Why do Theists dominate the banishment list?

[Zzyzx]

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Why do Theists dominate the banishment list?

Theists predominate in the list of people who are banned for repeated rule infractions. For example, of the last ten people banned, seven or eight are Theists. http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 860481d25f

Why is this?

[Blastcat]

[Replying to post 157 by Volbrigade]


[center]The Doctor Seuss of Zeus[/center]

We could play that same game with the stories of Greek Mythology too.

Really?

Yep, really, really and for sure.

I dispute that claim. Go ahead -- give it a try.

Those who dispute the existence of Zeus are denying the reality of Zeus.

Nope. What He said is true, as I pointed out.

I really feel that I have to point out that what he said is not true.

Not all at.

Oh, it's all true. It's just that you don't recognize the total truth of it. That happens all the time in here.

Whataryagonnado?

Your entitled to your opinion, of course.

You are also entitled to your biased and fallacious opinion, of course, too and as well.

Even if it is biased and in error.

The technical word for that reasoning is "wrong".

[Volbrigade]

[Replying to post 158 by Divine Insight]

Notice in your post 157 all you've done is attempt to proclaim your beliefs and opinions to be truth. You seem to think that just stating them as though they are facts is sufficient.

Perhaps.

You do see that the same could be said of your posts #153 and 158, don't you?

[Tired of the Nonsense]

[Replying to Volbrigade]

They key, with all Biblical hermeneutics, is precision.

The Word of God is acutely precise, like a "sharp sword". Like a scalpel, and "penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit..."

The Bible is like Voodoo. Voodoo can have a tremendous impact on the lives of those who subscribe to and fully believe in the truth and power of Voodoo. But Voodoo has no effect whatsoever on those who have not chosen to enter into, or been indoctrinated into, a belief in Voodoo.

Many Christians claim, and fully believe, that no one can read the Bible without being convinced of it's truth and it's power. I have personally read the Bible cover to cover. I did so because I felt that, given the Bible's position as one of the most influential books in western civilization, no one should consider themselves truly educated who has not made the effort to read the Bible. My opinion of the Bible is that it represents the view of the world as it was developed over a roughly 1200 year period by a particular group of people. The Bible chronicles how that view evolved over time. For anyone interested in cultural anthropology the Bible is a supremely interesting book, since it nicely illuminates the workings of the minds of ancient peoples.

I found nothing compelling about the Bible however. In fact the Bible contains many archaic claims and concepts which range from unacceptably horrific to just plain silly. The Bible even gives demonstrably wrong information. I have never noticed myself being "divided," or even noticeably changed, for having read it. My conclusion is that the Bible contains exactly as much, or as little (none), power as those reading it choose to ascribe to it.

[Blastcat]

The Word of God is acutely precise, like a "sharp sword". Like a scalpel, and "penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit..."

The word of L.Ron Hubbard is acutely precise, like a "sharp sword". Like a scalpel, and and an E-Meter that "penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit..."

The word of Vishnu is even sharper, and has many arms, to boot.

Now.. don't get me started on Mohamed, that dude has a scimitar.

[Divine Insight]

[Replying to post 158 by Divine Insight]

Notice in your post 157 all you've done is attempt to proclaim your beliefs and opinions to be truth. You seem to think that just stating them as though they are facts is sufficient.

Perhaps.

You do see that the same could be said of your posts #153 and 158, don't you?

So? I openly confess that my views are indeed my own opinions. I don't claim that they are absolute "truths". Instead, I offer sound arguments and rational reasons that others can use to arrive at the same conclusions.

I don't see where you have offered a single solitary argument or rational reason for why anyone should believe your claim that "Jesus IS the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life. And every word of His recorded in the Scriptures is categorical, propositional truth."

Other than the fact that this is claimed by John in the Gospels, where is there any actual evidence that John's claims about Jesus have any merit?

[Volbrigade]

[Replying to post 161 by Tired of the Nonsense]

My conclusion is that the Bible contains exactly as much, or as little (none), power as those reading it choose to ascribe to it.

I agree.

It has been said that the message of the entire Bible can be distilled down to this:

"Jesus loves me, this I know. For The Bible tells me so."

I think that about sums it up.

Another expression is "the Bible is safe for a child to approach; but deep enough to bathe an elephant." Or, alternately, "so deep that all the scholars the world has ever known cannot plunge to the bottom of its depths."

If the Bible has little meaning to you, it's because it has little meaning for you.

Like a hologram, which appears to be a dark room mistake until illuminated by the laser that created it, The Bible must be illuminated by its originating light: the Holy Spirit.

Otherwise, like the Savior it describes, it has "no form or comeliness...that we should desire (it)".

Or this classic, from the great preacher Adrian Rogers:

"The Bible is a love letter, written in blood; It is from God, and addressed to His children. If you don't understand it, it's because you're reading someone else's mail."

Or, in the words of the wonderful Chuck Missler:

It is 66 books, written by 40 authors, over a 1,700 year span; and yet we now discover that it is an integrated message system from outside our time domain; exhibiting a unity of theme and symbol and idiom, and in which every aspect of it -- every place name, every number, in many cases every letter, demonstrates deliberate, detailed design; and it validates its extra-terrestrial, extra-temporal origin by the foretelling of events before they occur -- including (e.g.) the precise day that Jesus Christ would present Himself as King of Israel, 700 years before the event.

The demands for "evidence" of the existence of God; the legitimacy of the Bible, the divinity of Christ (attested to by His resurrection), etc., are all well and good. And should be addressed; we are to "give a reason for the hope that is in us".

But no reason, no argument, will ever be sufficient to those determined to maintain their unbelief.

Again, it has been well and truly said that "God never said 'I'll show you, and then you'll believe'; He said, in effect, 'believe -- and then I'll show you.' "

That belief, for most, starts with a realization of one's utter impoverishment before a just, loving, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent and holy God.

Most people cannot accept the Good News, because they are deaf, dumb, and blind to the "bad news" of their own depravity and sinfulness before God.

They "cannot find God, for the same reason a burglar can't find a policeman."

[Tired of the Nonsense]

[Replying to post 161 by Tired of the Nonsense]

My conclusion is that the Bible contains exactly as much, or as little (none), power as those reading it choose to ascribe to it.

I agree.

It has been said that the message of the entire Bible can be distilled down to this:

"Jesus loves me, this I know. For The Bible tells me so."

I think that about sums it up.

Another expression is "the Bible is safe for a child to approach; but deep enough to bathe an elephant." Or, alternately, "so deep that all the scholars the world has ever known cannot plunge to the bottom of its depths."

If the Bible has little meaning to you, it's because it has little meaning for you.

Like a hologram, which appears to be a dark room mistake until illuminated by the laser that created it, The Bible must be illuminated by its originating light: the Holy Spirit.

Otherwise, like the Savior it describes, it has "no form or comeliness...that we should desire (it)".

Or this classic, from the great preacher Adrian Rogers:

"The Bible is a love letter, written in blood; It is from God, and addressed to His children. If you don't understand it, it's because you're reading someone else's mail."

Or, in the words of the wonderful Chuck Missler:

It is 66 books, written by 40 authors, over a 1,700 year span; and yet we now discover that it is an integrated message system from outside our time domain; exhibiting a unity of theme and symbol and idiom, and in which every aspect of it -- every place name, every number, in many cases every letter, demonstrates deliberate, detailed design; and it validates its extra-terrestrial, extra-temporal origin by the foretelling of events before they occur -- including (e.g.) the precise day that Jesus Christ would present Himself as King of Israel, 700 years before the event.

The demands for "evidence" of the existence of God; the legitimacy of the Bible, the divinity of Christ (attested to by His resurrection), etc., are all well and good. And should be addressed; we are to "give a reason for the hope that is in us".

But no reason, no argument, will ever be sufficient to those determined to maintain their unbelief.

Again, it has been well and truly said that "God never said 'I'll show you, and then you'll believe'; He said, in effect, 'believe -- and then I'll show you.' "

That belief, for most, starts with a realization of one's utter impoverishment before a just, loving, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent and holy God.

Most people cannot accept the Good News, because they are deaf, dumb, and blind to the "bad news" of their own depravity and sinfulness before God.

They "cannot find God, for the same reason a burglar can't find a policeman."

I agree.

It has been said that the message of the entire Bible can be distilled down to this:

"Jesus loves me, this I know. For The Bible tells me so."

I think that about sums it up.

Another expression is "the Bible is safe for a child to approach; but deep enough to bathe an elephant." Or, alternately, "so deep that all the scholars the world has ever known cannot plunge to the bottom of its depths."

If the Bible has little meaning to you, it's because it has little meaning for you.

The Bible is a book written by humans. There is no reason why I should initially accord the Bible any more authority than I would accord any other work of humans. The Bible contains stories of actions taken by humans that they declare they were directed to take by God Himself. Some of these actions were barbaric and repugnant. The Bible contains stories and claims that are not only totally unbelievable, but frankly childish and silly. As a result I see no reason to accord the Bible any actual authority whatsoever. The portions of the Bible that might be cited as promoting peace and love do not come close to making up for the hideous beliefs and events that the Bible speaks of and condones. And it all concludes with an end of times death wish.

Having read the entire Bible, my conclusion is that the Bible is reprehensible and irredeemable. I repudiate it utterly and suggest that others follow suit.

[Divine Insight]

Again, it has been well and truly said that "God never said 'I'll show you, and then you'll believe'; He said, in effect, 'believe -- and then I'll show you.' "

The problem is that we have ample evidence that the above is clearly false.

There are simply too many believers who have come to their sense and have realized that nothing is being shown to be true in the Bible in spite of the fact that the Bible claims that God, and the Holy Spirit, will show them the truth.

Mother Teresa is most likely the most famous example. I seriously doubt that anyone believed in Jesus more than she did, yet even she recognized that the Bible is nothing but empty promises and/or outright lies.

[Zzyzx]

.

It has been said that the message of the entire Bible can be distilled down to this:

"Jesus loves me, this I know. For The Bible tells me so."

I think that about sums it up.

Yes, that sums it up -- believe what the Bible says because the Bible says to believe it.

What could possibly be wrong with that -- believe me because I say to believe me?

Another expression is "the Bible is safe for a child to approach; but deep enough to bathe an elephant." Or, alternately, "so deep that all the scholars the world has ever known cannot plunge to the bottom of its depths."

Theology is full of platitudes, isn't it?

If the Bible has little meaning to you, it's because it has little meaning for you.

The Bible has little meaning to me because I use reasoning, experience, intelligence to decide what to accept as truthful and accurate.

Like a hologram, which appears to be a dark room mistake until illuminated by the laser that created it, The Bible must be illuminated by its originating light: the Holy Spirit.

And the supposed 'holy spirit' illuminates only for those who already believe. Right?

The demands for "evidence" of the existence of God; the legitimacy of the Bible, the divinity of Christ (attested to by His resurrection), etc., are all well and good. And should be addressed; we are to "give a reason for the hope that is in us".

After debating here for ten years and observing the world for going on eighty, I have seen many expressions of 'hope' and darn few reasons that make sense.

But no reason, no argument, will ever be sufficient to those determined to maintain their unbelief.

Okay -- offer reasons for belief to READERS -- many of whom may not be 'determined to maintain their unbelief'.

Again, it has been well and truly said that "God never said 'I'll show you, and then you'll believe'; He said, in effect, 'believe -- and then I'll show you.' "

Any con-man worth his salt will say much the same thing.

That belief, for most, starts with a realization of one's utter impoverishment before a just, loving, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent and holy God.

Many do not accept that lowly self-opinion.

Most people cannot accept the Good News,

'Good news' that can't be verified as being true and accurate is less than worthless.

because they are deaf, dumb, and blind to the "bad news" of their own depravity and sinfulness before God.

That 'deaf, dumb, and blind' condemnation of those who do not believe god tales is often mouthed by those who consider themselves superior by virtue of their religious beliefs (to become hearing, speaking, seeing).

What those believers hear, speak and see is what preachers tell them to hear, speak and see.

They "cannot find God, for the same reason a burglar can't find a policeman."

A burglar can't find a policeman (whether he wants to or not) if there is not one. An honest person can't find a policeman that is invisible, undetectable, imaginary.

Any more clever quips?

[Neatras]

Again, it has been well and truly said that "God never said 'I'll show you, and then you'll believe'; He said, in effect, 'believe -- and then I'll show you.' "

The problem is that we have ample evidence that the above is clearly false.

There are simply too many believers who have come to their sense and have realized that nothing is being shown to be true in the Bible in spite of the fact that the Bible claims that God, and the Holy Spirit, will show them the truth.

Mother Teresa is most likely the most famous example. I seriously doubt that anyone believed in Jesus more than she did, yet even she recognized that the Bible is nothing but empty promises and/or outright lies.

What's more, the writers of the book are employing a well-known tactic that forces belief at the expense of logic and reason. Demanding belief prior to being shown evidence is how cults accumulate members. Any deity that actually wants followers wouldn't be so daft as to utilize a known psychological manipulation technique to accrue or keep followers.