Cyprus-Forum.com

[Sotos]

All this of course is debatable because the bible is man-made.

So if you admit that bible is man-made then on what exactly you base your beliefs about God? The most you could claim is that "something" must have created the universe, and call that something "God". I disagree with that reasoning (and we already had that discussion) but then how do you go from that (something that has created the universe) to knowing anything more about this "God"? It could be a God indifferent to us. It could be a mean God. It could be just about anything you imagine.

In which case I will also ask: Are you a Christian? Because if you believe that the bible is man-made then you can't be a Christian, you are merely a theist of no particular religion.

Or maybe you are Christian, and you do in fact believe in the bible, and you are just conveniently rejecting certain things in the bible just so you wouldn't seem foolish. Many people do this, but In your case I have to tell you that by rejecting evolution and disputing that dinosaurs existed you are about as foolish as it could get, and it could hardly get any worst for you

[Get Real!]

All this of course is debatable because the bible is man-made.

So if you admit that bible is man-made then on what exactly you base your beliefs about God? The most you could claim is that "something" must have created the universe, and call that something "God". I disagree with that reasoning (and we already had that discussion) but then how do you go from that (something that has created the universe) to knowing anything more about this "God"? It could be a God indifferent to us. It could be a mean God. It could be just about anything you imagine.

In which case I will also ask: Are you a Christian? Because if you believe that the bible is man-made then you can't be a Christian, you are merely a theist of no particular religion.

Or maybe you are Christian, and you do in fact believe in the bible, and you are just conveniently rejecting certain things in the bible just so you wouldn't seem foolish. Many people do this, but In your case I have to tell you that by rejecting evolution and disputing that dinosaurs existed you are about as foolish as it could get, and it could hardly get any worst for you

That post you part-quoted from explains things perfectly... no need to repeat myself. Not sure why you're asking the same things again...

God doesn’t need the bible to prove himself… he’s already got something much more impressive than that… the almighty universe!

Therefore, the bible has NEVER served as evidence of the existence of God but rather as an indication of the NATURE of God.

The bible alleges that the God of the universe is a PERSONAL GOD that takes an interest in each and every one of us and that he is contactable by all via prayer!

All this of course is debatable because the bible is man-made.

So it would be pretty daft for someone to judge the existence of God solely by a book written by humans that can only be found on a single planet of this massive universe of countless planets!

In other words… Man CANNOT be the determinant of the existence of God with some book or with any other material artifact, but only the mere presence of the grand universe determines that.

As for me being a Christian… I satisfy the Christian Orthodox criteria just as you most likely do, which is not much.
Do I practice Christianity? Not really unless going to weddings and the odd Christening count...

[Get Real!]

The best way to describe what the bible is to me is with the sentence…

“Research in progress, conclusion on hold!”

My conclusion may well remain on hold until my last day but one thing I’ll never do is to condemn it with a sweeping statement like… “The bible is fake!” because I will never be able to prove if it is God-inspired or not, and I’ve resigned to this fact.

[cyprusgrump]

The best way to describe what the bible is to me is with the sentence…

“Research in progress, conclusion on hold!”

My conclusion may well remain on hold until my last day but one thing I’ll never do is to condemn it with a sweeping statement like… “The bible is fake!” because I will never be able to prove if it is God-inspired or not, and I’ve resigned to this fact.

The bottom line is that had you not been taught (some would say brainwashed) about religion as a child you would not be religious as nobody is born with religion.

If you’d been swapped with another baby in the maternity ward you could have been brought up with completely different ideas about religion – or possibly none at all. Just in the same way that my parents told me about Father Christmas bringing the presents (my older sister spoilt that for me).

Indeed, if instead of bible* class you’d attended science lessons and learned about the dinosaurs, evolution and our understanding of the origins of the universe you’d probably think anybody claiming the existence of ‘god’ was completely bonkers.

All religions are about control – threatening their adherents to disaster if they don’t conform.



* other religious books are available.

[Maximus]

You dont need to, go to church or a temple or have read the bible to believe in god.

Football and star wars (Jedi) is some peoples religion.

[Get Real!]

The bottom line is that had you not been taught (some would say brainwashed) about religion as a child you would not be religious as nobody is born with religion.

I for one was never brainwashed by anyone because my parents were plain ignorant of religion and my Greek schooling was permanently interrupted by the Turkish invasion.

And it wasn’t until much later at around 22-23 that I started studying Christianity by my own volition.

[Maximus]

There is NO GOD for ....Godsake!!
Wake up !!

This is also something I don't understand.

If there is no God, why do some people, who claim not to believe in one, foresake his name to get their point across?

Do you see the irony in it?

for Godsake!!!!!

[cyprusgrump]

The bottom line is that had you not been taught (some would say brainwashed) about religion as a child you would not be religious as nobody is born with religion.

I for one was never brainwashed by anyone because my parents were plain ignorant of religion and my Greek schooling was permanently interrupted by the Turkish invasion.

And it wasn’t until much later at around 22-23 that I started studying Christianity by my own volition.

So you were not ever forced to attend classes on religion at school? You claim you have never been taught about religion before the age of say 18...?

And furthermore, until the age of 23 you were never schooled about religion or the existence of god by anybody...?

[miltiades]

My provlepsis is that GR is slowly but surely becoming agnostic stage 1. Stage 2 is rejecting the notion of a creator and accepting science.
Again I reiterate. There is NO creator, man created God, evolution over millions of yeats created the world we now have.

[Get Real!]

The bottom line is that had you not been taught (some would say brainwashed) about religion as a child you would not be religious as nobody is born with religion.

I for one was never brainwashed by anyone because my parents were plain ignorant of religion and my Greek schooling was permanently interrupted by the Turkish invasion.

And it wasn’t until much later at around 22-23 that I started studying Christianity by my own volition.

So you were not ever forced to attend classes on religion at school? You claim you have never been taught about religion before the age of say 18...?

And furthermore, until the age of 23 you were never schooled about religion or the existence of god by anybody...?

I was during Primary school years 1 through 3, I took whatever the Cypriot education system was teaching but I don’t remember any of it.

Then… the two last years of primary school in London which at the time included some Jesus stories, dinosaurs etc like you described. Then the first two years of secondary in London again… can’t remember much religion…

And then back to Cyprus again for secondary years 3 through 7 at a private English school where religious education was not obligatory and I wasn’t taking it.

I honestly can’t remember any religious influence from school and neither did I think much of dinosaurs when I was taught about them. Never really bought it...