page or on a GSD forum to make the belief...all facts are found in the BIBLE not here so quit searching on this forum for your answers..IT IS in the BIBLE>>.we sing a song at kindergarten VBS....THE  B I B L E...yes that the book for me... I stand alone on the word of GOD  , the B I B L E......

I consider this the end of this thread     GOD IS SO GOOD,,,ALL THE TIME...

GOD IS NOT DEAD...LIVING INSIDE ME...ROARING LIKE A LION.....

wish you had the same....some day you may....

Our GOD is an AWESOME GOD>>>

Yellowrose of Texas

 

ok i think i got it, did not appear obvious, YR thinks the bible is a historically and scientifically corrrect document to be read literally and understood literally, it is the innerrant and infallible word of YAWEH.

 

thanks YR that is all i was asking, you prolly could have stated that from the outset in less words.

 

can others please mke their opion clearer, no need for videos, quotes, long winded responses, hateful diatribes, i can't get yr point without interpretation.

 

so i will restate the question.

 the bible is a historically and scientifically corrrect document to be read literally and understood literally, it is the innerrant and infallible word of YAWEH.

 

yes or no

Vk4, some people evolved 4.6 billion year's ago so the Bible was never been given for those people like you. You see It just about 6,000 thousand years ago God planted good seed on this earth, to create man under his own image, but 4,400 years ago there was world wide flood. God destroyed all mankind because his people started taking wife's from other races who evolved from rock's 4.6 billion year's ago. If that's makes sense to you.

to answer yr question shtal your opinion makes no sense to me, prolly cos it is senseless, unsubstantiated religious opinion with no supporting facts. so glad your religious opinion is not shared by the vast majority of christians throughout history ie the people that wrote the bible, ie the jews and catholics.

""They are obsessed with hatred, bound and motivated by vengeance and revenge.""

Hatred toward whom?  How does it manifest? 

Some atheist psychotics, believe that God does not exist and thus they have no one to fear as they pursue their distorted delusions.

Citation please?  Some atheist psychotics?  LOL  So, you don't really believe in God, but you're afraid not to?  Which distorted delusions do Atheists have, do tell?

That to succeed in negating God's existence atheists play mental games by over-using psychological defense mechanisms which neutralize high levels of mental pain.

Succeed in negating God's existence?  Nope, never did that, never will, I don't negate anything, I don't have to.  I just don't accept your word for it, without evidence, pretty simple.  Speaking of mental games?  You're playing one right here, because you don't name the mental games atheists are supposedly playing.  So, what would those be?  Why do you think Atheists are in pain?  What evidence do you have to show their pain and misery?  Oh, maybe because so many are in prison?  Nope, not there!  You mean the ones who are beheading other human beings.  Oops, not there either!  Hmmm.  Seems you saying that atheists need to neutralize mental pain is about the same evidence you have for the existence of a supernatural being.  Nada!

The existence of a Creator is the most provable of all realities and that the proofs are many and sufficient.

Then please, win the Nobel for producing it!  So far?  Nope.

 

But accepting God’s reality for many atheists also means accepting corollary realities that are too painful to confront.

Elaborate, instead of just using words that you think are impressive.  Just throwing that out there is pretty useless.  What is it that Atheists don't want to confront, which realities would those be?

The mind of many atheists protects itself from these realities by rejecting God’s existence.

Nope, wrong again, not rejecting God's existence, just rejecting the claims of other human beings.  Do you reject the existence of Zeus, the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus and Russell's Teapot?  How hard is it for you to reject them?  You do understand how silly it would be for adults to believe in those things, don't you?  You also realize that there is exactly the same amount of evidence for any and all of those things, don't you?  If you can see the silliness in it, you can also understand for just one moment what it is that an Atheist feels about religion.  Do you hate Santa?  Do you hate the Tooth Fairy?  Do you hate Zeus?  If not, why?  That would be pretty silly, wouldn't it?

To accomplish this very difficult feat, atheists rely heavily on the psychological defense mechanisms of denial, rationalization, repression, suppression and displacement.

Denial of what?  Rationalization of?  What is it that we are rationalizing?  Repression?  Of What?  What do "we" repress?  Suppression?  Again, what are "we" suppressing?  Displacement?  Really.  Did you displace Santa?

 Why is accepting God’s existence so painful for many atheists?

It's not painful at all, we find it to be pretty... well, silly!

Accepting God’s existence means accepting a God that permits worldwide suffering to occur on a daily basis, whether caused by other humans or by natural disasters. To some such a God is too painful to fathom, as it is painful to fathom that one’s parent may have done heinous actions. 

Really?  I'm glad you have so much insight into the minds of Atheists, since you obviously don't care enough to ask any questions of them.  You'd rather just make up a bunch of BS and post it like it's some revelation.  It's not working.  Do we point out the suffering in the Bible?  Yes!  The suffering shows the hypocrisy of the idea, we just accept that there are things we can't control  We are at the mercy of our planet, our climate and our fellow man.  We aren't scared of that, trust me.

         Many feel betrayed by a God who they feel should have protected them and who instead allowed them to come close to extermination. I am referring to the Jews in particular. (52 % of Jews are either atheists or agnostics).

Do you feel betrayed by Santa, who you feel should have kept bringing you gifts into adulthood?  Doesn't he bring you presents anymore?  Same thing, ML, same thing, same level of silly.  And now you're even expanding our camp!  Wow, thanks!  Does this mean we can now start writing Judeo-Christian heritage?  Can we "finally" erase those damned Jews?  LOL, I hope I don't have to leave a sarc tag there.  Well, you're in good company, since Hitler was working in Christ's name, good job!

        Some are afraid of God -- the God of the Bible in particular. They have read and heard terrifying descriptions of hell, and they are horrified that they may be deserving of it, because of their sinful ways. Rather than mend their ways, they block out God’s reality -- and consequently hell.

Hardly, once again.  Evidence would show that the religious do the bulk of the sinning, at least against others.  Do you think that, with the population of Atheists to be around 20%, that they are the only ones having abortions?  Uh, nope, don't think so, it's those naughty, naughty Christians.  They like to throw their weight around in numbers, but that cuts both ways.   We have no concept of "sin" and we really don't care if you do. We try to leave other people alone, pretty much, we don't butt in personal affairs.  The only time we raise our voices is when it becomes public, then it's our business.  We have that right too, you know!

         Some are angry with God by association.

There's that anger that you keep referring to, yet you've failed to show that Atheists can be angry at nonsense.  You really don't get it ML, you don't get it at all.  We aren't angry at God, just as you aren't angry at Thor when there's a thunderstorm. 

They are upset with former fellow believers who may have hurt them.

Nope, not angry at all, none of them ever hurt me using their religion, so I have nothing to be angry with them about.  Well, politicians who cater to idiocy, now there you might have something!  Didn't have anything to do with my being an Atheist, not at all.

They may be angry at a minister, or a priest who may have hurt or betrayed them.

Nope, loved all of the Priests, all of my teachers, most of which were Nuns.  Visited one when she was in the infirmary, long after I was out of school.  She was one of the best teachers I ever had, she taught more that she even realized.  Good lady.  Nope, wrong alley once again!

They may also be angry at the hypocrisy of many religious people and transfer their anger at God for allowing it all.

Do you get that you can't be angry at something you don't think exists?  Go back to Santa once again, maybe with repetition, you'll catch on!  Hypocrisy is extremely annoying, especially when those who are proposing to limit your rights are taking extra rights of their own!  Yep, but in private life, I could care less how much hypocrisy people show, as long as they're not making me live it!  Don't care, have no reason to care.  Live the hypocrisy, live the dream!

They finally punish Him for allowing their pain and disappointment and they do so by negating His existence.

What is this pain that you keep stating we have, all on your say-so.  And please explain how we punish "Him"!

 

DENIAL: This mechanism is very simple: one simply denies reality and does so with intensity and persistence.

Look in the mirror!

There are people who are told by doctors daily that they have a terminal illness. Their way of coping is to deny that it could be true. Atheists do the same: they intensely and persistently deny that God could exist. They block out the possibility and fight it with all their might.

No blocking out possibilities, ever!  I never stated equivocally that "There is no God!", but I have yet to be presented with evidence to show that there is one.  Apples and oranges.

RATIONALIZATIONS:  This is a favorite mechanism of atheists.

Rationality and rationalizations are two different animals.  We use logic and reason to come to conclusions, just like everybody else does.  You still haven't produced one bit of evidence for your assertions, so that's all they are and that's all they will remain, your assertions. 

It is simply the reliance on logical-sounding but false reasons to negate reality.

Show me one thing that has been posted that is "logical sounding", but not based on reason or logic.  Any will do.  And provide evidence please!  You are then using the negation of reality to say others negate reality!  You keep calling superstition reality and then turn around and twist it to fit unreality!  That's quite a trick, if it worked, but it didn't. 

Atheists will offer countless “logical-sounding” reasons why God does not exist, or why they cannot accept the existence of God.

Nope, they don't try to "prove" that God does not exist, but those who believe have not met their burden of proof that a God does exist.  Never tried to prove that, nor do any atheists I know try to prove nonexistence.  Your assertion is flat out false.

They are very creative at doing so, and they specialize in using pedantic language to sound convincing to others and to themselves.  They fool themselves that they are of superior intelligence and that they must be correct in their conclusions. In reality, they are simply rationalizers.

Nope, don't fool myself into thinking I'm superior in intelligence, nor in anything, I'm just another human being.  I have talents, I have weaknesses, I try to focus on my talents.  My opinions are just as valid as yours are, in the absence of evidence.  No need to fool myself and, as a matter of fact, I've never been able to fool myself, that's why I'm an Atheist!  Facts don't require creativity.  When the "superiority" Schick is used, this means you've lost the argument and all you have left is insult, because you know you've lost.  That's another childish trait that called "sore loser" or "sour apples".  Got anything of substance?

WARNING! WARNING! LOGICAL FALLACY IN LIVING COLOR!!!  lol

REPRESSION: This mechanism entails forcing painful material into the sub-conscious unconsciously. The person who uses this mechanism is not aware of it. All of existence yells out, "design." Every little detail in nature offers evidence of the Artist’s touch. One only has to stop, observe and see that we are not surrounded by the grotesque, but by beauty, unity and harmony. The atheist mind will not stop and observe and see the connection. If they do stop to look, they will acknowledge the art -- but not the artist.

SUPPRESSION: Suppression is similar to repression, but with one exception: it is conscious.  Science is continually offering evidence of intricacy and brilliance on the Creator’s part. The concept of design is daily being reinforced by all the sciences.

You misunderstand the application of science.  It's already late and I can't write a book, but you're lacking here.  No science has ever denied or verified the existence of a "designer".  If you assert that they have, bring the evidence.  Pretty simple.

Accepting the evidence for former atheist, Anthony Flew, may have been painful at first, but he finally accepted the glaring reality. Most atheists will not. They will consciously “reject” the evidence, without any fair and sufficient analysis.

Plenty of sufficient analysis, never one piece of evidence.  Like I said before, bring some evidence and I'll be happy to take a look!  And no, the Bible is not evidence. 

DISPLACEMENT: This mechanism has to do with transferring feelings from one deserving object to another undeserving one. As explained above, many believers are angry and hurt, because of abuse or mistreatment by religious people or religious leaders. In time, they transfer their anger to God who allowed the events that caused their pain to take place. The end result of this mechanism is to abolish what they see as the ultimate source of their pain: God.

LMAO, "as explained above", by YOU!  And we know you are the all-knowing!  ::holding in a serious guffaw::

     Having an awareness of these and other defense mechanism is critical in maintaining a level of mental health and of emotional maturity.

You mean the emotional maturity to think you need a perpetual parent to keep you in line, because if you didn't you'd turn into a raping, murdering, pillaging monster?  Uh, I've never had a penchant for any of those things.  So, who is it that's being immature here?  I looked under the bed, there was no boogey man.  Yours evidently haunts you!

Over-relying on them to cope with life and specific pains in life can lead to disjointed thinking and emotional immaturity. It is crucial that one develops an awareness of the mind’s proclivity to neutralize pain by relying on these defense mechanisms. It is essential, though, that we recognize that reality must be confronted -- be it painful or not -- and that the causes of the pain must be faced head on, in a courageous, honest and mature way.

I think I've said enough about the body of the above, don't need to go on.

Which of the above, if not all, apply to you and your foreign buddy Travels?

Note one, but I can't speak for my "foreign buddy".

Please explain...

I did.

All secularists (and I do hope you know that the majority of secularists are actually religious) ask for is neutrality, period.  They ask that the religious voice be kept in hearts and lives and kept out of the legislative branch of our government.  "We" are the people too, whether you like it or not.  For the most part, we leave you alone and we ask the same.  We don't cause any trouble in your churches, we don't picket your funerals, we don't even tax your properties, because religion also does charitable work, for the good of everyone and that's laudable.  But when the churches become dens of political wagering and people are more fending for themselves, than getting the help they require, it's time to end that free ride!  Religion is overstepping it's boundaries and all anyone is asking for is neutrality.  If Christianity were truly persecuted, people would be burning down churches, killing congregants and making worship impossible.  We would deny any right to even speak of a religion, we would throw people in jail for preaching, that would be persecution.  But when others are asking for the neutrality that is their right, they are met with derision, vengence, hatred, etc.  And the secularists aren't supposed to complain, they're just supposed to put the uniform on for the hell of it (pun intended) and go along with the program, lie about who they are, what's really in their minds, how they live, who they marry, etc.  Again, the secularists are asking for neutrality and being bullied back into the corner or the closet, all in the name of the "peaceful" religion.  The religious want the right to publicly shun anyone outside of their circle.  They want to take their ball and go home and after all, they own the field.

Do you not see that you have it backwards and you are being the agressors?  If you want to legislate morality, you're playing the wrong game.  The only things we can restrict are actions that reach past the nose of another.  But you think that not only are atheists angry, but, even if they really were, that anger would be undeserved.

What you also don't seem to understand is that religion in politics becomes a double-edged sword, because if you're relying on government, you have to play by their rules.  Government will also sully religion, that's what happened in the Middle East.  Where you have religion, you have control of the majority.  That becomes opporession of the minority, which is unconstitutional and also just plain wrong.  Even if you had the right to discriminate, why would you want to?  That's just being a nasty person, so don't pretend that your message is all about peace.  Your message is clearly about a war that you're starting and turning it around.

Maybe you get no answers because you just made up "inerrant historical and scientific fact."

Not quite beetree, maybe I was a bit busy and didn't have the time, until now.  His own "facts" were pulled right out of his own ass.  There, that's more accurate.  Oh, I forgot, accuracy is too tedious for you.  Sorry if that attitude is "superior", I just thought it was common sense.