Clpo, here is something that i have been thinking about when it comes to the Bible contradicting itself:

In one part of the New Testament Jesus says something like it is what is in our hearts and not any outward "thing" that is important

Then Paul goes on to say that women should'nt wear braided hair, jewelry, expensive things or i guess do things that draws attention....

My issue is, what does it matter what I wear if it is what is in my heart that matters and not what is on my body?

That, to me is a contradiction.

But do you try to understand it? I've come across many passages in the Bible (and other holy books) that I don't understand. So I research until I do understand. And most of the time, this results in me finding contradictions (like the two different creation stories in Genesis, or the varying opinions of the disciples) or things that simply cannot be true.

However, if there are no contradictions in the Bible, explain how Cain, after murdering Abel, runs off to a far away city--if God only created Adam and Eve.

If the bible contradicts itself then it's not the truth, but the Bible doesn't contradict itself.
I mean when I read the bible there is some stuff I don't understand, but I don't say ok that's not the truth just cause I don't understand it.

Great question, clpo! I will adress this in one of my other threads.(please be pateint)

Oh, and the Bible does not contradict itself. Some people back then worshipped demons and stuff, but they were called gods because they actually had voices and wills. Hence they were "real". The other gods were little figurines carved out of wood or gold or whatever, but the could do nothing, so they were "unreal".

quote:

Where it saids Ye shall have no other gods before me. That means you aren't suppose to worship any other god

That's up for interpretation, but a truly literal interpretation of that scripture shows that you're not to worship any other god before God, meaning sure you can go ahead and worship your sun god or rain god, so long as you admit God is the more powerful god. Kind of like the American flag. You can fly other flags alongside the Stars and Stripes so long as it's raised higher than the others.

Of course, the Bible contradicts itself in this sense, saying in some parts that there are other gods while in others saying there are no other gods. I chalk it up to the fact that the Bible was compiled from the beliefs of a few different cultures, most notably the Canaanites and other major contemporary civilizations to the Hebrews.

I'll be glad to argue scripture some more with you.

The Bible is actaully, you may not believe this, but the Bible is actually up to date.

There are many places in the bible where it talks about today.
No it may not say on Monday everyone goes to work and stuff like that, but in the time we are living in it is up to date.

God inspired men to write the Bible.
The bible was inspired by God.

He saids in His word to search the scriptures.
If you want to know more then, you have to search the scripture.

I also found some scriptures.
I gonna have to disagree with you.
It does say in the bible that your not suppose to serve other gods.

Deuteronomy 4:35 {KJV}
Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the Lord He is God; there is none else besides Him.

Deuteronomy 6:4 {KJV}
Hear, O Isreal: The Lord our God is one Lord.

I am not sure where the Lord said this at but He saids something like.
I am the Lord thy God, I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. Besides me there is no other God.

Where it saids Ye shall have no other gods before me. That means you aren't suppose to worship any other god { sun god, rain god and so for} except God Himself.

We believe by faith as do other people of other religions.

But, again, I guess this doesn't really apply to me since I don't go around saying non-Christians are wrong/going to hell and because I don't really believe that in the first place.

Sorry...didn't mean to interrupt.

The actual text of the first commandment says:

"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments." (Deuteronomy, RSV)

Interestingly enough, it says nowhere that God is the only God. It also says nothing about worshipping other Gods being bad. "You shall have no other gods before me." In other words, sure, go ahead, worship other gods, but God is the top dog.

I love proving to hardcore conservative Christians that the Bible condones polytheism. It makes their veins all bulge out.

Clpo, you may be my long lost twin. I have always wondered the same thing. Are all ancient people in hell because they didn't practice Chrisianity? What about the ancient greeks and romans and the Egyptians? Are they doomed for eternity because they were polytheistic? Isn't one of the 10 commandments to worship only one god?

While we regard religions as beliefs, they regard their particular one as fact.

They think their religion is the right one because...well..it says it's the right one.

Don't bother trying to analyze religous thought, you'll get nowhere.

Clpo, I think this is one of the best threads you've created in a while. Nicely done. I couldn't agree more.

Hear, hear.

This is one of the major reasons I left Christianity.