Jesus H

[Brentucky]

I've read the Bible through, highlighter in hand for anything I thought needed highlighting, and then I read the New Testament twice and then some. To me it's like most any other book (except the Bible seemed more like work than fun). I found lots of things useful in my own personal way of living just like in many other books (fiction or non). Of course I couldn't quote much of any of it because I don't go to church to hear the repeat sermons, and, well, it's a big book, and I have only been born with an average brain that has no intention of memorizing the thing. However, since I didn't start with the assumption of the Bible being "truth" and my parents didn't do a good enough job of scaring/convincing me when I was little I have to honestly say it seems crazy to me that the Bible alone could convince people of God and Heaven and Hell and such. If it predicted more "non-predictable" things then maybe it would make me think a little more about reading it again.

As for love and forgiveness and all that, I'm pretty sure it has been around for awhile, although admittedly "non-perfectly" which I guess is the main point of Jesus. The Bible does have good quotes though, and I do appreciate and respect yours Mr. hutch.

[whatahutch]

After we finish ynp we can go climbing together. After that we can stop at the Beer Trailer and I will pay for the beer.

[ynp1]

I was also raised by believers, but they never really push us (siblings) to believe or not. We formulated our own ideas by using more logic then just believing that our parents were right. So, it turned out the all four of us do not believe in god. I think my not having parents the pushed us one way or another was a great advantage.

I am always interested to talk to people that have different religions then their parents. That means they must have had some time of reflection and really look to see what works best for them.

So... The book godless... A quick review of it for others that may be interested in reading it: It is about Dan Barkers life change from being a Evangelical Preacher (those crazy fucks that preach to anybody that will listen to them) for 16 years and how he is now a Atheists. He was fully a believer in the Bible, every word and he tried to save others. He then started looking for the truth after he started to talk to others of different religions and nonbelievers and he started to see that they were not bad people, like the Bible said that they were. He started looking more into it and slowly realized that he had to decide, "Does he want to believe in God, or did he want to know the truth". He chose the later. The book goes a lot farther into it... So, go read it if you want!

About your challenge... I will start to read the Bible, but it will take me a long time to read it all... It is like a million pages, so you may move through godless a little faster... So get back to me after you read godless and I will start working my way through the Bible.

I also agree with Brentucky, in the fact that I don't think the Bible allow has ever converted a non-believer to a believer... So Chad I really don't know what you want me to get out of it besides a better understanding of how confused Christians are...

I do respect Chad for his knowledge of the Bible. Way better then a lot of believers that blindly accept what the preacher man tells them. Also, I like your willingness to read godless. Enjoy and I look forward to hearing from you.

[ynp1]

Oh a few other things. Why do I have to read the Old Testiment? You seem to have dismissed it as a flawed book... Is the god in the Old not the same as the one in the New?

Also, are we going to debate stuff or just tell each other what we have learned and ask each other questions about it?

Last if some thing comes down to FAITH and you pull that card, I will quickly stop all conversations... I know you are smarter then that, so I didnt really expect you to pull that card.

[KD]

Ya gotta have faaaaaaaith! Ya gotta have faaaaaaaaaith! (limp Bizkit)

[Crankmas]

Start with John in the New Testament, its the cliffnotes version of the Glory of God, manifested in the gift of His son Jesus. From there you can add the other Books of the New Testament and you may find yourself compelled to then view the Old Testament in a new way. You never know if you don't try, its the Yaniro way.

[KD]

I always thought James was the Cliff Notes and John was more like Jesus for Dummies

[bcombs]

Tucky, when I hit this spot in your post: "well, it's a big book"

For some reason I started reading it in this guys voice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfDXAA2MCD8

There are two movies that I stop and watch anytime I see them on TV, regardless of when they started: Remember the Titans and The Waterboy.

[pigsteak]

Godless sounds good. I am gonna read that one.

[Brentucky]

haha, nice bcombs. beware though, because on the off days when the fingertips allow, I play banjo, too.