So, Let Me Get This Straight...

ya dude that stuff in the bible was meant for people from its time. Like when the bible says <something along the lines of> "It is a sin for a man to lie with a man as he does a woman. God hates this." God doesn't really hate gay people. You have to remember that the people of that time were nomads in tribes. Their tribe would obviously want more people in it to help protect them/help with the animals and whatnot. If dudes were doing dudes then the tribe wouldn't grow.
Thats also why there is so much stuff about concubines and stuff like that. No one needs concubines today!

 

Not all of us are "fundamentalists" and hold the views held here.

 

Sorry Darrell,

You misunderstood me... The Bible IS Inspired by God. Men wrote the Bible, but God inspired them, therefore creating a flawless book.

The people in the Bible, yet, were not perfect. Abraham, Moses, Jeremiah, Matthew, Paul, and John all had flaws in their life. THAT was the point I was trying to make. Therefore, saying that a man, other than Jesus, did something, does not necessary make it right. The only example we should follow is Jesus. The stories of everyone else is to learn from their mistakes.

 

Where's the tolerance? The love? You want apologies from 2000 years ago like slavery restitution.. i think most the of the perpetrators are dead now, no?
Pretty soon the nazi hunters will have no one to hunt either! should nazi's be added to then endangeres species list? maybe we can just stand up for a second or two of slience at half time?

 

Hey Libertine. Thanks for responding to my post. I completely hold the same views that you have described about that which we and our loved ones leave behind in memory and goodness performed, as well as living each day to the fullest knowing that we have a limited time here to enjoy and care for our loved ones. I differ in that I do hope that death is not the end and that somehow and someway, I will be reunited with every single one of my loved ones. This is not the "fundamentalist" view, as you know which eternally divides the human race. I was raised in a christian "fire and brimstone" religion and was an outspoken atheist for years. My views have changed since then, and for 16 years I have studied the hebrew, aramaic, and greek languages of the bible. I have discovered that the bible is an inclusive book after all when it speaks of the ultimate future of mankind, and the view of the future of mankind that I have come to hope in, is a view that most non-literal english translation do not accurately convey. It may be "wishful thinking", a "pipe dream", or a "fantasy" as you have said, but it also may not be - neither of us can prove either way and neither us can know for certain because we are still alive. I can tell you that my hopeful views are the not the same as fear-based "fundamentalism" and have made me a much happier and better person than I used to be.

Could I be wrong and there really is no hope at all ever seeing and holding my loved ones in some way after death? Could I be wrong and death is the end?

Yes, I could be wrong.

Could you be wrong in your view that death is the end and there is no hope whatsoever of being reunited with your loved ones in some way in the future?

Yes, you could be wrong.

We will all have to wait and see who is correct because we all are moving toward our deaths - like it or not.

You will have your memories of your loved ones and I will too. You will live on in the memories of your loved ones and I will too. There is some comfort in knowing this, but at a funeral of a loved one I shall have hope that I shall actually be reunited with them someway and somehow because of my view that there exists a God who created all of us and shall make it so in the future. You will not have the same hope that I will have at a funeral of a loved one, or in time of mourning a loved one. Living on in memories and positive accomplishments falls far short in hope. I may be wrong but you may be wrong. We will wait and see. I think you may be pleasantly surprised in the future…. And God is going to make it all possible. In that day, you shall thank Him, and be happy that He exists.

I choose to have hope in seeing my loved ones again. I could be wrong, but I still have this hope. Also, one may have this hope and still live each day to the fullest. It is not true that one who holds a hopeful view of the afterlife does not live for the day in fullness and treasure every moment. The only difference is, the one who has hope in a creator who will eventually work together all things for our good(somehow and someway), has hope in being reunited with their loved ones and that's for eternity. Right or wrong - we will all find out one day. I really hope that I am correct because that would be the greatest scenario possible. I really hope that you are not correct, but I do wish the very best for you and the ones that you love. As I had said in my initial post to you, it seems that you may have been exposed to christian "fundamentalism" in your development years. I apologize again if I am wrong. I am willing to refer you to some websites that teach from the hebrew, aramaic, and greek languages and that teach a very hopeful future for all, if you are interested. Not only is the hopeful view that I have mentioned backed by the true languages of the bible, but it was a view held by many believers in Jesus during the first four centuries. Four out of six theological schools back then held this view and the only school that taught an "eternal" division of mankind was the one based in Carthage - Rome. The reformation is not yet finished. It is the conclusion of many who have studied the true languages of the bible that the old testament, as well as the new testament, do not eternally divide the human race according to the true languages underneath the non-literal english translations. Thanks again for responding to my post and being a true gentleman about it. You are definitely someone that I would enjoy further sharing views with, as long as we respect one another in love.

 

Perhaps you need to read THIS.

 

God is love, he loves you no matter what you do, forever
The story is short

bless you, peace

 

Hi once again Libertine. I checked out your testimony - thanks for sharing it. I knew you were a person of true character from reading some of your posts on this forum. I knew there was something that I really liked about you, as I previously said in my first reply post to you. My testimony is very similiar to yours, and I am not just saying that. "Eternal" Hell Fire and Brimstone is a nasty thing pushed on the consciousness of a child or young adult. I know firsthand, as you know. I also turned my back on "christianity" and embraced atheism but I have chosen to now have hope that there is a creator who is good and that all things will work out for good somehow and someway for each and every one one of us. As I have said - I may be wrong but you could also be wrong. I am going to PM you a site to check out - not to "convert" you but just to share my views with you. God Bless You Brother(just kidding lol)

 

well what? makes perfect sense hahahahaha
peace bro