Geezer Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 Religion, as we all know, is all about faith but faith in what? 1. Faith that the person who lead you to Christ was truthful and actually knew for certain what they were telling you was true. 2. Belief by faith that the God of the Bible actually does exist? 3. Faith that a man named Jesus existed and he was in some unexplainable way both human and Divine. 4. Faith that this Jesus guy was really the God of the Bible in human form? 5.Faith that by just believing Jesus was actually the God of the Bible would assure you of life everlasting in a invisible place called heaven that exists somewhere up there in the sky. 6. Faith that the Bible is the inerrant fully inspired words of God. That it is both historically accurate and that every single word in it is literally true. Faith that it is a Divinely inspired instruction manual that will tell you how to live your life and also tell you everything you need to know about God. I think all of those perceptions are true, but I think #6 (Faith that the Bible is the literal words of God) is the glue that cements most believers faith. I think, based on my 40 year experience in Christian fundamentalism, that once the Bible's creditability is compromised the faith of the believer will be shattered. Although they would deny it fundamentalists worship the Bible. It is the heart of their faith. Destroy the Bible's creditability and you destroy the faith of the believer. If the Bible is proven not to be true then all the teaching, doctrines, and traditions lose their creditability too because they all depend on the Bible being literally true and historically accurate. In my case once I discovered sufficient evidence to destroy the Bible's creditability my faith crumbled virtually at the same moment. It was the biggest "Ah Ha" moment of my life. And in that instant my life was changed forever. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Moderator buffettphan Posted September 29, 2014 Super Moderator Share Posted September 29, 2014 I agree with you, especially about #6. They idolize and worship the bible -- their very own special Golden Calf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fernweh Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 #6 was definitely true for me. I had read many parts of the Bible throughout my years as a Christian and never questioned some of the outlandish stuff. I decided to read it cover to cover as a book and the story of Samson and Delilah, something I had read about since Sunday school, just jumped out of the pages to me as utterly absurd. This was after noting the different and contradictory stories of the creation, flood, and ten commandments. I felt the credibility of the entire Bible was in doubt and this was the first step to losing my faith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geezer Posted September 29, 2014 Author Share Posted September 29, 2014 It was the story of Ananias & Sapphira that opened my eyes. The incredulity of being executed for not giving full disclosure and the woman taken in adultery being given a full pardon made absolutely no sense. If that was an example of grace, mercy, and love then I realized the God of the Bible was a monster that couldn't be trusted. Even though I'd read and taught that story hundreds of times that was the first time it hit me that the story simply wasn't true. It suddenly became apparent to me that it had been made up just to scare the hell out of believers. Well, if that wasn't true, what else wasn't true? An inerrant Bible mandates perfection no errors or mistakes and certainly no made up stores can exist in a Divinely inspired instruction manual. Well, duh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fernweh Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 It was the story of Ananias & Sapphira that opened my eyes. The incredulity of being executed for not giving full disclosure and the woman taken in adultery being given a full pardon made absolutely no sense. If that was an example of grace, mercy, and love then I realized the God of the Bible was a monster that couldn't be trusted. Even though I'd read and taught that story hundreds of times that was the first time it hit me that the story simply wasn't true. It suddenly became apparent to me that it had been made up just to scare the hell out of believers. Well, if that wasn't true, what else wasn't true? An inerrant Bible mandates perfection no errors or mistakes and certainly no made up stores can exist in a Divinely inspired instruction manual. Well, duh? I had to look that story up. No doubt I read that several times but I have no memory. Maybe because I always felt like Acts was/is a complete mess of a book. I think there is a certain level of credulity that is only possible if one is indoctrinated into Christianity at a young age. Stories like Samson or Ananias and Sapphira pass the laugh test easily to the indoctrinated. They are just saccharine stories like loaves and fishes. Once I began reading these stories more critically the entire Bible fell to pieces. Once the Bible falls apart as nothing but fables, myths, and yarns there's really no reason to hold on to Christian faith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RipVanWinkle Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 Yes. bible inerrancy is critical to fundamental Xtianity, but #1 is what gets people trapped into Xtianity. Except for apologists, who make up only a small minority of Xtians, Xtians don't read the bible to determine if it is true or to argue that it is true. They get that from their preacher or some other mentor. The bible is too hard to read for a great many folks, so they let their minister tell them what it says. Many people don't like to read and when they do, they read very slowly and with poor comprehension. So, new Xtians are vulnerable and are in general familiar only those selected verses that the minister chooses. It is really unusual for Xtians to challenge a pastor as to whether a verse or verses make sense or is/are consistent with a good god. But I believe it is becoming more common. When I was young it was practically unheard of. bill 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megasamurai Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 What about faith based on tales of "miracles"? Many forms of Christianity believe them without question. If a missionary tells a story of a blind man given sight in Africa, no one believes he is lying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodsy Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 I believed everything without question. As I look back on over 60 years of religion, I am appalled at how dumb I was. Until I read Thomas Paine's "The Age of Reason." I immediately realized how the Bible could not be the word of God. It was then that I gathered all my bibles and other christian books and burned them all! Realizing that the bible is not the inerrant word of god was the one most freeing moment of my life. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geezer Posted October 6, 2014 Author Share Posted October 6, 2014 I believed everything without question. As I look back on over 60 years of religion, I am appalled at how dumb I was. Until I read Thomas Paine's "The Age of Reason." I immediately realized how the Bible could not be the word of God. It was then that I gathered all my bibles and other christian books and burned them all! Realizing that the bible is not the inerrant word of god was the one most freeing moment of my life. Woodsy, I've been reading, and enjoying, your posts for quite some time now. We are about the same age and it seems we have walked a similar path. I can relate to just about everything you write. I second your statement. When I realized the bible wasn't the perfect word of God that was also the most freeing moment of my life too. Forty plus years of living by faith simply vanished. One second I was a believer and in the next second I wasn't. It still amazes me how quickly it happen along with the fact I haven't second guessed my decision to walk away from it. For most of my adult life my faith and my life were interwoven. My faith was the single most important thing in my life and then it was suddenly gone, and I absolutely do not miss any part of it. When I drive by a church building now I think to myself yuk, those poor misguided people. I actually feel sorry for them. What an amazing turnaround. When I was a Christian I would never have believed the day would come when I would not only reject Jesus but not even believe that such a person even existed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodsy Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 I believed everything without question. As I look back on over 60 years of religion, I am appalled at how dumb I was. Until I read Thomas Paine's "The Age of Reason." I immediately realized how the Bible could not be the word of God. It was then that I gathered all my bibles and other christian books and burned them all! Realizing that the bible is not the inerrant word of god was the one most freeing moment of my life. Woodsy, I've been reading, and enjoying, your posts for quite some time now. We are about the same age and it seems we have walked a similar path. I can relate to just about everything you write. I second your statement. When I realized the bible wasn't the perfect word of God that was also the most freeing moment of my life too. Forty plus years of living by faith simply vanished. One second I was a believer and in the next second I wasn't. It still amazes me how quickly it happen along with the fact I haven't second guessed my decision to walk away from it. For most of my adult life my faith and my life were interwoven. My faith was the single most important thing in my life and then it was suddenly gone, and I absolutely do not miss any part of it. When I drive by a church building now I think to myself yuk, those poor misguided people. I actually feel sorry for them. What an amazing turnaround. When I was a Christian I would never have believed the day would come when I would not only reject Jesus but not even believe that such a person even existed. From one "geezer" to another, we sure do think alike and have shared a similar path. You have described my experience so precisely. One minute I believed in it all. My life was intertwined with my faith and church. And the next moment, the time when my eyes and my reason were opened, my faith was gone and I have not missed it either. And, you know what? I could not go back, either. I have wondered about doing that but it is just not possible anymore. Thanks for your kind words, friend. It's nice to have people like you in my life to help me along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centauri Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 When a believer praises their "God", they're really praising their ideas about the object of their worship. They're praising themselves, using "God" as a conduit. The God of Vanities is their idol. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Moderator florduh Posted October 6, 2014 Super Moderator Share Posted October 6, 2014 Without the Bible there is no basis for today's Christianity. If the Bible is not a reliable source then Christianity is not a valid belief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodsy Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 When a believer praises their "God", they're really praising their ideas about the object of their worship. They're prasing themselves, using "God" as a conduit. The God of Vanities is their idol. Interesting and makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justus Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 It was the story of Ananias & Sapphira that opened my eyes. The incredulity of being executed for not giving full disclosure and the woman taken in adultery being given a full pardon made absolutely no sense. If that was an example of grace, mercy, and love then I realized the God of the Bible was a monster that couldn't be trusted. Did it really open you eyes? [Rhetorical] But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Acts 5:3 You wouldn't pop a cap in Annas's ass, or ride on Noe's ark down the Jordon River?. [Rhetorical] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mymistake Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Don't lie to the Holy Ghost. He is a heartless killer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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