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To: presently no screen name

“...what God says....”

See, that’s the problem. You read a Bible in English (and the version that agrees with your religion), and think that it is the word of G-d. It isn’t. It may be a decent translation...of a Latin translation...of an Aramaic translation...of the original Hebrew - but what you’re reading is NOT the word of G-d.

I deeply believe in His existence, but I also try to use the brain that He is lending me for a while. 31 sentences in Genesis cannot possibly give a full explanation of the Creation, nor could such an explanation (if it were possible) be understood by people of all times and places, but especially by a nomadic people living 3,300 years ago who had been largely uneducated slaves for the past couple hundred. Give G-d a little bit of credit for being able to tell a story on many levels at once (or at least on 2) - 1, the surface, that appeals to people who simply cannot understand more, and the 2nd, on a deeper level that requires some analysis, some understanding of the world around you to fully comprehend.

I don’t require the words in 200,000 books for my faith, even if I had the time to read and understand them all. Those books simply explain the physical universe and the world around us as science currently understands them. Undoubtedly, there are things that are incorrect in each of them - but the evidence of the extreme age of the universe has been mounting for centuries, and is becoming MORE solid, not less, as our instruments improve and as our knowledge builds.

Further, and this is critical for me, many Talmud scholars that were intellectually the equal of Einstein and other Nobel Prize scientists in their studies, and who were EXTREMELY faithful Jews, believed that the 1st 6 days were NOT 6 days as we understand them - enough to put their thoughts on paper for all of eternity to examine. THAT belief, backed up by their study of THE BIBLE, is good enough for me.

In Judaism it is a matter of our basic creed that the Bible can, must and does appeal to people of every nation at every time in history. There is a way for every person to find and reinforce their faith through its words (actually, it is supposed to be capable of being interpreted 70 different ways, matching the number of the nations G-d created). Tell me, do you think that someone growing up in the USA in 2009 would interpret things in exactly the same way as a goat herder in ancient Israel 2,500 or 3,000 years ago? My answer is “no, that’d be impossible” - and I would still not have my faith shaken that said goat herder’s faith in G-d was as valid for him, in terms he could understand, as mine or anyone else living now or since.

Dont’ be so narrow-minded - G-d doesn’t require it for faith in Him, nor for you to act as a decent and moral human being.


40 posted on 05/01/2009 1:31:53 PM PDT by Ancesthntr (Tyrant: "Spartans, lay down your weapons." Free man: "Persian, come and get them!")
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To: Ancesthntr
Dont’ be so narrow-minded - G-d doesn’t require it for faith in Him, nor for you to act as a decent and moral human being.

Your attempt at name calling is expected and falls to the floor with no effect simply because it's not Truth. Narrow minded? Well the way to God is a straight and narrow path. I do things God's Way - not yours! You are too full of yourself - man deceived you and you are trying your upmost to deceive others. Try your deception on others - not me because I'm grounded in Truth and can't be sway by man's 'thinking'.

You read a Bible in English (and the version that agrees with your religion), and think that it is the word of G-d. It isn’t.

Really? You disgrace God The Almighty. With your carnal mind you cannot conceive the Awesome of God. Every word of His Word is God inspired. You choose not to believe that so you resort to 'trying' to bring God to 'your level' of thinking and that's your problem.

I deeply believe in His existence

Big deal! So does the devil.

intellectually...

LOL! Intellect has NOTHING to do with it. Again, man is impressed what 'intellects' say. I take God at His Word- HE doesn't make mistakes.


THAT belief, backed up by their study of THE BIBLE, is good enough for me

Of course it is - your faith is in man and not God. So be it - what can I say to anyone who believes what man says - no matter what IQ one has - overrides the Word of God. Logic from a trillion minds can never touch the supernatural - not even come close.

Give G-d a little bit of credit for being able to tell a story on many levels at once (or at least on 2) - 1, the surface, that appeals to people who simply cannot understand more, and the 2nd, on a deeper level that requires some analysis, some understanding of the world around you to fully comprehend

You are the one who is void of The Truth of God's Word. You give credit to man for their 'smartness', their study of The Word, etc. You follow them and what 'they' say. The surface? God Word is so deep - there is NO ONE that has or ever will reach the depth of God's Word. And you say one of two levels only? Too deep for you to even imagine. Analyze God? LOL! How prideful you are. I don't need nor care to fully comprehend God's creation - because no one can - My focus is on HIM - just like He tells all to do.
55 posted on 05/01/2009 4:21:38 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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