Thread: Cherry Picking the Bible?

‘It seems to me an odd proposition that we should adhere to some parts of the Bible story but not to others. After all, when it comes to important moral questions, by what standards do we cherry-pick the Bible? Why bother with the Bible at all if we have the ability to pick and choose from it, what is right and what is wrong?’

Richard Dawkins: The root of all evil? (broadcast, 16 January 2006)

Con:

Surprisingly something resembling truth from the mouth of Richard Dawkins. Even he recognizes that the fence-sitting Christians are essentially hypocrites.

Can someone believe in the inerrancy of the bible? Talking snakes don't exist, human asexual reproduction has never been documented outside of the bible, adam and eve didn't exist, a global flood is impossible, Believing that women are inferior to man is sexism, a dichotomous judicial system is barbaric, etc.

I think people who believe in an Abrahamic god need to cherry pick the bible.

All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Tim 3:16

Not everything in the Bible is meant to be taken literally. Example:

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

Matthew 18:9

In that passage Matthew is trying to explain the necessity of having a radical urgency to separate oneself from sinful actions of the past. He is not commanding Christians to actually pluck ones eyes out. If one reads the Bible in its entirety, it is much easier to see how as a whole scriptures should be evaluated for meaning. Picking and choosing passages only leads to confusion and errant doctrines.

I think the intentions behind the bible were mostly benign. I think that it is a metaphysical book filled with metaphors and allegories that delve into the nature of the human being. For a historical book, I think it did a decent job of portraying the nature of the human being. It should not be taken literally. It is also filled with supernaturalism and mysticism along with sexism.

Well, we all have our opinions and beliefs and are entitled to them...and that's why we are here.

Originally Posted by ~V~

It is also filled with supernaturalism and mysticism along with sexism.

And sex .... quite a bit of it actually ...

Originally Posted by kmiller1610

And sex .... quite a bit of it actually ...

Adam was ribbed for Eve's pleasure. Debauchery...I tell you.

Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's law. I have learned a great deal from you, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific laws and how to best follow them.

• When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. How should I deal with this?
  
• I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as it suggests in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
  
• I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

The Dr. Laura Bits

Originally Posted by Bowerbird

The Dr. Laura Bits

Got a comment? Or are you just spamming...

Originally Posted by conservative

Got a comment? Or are you just spamming...

I would say, in my opinion, that Bower is showing everyone that there is one big hypocritical religionite that has a very popular radio show, that millions hear every day, who is an example of how NOT to act, but how to use religion as a means of making millions and millions of dollars. Other examples: televangelists.