Theism vs Athesim

[k0llectable5]

I wonder are we allowed to have a discussion on this topic.  (My mum did teach me the three golden rules of conversation but I'm choosing to ignore her teaching as I find those three topics to be most intersting, important, relevent and necessary to discuss) Especially religion. I do ask though could we please try to be tolerant of peoples views and opinions.  

ITS ONLY A DISCUSSION AND WE ARE ALL ADULTS SO PLEASE KEEP PERSONAL INSULTS, HATE COMMENTS AND THE LIKE OUT OF THIS THREAD.  IF YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED OR CANT HANDLE THIS TYPE OF DISCUSSION YOU DONT HAVE TO GET INVOLVED.  I"M SO INTERESTED TO HEAR PEOPLES VIEWS. 

So whats your view.

[k0llectable5]

Thats a good point. But I'm just interested to hear what people believe in. I want to know if people can explain the reasons as to why they have walked down that particular path. Not to disrespect them but to try and understand their viewpoint or worldview .

Because from what I can gather most Athiests have a strong belief in Evolution. And IMO the "Evolution of man theory" is simply that, a theory. So if they dont believe that God created us, then where do they think we came from? (It's just a question, I'm not trying to be a smartass, I'm just curious) 

[freshwater-2]

Since the beginning of recorded history which is defined by the invention of writing by the Sumerians around 6,000 years ago, historians have catalogued over 3,700 supernatural beings of which 2,870 can be considered deities.

So next time somebody tells me they believe in God I’ll say “Oh, which one? Zeus? Hades? Jupiter? Mars? Odin? Thor? Krishna? Vishnu?  Ra?  

If they say “Just God.  I only believe in the one God”, I’ll point out that they are nearly as atheistic as me.   I don’t believe in 2,870 gods and they don’t believe in 2,869

Ricly Gervais.

[k0llectable5]

Sorry but I'll beg to differ here.  The Bible speaks of all of these other Gods, so Theists dont discredit them all and say that there is no way they can possibly exist, they just believe that they are false Gods, that there is only one true God and that is the God of the Bible. 

[*crikey*mate*]

No one who correlated or contributed to the Bible as we know it today, claims to have actually met God, have they?

[k0llectable5]

I think some of them say they were inspired by God to write what they wrote (those who wrote the books of  the Old Testament)  They refer to it as divine intervention.  Whereas those who wrote the books of the New Testament were mostly eye witnesses of Jesus. Or Disciples etc. 

[*crikey*mate*]

inspired by God?

How do we know they were not schizophrenic?

[*crikey*mate*]

Who wrote the Old Testament?

It wasn't the people "there at the time"

[*crikey*mate*]

If the New Testament contains eye witnesses of Jesus, why were those specific books chosen whilst others were not incorporated into The Bible? Who made those decisions and what were their bias' and their motivations?

[k0llectable5]

Yeah like some kind of vision, or dream or something like that. I mean how can anyone describe inspiration.  Ask an artist or musician, sometimes concepts, melodies, chord progressions, lyrics just come to you.  Who knows where they come from, but sometimes they just come and you are compelled to write them down or strum them out ect.  My guess is that it was something like that which compelled the writers to write what they wrote.  

We dont.  Bt there is no real way of prooving whether they were inspired by God or not either.

[freshwater-2]

There were a number of omissions from the written bible.  Popular belief is that the church delegates at the time decided that they didn't suit the church agenda.

Book of Enoch, Acts of Paul, Shepherd of Hermas, Apocalypse of Peter, Epistle of Barnabus, Didache, Gospel of the Hebrews and others such as Gospels of Peter, Mary, Thomas & Matthias.

Some of the posters on this thread have not only thoroughly read the bible, but read many books interpreting it, and its history, and the culture and laws of the time.