Mystee,
So if the Bible is just a bunch of people trying to fool us how could you find any wisdom in it? how could anything be taken as truth from a bunch of guys trying to fool us?
Deceit doesn’t necessarily mean stupidity. There were many pre-existing wisdoms available to the biblical authors that they included. It’s a good con trick. Even you displayed gullibility earlier by trying to conclude that if one part is true then it all must be true.
You say you don't believe in God or Jesus, so why then would believe anything from a book that says they are real?
Because the bible contains some essential truths that are independent of whether God exists or not. And there are hundreds of these that I remember reading although I did not make notes; here are a few common ones -
He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone. (John 8:7)
Tribute to whom tribute is due. (Rom. 13:7)
The love of money is the root of all evil. (I Tim. 6:10)
How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished! (II Sam. 1:27)
Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. (James 1:19)
If someone came up to you on the streets and said they were the son of God you would write them off as a lunatic and not listen to another word they said. Correct?
I’m not so sure since I usually invite in JWs, Mormons, and I stop and debate with Salvation Army preachers. I suspect I’d be skeptically curious.
You can not say the Bible has wisdom unless you believe it was put there by God.
The bible was written by many authors, some were poets, others were philosophers, others were myth makers, etc, but truths like the quotes above can be found in many places. Where you find a revelation need not be where you expect to find it. I like the quote by Lex Luther in the Superman movie – A man could read the ingredients on a chewing gum wrapper and unlock the secrets of the universe while another will read War and Peace and think it a simple love story.
If you look upon everything with an open mind with a desire to learn and with humility then you are likely to discover many things that would otherwise be hidden.
If a bunch of people all come together searching for truth how are they ever going to find it searching in each other? Either you believe someone here has truth or you are intentionally wasting your time looking for something where you know you won’t find it.
Ahh then you don’t yet appreciate the value of debate. This isn’t a static forum; members come and go at quite a high rate of change. I find I learn something new from almost everyone that passes through, or rather I learn from the research I do from trying to answer and respond to posts. But there have been some that have taught me a great deal, e.g. Boris, synesthesia, Bambi, who no longer post and there are several here who I still learn from frequently, Raithere, tiassa, ConsequentAtheist, and others.
But I’m not particularly looking for any particular truth, although I am always open to new revelations; I am here to test myself and what I have already learnt. If there are flaws in what I have discovered then I want to find those flaws and refine my knowledge.
If you have not found truth yet how do you know what it looks like? how are you to say truth must be accompanied by proof or it isn't real? Who are you to define something you have never seen?
Perhaps from a lifetime of experience discovering what works, and what doesn’t, and trying everything with an open mind and seeing what happens.
Jesus lived a sin free life right.
That is indeed what the myth says.
Well he told people all the time when they were doing wrong. He gently rebukes and redirects. If telling people they are living in sin is judging then Jesus himself is guilty. This of course isn't possible in a sinnless life.
But within the myth Jesus has a special knowledge that no one else has. He isn’t judging since he knows for certain.
Judging (I used this term to mean 'the sin of judging') is telling people they are going to hell or telling them God will not forgive. Rebuking is the right term for what you mean here. Yes what I do may fit the dictionary's definition, but not the way it was meant in the Bible. My instructions come from the Bible.
But you are assuming that the bible is correct and you think that what you believe is the truth. When you then talk with others as you do here, there is no humility in your tone, but only arrogant judgmental assertions.
Arrogance: a feeling or an impression of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or presumptuous claims.
Your demeanor is one of absolute certainty and you proceed to tell others what is right and the truth. Your feeling that God is guiding you and not us gives you an outlook and feeling of overwhelming superiority that we see as arrogance. The phrasing of your assertions either directly or implicitly screams that you are right and we are wrong, and that is being judgmental.
Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. (Matt. 23:12). This is another essential truth used in many religions, but also has real value outside of religion.
