Your religion posts are sure starting us all up thinking and writing. I am wondering about one thing -- I thought that there was a bit of evidence that Jesus was historical. I thought that there was a letter written by a Roman soldier describing a Jesus, as "that pale Galilean" who was sentenced to death and so on, and this letter was held as being authentic. Maybe it's described in the writer Josephus' work. Something I need to read more about.

Here's something to ponder. The deity of Father/Son/Holy Spirit is a community of beings that are also "one". It is stated many times in both the Old + New Testaments that it is a mystery. The error of mankind is focusing on trying to solve it. It isn't meant to be solved but to create in us a seed of faith that grows over time.

I've known scholars and theologians who ask the same questions that you've posted and their interpretations always seem to land them in a place of
humility and acceptance of that mystery which is confounding, and choosing to believe in something intangible.

Part of man's fallen nature is to want to be "more". Knowledge, intelligence, athletic prowess, beauty, etc - all describe the physical man. But man was created with intangible parts too. The mind and soul cannot be physically seen as it can be understood. Make sense?

We each are mysteries as is the universe. Not everything in creation has been physically explained by man and that confounds and upsets man.

People aren't "prepared" for losses in life. Especially deep loss. We need to blame. If we believed in God, we blame. It is at this very point that our faith is tested. We begin to sour by our own soul's losses... of hope and all its confident expectation.

Loss is often random and unexplainable. Very few are untouched by it. For every person who suffered greatly through loss and who allowed their faith to germinate, there is some sense of acceptance - a key word.

We don't like to accept that fact that we're hurting. That's just one aspect of acceptance. Sometimes we need help but our pride stands in the way so we don't seek it. Again, the souring of our souls.

Over time, that little seed germinates too. Over time, we become more cynical, resentful, more doubtful - especially about faith issues. We can see the hypocrisy in a Sunday service and experience its followers as sinful. But the other side of the coin is that they realize their sinfulness and all the more reason why they continue to go to church...

For me, there aren't easy answers to your posted questions. Interpretation of the bible truly requires scholarly attention. For decades, theologians have debated over several issues in both testaments - which brings me back to a previous point - that the plight of mankind is to search for a solution to the problem of "mystery". Science cannot always explain the intangible and unseen. This is where faith takes over.

Each of us has a seed that germinates something. I don't attend church services nor adhere to a body of members either. I hope that my daily living is a reflection of something spiritual. I disdain "religion" but I delight in aspects of spirituality. Instead of lining the pockets of some pastoral administration, I prefer to serve in a capacity that cares for the needy. Orienting myself toward faith in God is not a giant effort but like a gardener, I like to water it everyday.

Being the upstanding atheist that I am, I'm staying out of this. I have enough "enemies". But I can tell you, it sure is simpler just to accept the fact there is no "God". No more whys or why nots.

Yet another great article!I've often thought that the original sin of Adam n' Eve that p*ssed God off so much was that they ate from the tree of knowledge. Think about that... the tree of *knowledge*. So, does that mean that God was being selfish with his knowledge of the Universe, and he didn't want us to have the power to enrich our own lives? I don't know... but if I were Adam n' Eve, I'd be ordering a fruit salad too! It seems that God's threat of hellfire and brimstone is only to discourage us from heading out on own quest for spiritual fulfillment.

You're making a fine case for atheism.

Another Goody Jim. Is it possible that God Himself has grown? Maybe He did get a few anger management sessions. Or maybe Mother Mary had a talk with Him. My God isn't as angry as the one I've read about.
Great article. Keep em coming.

There could be two of them! Lewis Black says that the god of the Old Testament was a "pr*ck," while the New Testament one was a really nice guy.