http://www.ffrf.org/books/lfif/?t=contra

http://www.atheists.org/christianity/contradictions.html

http://www.truthbeknown.com/biblecontradictions.htm

More good stuff:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/kaiser_01.htm

http://www.religioustolerance.org/sci_rel.htm

http://www.leaderu.com/science/crackpot.html

http://www.lds-mormon.com/exlds.shtml

http://www.secularhumanism.org/library/fi/.../scop-a25.shtml

http://www.jeremiahproject.com/prophecy/ecumen01.html

http://www.answers.com/topic/ecumenism-1

(Just like Al and Tipper, I am ecumenical)

Lots of good links Chris, cool, thank you.

And are you happy with the ecumenical? Any part(s) that you might lean away from? ( Your links have been the most I've read on ecumenism, -thanks ).

I've never deeply explored the religion I grew-up with, -I'm a Methodist ( hmm... sounds bad, eh? :) ). I've always thought that meant, " I believe in God." And I've always been very happy with that. I didn't realize until recently that the Methodist Church was a big force in ending child labor ( part of the 1908 Methodist Social Creed is, "For the abolition of child labor.")

The most 'incredible encounter' I had was when I was ~ 9 years old. My older brother and I were going to bed, and the shadow of a cross hit the ceiling right above my bed ( the shadow came from the window ). We were both looking at it and my older brother asked me, "Do you believe in God?" I said, "yes." My brother (2 years older) said, " I don't know... I'm not sure I believe in God.." And RIGHT on cue, his bed collapsed! BAM! Right down to the floor! We both broke out laughing, -but it made us jump! My brother said, "Ok, ok, I believe, I believe." ( it was very funny ) Honest!

Thanks Chris :)

:) Good Morning Chris! :) I'm SO EXCITED to read all your posts! I am going to check out all the links and "digest" at which time I'll post some of my thoughts.
Here's a little thought:
"All religions believe in the same God" (Blessed John Paul II The Great) :Y:

Have a great day.....................Andrew Paul

Thanks guys. First off, I am not extremely religious. However, I do have do believe in God, a universal one. I find it hard to believe that a certain religion and their certain God would be the only one to move onto the next life. I believe all religons are beautiful in their own way and all have an underlying principle. That is why I do not cliam a denomination.

I don't regularly attend church either. I have totally been turned off by the radical right and evangelicalism. I believe you can be a good person and also have a relationship with God without attending church every Sunday.

Altough I do believe in a Godly presence, I am not lockstep with the Bible or everything most religious people believe. I am what you would call anti-dogma. I agree with Bill Maher in that if you were told 2 fairy tails when you were young, such as Jonah and the Whale and Jack and the Beanstalk, and were not told which was from the Bible, would you believe both? No. I don't buy into believing stories such as that. Why believe one fairy tail and not the other? Religion is too often misused to scare young kids. That is where I think the radicalism comes in. Thus, when the kids grow up you have people like Jerry Falwell or just voters like the ones who turned the election this past time. When it goes to that extent, it can be classified as a "nerological disorder". It is alright to believe in a higher being and have other thoughts and beliefs, but alot of religious people let their religon stop their thinking, especially when dealing with science, which really frustrates me.

Overall, as you can see, I am not really "religious", but I am spiritual. I believe everyone and everything is connected and serve a purpose here on the planet. That comes back to my strong belief that we should help preserve this sacred Earth that were given, but that is another topic for another day.

Have a great day!

Hey Chris :) WOW! Loved your post! I think (now) I know ya a little bit better! And, I'm HAPPY to know you! :clap:

Your on the "right path" BTW!

I (myself) DO NOT attend a "sunday service" as much as I use to. There are a lot of reasons for that but, I won't go into that at this time.

It's MORE IMPORTANT to LIVE IT! Which YOU DO! And, I DO!

Thanks.......................Andrew Paul

Since the Bible is a compendium of numerous works by numerous writers, it's no wonder it's loaded with contradictions. This is why the Fundamentalist belief that the Bible is the direct and unadulterated word of God is so absurd. Not only is it a collection of different people's writings, it has been translated ad nauseum (thereby introducing errors and the possibility for misconstruing nuances), and exactly which writings made it into the Bible was subject to all kinds of political and religious influences over the ages. Also, one has to wonder why one God gave mankind the Bible as we know it, and another God gave the Koran, etc. Are there as many different gods as there are faiths? Or did one God speak differently to many different races and peoples?

The Bible is a man-made piece of work. Some of it records ancient history, although how accurately, we have no way of knowing. Some of it espouses stories and rules that are meant to keep human beings "in line." And some of it makes little sense at all.

Obviously, as an atheist, it's easy for me to say this. But with all the contradictions there are in any faith's "bible," and with all the room for different interpretations, it's hard to take the Bible as the direct word of God. It is the word of many men, men who had political and religious agendas just like people do today. Using it as a spiritual and moral guidepost is fine, but it can't be taken as gospel.

I have a photo of a holy garden in Spain and in it, you can see ghost like images of Jesus and Mary.

Yes, I believe in God.

Yes, and there are potatoes that look like Richard Nixon.

I mean no disrespect by that, greyfox. I'm just pointing out that many things look like many other things. There was the Old Man of the Mountain in New Hampshire, until he tumbled down last year. Right around the corner from that natural wonder, there still exists what they call the "Indian Head." It's a giant likeness on a rock that looks exactly like an Indian's face (that whole area is steeped in Indian lore). There are thousands (if not more) of examples around the world of these sorts of things. I tend to think they are natural accidents, but then, that's not surprising, given my bent.

:D Gooooood Afternoon Earthmother :) Luv ya! My gosh, you are the "skeptic"!!! :Y:

I'll be your "Mulder" if you'll be my "Scully" (e.g. X-Files)!
"The TRUTH is out there"

Some things have to be taken on FAITH!

I think you need a "MIRACLE" in your life??? :D
Or......maybe a "SIGN"?

BTW...........How's the weather in "New Jersey"???
Remember this?

"The Lord works in mysterious ways"


Have a nice day :) ................Andrew Paul

FreeBird, if, in the next few weeks, George W. Bush and his whole evil cabal were removed from office, the war in Iraq came to a quick and easy end, the terrorists saw the error of their ways and stopped killing innocent people, and Al Gore were installed as President in the White House . . . then, and only then, would I concede that there might be such a thing as miracles. ;)

Hey, I'll make it easy: Just get Bush out and Gore in, and I'll change my tune. :lol:

Read the NEXT!

Hmmmm.......Earthmother? :) Would you truly believe then?

I MEAN...........REALLY BELIEVE???

NO questions asked???

If your answer is NO? Well, that's my point!

If your answer is YES? WELCOME HOME!!! :clap:

Have a BEAUTIFULL DAY :) ........Andrew Paul

You want the truth, Andrew? No. It would be as difficult for me to believe as it would be for you to un-believe.

Ok!!! :) That's what's GREAT about AMERICA! We can believe whatever we want to.

STILL LUV YA :clap: :D :)

Peace and happiness.........................Andrew Paul

If all that happened even I might start believing in a loving 'GOD' that I have given up on since the new millenium, and believe probably never existed.

When good people stop getting trampled by the EVIL, maybe religion again would have some meaning, but the evil prospering and the good suffering has gone way to far and that is not a good thing, and is the main reason I'm down on all religion.

If THIEF BUSH was removed from the office he STOLE and PRESIDENT AL GORE was given back was is rightfully his, no doubt the other good things listed would start to happen.

I have just seen to much shit over the years to believe any more.

Hey AGIML............."God helps those who help themselves"!!!

I don't mean to be "short" with ya? But, MOVE ON!!!

Bill Clinton, JIMMY CARTER, Al Dodd and so MANY OTHER DEMOCRATS ARE SPEAKING OUT IN THEIR

Love and desire for a FUTURE!!!

I am WAITING FOR AL GORE TO SPEAK OUT!!! BREAK TIME IS OVER!

LIFE IS FOR THE LIVING!

BILL CLINTON WILL ATTEND THE FUNERAL................I AM SURE AL GORE COULD BE A PART OF THIS MOVEMENT ...........IF HE WANTED TO!

Where is AL GORE??? PLEASE..............WHERE IS AL GORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a nice day :) .............Andrew Paul

Excuse me with that crap 'God helps those who help themselves," you don't know shit about my life and I question your loyalty to AL GORE.

What's with move on crap, if you don't like what I post you can ignore or learn how to respond or disagree without being rude. I'm entitled to my opinion like anyone else with out rudeness, so FreeBird take you own advice and 'MOVE ON.'

And I like to know what that first statement has to do with ANYTHING I've said in the previous post. :bad:

I deleted that last post of yours FreeBird, you don't use the "F" word and direct at any MEMBER like you just did, maybe you're lucky nobody else seen that disgusting post of yours.

I am "gracefully" out of here!

You all need to get a life!

bye bye and farewell................Andrew Paul

Earth Mother you are an atheist, wow! Cool. I would not have guessed that, but I do think that is very cool.

That makes me believe that you see things as they are. I think that allows for an enormous clarity of view.

To go out on a limb, I think God would even congratulate the atheists. Which is kinda' funny 'cause an atheist could reply, "Who cares?" ( heh, heh )

I've always thought of atheists as VERY intelligent.

At Macalester, in my Studio Art days, one of the most brilliant imaginations I knew, was a friend student who was an atheist. His imagination was VERY colorful, rich, FRESH, honest, & he explained his imagination /art worked best when he completely ignored any religious influence. And that went both ways, because he LOVED making fun of religion ( and I thought he was VERY funny ). BUT, if he was making fun of something religious, it almost always 'limited' his art ( some students would not find it funny, -so much for a happy art class ).

Good for you Earth Mother, more power to you!

Personally, i believe in Christ when its convenient and blame the devil for anything bad

What the crap just happened between AGIML and FreeBird? Folks, how hard is it to get along? It seems we can't have any discussion here anymore with out some getting their feathers ruffeled and I am tired of it. Start acting like adults.

This better get straightened out.

I don't know that it's cool, Josh, but thanks. Actually, I probably believe everything you religious folks do, without the God part. I believe in being good and kind and caring and doing no evil. I believe in taking care of the Earth and the people and animals on it. And I'm really glad to find believers who don't think I'm automatically a sinner just because I don't believe. Thanks!

:wtf: :?:

What it comes down to here is that we all need to respect each other's viewpoints in order to get along. Some of us are religious, some of us aren't, and we should rise above the masses in this country who've shown their intolerance for people of different faiths by trying to understand everyone and accepting that they have good reasons for believing what they do.

Your sooooo very correct Earthmother!!! ;)
Thanks again! I just couldn't stay away.........I missed you guys that much!
Damm......I had "bad dreams" last nite!!! :dripple:

Love to all.....................Andrew Paul :Y:

P.S. I dumped all my .gifs and jpeg's but ........oh well .........that'll give me something to do! :good:

Boy, you must've gone into a full-blown snit over this if you dumped all your pix. You were really going to leave us!

Glad you're back, guy. ;)

LOL!!! Earthmother :lol: "full blown snit"??? Never heard it put that way! :D

Yea I guess so. ;) No BIGGIE! I needed to do a little "housecleaning" any way.........so it's "ALL GOOD" now! :clap:

I "lost my cool"..............STUPID ME!

Have a BEAUTIFULL and WONDERFULL day :) .........Andrew Paul

And who among us hasn't lost his/her cool? :wacko:

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: