Christians, about atheists calling the bible a fairy tale?

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ProZacNaTioNaL

New member
lol considering I'm not your typical "Christian" I have one thing to say

The Bible is a chronicle of historical events that's documented by other opposing nations at the time. Egypt documents the great plague for instance. Jesus Christ was a historical figure, son of God or not, he lived. This is even evident in the book "Let The Emperor Speak" which are the OFFICAL, yes, official memoirs of Caesar Augustus in which he chronicled to his two nephews (whom it was written to) of a Jewish uprising, where a man claimed to be the Son of God. Directly coinciding with the biblical timeline of Jesus.

There are huge sulfur deposits at the sites of Soddom and Gommorah.
The Jews really did uprise in Egypt and leave "at arms"
Moses was a real figure, as were all the kings of the old testament.

The question is not whether or not God is real, your question was about the Bible being a fairy tale. These are chronicled events in history.
 
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PoltroonforJayzuss

New member
I must have a little bit of childish naivete still floating around in my psyche. The cynical part of me tells me not to do this, but the idealistic part really wants to believe that there's room for intelligent conversation here. Yeah, yeah, laugh all you want. Naive idealists unite!

Christians, when atheists call the bible a fairy tale, I'm guessing that your first reaction is something akin to outrage at our glib assessment of your most sacred writ. But what's your reaction to the idea itself? I mean, imagine that instead of saying, "The bible is a fairy tale," an atheist, let's say myself, said very politely, calmly, genuinely attempting to eliminate all condescension and arrogance, "I just can't make myself believe it. I don't understand the thought process you used to get there (and many, many of you have tried fruitlessly to explain it). I'm glad that you've found peace but it just doesn't work for me."

Please tell me your genuine, god-inspired responses. Well, no, if god inspires you to inundate me with bible verses, please ask god to stop, because I've read the whole thing many, many times in a desperate attempt to avoid hell. So you can see that bible verses can't answer this question for an atheist. They work for you guys, but still, the basic premise is that I've read the whole thing but can't believe it. So repeating the verses doesn't help. Really. I mean it.

You guys encouraged me with your thoughtful answers to a question about the death penalty several hours ago. It would be really cool to see a repeat of that.
 
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arch9angel

New member
Well my first reaction is to roll my eyes. then i chuckle to myself. I don't mind people saying they don't believe as I do. They are welcome to their own beliefs. The ones that say to get a rise out of someone are just sad people in my opinion. If you wish to openly discuss my beliefs with me, that is fine. I just as you do so respectfully.
 
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CB101

New member
I'm not christian, but as an atheitst I truly believe christian religion is based on blind faith alone. Historically it is very messed up. I answered another religious question of yours so its obvious you're questioning it. I recommend you read up on the history of religion. For example the Council of Trent was when it was decide which gospels would be included in the bible, and it just happened to be the four claiming him to be the son of god. Altho, historians show he was not born in betheleham.

There is one book called Jesus: A Life which is just a historical biography about Jesus, as a man, nothing else. Its great. Also The God Delusion is wonderful, but its a little more atheist themed.

I believe the bible stories are not true, but were messages to teach people the message that Jesus was spreading. Many christians I know have admitted that as well because many of the ideas have just been contradicted by other sources, and are obviously borrowed by other religions.
 
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IamtheSUNeWORSHIPMEt

New member
it's really one of irony. Let's EXAMINE some actual fairy tales. The best ones, for example.

In Hans Christian Andersen's tale The Little Mermaid, there is a little mermaid who lives at the bottom of the sea. But she wishes to live in a higher world. Even though none of her sisters want to. Or her parents.

Living in this higher world is important enough for her to visit the Sea Witch, who knows how to help her. But in order for her to have this help, the mermaid has to sacrifice something PRECIOUS to her. She has to cut off all her hair...and she has to CUT OUT HER TONGUE.

There's a double metaphor regarding the tongue. One, she cannot enjoy this part of herself anymore, her singing...but mainly, SHE CANNOT TALK about what she is doing. She has to accept voluntary suffering in order to achieve her aim.

She ultimately fails to get the prince to fall in love with her and because of that, she DIES. But then, she is visited by a msyterious group of beings who call themselves The Daughters Of The Air.

Obviously, this is not that @sshole Walt Disney's bowdlerized and corrupted version, but the REAL story, as it was written by Andersen, a man who had penetrated the third state of consciousness.

The Daughters of the Air grant her 300 more years of life in which she would "do good" and at the end of that time, she would be immortal.

So. That's a very long story about the same thing the bible often talks about. A higher world that can be reached by changing our perceptions, our behavior and our efforts.

If an atheist says the bible is a fairy tale, so what? It's no skin off my nose. It really says more about the petulant, whiny atheist than it does about the bible anyway.
 
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Thomas

Member
That's really good and that is why I'm not avoiding this category for a moment. I'm neither of the two groups, club, society, whatever you want to call it that congregate here. If I may interpret or give a lead to the conversation, I'll play that role. I am certain that the other team, "you know, them" sees God everywhere, it permeates them, since he is the creator a part of you is divine. I saw a movie, probably blasphemous where a gospel was being translated, to paraphrase, "look under the rock, at the trees, you wil find me" -Jesus
I'm a Buddhist, I have a habit of trying to understand and tolerate things as long as they are not harmful. So that's what I'm about. Probably TMI.
 
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