Do you think the bible is a work of delusional people? - Page 4

Lady Diane, that's an interesting question and observation. Also, why were the members of the 12 Apostles all men?

Because there is a signifagance to the fact that God made man first. Thus men are called first. But in no way does that deny the strength of woman. Deborah was a Judge of the Jews before the Kings came. And right now I am going blank on other names but there were several strong women of the Bible both in leading and actions.

Burke can help you out there more though.

Yes, I acknowledged that when I said:

The problem is that you have defined God as one thing ("the reason by which existence exists") and used that as a jumping-off point for all kinds of other assumptions.

Point number one: God is defined in the dictionary as a "being," not a "reason." You can call the reason for our existence "God" if you want, but that pretty much invalidates any other standard definition of God that you might try to apply.

Point number two: What if there is no reason for our existence? What if we simply exist?

That's not what you said before. You said God is simply the reason by which the universe exists. Seems you're making quite a jump here to assume that the reason we exist is love.

And why the switch to anthropomorphic terms here? Why is God "He" all of a sudden? If God is a "reason" rather than a being, shouldn't it be referred to as "it," as you would "gravity" or something?

<strong> Now you're really making shit up. What the hell's a "divine definition?" Words are merely symbols by which we communicate. I fail to see how a divine power could possibly be granted to certain words when they are exclusively of human design and differ from culture to culture.

<strong> </strong>

That's great, but seems beside the point. We're talking human vocabulary, and you're misusing it. Perhaps you should come up with a new Jabba dictionary in which God can mean whatever you want it to.

<strong> You're making so many logical leaps here that I can't even keep up. God is simply the reason by which the universe exists, but he's ALSO the divine being who's the father of Jesus, and the designer of all faiths, etc.?

<strong> There's the problem. That's simple. You define God as the reason you exist. Simple. Unorthodox in terminology, but a simple concept. But you then make the jump to include Christian theology, Buddhism, Judaism, etc. Completely illogical.

So, Jabba, I ask you this:

Since there is clearly a God (as it is the reason by which you exist), what leads you to believe that it is necessarily connected in any way to spirituality?

Not in particular, I was quoting Capteucalyptus. It's quite a bizarre quote coming from our Bible-toting friend, or anyone for that matter — most people tend to believe makes them feel good.

No co-ed basketball teams at that time.

Not everything I believe to be true makes me feel good. I believe in Hell because I believe that it is a fact, that it exists. I don't like it and I wish that I could believe that people don't go there but I can't. Capisce? And in saying what I did, I was pointing out that Yae Su had no point of reference for his belief other than what he feels.

But there are no points for your beliefs either, capteucalyptus.

The Bible, DUH. Me, I'm basing my life on "Top Secret Recipes: REVEALED!" A lot less racism, sexism, hypocracy, and ambiguity in that tome. Anyone for a Big Mac clone?

The Bible tastes great with ketchup.

Say "HUH?"

Reading that made my brain hurt. eek!