Thread: Bible for DUMMIES

Anybody here willing to give bible lessons? I want to expand my repertoire of reasoning, and would like to find bible quotes that I could use to manipulate. However, seeing as it is an awful lot to plow through, I wondered if I could get some help finding passages/exerpts.

First of all, I am looking for quotes that will back up social pragmatism. I want support for the notion that by experience, humans live as flawed beings, and that we should be less obsessed with condemning all their flaws, and more preoccupied with finding ways to deal with it. You might have your perception of how people should live according to God, but when you seek to punish those who don't comply with your perception of God's will, you actually go against God's will.

Specifically, I was thinking of drug addicts. Now, drug addicts aren't the most sympathetic ones. They lie, cheat and steal. They would beat up your kid to get their fix. They often display strong antisocial behavior.

But however strong the condemning of drug abuse in society, experience shows that you don't eradicate drug abuse. Question is if you can eradicate it at all. If you don't, how can it be the loving Lord's intention to show hatred and make the drug abusers even more miserable? I thought Jesus had taught us that God's love is endless, and mercy isn't just reserved for the pharesees.

I marvel at how many negative laws and how much strict enforcement exists without pragmatic base, supported by conservative christians. Shouldn't those who know the word of the Lord push forward in a direction seeking to cope with the negative behavioral aspects of humanity, instead of looking for opportunities for satisfaction by punishment? I need passages.

Here's a helpful link.

BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 50 versions and 35 languages.

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. If Satan wants to remind you of your past, you remind him of his future. Jesus Christ spoke of hell repeatedly. Jesus declared that those who go to hell enter the horrible place where “the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched”. If you read- A person in hell has two desires. 1. He wants to stop hurting. 2. He wants to keep others from joining him. Now ask yourself this: Why would they even care if you joined them on not? Why do Christians and other faiths put themselves in danger for others? When you answer these questions then you will know the answer to yours.

Ewww... freecell. Why are you talking about worms and flesh? Yuck. Was there even a hidden meaning in there?

I fish therefore I lie. A sin, the end.

23Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. 28I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Babs...
I believe the highlighted portions speak to the sacrifice, that is Necessary for Christ to allow you into his kingdom. Christians that do not adhere to this three step process are not Christians at all, even though they will not admit it.

I understand your frustration, but what makes you think Christians are any less full of shit, than Non-Christians?

God...
13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Originally Posted by Babylon

I understand your frustration, but what makes you think Christians are any less full of shit, than Non-Christians?

I don't think that. But I do think that some cultural aspects of christianity + elements of the Bible pose an additional obstruction to acceptance in some areas.

Chu Chu, I'd look for a couple of textbooks used in college religion courses, preferably courses taught at a secular college. The links others have provided here generally rest on a literalist interpretation of the Bible. In order to understand the Bible, you need to understand a bit about how it came together, what the world was like at the time, and how oral traditions ultimately eventuated in written documents.

Another good source for sound information would be The Teaching Company. They have a whole series of college-level courses on just about every conceivable subject. They're available on CD or DVD, and I know they have a wealth of courses on religious subjects that represent real scholarship and not just evangelism.

Here's a link: The Teaching Company : Educational Courses on DVD, Audio CD, and Audio Tape- Lecture Series by College/University Professors

Originally Posted by Buck Laser

Chu Chu, I'd look for a couple of textbooks used in college religion courses, preferably courses taught at a secular college. The links others have provided here generally rest on a literalist interpretation of the Bible. In order to understand the Bible, you need to understand a bit about how it came together, what the world was like at the time, and how oral traditions ultimately eventuated in written documents.

Buck, the fact that there is a whole lot of people lacking that perspective shows that the Bible is a liability. It will be interpreted in a fiendish way, it will spread hatred originating from old old old cultures. Call it a fallacy of men instead of a fallacy of the Bible if you want to. You will always find a literalist interpretation.

Originally Posted by chu chu rocket

I don't think that. But I do think that some cultural aspects of christianity + elements of the Bible pose an additional obstruction to acceptance in some areas.

I fear the word acceptance, because I am not of the opinion everyone should be accepted. Political Correctness placates to this perception that everyone HAS to fit in, it is a lie.

Could you elaborate a little on what you mean by Acceptance? Before your thread disappears, get to your Real point, you obviously have a lot more to say.