The problems that I have begin when I am asked to believe every word of a collection of books written by various people at various times. To err is human, even if one is divinely inspired to write. Not only that, but essentially the Roman Empire determined what books would be included in canon and what books wouldn't. Sure, Athanasius of Alexandria came up with the list originally, but it was given an imprimatur by the Empire.
I won't go as far as Nietzsche and say that there was only one Christian, and he died on a cross, but I do think that the concept of vicarious salvation is a very incomplete doctrine and a distortion of the original Christianity.
Ultimately, then, I am drawn to religious writings as signposts and attempts to work out the grand mystery of Being, and I do my best not to denigrate anything that was written by someone who genuinely felt they were in communion with the divine (this of course to my mind excepts the Book of Mormon, which was a conscious fraud). However, to actually just accept the writings at face value...well, I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale, and PT Barnum seems to think I can sell it.
I won't go as far as Nietzsche and say that there was only one Christian, and he died on a cross, but I do think that the concept of vicarious salvation is a very incomplete doctrine and a distortion of the original Christianity.
Ultimately, then, I am drawn to religious writings as signposts and attempts to work out the grand mystery of Being, and I do my best not to denigrate anything that was written by someone who genuinely felt they were in communion with the divine (this of course to my mind excepts the Book of Mormon, which was a conscious fraud). However, to actually just accept the writings at face value...well, I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale, and PT Barnum seems to think I can sell it.
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
Questions about souls...
- 12/04/2011 03:06:54 AM
2351 Views
You assume we all know, and agree on, what "soul" means.
- 12/04/2011 08:42:47 AM
1203 Views
It is what hope, which is a thing with feathers, perches on.
- 12/04/2011 07:32:07 PM
1275 Views
But seriously, what does it do?
- 12/04/2011 11:01:58 PM
1274 Views
it wouldn't change much for me, but I'm pretty flexible in my spiritual beliefs
- 12/04/2011 04:23:34 PM
1304 Views
Re: Questions about souls...
- 12/04/2011 05:44:53 PM
1389 Views
What a fantasy.
- 12/04/2011 07:57:38 PM
1236 Views
Your comments, or mine? 
- 13/04/2011 01:24:53 AM
1709 Views
- 13/04/2011 01:24:53 AM
1709 Views
I'm a Christian who is partial to reincarnation, so I do not think much would change.
- 12/04/2011 06:21:36 PM
1249 Views
*is disappointed* *NM*
- 12/04/2011 08:01:05 PM
608 Views
You'd be surprised how frequently I get that from both sides. 
- 12/04/2011 08:22:24 PM
1220 Views
- 12/04/2011 08:22:24 PM
1220 Views
I bet you do!
- 12/04/2011 08:47:59 PM
1196 Views
I think we are similar in some respects philosophically.
- 13/04/2011 05:59:38 AM
1186 Views
That's pretty much how I feel. Being a universalist helps in that respect. *NM*
- 13/04/2011 06:25:34 AM
686 Views
So then my question is....
- 13/04/2011 07:08:42 PM
1133 Views
Because I believe that Jesus was an incarnation of the λόγος.
- 14/04/2011 12:36:36 AM
1187 Views
*heh*
- 14/04/2011 04:12:32 PM
1284 Views
I think I answered it pretty clearly in my post title. *NM*
- 14/04/2011 06:59:47 PM
688 Views
I think that, like a lot of other people responding, I would want and need more information.
- 12/04/2011 07:13:14 PM
1178 Views
Speaking of the agnostic/atheist thing
- 12/04/2011 07:40:04 PM
1242 Views
99% that there is no God...
- 12/04/2011 08:08:42 PM
1268 Views
Technically, no, atheists simply lack belief in a God.
- 12/04/2011 08:19:15 PM
1224 Views
- 12/04/2011 08:19:15 PM
1224 Views
Whoah there,
- 12/04/2011 08:26:43 PM
1180 Views
Okay, I have to admit I wasn't expecting to get called out on that.
- 13/04/2011 04:03:08 AM
1294 Views
And that's why I don't quibble with %'s, I just say I'm an atheist 
*NM*
- 12/04/2011 09:45:31 PM
727 Views
*NM*
- 12/04/2011 09:45:31 PM
727 Views
It certainly doesn't mean you can't make conclusions.
- 12/04/2011 08:09:41 PM
1318 Views
Re: Campbell:
- 12/04/2011 08:42:09 PM
1293 Views
Self-identification is an interesting point here.
- 12/04/2011 09:00:46 PM
1240 Views
Re: Agree
- 12/04/2011 09:22:22 PM
1238 Views
Sadly enough, one of my favorite explanations of religion came from someone discussing a video game.
- 13/04/2011 04:12:23 AM
1240 Views
Re: I'm basically a Magi. I'm going to travel to Brazil and then take over the world. *NM*
- 13/04/2011 04:18:25 AM
733 Views
Either you meant "Magus" or you are a schizophrenic wizard. Both are acceptably awesome.
- 13/04/2011 05:37:34 AM
1225 Views
Re: I think it was Jarod Diamond...
- 14/04/2011 03:39:32 AM
1213 Views
Answers.
- 12/04/2011 09:05:38 PM
1179 Views
That's not a compelling counter-argument for me.
- 12/04/2011 11:22:21 PM
1374 Views
Never mind.
- 12/04/2011 11:34:46 PM
1162 Views
Have you had any vivid dreams that came true?
- 13/04/2011 01:16:59 AM
1120 Views
My mom used to have dreams like that, usually about relatives.
- 13/04/2011 02:25:45 AM
1332 Views
I can easily believe that.
- 13/04/2011 06:14:51 AM
1140 Views
Taking things at face value is usually unwise, but the face value can still be correct.
- 24/04/2011 12:11:51 AM
1078 Views
Minivans can fit lots of useful stuffs, like furniture. *NM*
- 13/04/2011 03:47:04 PM
683 Views
So can gas-guzzling SUVs, and full trucks. *NM*
- 13/04/2011 05:13:20 PM
639 Views
for that matter, you can fit a surprising amount even in a baby truck! *NM*
- 13/04/2011 06:36:58 PM
618 Views
Well, as I said in my census form on Sunday
- 12/04/2011 08:36:05 PM
1309 Views
It would upset my belief in science
- 12/04/2011 09:39:39 PM
1326 Views
There's so much wrong with that statement.
- 12/04/2011 09:55:45 PM
1333 Views
If science proved there really was an Easter Bunny would it affect your believe in science? *NM*
- 12/04/2011 10:30:09 PM
734 Views
*is both bored and annoyed*
- 12/04/2011 11:03:10 PM
1189 Views
and what if science proved that science was false?
- 12/04/2011 11:48:32 PM
1268 Views
I think that's kind of the point; it can't.
- 13/04/2011 01:33:44 AM
1137 Views
Did you read my original post?
- 13/04/2011 03:13:34 AM
1108 Views
I did, yes.
- 13/04/2011 03:32:18 AM
1134 Views
Yes it would upset my belief in science, why is that so hard to accept
- 13/04/2011 01:56:59 PM
1265 Views
Well, if that's all it is, we know that a lot of that broad base is wrong.
- 24/04/2011 01:18:05 AM
1385 Views
What's a soul?
- 12/04/2011 10:51:39 PM
1166 Views
I can only give you my personal take.
- 13/04/2011 01:47:39 AM
1289 Views
Actually the reason you don't revive people denied oxygen half an hour is due to chemical processes.
- 13/04/2011 04:08:37 AM
1238 Views
True, but even well preserved brains require more than a jump start to resume life.
- 23/04/2011 09:20:42 PM
1085 Views
so did this guy took a railroad spike through the head
- 13/04/2011 01:58:52 PM
1322 Views
Nah, he just got someone else's added to him. But now Ruin can influence him. 
*NM*
- 13/04/2011 06:38:31 PM
689 Views
*NM*
- 13/04/2011 06:38:31 PM
689 Views
Thanks a lot
- 13/04/2011 07:02:29 PM
1169 Views
I'm really happy you've read them and got the reference. Phineas Gage, Steel Inquisitor. *NM*
- 14/04/2011 12:29:01 AM
612 Views
*NM*
- 14/04/2011 12:29:01 AM
612 Views
No.
- 23/04/2011 09:15:16 PM
1181 Views
but we know personality can be draticaly altered by physical means
- 24/04/2011 03:28:36 AM
1523 Views
I assume you're implying time travel between past-life or future-life experiences.
- 12/04/2011 11:26:19 PM
1222 Views
I would becoming interested in tracing people's souls across time/space
- 13/04/2011 04:00:51 PM
1174 Views
Re: I would becoming interested in tracing people's souls across time/space
- 14/04/2011 03:29:55 AM
1255 Views
Interesting concept....
- 13/04/2011 07:28:42 PM
1167 Views
Heh. Loose faith.
- 14/04/2011 02:32:27 AM
1155 Views