It is God who reveals both good and evil. He does that; it's His 'fault', but it's our responsibility. And no, that's not fair. No where in the bible does the bible say that God is fair. It's infinitely more impossible for God to be fair with his novel characters as it is for a human author to be fair with his novel characters.
God probably knows our future, and probably knew it from the instant he set creation in motion. But why does that mean we are not the authors of our destinies? We don't have access to the same knowledge. We still have a choice. Someone seeing what that choice will be doesn't mean we don't choose.
I AM THE TRUTH We are One and the Same. Man's tendency to externalize God is the first and foremost impediment to understanding God and Man's relationship to God.
Of course we choose, but choice is not evidence of chance. The fact that we choose doesn't not prove that we choose from undetermined possibilities. Every novel character I've ever read believed that they chose from undetermined possibilities.
WTF? Your god does evil things and WE are forced to take the BLAME for HIS acts of evil? No wonder more and more people are shunning religion with that kind of idiotic dogma!
Perhaps some of us are actors on the stage but others are in the audience. The famous on stage lead scripted lives and lack free will. The "unimportant" people in the audience have more free will.
The perhaps painful reality for any conscious being is to be everything and nothing at the same time.
Why don't you ask those who do take their bible literally why they cherry pick what is and isn't taken literally?
I would, if I knew any. They're exceedingly rare. They mostly seem to exist renting space in the angsty regions of the minds of militant anti-theists. Mostly. The majority of folks who still observe a strict literal interpretation of the Bible these days, at least here in western civilization, are people who don't even believe in it, and only take that position to demonize it. Bible-hating isn't nearly as fun when God becomes capable of metaphors.
Nope! Fundamentalist evangelical Baptists all REJECT taking the bible metaphorically and believe it to be literal. That you reverted to inanities like "demonization", "bible-hating" and "militant anti-theists" indicates that you cannot defend the beliefs of the MILLIONS of evangelical bible literalists who comprise 40% of all American Christians. https://www.christianitytoday.com/e...al-literalism-among-american-protestants.html
So a minority claim to take the Bible literally. How many of those claiming to interpret literally actually observe as the Bible literally commands? Obviously, this is a rhetorical question- we all know few practice what they preach, but I reckon its similar to the number of 'inspired' who actually live as they believe the Bible commands... which isn't very many. And why would I need to defend the beliefs of Bible literalists? I thought it was clear that I am not one... IMO they're no more or less rational or reasonable than the militant anti-theists. Might as well be two rival gangs.
i believe Jesus probably was a great teacher/guru. But then mankind found a way to take his teachings and turn them into a way to control people. I become very suspicious when a Roman emperor gets a say in what is and is not included in the Bible. Christianity, like probably all organized religion, probably has some spiritual truth in there that has been corrupted to keep the masses under control. Don’t rely on a book or a middleman. Go directly to the source for wisdom.
I somewhat agree. I hold it as a matter of personal faith that if God intended for us to have a written interface as I believe the Bible is, He would not have allowed it to be altered beyond its intended utility. But I do agree that as a result of, in part, the alterations you mention and others, much research and reflection is required in interpreting His Word from His book. Spirituality is not for the intellectually lazy. Religion can be though...
Now you are pretending that a mere handful of "militant anti-theists" is the EQUIVALENT of 40% of all Christians? That DESPERATION says volumes!
I made no such equivalency. I equated militant anti-theists and Bible literalists as having similar intellectual qualities and behavior.
You EQUATED them by calling them "rival gangs"! For gangs to be RIVALS they need to have some degree of equality. Words have meanings! https://www.dictionary.com/browse/rival The LEGIONS of bible literalists significantly SURPASS the insignificant numbers of militant anti-theists. As far as intellectual qualities go bible literalists have FAILED miserably to rationalize the thousands of CONTRADICTIONS inherent in taking the bible literally in spite of having far greater numbers over a much longer period of time. Your own words just proved you wrong. Sad!
Never ceases to amaze me how those who allegedly embrace the principles of their own beliefs consistently fail to acknowledge when they are proven to be in error by their own words. Sad!
Given the dubious judgement and intelligence of "the masses," keeping the masses under control may not be an entirely bad idea.