JFOBP

You continue to try and discredit my posts without backing your post up with any factual /Scientific/Free thinking information or links of anykind, Just your own limited beliefs.

Is thier an older history book then the bible?

http://www.goantiques.com/detail,history,124576.html

http://www.stephaniecoontz.com/books/ma ... apter1.htm

The very earliest marriage certificate that we have was found in a bundle of Aramaic papyri, some 2,500 years old. It was found in the ruins of a Jewish Garrison, that had been stationed at Elephantine in Egypt. It's more of a "contract" than a "marriage certificate", as it documents that the groom landed himself a healthy 14 year-old girl bride in exchange for six cows.


Am I ignorant again? I consider myself a free thinker too, and I too did my interpretations on my own, and still am. You continue to say I need education. That's what this thread is about... Discussing it to learn. Please educate me with all your wisdom. I would actually like to hear your answers to many of my points.

I was not spouting bible versus as if I was a Christain on a pulpit, you do sound butthurt. I was mearly providing evidence to the contrary of your arguement. You deny factual census info, that's not exactly a free thinkers normal process. And you seem to act like you know me and what I know. You do not.

The Bible is one of the oldest published books.

Did you know there are dragons in the Bible?

I haven't posted any links? My source is the Bible itself. It's not a history book, it's a book of metaphors for the most part. Sure it has historical references, in the sense of what was common knowledge of the time when it was written.

Since you have yet to claim to have actually read it, I'm going to assume you haven't. That's what makes me butthurt. Claiming to be a free thinker and then trying to make assumptions on meanings in a book you've never actually read is hypocritical. Yet it's commonplace in millions of people who claim to be religious.

Want more proof? Walk up to 10 people on the street. Ask them what their religion is. Then ask them if they have actually read the book their religion is based upon. I don't random web links. I have common sense. My family was setting me up to go to a seminary before I chose my own path.

I know what the Bible and God mean to me. Enjoy your afterlife.

Don't assume, you know what happens, ass U me etc,...

I have read much of the bible. Not all of it. I skipped past Leviticus because it was really really wierd. I did read Luke, Mark John, Matthew, Acts, Romans, Corinthians and a few others. I went to Sunday school and got all my gold stars etc. Never heard of dragons in the bible? is that true or you just making that up? Please refer me to a verse, I would like to show others this if in fact it's true.

I would disagree that the Bible is not a history book. It very much is. I think the evidence in this thread shows we are both free thinkers. Trying to make assumptions/interpretations of meanings in a book does seem normal to me and not Hypocritical (another jab I see).

Depending on which sidewalk/street I walk down, the poll results could be very skewed. I know many have not read the book, and or don't really know what a true Christian is all about. I can say I have walked the walk, but now god has come under question in my mind since I was enlightened by Zeitgeist. Which some may be propaganda, but when I researched Mithra (the first Jesus), Gilgamesh (the first Noah), Sargon of Akkad (the first Moses)Mancu, Minos, Mises, Moses, Horus, Jupiter, Perseus, etc. I can't argue this, it is real history.

Why don't you random web links?

I am glad you are comfortable with what the bible and god means to you. I am merely trying to expand all of our thinking. I don't believe in an afterlife at this point and time. I think when you die, that's it, back to dust.

But I am very interested in String Theory, time travel/ worm holes etc.

I was going to continue, but DK sent me a PM being all gay so I'm going to back out.

Dragons in Revelations. But guess what? They are metaphors. And this is why, in the end, the Bible is left up to interpretation. And interpretation is personal. This is also why we should try our hardest to keep religion out of politics. Interpretations can be deadly (72 virgins).

Also, see "dinosaurs" in Job. Also metaphors :)

Oh, and keep religion and politics out of gaming forums.

I win! Yellow_Flash_Colorz_PDT_02

Allah Akbar!

last word.

I agree that in our society that religion surrounds us and is evident in our daily actions. I stand by my statement that I am not religious in any way, shape, or form. I was either 8 or 9 years old when I renounced my affiliation to Christianity. Yes, I am serious. I did not grow up in a very religious household. My mom at the time was a twice a year Catholic and my dad never went to Church. In the summer I spent time with my grandma and we went to Church every Sunday. I wasn't not baptized until I was eleven and it was at the insistance of my grandma. Afterwards I did attend bible school for a few years and was an altar boy. But not once in that time would I consider myself a Christian. I'm sure after picking apart my entire childhood it would be very easy for someone to understand why I'm not religious, again it goes back to sequence and consequence.

Does this mean I don't believe in a Creator? No. It doesn't mean I do believe in a Creator either. For me personally I do not find it necessary to thank my Creator publicly for giving me life, nor do I feel there is any "right" way to live life. I don't believe in people being punished or rewarded after death, that doesn't mean I don't believe that some form of afterlife exists.

The following is MY opinion:

I do believe that in order to exist and flourish as a society and interact with others there are a "set of rules" that should be adhered to in order to promote well being for everyone. I feel that religion was a way for people to try to explain and justify their existence. Religion also served as a way to unify people and allow societies to flourish in peace. However, as history has shown, religious conflict has cost the lives of more people than any other sort of conflict or disease. I feel there are various reasons for this including power struggles, control of land, and the basic concept, "Our religion is right because we just kicked your ass!." The last one is debatable and I would classify it as a power struggle. I feel that religion, especially Christianity, has become a very lucrative business. History has shown how powerful and wealthy the Church was and still is for that matter. But it is only as wealthy as its followers. Therefore, the battles that have occurred were a power struggle. Much like how I view our current situation in Iraq.

Before I was a teenager I came to the conclusion that mainstream religion is used to control the masses, Christianity in particular. This is not how or why Christianity was created but over the hundreds of years those who came into power found that the easiest way to stay in power and control others was to scare them with eternal damnation. Remember that the majority of people throughout history were uneducated and easily deceived. Churches back in the day were designed with intricate carvings on the outside depicting images of demons, people being disemboweled, and the fiery pits of hell. The majority of people couldn't read so these pictures were used to show them what happens if they didn't have faith.

I can go on and on but basically I feel that as our society educates itself then religion will become unnecessary to keep people in line. I feel that religion is a very personal belief and does not need to be flaunted in today's society. I find it frustrating to see so many hypocritical Christians walking around and rationalizing their actions. It just shows me that these people really don't believe in their so called faith.

Angry - You are correct, I shoulda never stooped so low as to call someone Dr. Phil in a public forum like this... My bad... Yellow_Flash_Colorz_PDT_08

Last last word... I AM A HOMOSEXUAL

I told ya so... Yellow_Flash_Colorz_PDT_02

Eleven States Ban Gay Marriage

In a resounding, coast-to-coast rejection of gay marriage, voters in 11 states approved constitutional amendments Tuesday limiting marriage to one man and one woman.

The amendments won, often by huge margins


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,137424,00.html


Voters approve Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriages

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me ... 5381.story

California and Beyond: The Battle over Gay Marriage

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article ... topstories


Protests Over Gay-Marriage Ban Escalate in California

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,448825,00.html

I read the entire first page until I came to my own post and realized that this was an old thread

Damn you Durango!!!

Honestly the bans of gay marriage just show that the majority of America is not ready to accept such a decision at this time.

The fact that propositions like this even have to be voted on says a lot of how far this country has come in terms of tolerance and acceptance.

It's only a matter of time until gay marriage is widely accepted. Maybe not in the near future but at some point it will be accepted. After all black people aren't slaves any more right? Jim Crow laws wouldn't really go to far in today's society.

One reason why gay marriages were not upheld was because of the increase in black voters this year. Black voters are usually very religious and homosexuality is not received well in their culture. So maybe you have something in common with those ignorant minorities Yellow_Flash_Colorz_PDT_04

Christians seem to pick and choose what they want to believe from the Bible, just as Islamic extremists choose to believe that the external jihad is more important than the internal jihad.

How many Christians really believe in the 10 Commandments?

6) You shall not murder.

Yea, right. Tell that to all of our soldiers. I guess all these wars are worth eternal damnation.

8) Thou shall not steal.

Who really owns anything? If one would actually do some really deep thinking about ownership they would realize that no one owns anything but that's a whole other discussion.

9) Thou shall not bear false witness.

Hmmm, how many people sell out others just to get what they want or stop others from getting what they want?

10) Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's things.

Really? Our whole society revolves around coveting things, especially our neighbors. Our whole society is based on trying to out do each other. In the least people covet other people's wealth and their ability to spend money.


IMO, our society is very hypocritical. How many H3 Hummers are in the parking lot of your church? "Keeping up with the Jone's" is what this country is all about.

You answer to your own god, if your lucky. Pick and choose whatever you want to adhere to as far as the bible is concerned, or whatever your holy text may be, just as long as you let others do the same.

IMO, it's evident that many people who think they mold their life through their faith actually mold their faith through their life.