The Bible Has Definitely Been Through Some Changes

[Typist]

Hi J,  

Ok, so let's presume that we know that the Bible is entirely human in origin.   Seems a reasonable theory to me.

We're still left with the question, why have billions of people maintained an interest in Jesus over two thousand of years?  

I don't have an answer, just offering the question.

[LoneMateria]

Hi J,  

Ok, so let's presume that we know that the Bible is entirely human in origin.   Seems a reasonable theory to me.

We're still left with the question, why have billions of people maintained an interest in Jesus over two thousand of years?  

I don't have an answer, just offering the question.

Well i'm sure the killings over the past 2000 years had something to do with it.  Just because many people believe something is true doesn't mean it is actually true.  Besides the only reason we talk about it is because assholes want to impose laws (limitations on our freedoms) based on this 2000 year old fictional character.  Otherwise I don't think we'd give a shit.  Also since you seemed to dance around it i'm just gonna say it.  Because the vast majority of people believe in this delusion it gives us a insight on the human psyche.  It tells us something about how the brain works and how our society operates when our brain is able to willingly accept such contradictory delusions and defend them adamantly.  Remember just because we may not have all the answers doesn't lend credit to their premises.  Because I can't 100% disprove it doesn't mean my next door neighbor is a Leprechaun.

[i_am_i]

We're still left with the question, why have billions of people maintained an interest in Jesus over two thousand of years?  

You'll have to ask them, won't you?

[Typist]

You'll have to ask them, won't you?

Well, yes, so let's ask people who are still talking about Christianity 2,000 years after it's launch.  You know, people like me, people like you.

[Typist]

Just because many people believe something is true doesn't mean it is actually true.

Agreed of course.  

Besides the only reason we talk about it is because assholes want to impose laws (limitations on our freedoms) based on this 2000 year old fictional character.  

Ok, which people precisely are trying to impose what laws specifically upon you personally?    

Because the vast majority of people believe in this delusion it gives us a insight on the human psyche.  

Right, delusion or not, the scale of the event will _hopefully_ give us some insight.

It tells us something about how the brain works and how our society operates when our brain is able to willingly accept such contradictory delusions and defend them adamantly.  

Yes.   And what makes it relevant to us, is we have brains also, we live in society too.  

Remember just because we may not have all the answers doesn't lend credit to their premises.  

Agreed.   Please note that I'm not trying to "lend credit to their premises".   I'm trying to understand reality.   To me, just one view, this whole "atheist vs. theist" paradigm passion gets in the way of that.

[i_am_i]

You'll have to ask them, won't you?

Well, yes, so let's ask people who are still talking about Christianity 2,000 years after it's launch.  You know, people like me, people like you.

I talk about it because this is a religious discussion forum. I'm not going to come here to talk about transcribing Charlie Parker solos am I?

[Typist]

I talk about it because this is a religious discussion forum.

Right, me too.  And we both came here voluntarily, to discuss religion, including a fair bit about Christianity.  

It's true that theists are interested in Jesus in a different way than we are, agreed.  But the fact is, we're still interested.

I'm not going to come here to talk about transcribing Charlie Parker solos am I?

Dang, why not, that would be fun.   Can we do Stan Getz too?   Maybe we could find some jazz players who are theists or atheists, and use that to sneak jazz on to the forum?    

When Ray Charles played that c minor 7th chord, that was wrong, Wrong, WRONG because he went to school in the city with America's oldest church!!  (true)

Any chance you might upload a link to an MP3 of your music?

[i_am_i]

Any chance you might upload a link to an MP3 of your music?

Nah, that ain't why I'm here.

[Typist]

What?  WHAT?  

No free MP3s???

Moderator!  Infraction!  

[G-Roll]

Ok, which people precisely are trying to impose what laws specifically upon you personally?

here you can view it from a "different point of view." although i feel it is much more extreme.
http://www.domini.org/openbook/nigeria19991019.htm

also for some atheists its originally kinda scary to come out publicly and state that they do not believe in god. looking at society in america i feel that atheists are discriminated in politics, child custody cases, often the workplace, in history, and atheist children in schools and even the freaking boy scouts.
there is a thread about the under god debate and all kinds of topics similar to the question you asked.

[Typist]

Five of Nigeria's 36 states have implemented Sharia, or Islamic law, or
are attempting to do so in a move that Christians and some
Muslims fear will lead to the return of oppressive regimes they
hoped had vanished when democracy was restored in May.

Five of 36 states in Nigeria.   Attempting to implement sharia law.

China, representing a huge proportion of humanity, is a political dictatorship, and has been for 60 years.   Russia, representing another large group of humans, is well on it's way to returning to a long history of dictatorship.   Most of the Middle East is run by dictators.  

Why not worry about that?

[G-Roll]

i deem it worry worthy as well.

we have a lot to worry about now eh?

[Typist]

i deem it worry worthy as well.

Ok, cool.  

we have a lot to worry about now eh?

Well, if we are to be followers of logic, I suggest we only worry about things we are prepared to address with constructive action.

[G-Roll]

Well constructive action is good in most cases. And should/when Sharia law come to America im sure everyone will be worried and take many different forms of  constructive actions.
I plan to do little more than vote. I realize that is pretty low on the extreme scale, but I suppose cool heads usually prevail.

[LoneMateria]

Besides the only reason we talk about it is because assholes want to impose laws (limitations on our freedoms) based on this 2000 year old fictional character.  

Ok, which people precisely are trying to impose what laws specifically upon you personally?    

Firstly laws don't have to specifically target me to be concerned with them.  I am concerned with any law or proposed law in the name of this deity which are derogatory, pointless, stupid, harmful, or blatantly targeting children, which serves no purpose other then to restrict peoples personal freedoms because assholes (like many proposed by overzealous idiots in the republican party [though not exclusively them]).  I'm not only concerned with myself but my fellow human beings here.

One of the big recent examples of these laws was Prop 8.  Restricting the rights of the gay community because these assholes holy book thinks homosexuality is abominable and several people have attempted to propose laws to make homosexuality illegal (Not that its much better then Uganda's kill the gays bill).  In the bible belt here you can't purchase Alcohol on a Sunday.  Can't drink on God's day.  Cecil Bothwell and the attempts to get him kicked out of public office for being an atheist and thus not upholding the North Carolina Constitution.  The whole fiasco of trying to shove Intelligent Design in schools.   Schools in states like Texas can't mention condoms in schools during their sex education courses.  And lets not forget all the tax breaks given to churches, ministers, missionaries etc..  Just you know shit like this and much more that constantly goes on.

http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/

check atheism sub reddit and about every other day and you can find somewhere where some religious asshat or group is attempting to remove the rights of some minority while simultaneously claiming that their religion gives them the right to discriminate and if we don't pass that law we violate their freedom of religion. If they are able to pass laws to remove the rights of minorities and make anyone they don't like second class citizens then even if these laws don't affect us now they can start a chain reaction which will eventually effect us.

Yes.   And what makes it relevant to us, is we have brains also, we live in society too.  

... it makes it relevant to us because last time I checked you and I were both human.