Please read the following email exchange from an athiest and me which explains why I believe in God, not the Bible.
Mark starts by debunking my belief in angels and saints and then launches into why he finds the contradictions in the Bible supporting his claim that there must be no god.
Kev,
you enjoy your imaginary friend..I'll enjoy mine. But the "God" you hold so dear gives kids cancer, kills thousands via acts of "God"..Since you like to quote the bible, care to purchase my Fijian slaves???
"However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance...(Leviticus 25:44-46)"
Hey, according to the Bible, God's word, I can have sex slaves..
"When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. And if the slave girl's owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must treat her as his daughter. If he himself marries her and then takes another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep with her as his wife. If he fails in any of these three ways, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment.(Exodus 21:7-11)"
Hang on that's mans interpretation of Gods word??? Given his "power" where is the correction?
That's right I forgot..Jesus, the son of God, came to earth in a vain attempt to take our sin upon himself, thereby freeing man to approach God...Yet The New Testament also condoned slavery..
"Christians who are slaves should give their masters full respect so that the name of God and his teaching will not be shamed. If your master is a Christian, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. You should work all the harder because you are helping another believer by your efforts. Teach these truths, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. (1 Timothy 6:1-2)"
You quoted Timothy yet in his "Gospel" he endorses slaves. So what's the real truth?
I can go on..I was brought up in a religious household and was forced to read and memorize the bible from an early age. Thankfully I also grew a questioning brain that takes nothing for granted. I will never force my children to endure the mental child abuse that is Christianity. It's a lovely fairy story. And, normally I never debate the belief systems of any body until they question mine. If a faith in a cosmic puppeteer gets you through the day, great. But don't tell me I'm wrong in my interpretation of "Gods" message. God doesn't exist.
you enjoy your imaginary friend..I'll enjoy mine. But the "God" you hold so dear gives kids cancer, kills thousands via acts of "God"..Since you like to quote the bible, care to purchase my Fijian slaves???
"However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance...(Leviticus 25:44-46)"
Hey, according to the Bible, God's word, I can have sex slaves..
"When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. And if the slave girl's owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must treat her as his daughter. If he himself marries her and then takes another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep with her as his wife. If he fails in any of these three ways, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment.(Exodus 21:7-11)"
Hang on that's mans interpretation of Gods word??? Given his "power" where is the correction?
That's right I forgot..Jesus, the son of God, came to earth in a vain attempt to take our sin upon himself, thereby freeing man to approach God...Yet The New Testament also condoned slavery..
"Christians who are slaves should give their masters full respect so that the name of God and his teaching will not be shamed. If your master is a Christian, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. You should work all the harder because you are helping another believer by your efforts. Teach these truths, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. (1 Timothy 6:1-2)"
You quoted Timothy yet in his "Gospel" he endorses slaves. So what's the real truth?
I can go on..I was brought up in a religious household and was forced to read and memorize the bible from an early age. Thankfully I also grew a questioning brain that takes nothing for granted. I will never force my children to endure the mental child abuse that is Christianity. It's a lovely fairy story. And, normally I never debate the belief systems of any body until they question mine. If a faith in a cosmic puppeteer gets you through the day, great. But don't tell me I'm wrong in my interpretation of "Gods" message. God doesn't exist.
Hi Mark, nice to hear from you. I do sympathise with you being brought up in a Bible-bashing family. I was inspired by non-Bible reading parents who nourished our relationship with God on good example and a love thats put into action for the down-trodden. We would be regularly taken to the city and shown the homeless as my mother would bring them sandwiches and coffee and call them "my brother" and "my sister". They would then tell us that we do this because Jesus told us that we are all brothers and sisters.
We never read the Old Testament because my parents told us "its all a fairy tale for Jews". Jesus came to show the Jews how wrong they were.
And as for 'God giving kids cancer' or causing floods & typhoons etc, there are those who argue that its what "Man" is doing to the environment that is causing so called natural disasters and our fetish for processed foods that is causing rampant rates of cancer. And anyway, why do people have more sympathy for a child getting cancer than an old person getting it? I work with police as a counsellor and I often find them getting all teary eyed over a kid killed in a car accident and having no emotion for an older lady killed in the same accident. Why does a person get less emotional over an adult's death? They are just a baby that has grown old.. They are technically the same person. With God, we are all children. He cares about all of us and unlike you, His view of death is not as a punishment but as an early mark! When you die before your time, God is saying "You get to go to Heaven without having to endure the drudgery and hardships of life on earth!"
I agree with you about all the apparent contradictions in the Old Testament. That's why I am not a Jew.
And as for 'God giving kids cancer' or causing floods & typhoons etc, there are those who argue that its what "Man" is doing to the environment that is causing so called natural disasters and our fetish for processed foods that is causing rampant rates of cancer. And anyway, why do people have more sympathy for a child getting cancer than an old person getting it? I work with police as a counsellor and I often find them getting all teary eyed over a kid killed in a car accident and having no emotion for an older lady killed in the same accident. Why does a person get less emotional over an adult's death? They are just a baby that has grown old.. They are technically the same person. With God, we are all children. He cares about all of us and unlike you, His view of death is not as a punishment but as an early mark! When you die before your time, God is saying "You get to go to Heaven without having to endure the drudgery and hardships of life on earth!"
I agree with you about all the apparent contradictions in the Old Testament. That's why I am not a Jew.
I also dont support all the views held by St Paul because he is not God and therefore I dont see his opinions as "The Word of God". Maybe your views on organised religion and Christianity might be different if you were not tarnished by religiosity in your youth. I find many young people readily accepting Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular when they were not brought up as one.
In conclusion, you might find the following an entertaining spin on what the Bible says and how illogical it is..
Importance of keeping God’s Law
In conclusion, you might find the following an entertaining spin on what the Bible says and how illogical it is..
Importance of keeping God’s Law
Laura Schlessinger is a US radio personality, who dispenses advice to people who call in to her Radio talk show. On her program recently, she said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an ‘abomination to the Lord’according to Leviticus 18:22 and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as thought-provoking.
Dear Dr. Laura: Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is, my neighbours. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev.24:10-16). Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev.20:14) I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Dear Dr. Laura: Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is, my neighbours. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev.24:10-16). Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev.20:14) I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Your adoring fan,
Natalie Vassilaka
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