Monday, July 13, 2009

My problem with God is

he wrote a crappy book. No matter which book you think he wrote, it sucks. The Bible, the Koran, the Bhagavad Gita...if you don't cherry pick what you think is good out of them you'll be paralyzed with indecision trying to follow all of their respective commandments. Those are the books I've read the most of; the first and last I read cover to cover. The Surangama Sutra didn't seem to be going anywhere as far as "What should I do?" The same with the Koran.

I think what this guy says is pretty telling, and applies to the lot:
Ask yourself this simple question: Why, when you read the Bible, are you not left in awe? Why doesn't a book written by an omniscient being leave you with a sense of wonder and amazement? If you are reading a book written by the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving creator of the universe, wouldn't you expect to be stunned by the brilliance, the clarity and the wisdom of the author? Would you not expect each new page to intoxicate you with its incredible prose and its spectacular insight? Wouldn't you expect the author to tell us things that scientists have not been able to discover yet?

Yet, when we open the Bible and actually read it, we find it is nothing like that at all. Instead of leaving us in awe, it leaves us dumbfounded by all of the nonsense and backwardness that it contains. If you read what the Bible actually says, you find that the Bible is ridiculous. The examples shown above barely scratch the surface of the Bible's numerous problems. If we are honest with ourselves, it is obvious that an "all-knowing" God had absolutely nothing to do with this book.

The reason why the Bible contains so much nonsense is because God is imaginary. The Bible is a book written thousands of years ago by primitive men. A book that advocates senseless murder, slavery and the oppression of women has no place in our society today.

Update: I should say that I've only glanced at the Book of Mormon. That's why I didn't answer your last comment here, T.F. I didn't mean to ignore you.

5 comments:

The probligo said...

TF, Al is at least a step ahead of me in that he has glanced at the Book of Mormon.

If I am honest with myself I must confess that I have had enough religion for my lifetime. I have made my choice and, while it is fun to occasionally cross swords with others on the subject I can not truthfully say that my heart is in it.

If I find out that I have chosen the wrong side of the 50% chance (there is vs there is not), then I will face that consequence with as much bravery and equanimity as I can muster.

T. F. Stern said...

What I have found over the years of reading and then reading again the same scripture, is how they are layered in such a way as to only be opened to your understanding of each layer when you are ready to assimilate the new information. I'd compare it to growing old and how wisdom is gathered from experience and contemplation rather than reading a great book intended to entertain.

The desire to read the scriptures can only come from within. Maybe someday the "need to know" will come. Often it comes with the birth of a child, the loss of a dear friend or family member. Then the desire to understand God's Plan for us cannot be accomplished from external pressure.

I invite you both, Al and Probligo, to read the Book of Mormon. Think of the congressmen and senators who sign off on important legislation without having read the information contained within; isn't this similar to ignoring important information which could be a blessing in your own lives?

Al said...

Know anybody who's giving them away for free?

LibertyBob said...

May I recommend the Poetic Edda? (I tend to enjoy the Lee M. Hollander translation.)

Al said...

There ya go! Although, I must say, the Icelandic stuff I've bought has been dull as dirt. You say Hollander did it right, eh?