Like I said, we're probably genetically predisposed to believe in god - it makes sense evolutionarily. But in any case, you get exposed to religion from other people. Religion is a social phonemenon - usually you inherit it from your parents or are "converted" by another person. Just like believing in Santa Clause. And Jesus is the son of god in a sense. And his resurrection was his awakening - the same thing that Buddha experienced and many others who have acheived enlightment. To believe in something thought that is as fantastic as parting the red sea though...it's quite amazing for a person to buy into that ya know. Because the only thing is faith...the same kind of faith a child has in Santa Clause. One could argue that a child's god than is Santa.
this is the ONE I cant explain away, and is probably the biggest reasons i have put religion on the back, back burner for now. It just doensnt compute. Every explanation I have heard seem more like excuses then genuine reason.
I can't argue with that. I'd like to think there's more than just the marketing hype. I'm sure you can find several parallels with between the two. But there have been a lot of sharp theologians making a case that there's something more. Hmmm, you mean His awakening was on the cross? During the excruciating pain and before His eventual suffocation? The state of enlightenment is cool and all, but like a blink of an eye, it can get lost easily. It's not a permanent state. It takes just as much work to maintain as it does to achieve. I don't know. Maybe I've been conditioned over the years to think the claim would sound offensive to anyone wishing to participate in civil discourse. I don't believe in the parting or a majority of the OT either. In fact, I agree more to your metaphorical interpretation. My reason for replying is that it isn't cut and dried. People can believe in the soul, God and Jesus, but as to where you draw the line between supernatural and metaphorical, everyone's got their answer. Who am I to say which one's the right one...
Who is to say that believing in Santa Claus is wrong? That's the nature of beliefs - it's an extension past the rational. But in a way, for humans, to belief in irrational things is rational - we need it. Marx wasn't kidding when he said religion is opium for the masses, what he failed to understand is that we can't live without that opium. Even atheists put faith into something and usually turn science into a god to be worshipped. And there have been studies to show that religious people are generally happier. Do I think Jesus died on the cross? Yes, I see no reason for that to be doubted. But I do think his resurrection is a methaphor for something else. Perhaps it was the awakening of others. Yes, I also agree with you that enlightment - or self-actualization, is a continuous process, not an end point. But there is a point where you cross into a greater self-awareness. it's almost akin to a computer attaining consciousness. Of course, this is all my speculations, and I know I could be entirely wrong.... My beliefs or statesments should not offend anyone, that's not their purpose, of course, not being a Christian, I might need to be more sensitive to comparing the parting of the red sea to Santa Claus, but I am trying to make a point, not offend.
Hey DaneB. How did your Bible study go? Got some answers for us? Thank you for this response, and I don't mean to be disrespectful, but.... (1) If what you say is true, then how can Christians explain how they choose some pieces of the OT that they want to believe (such as the Ten Commandments and the story of Noah's Ark) but choose other OT scripture that they don't (such as the she-bears and women having to wear veils and long hair). In other words, how can we Christians justify only the portions of the OT that we find appealing? (2) The scripture example that I gave was not just some kooky thing that I dug up that only exists in the old testament (of course, there's PLENTY of stuff in the OT for that). But the scripture I indicated was in both the OT and the NT and responded to by JC himself. Yeah, but I'd like to hear a response from a Christian church on that.
Why did some books made it into the Bible and others not? What decisions went into it? And why were those 'deciders' valid representatives of Christians? As a person born into an Evangelical family, went to youth camps, led Sunday schools, volunteered at Vacation Bible Studies, rocked out in a youth band, had multiple spiritual experiences and ultimately, through more than a decade of searching and finding resonance elsewhere -- that one question, regarding the validity of the current Bible(s)... always has never been answered for me... Thanks!
