So, for my whole life i have lived in the bible belt of america. and none of this time have i ever come close to being a "christian" of any sort. this is mainly due in part to my unknowingness of reason..
i have always wondered how or where these odd ideas that one man governs all.
this year as i did my junior research paper title 2+2=4 over the topic of evolution vs. creationism i became even more submeersed in an outpour of questions.
in my research i found a severe contradicting point that i have been waiting on my whole life. The book of Genesis 1 and 2.. same story but different...how?...they are complete opposites!!!....how can you believe a story that rules your life yet contradicts itself?...would you beleive a person that contradicted his or herself?..i wouldnt so why base beleif on it?......and now there is to be a new scroll translated after the peice it together thru some long gruelling process that is to completely contradict more of chritian beleifs.....
i am baffled....confused to say the least and slightly outraged because i dont get how people can possibly tell me that i am destined to rot in the flaming pits of hell for not beleiving in something that is an unproven, contradicting story. i dont get it, i dont tell them zues will strike them down or my godless "faith" will drag them down to some scary place because i think they should see it my way.....i am completely at a loss here....
yet again sorry to offend if i do this is not at all my intentions.....my sister is infact a new found catholic and i applaud her for her determination and strength in faith and what not i am proud of her but i just cant do it....
For those of us who are Biblically illiterate, it might have been nice to say how the stories in Genesis 1 and 2 were contradicting...
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Genesis 1 is the 6 day creation story. It is formulaic but we no longer recognize it as so. On days 1, 2, and 3 God makes different regions; on days 4, 5, and 6 he populates each specific region. Thus we have:
Day 1 God makes the heavens --- Day 4 God makes the sun, moon and stars.
Day 2 God makes the sky and seas --- Day 5 God makes birds and fish
Day 3 God makes dry land with plants --- Day 6 God makes land animals and men
Genesis 2 is the Adam and Eve story:
God makes Adam first
Then the Garden of Eden with its plants
Then animals
Then Eve.
If one is going to believe that the bible means what it actually says then the two stories are indeed irreconcilable. If one is going to believe that if you allow parts of the story to mean whatever one wants to reconcile the two stories then the stories are reconcilable.
Cheers,
DB
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If a million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing. - Anatole France
As a Christian, I've spent quite a bit of time thinking about this topic. I guess I'm not a Bible-beating fanatic... I believe the Bible is different to various people, and it's hugely open to interpretation. You have a difficult time with the Genesis contradictions because it "rules your life"? I think we need to look beyond the stories written in a book thousands of years old. I'm not dissing the Bible, mind you, but I don't think everything in the Bible is what we should be literally living our lives by. If Biblical contradictions stop you from considering religion at all, then I think that's a big issue in itself. After all, "religion" is far bigger than the Bible, Koran, or anything else people are going to call the "Word of God."
What is religion for? I think that depends on what you need it to be for. Religion works for different people in different ways for different reasons. It can comfort. It can explain. It can bring people together. Sometimes it can bring people apart. It can place meaning in lives. The list goes on. I think it's really up to you to determine what religion is for, for you.
How do Genesis 1 and 2 contradict..?
I read them, and didn't see conflict..?
Maybe its been such a struggle for you to get into "church" because so many people live to satisfy "church."
Being a Christian isn't about dressing a certain way, doing things according to how everyone expects you to, its not about being "perfect."
Its about faith, hope and love.
mostly love, because God is Love.
who ever taught you that God was going to strike you down.
God forgave us for everything we did, are doing, or will do.
Jesus died to save us, for us to be forgiven. The price has already been paid, so there's not need to strike anyone down.
the point...
When you're completely alone, who do you have that will always be there?
Everyone needs and wants love. God is love. Its simple.
God blesses his people, overflowing blessings at that.
Through Christ, you have the power to do greater things than Jesus.
...did you get that? You have the power.
Do you know where you're going after death?
luvkat
p.s.
I'm not offended,
you have to stand up for what you believe in.
even if its alone.
That is telling, isn't it?
Genesis 1
Genesis 1
Genesis 2
Emphasis mine ... Do you get at least an idea of one of the conflicts now?
Cheers,
DB
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If a million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing. - Anatole France
You beat me to it, DB.
~C
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ok, my whole life i was told i would be "struck down" by the other christian kids for not being one....or any type of worshiper....they didnt get why i didnt think i had to go to church toi believe in a god, when i did completely beleive, now i have lost it.....i dont anymore...not so much that i am fed up but i just lost the want and need for a higher force.....i look to myself for my saving hope , i have faith in myself and living people i trust, i love genorously, i am just as happy as the rest with out it....religionless....
Some people need it for comfort purposes, others to guide them morally. I for one need it for neither but I don't see a reason to practice religion. It is oftentimes indoctrinated through fear-mongering tactics as well. But I mean it is obviously very different for each individual.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/jloigman
Religion, particularly Christianity, is ultimately for neither comfort or good morals. It is for a relationship with the Creator of the Universe and salvation through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. To those who aren't Christians, it might seem that we're just trying to scare you by saying you're going to "burn in hell". Unfortunately, that is the truth and it's not meant to scare anyone, although it does because we are scared of "burning" for eternity. And how can anyone save themselves? Without Christ, we are dead. Especially if you believe in evolution. How can you be a product of pure chance and have the power to save yourself? You can't. Because in order to have the power to save yourself, you'd have to have the power to create the world, which means you'd have to be God and none of us are close to God. We are made in God's image, but since we are sinners and He is perfect, there is a major difference between us.
Religion is a mind altering program designed for one purpose only, control!
It pushes forward wonderful ideals in which any (obedient) individual can evoke a sense of security and peace of mind, still the basics used inside this program are no less than inflicting fear upon those who’s thoughts are wondering outside the box.
In order for this program to remain efficient, it is needed to catch newcomers at birth in order to take away their identity while creating a fake reality around their lives.
Whether one is a worshipper or not, all are nothing but slaves caught inside this program of enslavement.
The main reason for this organized enslavement is energy, to suck all people dry from their inner divine energy.
Funny enough people are starting to wake up and the egg is starting to burst upon its own!
We are living in a amazingly interesting moment,
http://www.wowzone.com/monkey.htm
The real problem is that people are enslaved to ideas that they deem as freedom, particularly evolution. Evolution is full of half-truths and false information and it's a theory, although everyone seems intent on considering it as fact. And what is this "divine energy" you speak of? Are you now calling yourself God? Cause if you are, you are way off base. How can you consider yourself to be a product of pure chance, but also God? You can't. God is an omnipotent and omniscient being. We are sinful people with limited knowledge and limited strength. And if religion is all about control, then all your friendships and relationships are all about control, because that's what Christianity is, it's a relationship with the Creator of the universe who Has enough patience, mercy, and grace to consider me His child.
I have been around, around, like to planes and place’s which are by personal choice or better say convictions off limits to those who linger inside the “Box”!
Although I’m not within your concept of thought, I carry a perfect knowledge and more important, experience on how it feels to be whatever people worship!
Having gained an ability to escape from the box, I can venture and walk upon whatever path I chose out of my freewill, one which is paved with an abundance of truth without a clouded vision whatsoever upon what lies ahead!
A person who worships cannot possibly relate to what freedom truly represents, even less the reality of it!
“Divine energy” is what binds us all to what is omnipresent, still, one needs to recall in order to perceive the divine!
This is why religions need to catch one at birth, only, to keep one away from recalling truth!
By commenting the way you did, unwarily, you push yourself deeper inside limitation while lacking yourself to gain any knowledge which could otherwise open up the door of infinite potential.
Christianity can mean whatever you wish, still, it’s easy to witness the trauma Christianity just like any other worship sects represent to one another!
Manny people already carry an understanding worshippers are limited and sinful people, but there is not much to do other than to wait until the last one has woken up, hereby allowing the hate they reflect upon their surroundings to dissolve into common sense.
Anyhow, the egg is bursting, so why bother to try and break it!
Patience, mercy, and grace awaits those who wake up…
http://www.wowzone.com/monkey.htm