Where did they come from?

[Rodsrsr]

Why do so many people try and set limits on the creative power of an Almighty? Some believe that God could have created the entire universe and earth, but then set limits on how long it would take for him to do so. A possible explanation is that God created the earth in a fully developed, aged state. After all, Adam was a grown man, formed from the dust upon creation. Jesus, created wine and multiplied fish that were fully aged. Its silly to presume that the Alpha Omega would be limited in this area. If we let the words of the language speak to us in accord with the context and normal definitions, without being influenced by outside ideas, than the word for day found in Genesis 1 (yom) which is qualified by a number, the phrase "evening and morning" and for Day 1 the words "light and darkness" obviously means an ordinary day. (around 24 hours)

[Rodsrsr]

An additional clue is the seventh day as recorded in Gen 2:1-3 Note that the seventh day is always addressed in the singular. God blessed the seventh day (not days) and made "it" (not them) holy. He than rested on the seventh day. This is the pattern for todays seven day workweek. Now read the ten commandments. Exodus 20 God made the heavens and earth in six days and rested on the seventh. We too shall work for six days and rest on the seventh. Some are suggesting that we rest for a million years?

[nostatic]

Shaun, your buzz is back

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Rodsrsr

An additional clue is the seventh day as recorded in Gen 2:1-3 Note that the seventh day is always addressed in the singular. God blessed the seventh day (not days) and made "it" (not them) holy. He than rested on the seventh day. This is the pattern for todays seven day workweek. Now read the ten commandments. Exodus 20 God made the heavens and earth in six days and rested on the seventh. We too shall work for six days and rest on the seventh. Some are suggesting that we rest for a million years?

or 5 gorfnars, same difference.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Shaun, your buzz is back

It's a Christmas miracle!

I will say taking a stance directly opposite yours is a good exercise. Even had to pull from Scalia, who BTW, believes in a thoroughly dead Constitution.

[dewolf]

It amazes me how religious folk, when questioned about obvious blunders in the Bible, quote the same old, " that's irrelevant, it's the message that's important" line. No, it's the truth that's important imo. Without truth the message suffers.

[dentist90]

Hmmm...

Originally Posted by Nathans_Dad

... Remember that the Bible was written by men thousands of years ago, in a time when they had the wheel, some tools and the alphabet...that's about it.

I think this is a big problem with the Bible. It was written by humans, supposedly inspired/dictated by a Holy Spirit. Humans are fallible and their motives are often suspect (see the political threads for more on this). If the Bible is touted to be the Divine word of God, who are we to 'interpret' it, taking some edicts literally while explaining others as allegorical.

The reason some of us come out to comment on these religious threads is because this stuff is REALLY important. This is not just English 101 deconstruction of a Shakespearean play. It is not my intention to mock anyone's belief, but when I am told (as I have been since childhood) that if I do not follow a particular path in life I may be damned to an eternity of lament... please excuse me while I read the fine print. This is heavy stuff, and there may be a test!!

Originally Posted by nostatic

Every great work is open to interpretation and reinterpretation. Otherwise it isn't relevant.

I hope that's true. I am planning my closing argument for St Peter right now!

[dentist90]

Originally Posted by dewolf

It amazes me how religious folk, when questioned about obvious blunders in the Bible, quote the same old, " that's irrelevant, it's the message that's important" line. No, it's the truth that's important imo. Without truth the message suffers.

"..the TRUTH is out there."
Agent Fox Mulder

(just tryin' to keep it light)

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

this thread needs a few laughs..

[Nathans_Dad]

Originally Posted by dentist90

Hmmm...

I think this is a big problem with the Bible. It was written by humans, supposedly inspired/dictated by a Holy Spirit. Humans are fallible and their motives are often suspect (see the political threads for more on this). If the Bible is touted to be the Divine word of God, who are we to 'interpret' it, taking some edicts literally while explaining others as allegorical.

I think you are missing the point. If you look at the Bible as a work that was set down one time to be the end all, be all word for the rest of time then yes, it should address all things completely. That is not the fact of the Bible though. The Bible is a collection of works, some stories, some history, some letters, some gospel. All of these works were written over thousands of years. There are many texts that are not included in the Bible and in fact, the books of the Bible differ depending on if you read the Catholic or the Protestant Bible. What is a man to do!?!!?

The answer is that the Bible IS the word of God and God uses the Bible to speak to the reader. It is a tool through which God can talk to us and influence our lives. So your question about "who am I to interpret the word of God", who ELSE would you expect to interpret it for you? God wants a personal relationship with each of us, if he didn't then he would have set down a final end all, be all set of rules and been done with it.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Not that that kind of thing ever happens on PPOT...

Sure it did, back in my day...

[dewolf]

Originally Posted by Nathans_Dad

. (1) What is a man to do!?!!?

(2) God wants a personal relationship with each of us, if he didn't then he would have set down a final end all, be all set of rules and been done with it.

1. Tell the truth. The Church has hidden things for years.

2. He did set rules. The ten commandments.

[trekkor]

Again, notice the seventh creative day, the one God has rested on, is not over.
Not a 24 hour day.


Shaun, let me ask you. What is your intention on this topic?
What are you hoping to accomplish? ( serious queston )


KT

[Rodsrsr]

Originally Posted by Nathans_Dad

I think you are missing the point. If you look at the Bible as a work that was set down one time to be the end all, be all word for the rest of time then yes, it should address all things completely. That is not the fact of the Bible though. The Bible is a collection of works, some stories, some history, some letters, some gospel. All of these works were written over thousands of years. There are many texts that are not included in the Bible and in fact, the books of the Bible differ depending on if you read the Catholic or the Protestant Bible. What is a man to do!?!!?

The answer is that the Bible IS the word of God and God uses the Bible to speak to the reader. It is a tool through which God can talk to us and influence our lives. So your question about "who am I to interpret the word of God", who ELSE would you expect to interpret it for you? God wants a personal relationship with each of us, if he didn't then he would have set down a final end all, be all set of rules and been done with it.

I agree with most of what you said. It is true that the Bible was penned by 40 different authors over a 1500 year period over several different continents. The Catholic Bible does indeed include the apocrypha which were not cannonized. Again, I agree with most of what you say. However, there is an absolute truth beneath the interperation. That is the problem I have with picking and choosing what parts of the Bible to believe and which ones are simply stories. It is very easy to become an authority over the scriptures. One may say that the story of Jonah never happened. If I say this than how am I to know that the ressurection was not a story as well? Who am I to decide what is fact and what is fiction? So I must believe (have faith) in the entire Bible, or none at all. There really is no middle ground. The underlying theme of the bible however, never changes....salvation.

[trekkor]

The ten commandments.

Question: The ten commandment were part of the Mosaic Law. How many laws were there?

Bonus points: Are we under the law today?


KT

[Rodsrsr]

There were a zillion Mosaic laws, and no we are not under those laws today. The tearing of the veil is symbolic of this. One cannot work his way to salvation by adhearing to a set of laws.

[dewolf]

Originally Posted by trekkor

Question: The ten commandment were part of the Mosaic Law. How many laws were there?


KT

That's totally irrelevant to me. So who decides when to change the word of God.

[dewolf]

Originally Posted by Rodsrsr

There were a zillion Mosaic laws, and no we are not under those laws today. The tearing of the veil is symbolic of this. One cannot work his way to salvation by adhearing to a set of laws.

Oh so you Churchies can do you as you please then, as long as you repent.

[Rearden]

Originally Posted by Rodsrsr

One may say that the story of Jonah never happened. If I say this than how am I to know that the ressurection was not a story as well? Who am I to decide what is fact and what is fiction? So I must believe (have faith) in the entire Bible, or none at all. There really is no middle ground.

I agree with you. Your position has integrity. But this is what puts believers, who also respect science, into a bind.

[trekkor]

Originally Posted by dewolf

That's totally irrelevant to me.

Whay do you say that?
You earlier tossed 'the Ten Commandments' at us.
That was only part of the law.

Was there something you wanted to add?


KT