Christians, how is it that all Gods are myths except yours literal idolized God?
Literalism or literal reading of holy books has been the stimulus for many Holy Wars and Inquisitions. Gnostic Christians and their superior thinking on this were almost decimated by early Christians. Christianity has been responsible for the annihilation of many religious sects who just wanted to read their Christian scriptures non-literally. They also destroyed many cults who had non-Christian Gods.
Has this belief in a real and literal God and Jesus, — external instead of within us, — hurt religions overall or has it helped?
Jesus taught that God was within each of us and that we should seek him or her out, within us yet Christians killed many who did not agree with Jesus or those who believed that particular biblical teaching.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Is literal reading a good idea or is it destructive to clear thinking?
Are scriptures representing myths with messages or are they pointing to a real literal God?
Has Christianity’s callous destruction of others who believed differently, even within Christianity, actually help build respect for Christianity and their God?
All religions do that, especially the monotheistic ones. Best thing is to then use their own reasoning against them and ask them to prove that other Gods don’t exist and such things, it usually makes them realize how ridiculous they sound when they use the exact same reasoning. There is no more evidence for the freaking Flying Spaghetti Monster than there is for their concept of God, and that’s the harsh truth which makes all religions seem ridiculous with their extraordinary claims and no proper evidence.
Not all religions literally believe in the existence of their Gods. They know they are using myths to give messages.
Most of the Abrahamic cults do as it was basically forced on them by Constantine who dictated that Christianity was to have the Trinity concept and also forced the church to read scriptures literally, in the sense that there could only be 4 gospels and a real Jesus.
I made a statement that I think they believe in the existence of gods.
Then I asked you a question. According to you they don’t believe the appearance of the god is as described in the texts. Are you also saying that they do not believe that the god exists?
Webster defines Christian as---------someone who believes in the teachings of jesus Christ…
I want to know whether you accept the Webster definition…I need to know this…
I do not believe in the Jesus and teachings that the Christian church teaches today. The apostles creed etc.
I do believe in some of Jesus’ biblical teachings in terms of helping us gain apotheosis. Something the churches do not teach.
If you have a specific belief that you have in mind, we can discuss it.
I treat all those beliefs as myth and do not think a historical Jesus as described in scriptures ever existed. To me he is just another of the Heroes of 1ooo Faces that Joseph Campbell wrote about.
turtle says
Webster defines Christian as---------someone who believes in the teachings of jesus Christ…
I want to know whether you accept the Webster definition…I need to know this…
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DL says
I do not believe in the Jesus and teachings that the Christian church teaches today. The apostles creed etc.
I do believe in some of Jesus’ biblical teachings in terms of helping us gain apotheosis. Something the churches do not teach.
If you have a specific belief that you have in mind, we can discuss it.
I treat all those beliefs as myth and do not think a historical Jesus as described in scriptures ever existed. To me he is just another of the Heroes of 1ooo Faces that Joseph Campbell wrote about.
Regards
DL
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turtle says
well I have a different idea…the bible was written by guys…it doesn’t matter to me who jesus was…I like the MESSAGE of how to behave…when I am BEHAVING in a loving way with people I feel ok about myself…I like being kind to others…and I usually like that…
not always…sometimes I need to defend against people that want to hurt me…I don’t like the hateful life…it makes me unhappy…
It doesn’t matter what specific individuals believe. You are claiming that religions use gods to teach/indoctrinate while not believing in the existence of those gods … either because that non-existence is part of the dogma or because the majority of the priests do not believe in the gods.
Would you like to change your claim to :
"Most members of a religion do not believe in the existence of their god.
DL says
I do not believe in the Jesus and teachings that the Christian church teaches today. The apostles creed etc.
I do believe in some of Jesus’ biblical teachings in terms of helping us gain apotheosis. Something the churches do not teach.
If you have a specific belief that you have in mind, we can discuss it.
I treat all those beliefs as myth and do not think a historical Jesus as described in scriptures ever existed. To me he is just another of the Heroes of 1ooo Faces that Joseph Campbell wrote about.
Regards
DL
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turtle says
well I have a different idea…the bible was written by guys…it doesn’t matter to me who jesus was…I like the MESSAGE of how to behave…when I am BEHAVING in a loving way with people I feel ok about myself…I like being kind to others…and I usually like that…
not always…sometimes I need to defend against people that want to hurt me…I don’t like the hateful life…it makes me unhappy…
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All the myths were written by men for sure.
If you cherry pick the bible you can come up with some good rules of behavior for sure but not if you read it literally.
You would get more from a study of Gnostic Christianity. We, unlike most of the Abrahamic cults, do not discriminate against women and gays.