The Bible is Bullshit

[Lori_7]

I absolutely have no intention to be rude or patronising, but seriously, how do you know this? don't many sane people think themselves to be sane? And how can you be sure you don't have a sleep disorder of the type suggested by Phologisitician?

You are probably right on both counts, but how would you verify that scientifically?

Just going by commonly accepted standards. I'm healthy and function quite well. I've never been known to hallucinate, and everyone who knows me personally would attest to my sanity.

 

[Lori_7]

And you know that the guy that wrote those books, Douglas Adams, was a prominent atheist? He's the guy that came up with the 'Puddle Analogy';

". . . imagine a puddle waking up one morning and thinking, 'This is an interesting world I find myself in, an interesting hole I find myself in, fits me rather neatly, doesn't it? In fact it fits me staggeringly well, must have been made to have me in it!' This is such a powerful idea that as the sun rises in the sky and the air heats up and as, gradually, the puddle gets smaller and smaller, it's still frantically hanging on to the notion that everything's going to be all right, because this world was meant to have him in it, was built to have him in it; so the moment he disappears catches him rather by surprise. I think this may be something we need to be on the watch out for."

But anyway, your experiences prove you are a significance junkie.

Dr Susan Blackmore has used statistical techniques to examine superstition, coincidence, and significance of events, and found that generally people over estimate the odds of a coincidence, so when it happens think something rare or mystical has occurred.

For instance, on average, you only need about 23 people in a room to have a 50% chance of two of them sharing the same birthday. That's not many is it? Fewer that you'd have guessed, and if you only remember the positives (because people will always remember their own birthday) you could think that you have a popular birthday, because it matches so many people. Cosmic, eh?

So you have the word 'queen' pop into your head, one of your colleagues uses that word in a sufficiently short time frame from this event, and you connect the dots. Except, well, you are linking random events and looking for sense in them.

It's also a case that you often find what you are looking for. That's the point of looking, after all. So you have this word 'queen' in your head, looking for a match. You could have heard a song on the radio by the rock band 'Queen' and attached significance to that. Or walked past a furniture shop that sold Queen sized beds. Or seen Queen Latifa on MTV. Or seen the Queen of any nation on the news.

So maybe the day after you had the word 'queen' begging for a match, one of your colleagues called you a 'star', but it didn't match, so it was discarded. As was every other compliment, until randomly, you got a match.

It's a well known technique used by mediums, that people forget the mismatches, and concentrate on the hits, so much so, that a 'reading' can be by far a majority of mismatches, but the person being read will see some significance in the correct guesses.

It's all just statistics.

The authors atheism is irrelevant, and my experience proves I'm neither a moron, nor afraid.

 

[Lori_7]

The marvelling over unexpected juxtapositions is at once the mark and the diversion of banal minds, and most of them do not require very remarkable happenings to constitute coincidences.
Philip Ward - The Dictionary of Common Fallacies

Imo being confined solely to the flesh and things of the flesh is slavery.

 

[Stryder]

*************
M*W: Hollywood is looking for some good, creative writers.

Please no, they add too much biblical stuff in things as it is, which tends to ruin some of the things they create. Examples of series they did this too, Quantum Leap and Sliders.

 

[jpappl]

Lori,

My spiritual experience involved rock stars who had made a deal with the devil so to speak and ended up deceived and spiritually dead. During that time one of my friends was telling me about one of his fave books "the hitchhikers guide to the universe" and gave me another of the authors books to read. It was about a rock star who made a deal with the devil and ended up dead. My friend didn't know. Just a coincedence.

Yes.

Lots of rock stars end up dead. Even those that don't make deals with the devil end up dead ?

There are thousands and thousands of stories of people making deals with the devil with all sorts of bad side effects.

So it really isn't all that suprising and it also isn't suprising that you would have created your own story in your mind about a rock star making a deal with the devil.

Ever see Tenacious D.

My question, knowing your personal story to some degree.

Why do you believe the bible has any merit in reality other than some nice life lessons ? In other words, do you believe it is the word of god ?

 

[Lori_7]

Lori,



Yes.

Lots of rock stars end up dead. Even those that don't make deals with the devil end up dead ?

There are thousands and thousands of stories of people making deals with the devil with all sorts of bad side effects.

So it really isn't all that suprising and it also isn't suprising that you would have created your own story in your mind about a rock star making a deal with the devil.

Ever see Tenacious D.

My question, knowing your personal story to some degree.

Why do you believe the bible has any merit in reality other than some nice life lessons ? In other words, do you believe it is the word of god ?

Hey J! In regards to the rock stars, my understanding is that they ended up spiritually dead, but still quite alive physically.

The first thing that really impacted my life in regards to the bible was when god helped me forgive someone. It made a huge impact on my life. Prior to that, sincerely "seeking and knocking" was what seemed to open the door to gods voice in the first place. I have felt the love of god tangibly through christ.

During my experience in 2005 things got wacky. At one point I was led through the bible like a dog on a leash. God told me that I was the woman in the story of the woman and the dragon in revelations. He then told me I was the chosen lady in 2nd john. Then he told me I was the tree of life in the new kingdom described at the very end of revelation.

Go figure.

So to answer your question, yeah I do. I just think that people often approach the text in the wrong way. Its not necessarily a book to be studied, but a tool to be used to teach by the spirit.

Ps, I apologize if this comes out as one long paragraph. I'm on my blackberry and it doesn't seem to like to format text correctly.

 

[Kernl Sandrs]

Like what?

I think its crazy not to believe in the possibility of a spiritual realm. And given what I've experienced I'd have to be completely insane not to.

I didn't say I didn't believe in it, I just think something different would be better. "A plane of higher existence" sounds better than "spirit realm" IMO.


I think there very well could be. I can't imagine not existing. I suppose I'm not capable of thinking that, but still...you can't even try to think about what it would be like to not exist, because that in itself requires thinking about what it would be like...Eh...And how would you know you're dead? lol Lots of questions, not enough answers...

 

[Lori_7]

I didn't say I didn't believe in it, I just think something different would be better. "A plane of higher existence" sounds better than "spirit realm" IMO.


I think there very well could be. I can't imagine not existing. I suppose I'm not capable of thinking that, but still...you can't even try to think about what it would be like to not exist, because that in itself requires thinking about what it would be like...Eh...And how would you know you're dead? lol Lots of questions, not enough answers...

I'm not sure why but I've always had the impression that I'm never going to die. Or even become elderly for that matter.

 

[Cris]

lori,

I'm not sure why but I've always had the impression that I'm never going to die. Or even become elderly for that matter.

Many people have the same feeling about car accidents - the "it will never happen to me" syndrome - and don't take car insurance. A lot of people become bankrupt when those never happening things tend to happen.

As for not dying - the statistics are against you - kinda like 100% at the current rate (not counting people that are still alive). But then, hey I don't expect to die either. But then I'm expecting science to pull through for me - I guess you are still hoping for your fantasy to help.

 

[jpappl]

Lori,

So to answer your question, yeah I do. I just think that people often approach the text in the wrong way. Its not necessarily a book to be studied, but a tool to be used to teach by the spirit.

Ok. So in that sense, it would be hard to distinquish BS in the bible because until the teacher is in the room, the book is basically useless.

Kinda of like Homer Simpson while flipping through it states there are no answers in this thing.

Obviously the majority of believers would disagree with you because they haven't had the experience you claim.

It would appear then that you have the same trouble with believers as atheists then regarding the texts.

Ps, I apologize if this comes out as one long paragraph. I'm on my blackberry and it doesn't seem to like to format text correctly.

Came out just fine.

 

[Lori_7]

lori,

Many people have the same feeling about car accidents - the "it will never happen to me" syndrome - and don't take car insurance. A lot of people become bankrupt when those never happening things tend to happen.

As for not dying - the statistics are against you - kinda like 100% at the current rate (not counting people that are still alive). But then, hey I don't expect to die either. But then I'm expecting science to pull through for me - I guess you are still hoping for your fantasy to help.

I guess we could wager on our respective views, but I'm not sure how that would work. Lol

 

[Adstar]

I'm not sure why but I've always had the impression that I'm never going to die. Or even become elderly for that matter.

Well if you are a true follower of the Messiah Jesus and you are alive at the time of His return then you shall never die.

That's biblical.


All Praise The Ancient of Days

 

[phlogistician]

The spirit realm interacted with me,

What 'spirit realm'? You have a weird experience. That doesn't mean a different reality was shown to you, just that you temporarily had an impaired view of this one.

and maniplulated my environment.

No, just your perception of it. See, you have two eyes, but you only see one of everything, surely you've noticed that? You should also then, realise, that it's your brain that you experience 'vision' with, not your eyes. Your brain sleeps.

I am sane, and have no sleeping disorders.

Why do you say that? Because you prefer the religious explanation for your symptoms, over a medical one?

I know that unless you've been through it,

I had an alien abduction experience, so I do understand these strange experiences. Thing is, my 'experience' was also witnessed by a 3rd party. IE, me having a hypnagogic hallucination in my sleep. I was not abducted, it was not real. Had I been alone, and more prone to accept strangeness, I might have thought this, and other hynagogic experiences I have had all real.

its very difficult to imagine, but its not so difficult to imagine the possibility.

The possibility, or probability even, is simply impaired perception. So simple. Your perception is not perfect.

 

[Medicine*Woman]

Well if you are a true follower of the Messiah Jesus and you are alive at the time of His return then you shall never die.

That's biblical.

*************
M*W: But what about all those people who have died in the past 2000 years. Didn't Jesus promise to return before the end of their age, too? That's also biblical. That's also a lie.

 

[Lori_7]

*************
M*W: But what about all those people who have died in the past 2000 years. Didn't Jesus promise to return before the end of their age, too? That's also biblical. That's also a lie.

Certainly you're aware that we have not yet reached the end of this age.

 

[Lori_7]

What 'spirit realm'? You have a weird experience. That doesn't mean a different reality was shown to you, just that you temporarily had an impaired view of this one.

The spirit realm that impressed upon me and that you don't believe in.

Why do you doubt the mere possibility of it so?

No, just your perception of it. See, you have two eyes, but you only see one of everything, surely you've noticed that? You should also then, realise, that it's your brain that you experience 'vision' with, not your eyes. Your brain sleeps.

Well I was wide awake when the stationery on my coffee table wadded itself up and started morphing and propelling all on its own. I held the piece of paper in my hand. I observed its changed characteristics with my eyes. I heard the crackle of the packaging with my ears. And it remained so and evident over time. Its not as if I snapped out of it and everything was back to normal.

Why do you say that? Because you prefer the religious explanation for your symptoms, over a medical one?

No, because it makes more sense.

I had an alien abduction experience, so I do understand these strange experiences. Thing is, my 'experience' was also witnessed by a 3rd party. IE, me having a hypnagogic hallucination in my sleep. I was not abducted, it was not real. Had I been alone, and more prone to accept strangeness, I might have thought this, and other hynagogic experiences I have had all real.

Then you should know that god told me over a decade ago that the abduction phenomenon is a spiritual one, and that aliens are the locusts described in the book of revelation, and they will serve to perpetuate the reign of the antichrist and false prophet, and the mark of the beast.

You should also know that jesus can protect you from such entities.

The possibility, or probability even, is simply impaired perception. So simple. Your perception is not perfect.

Its good enough for god to work with.

 

[(Q)]

The spirit realm that impressed upon me and that you don't believe in.

Why do you doubt the mere possibility of it so?

Simple, it's very existence voids the physical laws of our universe. I know you have no understanding of that, but that is the essential problem.

Well I was wide awake when the stationery on my coffee table wadded itself up and started morphing and propelling all on its own. I held the piece of paper in my hand. I observed its changed characteristics with my eyes. I heard the crackle of the packaging with my ears. And it remained so and evident over time. Its not as if I snapped out of it and everything was back to normal.

Complete bullshit. What drugs were you on?

 

[Lori_7]

Simple, it's very existence voids the physical laws of our universe. I know you have no understanding of that, but that is the essential problem.

If the worlds most renowned physicists don't have all the answers then I highly doubt that you or I do.

Complete bullshit. What drugs were you on?

None. I was completely sober.

 

[NMSquirrel]

Well if you are a true follower of the Messiah Jesus and you are alive at the time of His return then you shall never die.

That's biblical.


All Praise The Ancient of Days

um..i will be the first to say that i am not a biblical scholar..

but thats not what i get..

before anyone gets to heaven we all must die,then there will be a reckoning
those who did not follow (god,not man) are cast into hell, those who followed will go to heaven..

i dont recall anything saying anything about our earthly bodies being immortal..much less only those alive when jesus returns being the only ones qualified for heaven..

 

[Medicine*Woman]

Certainly you're aware that we have not yet reached the end of this age.

*************
M*W: By age, what do you mean? The classic definitition of "age" in the bible is "a generation." I personally believe it means the end of an astrological age.

Wikipedia:

An astrological age is a time period in astrology which is believed by some to parallel major changes in the Earth's inhabitants' development, particularly relating to culture, society and politics. There are twelve astrological ages corresponding to the twelve zodiacal signs in astrology. At the completion of one cycle of twelve astrological ages, the cycle repeats itself. Astrological ages occur because of a phenomenon known as the precession of the equinoxes. One complete period of this precession is called a Great Year or Platonic Year of about 25,920 years.

http://www.ohotto.com/features/astrological_ages_tour.asp

I haven't actually read the link, so don't quote me on it.

If this is what you mean by "age," then I guess we've still not arrived at it.