Real Live Preacher wrote: (http://www.reallivepreacher.com/node/623)
The truths of the bible are utterly beyond anyone who seeks to own truth and who seeks truth above the Spirit of God.
The bible is not a book for those who need a weapon. It is not a book for those who know where they are going and what questions they will ask. It is not a book for those who are in a hurry and looking for the shortest route.
The bible is a book for pilgrims and wanderers. It is a book for children and for those who wish to become children again. It is a book for seekers and searchers and dreamers.
It is a book for anyone and everyone who hopes that the desires of God might be written upon their hearts.
QuoteReal Live Preacher wrote: (http://www.reallivepreacher.com/node/623)
The truths of the bible are utterly beyond anyone who seeks to own truth and who seeks truth above the Spirit of God.
The bible is not a book for those who need a weapon. It is not a book for those who know where they are going and what questions they will ask. It is not a book for those who are in a hurry and looking for the shortest route.
The bible is a book for pilgrims and wanderers. It is a book for children and for those who wish to become children again. It is a book for seekers and searchers and dreamers.
It is a book for anyone and everyone who hopes that the desires of God might be written upon their hearts.
Even if I don't believe in God, I can totally support this.
QuoteReal Live Preacher wrote: (http://www.reallivepreacher.com/node/623)
The truths of the bible are utterly beyond anyone who seeks to own truth and who seeks truth above the Spirit of God.
The bible is not a book for those who need a weapon. It is not a book for those who know where they are going and what questions they will ask. It is not a book for those who are in a hurry and looking for the shortest route.
The bible is a book for pilgrims and wanderers. It is a book for children and for those who wish to become children again. It is a book for seekers and searchers and dreamers.
It is a book for anyone and everyone who hopes that the desires of God might be written upon their hearts.
Even if I don't believe in God, I can totally support this.
It seems to me that if I wished to become a child again that I would have to read the Bible rather selectively. There are a hell of passages strike me as counterproductive to that goal.
QuoteReal Live Preacher wrote: (http://www.reallivepreacher.com/node/623)
The truths of the bible are utterly beyond anyone who seeks to own truth and who seeks truth above the Spirit of God.
The bible is not a book for those who need a weapon. It is not a book for those who know where they are going and what questions they will ask. It is not a book for those who are in a hurry and looking for the shortest route.
The bible is a book for pilgrims and wanderers. It is a book for children and for those who wish to become children again. It is a book for seekers and searchers and dreamers.
It is a book for anyone and everyone who hopes that the desires of God might be written upon their hearts.
Even if I don't believe in God, I can totally support this.
It seems to me that if I wished to become a child again that I would have to read the Bible rather selectively. There are a hell of passages strike me as counterproductive to that goal.
He also wrote in another essay (http://www.reallivepreacher.com/node/642) that said it's read it critically and selectively or you're lying to yourself and everyone else.
He also wrote in another essay (http://www.reallivepreacher.com/node/642) that said it's read it critically and selectively or you're lying to yourself and everyone else.
Reading critically is vital to any work of significance.
But if you have to read selectively—if it if loses significance or ceases to make sense when you look at the whole—Then there is a major problem withe the work.
Can you cite this statistic. I'm really interested in where you got this... :-\He also wrote in another essay (http://www.reallivepreacher.com/node/642) that said it's read it critically and selectively or you're lying to yourself and everyone else.
Reading critically is vital to any work of significance.
But if you have to read selectively—if it if loses significance or ceases to make sense when you look at the whole—Then there is a major problem withe the work.
I've seen both sides of this coin. I've seen Ikester, Benedict XVI and Troy Brooks. Then there's Sandman, Jim Wallis and Real Live Preacher. The work may not make total sense, but I feel it's much more dependent on the attitude of its interpreter. Otherwise, I don't think 30 million Catholics would have left the church in the USA in the last five years.
I read the Bible, and I became Wiccan.
Can you cite this statistic. I'm really interested in where you got this... :-\He also wrote in another essay (http://www.reallivepreacher.com/node/642) that said it's read it critically and selectively or you're lying to yourself and everyone else.
Reading critically is vital to any work of significance.
But if you have to read selectively—if it if loses significance or ceases to make sense when you look at the whole—Then there is a major problem withe the work.
I've seen both sides of this coin. I've seen Ikester, Benedict XVI and Troy Brooks. Then there's Sandman, Jim Wallis and Real Live Preacher. The work may not make total sense, but I feel it's much more dependent on the attitude of its interpreter. Otherwise, I don't think 30 million Catholics would have left the church in the USA in the last five years.
Thanks! It's a pretty large number, and I don't want to work with it unless I know there was something to back it up.Can you cite this statistic. I'm really interested in where you got this... :-\He also wrote in another essay (http://www.reallivepreacher.com/node/642) that said it's read it critically and selectively or you're lying to yourself and everyone else.
Reading critically is vital to any work of significance.
But if you have to read selectively—if it if loses significance or ceases to make sense when you look at the whole—Then there is a major problem withe the work.
I've seen both sides of this coin. I've seen Ikester, Benedict XVI and Troy Brooks. Then there's Sandman, Jim Wallis and Real Live Preacher. The work may not make total sense, but I feel it's much more dependent on the attitude of its interpreter. Otherwise, I don't think 30 million Catholics would have left the church in the USA in the last five years.
It appears my timeframe isn't accurate, but there are 30 million people who cal themselves former Catholics. the Pew Foundation has a report (http://religions.pewforum.org/reports) on it and they're the ones stating that it's 30 million.
In my way of thinking, I don't think the Bible in and of itself is going to make anyone become an atheist unless there is at least a seed of doubt already there. Most people that read the Bible are looking for validation for their faith and confirmation that their god is the true inspiration for its writing.
Until someone delves into the Bible with an open mind and eyes wide open can the Bible turn them away from Christianity. After all, if they weren't so blinded by faith, they would realize that the holy books of other religions are thought by their adherents to be the true word of god just as much as Christians think the Bible is. Everybody can't be right.
I read the Bible, and I became Wiccan.
Ditto for me. I switched to a less insane spirituality.
Not every person is inclined to non-spirituality. Some folks see the stupidity of dogmatic scriptures & religion and become full atheists. That's perfectly fine & I respect that.
Folks like you & I, however, still feel that the spiritual is very real, no matter what & make a switch to a different sort of faith system that's less structured or less insane. That's fine, too.
I say people should read every religious/philosophical book, if they have the time and desire.
The Bible, the Quran, the Vedas, the Zend Avesta, the Popul Vuh, the Analects of Confucius (which I strongly recommend, BTW)...you can learn something from each of them. Just don't be naive enough to accept everything therein as as absolute divine truth.
I say people should read every religious/philosophical book, if they have the time and desire.
The Bible, the Quran, the Vedas, the Zend Avesta, the Popul Vuh, the Analects of Confucius (which I strongly recommend, BTW)...you can learn something from each of them. Just don't be naive enough to accept everything therein as as absolute divine truth.