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The obvious one: how can such a simple and positive message can become so twisted, and so much evil practiced in the name of such goodness.

rather like believing in santa? .. you said one thing...

and 'appauled' has nothing to do with this, as I am not...thats your word, not mine..... 'curious' I would accept.

ok. curious it is.

phew ... !!!

you are detenting again....

I always wondered the same things about Adam and Eve if they were the only people in the garden of eden, where did the wifes come from for the sons. The wording used may not be nice but who did they marry if not brothers and sisters?

It would have been good if it was explained more in the bible about the beginnings.

It does give rise to wonder doesnt it?

but I think its more like a story with a moral,.. several morals actually, like aesops fables and many other books .... the tendency to hold it as the word of god and as sword is what confounds me.

Like most books they dont always add background. That too is missing from many books, which takes me back my 'books' post a page or two ago. the moral or the essence is acceptable, the story line leaves much to be desired.

It is confounding to say the least.

I will comment on your book post Al...just giving myself time to think about it mate.

Yes, even I need time to think.




I'm in shbloobage mode ya see!

I am an atheist, however I am a tolerant person and religions interests me.

All I have to offer here is that I don't think the stories in the Bible are intended to be taken literally.

Inregards to Noah's arc I also thought how could all those different animals get along, and who were the other people who went in the arc with Noah besides his family. After the flood they had to populate the world again.

You goin' ta hell laydee...you gonna burn!

no way ... not you ... I do not expect you to think while in shbloobage mode

It is a sad fact of human history that religion has been a major source of conflict ... If interested persons direct their attention to the New Testament (the Old Testament is the history of the Jews, then God threw up his hands in disgust at the goings-on and sent Jesus to enlighten us)..... The Old Testament also teaches you how far from your tent to dig your crap-hole, where and how to bury your dead, and how to recognise contagious diseases. Other than that it is more a philosophical discussion.

The New Testament of the Bible, in common with most other books of religious instruction, irrespective of their authors,is to teach us morality, ethical restraint and discipline, the cultivation of virtue, social responsibility, and compassion, social and political justice, care of the natural environment and many other matters affecting all humanity.

Ultimately the important point to keep in mind is that the whole purpose of religion is to facilitate all the above mentioned attributes.

When we fail to implement these qualities in our daily lives, irrespective of which religion we follow, we are no better off than a patient with a fatal illness who reads a medical treatise but fails to undertake the treatment prescribed.

To quote from the Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso: Ancient Wisdom Modern World....

"May I become at all times, both now and forever
A protector for those without protection
A guide for those who have lost their way
A ship for those with oceans to cross
A bridge for those with rivers to cross
A sanctuary for those in danger
A lamp for those in need of light
A place of refuge for those in need of shelter
And a servant to all those in need."

My post did read a little like an addict meeting introduction didn't it?

Fantastic post Smoky.



Al, read this my good man!

welcome to addicts anon...

Yeah, I agree with you Jan ...... Imagine, 2000 years ago, a monk in his dark dungeon, dipping his feather quill in some home-made ink, trying to see in the dim light from a guttering oil lamp/tallow candle ... and God having to explain some complicated feat he accomplished, to this simple mind ... like Einstein dictating to a first year school kid ... so he comes up with something Very simple and story-like ... after all, it Happened somehow, so he just gives a simple explanation, not the scientific one......

Take the creation story .... each creation follows logically the scale of evolution, He just made it easier to those old guys way back when ..... and did it all in a week, cause the old guy probably didnt even have a yearly calendar!... he relied on the moon phases.....

Most probably, Noah had the DNA stored in test tubes, it was all too difficult to explain 500 years later to the simple folk then.....

... and Adam and Eve? Whal folks, sorry to disappoint yewall here ... but they were the FIRST people. He went on and made others, so they didnt have to screw their sisters and brothers..... When he had perfected the Humanoid Being he beamed them up to another planet, and left us here......

I cant disagree with your assertions and so well constructed too. especially this line-

"When we fail to implement these qualities in our daily lives, irrespective of which religion we follow, we are no better off than a patient with a fatal illness who reads a medical treatise but fails to undertake the treatment prescribed."

I dont feel I have ever questioned the essence or the sentiment of the bible, have spoken up before that that is indeed the part we ought to hear. It is not however the word of god, unless you belive god is man, I can go with that, but then I wonder why such outrageous things continue today in proof of JC and arcs and .. well the list goes on ..people trying to prove the implausable, the unbelievable, when the essence itself is great belief.

However in respect of the paragraph noted, I wonder if the prescription comes from someone who right about its need? Many a man has been mistakenly prescribed...

good input smoky!

wow I wish I could write like her..