Theres no appropriate title

Not exactly true. Like the description I gave above with the paper turning into a car. If the Bible said things in there that were untrue I would not believe it. Since I have seen the Word come alive.. I therefore, believe it is True. I know you said you had a rough time with your church upbringing, and I am sorry for that. Can you honestly say that you studied the Bible very in-depth when you were younger?
Would you not agree, that now being older, you see things differently and have a new perspective on life than you did when you 12 or so. You really can't refute the Bible if you have never intensely studied it as an adult (being an adult you understand much more than when you were a child) with an open mind.

 

I've studied the bible through discussions like this where people like you quote and provide evidence from it. Putting that on top of what I've done in the past with religion makes me hate it even more.

 

=)

Yeah, I can definately understand that. These stupid debates get very overheated.

Having discussions with people is not the same as picking the Book up for yourself and studying it.
People can in no way speak for God. The majority of speaking to you He will do, is when you read His words, they will speak to if you are sincerely seaking to hear from Him.

Don't even ask me to explain that one b/c I don't have an answer for it =)

 

Unless God has spoken personally to you, though, that's all you're left with. To the best of my knowledge, that hasn't happened to many people lately.

 

Actually it does, you have to been listening for it. It is not a verbal speaking, it is a speaking deep within the conscience and heart.
I am totally serious here, you have to really be looking, listening, and searching.

 

You mean that point where your subconcious takes over and you reach peace? I call that REM Sleep... it's a fantastic place where your imagination runs rampant and God takes the form of a unicorn. In my REM Sleep.. said unicorn is horny.. >=|

 

You know, I think there were more complications when people knew they were being prayed for because of guilt.

"Hey, I'll just slip through this surgery and God won't notice me," but when people started saying, "I'll pray for you," that draws attention. God might look at you. Maybe God's answer will be, "No", because you start to inventory all the wrong you've ever done in your life and begin to think maybe you don't deserve that prayer to be answered the way you want it to be.

 

I am not religous, but I am spiritual and I agree with zab on this one.

 

How would one tell if it is their own conscience speaking to them or a deity? My conscience frequently speaks to me, telling me I should be nice, not to pillage, things like that.

 

Remember, Pillage, THEN Burn.

Works out better that way.

 

..in hell? ~

 

Sometimes, like in the case that the pillagable items are in wooden lockboxes, the burning and pillaging can take place at the same time.

 

How to tell the difference

That is an excellent question Symen:
How in-depth of an answer do you want?
This is a pretty deep subjec here.

 

Please don't ever assume that just because I don't believe in God the same way you do that I have never read or studied the Bible.

I have a strong Christian background with lots of Bible study (yes, I have read the Bible, twice) and I,
a) don't believe that the Bible was/is intended to be literally translated, most of it is allegory/lessons with some history of the Jewish race thrown in,
b) believe all of us are His children, therefore loved unconditionally by God, whether we believe in Him or not, and
c) believe God makes his presence felt to an individual whatever he is called by them. I believe that God, Allah, and Buddha are the same. If you check out their base teachings, they are basically the same at heart. Live good lives, don't harm anyone, remember the Golden Rule (yes, they all have their own version of the Golden Rule) and to teach others to follow the same path.

My studies have brought me to my own conclusion that tolerance is more of a Christian act than all the hypocritical preaching can be and should be used far more often than I see in our world today. (This doesn't have anything to do with anyone here...just what I have seen for myself.)

 

While I agree that its all basically the same, bretta (which supports my belief that it's all made up as well as the belief that he's real), there is a distinct difference between God, Allah, Yahwek or whatever and Buddha. Buddha was an actual person, not a god, who, through introspection, reached that certain state. As far as I know, Buddhists don't worship Buddha, but simply use him as a role model.

 

Yes, and no. I'm actually studying Buddhism right now. What they believe is that Buddha is in each one of us and that we need to find the Buddha inside of us and that the goal is to reach enlightenment. That is all I know now. My sister and I are taking a course starting next week about Buddhism, so I'll know more in about 4 weeks. However, you are right. It would actually be more appropriate to compare Buddha to Jesus.

 

Please don't ever assume that just because I don't believe in God the same way you do that I have never read or studied the Bible.

I have a strong Christian background with lots of Bible study (yes, I have read the Bible, twice) and I,

Bretta,
Obviously not, The Bible is not up for your interpretation of it. It interprets itself. I feel sorry for who ever taught you-if you really paid attention to them. They will be held to a higher accountability with God than you will.
If you did not pay attention to them-then that is on your own head.

Can you show me in the Bible where it says that everything is allegorical?

I do agree with you that everyone is loved by God-but that doesn't mean you get to enter into His presence when you die.
Big difference there.

 

....

 

judgement is the root of all human suffering.

 

Others have said this before Zab...never assume to know what I do and do not know. I grew up in the faith....and it doesn't have to say in the Bible it is allegorical, that is part of what Bible study is about. I don't say it is ALL allegorical, but there is some, I believe that Genisis and much of the Old Testament is loaded with allegory, but most of it is a history. I tend to study the New Testament as a map of how to live my life in a good an positive way. Not as a way to condemn those who don't live the way I think. My church was different than yours obviously. We teach tolerance, faith and love. Yours sounds to me like it teaches elitism and distain for those who don't believe exactly as you do. Not my thing, sorry.

Oh, and never feel sorry for me. I am quite happy thank you and quite firm in my love and acceptance from Christ. I don't and never have asked for your pity. I was baptised and made my confession of faith at 13. This was MY choice and after a life spent in the church and Bible study.

I may have left the hypocrits of the church, but I have never left Jesus. I don't usually go into details about my faith, I feel it is very private between myself and God. Believe me, mine is just as strong as yours.

BTW, how can you be so sure your interpretation is the right one? I think mine is. So we can just agree to disagree on this as there is nothing you are going to say to me to change mine and vice-versa.