Nice thread. First of all, I'd like to point out that the bible is not just a book. It hasn't been refered to as the Holy Bible for centuries for nothing, people. This is more than just a book. And may I add, there are a lot of great things mentioned in there. And sometimes I would just wish for people to pay attention to that more, and see..
And then I don't mean all the history tales, because that's mere literature for the ones interested. But if everyone would pay attention to the fine points of life that's described in there, and actually think about them for a change, then this world would become a much better place.
The bible contains a lot of wisdom. And too much of it is neglected, ignored and for what? For the same thing happening in this thread. Religion. Groups and cults form and make it their own. Disagreements rise and differences become fact. How many religions does this world have? They can't all be right. Is there even one who is? I don't believe so. Simply because there is no reason to think that one religion has the upper hand over another. It doesn't work that way. But people create this, they create the wars, the fights, the arguments... what we see in this thread... and then tell me.. what in the blue hell, is the point??
Do not attempt to challenge a religion, because you shouldn't. Why would you want to? Why is it so damn important to find out whether or not what they teach you is the truth? Why do you want to know? Do not attempt to figure it out because that is not what religion is here for. It is here to help mankind, not to persuade it. Religion is a
resource you can turn to, it's not a requirement. You are free to choose what you wish to believe. The religions are here to
help, should you care for it.
Iīve always found that the tales the bible tells us are interesting, but don't neccessarily cover the facts of human life. I don't believe that they are airtight theories. And I also don't believe that they have to. Faith and belief is there because it helps people. And who knows, God might exist, and the story of Jesus might be true. But I have strong beliefs that it didnīt go down exactly the way the bible tells us. But then again, how else would if have gone down then, assuming God and Jesus are fact? Does anybody know? Nope. So I take the theories of the bible and say well, okay that'll do. And the things that don't make sense to me I simply skip. So what's the big deal then? It's here to help, right? It fills in the blank spots for me. Or at least, it's the next best thing.
Same for the theory of evolution. It's all very interesting and I'll pay attention to it. But none of all this is fact to me. To me there is no fact. All we have is our faith. And the strength of that faith differs per individual. I find it enlightening to know about the many possibilities mankind has come up with, and it's interesting to explore those. But I will always keep my own faith. What I think makes the most sense is what I'll keep with me. And so it is for everybody. Because it is fact that, everybody is free to make their own choices. That is what religion is for. It gives you options for when you come to make that choice. So why challenge those options if it works for other people? There is no need to challenge anymore, except for maybe to try to convince yourself. But that's something you should do for yourself and yourself only.
The matter is that belief keeps people alive. I mean, what good is life if you have nothing to have faith in? Faith means a great deal to humans. It is proven fact that people who lose everything, people who lose their jobs, see their careers destroyed, see their loved ones die, see everything around them they once held much faith in disappear.. Until there is nothing left. Itīs proven that those end up to turn to God. Their faith in God brings them companionship from others who believe also. Complete strangers. One thing that binds them, one thing that they can share. And suddenly their life has meaning again. Itīs not about whether or not religion is truth. Itīs about the fact that itīs there. You can grab it, or you can ignore it. Thatīs the way it is, and thatīs the way it should always be.
Quit fighting over it. You're drifting away from the entire purpose of religion here on earth by doing that.
Gay marriages. At the time my country allowed it a couple of years back, I admit it put a strange look on my face. It's different. But as with everything, different doesn't have to be wrong. It's been years now and I'm still alive. No gay marriage has wounded me, and I didn't lose any blood over it. In fact, I didn't even
notice it. It doesn't have anything to do with me. It's just something that makes those people happy. So who am I then, to tell them no. Chances are I'll never be involved in something like that at least for the next 5 years!
And even if I did, it's not gonna kill me. There are people who find frogs and spiders disgusting, but they walk around the earth too, right? Whatever, heh.
I've read somewhere that sexual orientation is a choice? I don't buy that. In fact, I think it's pretty much bullshit, heh. Just as like you do not get to choose who you fall in love with... we all know about the tales of the countries where the great Kings select the wives for their sons to marry for benefit of the King's bloodline. It's their belief that the royal bloodline is superior to that of a 'normal' man. But eventually, love is not something you can mimick, simulate or create. Because love comes from within the heart. And what's in the heart cannot be controlled by choice. Choice is controlled by the brain, but the brain has no power over the heart. Any human being knows this. Or there would be no pain when breaking up. Heartache, or the pangs of love would not exist if the heart is controlled by choice. You can choose to break up with someone, but the heart want the person back. Common knowledge.
Some say God controls what's in our hearts. They say He helps us in finding our soulmate, they say we walk the path that He laid out for us. Homosexuality would be a part of the path that He laid out for them. This because they never made that choice.
They can only make the choice to abandon that path and walk something else. I know homosexuals who dated girls because they believed what their heart told them was wrong. But they never adjusted. They were
CONVINCED that they were sick. It didn't help. Their brain could not convince their hearts to love girls in the way they loved guys. At that point choice has been defeated. It holds no power in that respect.
Animals are not able to understand choice. They go by instinct. One of my neighbours' dogs would be bisexual if he was human because he jumps females AND males...
So therefore I believe that to describe sexual orientation as a matter of choice is closer to being a sad attempt by some
human at covering up a factor that the bible did not include when it was written, according to them. The bible was and is maintained by humans and humans are not perfect. So even the bible of today can have flaws, because that's what the human race is all about. Nobody is perfect, not even the representatives of God because they also, are made of flesh and blood.
I won't challenge what the bible originally said, but I'm certain that the human representatives over the centuries have been responsible for diverging interpretations slowly changing the true perspective of the original texts. And now it is man who is confronted with their own flaws bringing as they believe in jeopardy what they stand for, but yet should maintain perspective and not pay so much attention to the outside world trying to challenge them every day.
People are losing perspective and that's a real shame. Everyone, believers and non-believers alike, need to understand the true purpose of religion for
ALL of mankind, and not just themselves.