31% of American adults believe the Bible is Literal Word of God - Belief strongest among those without college degrees

[Alex+R 0]

It all comes down to faith. If you believe then you don't need a scientific explanation. For those that have faith and believes in the ultimate power of God then it's easy to believe that God can make anything possible. If someone needs to place a human explanation of a miracle then the faith just isn't there and nothing will convince that person. It's all up to each person to decide what they believe.

You do, though. If you believed you could fly and attempted to jump off a building, you would fall to your death. There is no such thing as a 'miracle'.

God fails to save idiot in lion enclosure

A man in Ukraine set out to prove that the Lord would protect him when he clambered

into the lion enclosure at a Kiev zoo Sunday, The St Petersburg Times reports.

An official at the zoo said: "The man shouted 'God will save me, if he exists', lowered

himself by a rope into the enclosure, took his shoes off and went up to the lions."

The man got his answer when an affronted lioness grabbed him by the throat and killed

him in front of horrified visitors. The official helpfully explained: "A lioness went straight

for him, knocked him down and severed his carotid artery."

God helps those that help themselves, eh? x2

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

All I've ever asked of my Marines is for them to obey my orders as they would the word of God.

[chri'stina 190]

God can make anything possible.

Then why Noah? Why an ark?

I don't understand how those questions relate to what Gary posted. There are a lot of "why" questions in life.

Why oatmeal for breakfast?

How could we answer why Noah and why an ark, since we didn't decide those things ourselves. The only answers I could give are the reasons given in the bible, that Noah was considered righteous by God so he was asked to do this. And an ark to be able to hold everything he was supposed to bring with him.

If you don't believe in that story, then you won't agree with my answers, so then what's the point of asking it?

I suppose I am attempting to look into the mind of God, if you will. If, with Him, everything is possible, then why did He chose this man and this answer to ridding the Earth of sinful people (if I remember correctly)? Were Noah and his family the only 'pure' people left? No babies? Could He have created a flood that would still have saved them and the animals without the need for an ark?

I ask because I'm curious how other people have worked these things out. These things gnaw at me, but it seems that there are other people who have found a way over the obstacles. I'm honestly curious how you did that.

Gotta leave the office for a while, so apologies if I don't respond to your responses.

Sometimes it's hard to tell here whether people are asking questions in a mocking way or in a truly curious way, so I am sorry if I misjudged your questions, but I am glad you are just really curious about why or how I(and others here) could believe such things.

I really don't have all the answers to your questions though.

I have doubted or questioned things in my beliefs before, many times, but every time I find the same answer for myself: that I believe it's true.

______

One more thing I wanted to say which is in reply to Pedroh's post about Revelation and all the crazy beasts that are described...

When it is said that these people take the Bible literal, does that mean that they literally think it's God words written through man, and that it's all true? Or does it mean more specifically that they believe that in Revelations, like what Pedroh mentioned, every thing described is exactly the way it will be? There is a difference there.

Because I do have a conflict. Revelation to me is like a science fiction book, the way things are described. But yes I do believe it is truly telling the events that will happen in the end times. But whether something described as a creature flying around is really a helicopter that John saw and had no other way to describe it, because there was nothing like it in existence yet, is a whole different issue.

I think I can believe the bible is literal and yet also believe that the flying monsters he described could be aircraft or helicopters that he had no other way to describe in those days. Some of the book does seem literal, some seems symbolic. Either way, all I care about is sticking to my beliefs and then however the end days come, they will come.

[rclouse 0]

Everybody read this. It's awesome!

[chri'stina 190]

Everybody read this. It's awesome!

That was pretty good.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

God can make anything possible.

Then why Noah? Why an ark?

I don't understand how those questions relate to what Gary posted. There are a lot of "why" questions in life.

Why oatmeal for breakfast?

How could we answer why Noah and why an ark, since we didn't decide those things ourselves. The only answers I could give are the reasons given in the bible, that Noah was considered righteous by God so he was asked to do this. And an ark to be able to hold everything he was supposed to bring with him.

If you don't believe in that story, then you won't agree with my answers, so then what's the point of asking it?

I suppose I am attempting to look into the mind of God, if you will. If, with Him, everything is possible, then why did He chose this man and this answer to ridding the Earth of sinful people (if I remember correctly)? Were Noah and his family the only 'pure' people left? No babies? Could He have created a flood that would still have saved them and the animals without the need for an ark?

I ask because I'm curious how other people have worked these things out. These things gnaw at me, but it seems that there are other people who have found a way over the obstacles. I'm honestly curious how you did that.

Gotta leave the office for a while, so apologies if I don't respond to your responses.

Sometimes it's hard to tell here whether people are asking questions in a mocking way or in a truly curious way, so I am sorry if I misjudged your questions, but I am glad you are just really curious about why or how I(and others here) could believe such things.

I really don't have all the answers to your questions though.

I have doubted or questioned things in my beliefs before, many times, but every time I find the same answer for myself: that I believe it's true.

______

One more thing I wanted to say which is in reply to Pedroh's post about Revelation and all the crazy beasts that are described...

When it is said that these people take the Bible literal, does that mean that they literally think it's God words written through man, and that it's all true? Or does it mean more specifically that they believe that in Revelations, like what Pedroh mentioned, every thing described is exactly the way it will be? There is a difference there.

Well it depends on what we're talking about - but yes I think the issue here is people taking the content of the text to be literally true.

To go back to the Noah's Ark story - do you believe that the story is literally true - about 1 man and his family who built a big boat that could carry the majority of the world's animal life?

Edited May 29, 2007 by erekose

[chri'stina 190]

God can make anything possible.

Then why Noah? Why an ark?

I don't understand how those questions relate to what Gary posted. There are a lot of "why" questions in life.

Why oatmeal for breakfast?

How could we answer why Noah and why an ark, since we didn't decide those things ourselves. The only answers I could give are the reasons given in the bible, that Noah was considered righteous by God so he was asked to do this. And an ark to be able to hold everything he was supposed to bring with him.

If you don't believe in that story, then you won't agree with my answers, so then what's the point of asking it?

I suppose I am attempting to look into the mind of God, if you will. If, with Him, everything is possible, then why did He chose this man and this answer to ridding the Earth of sinful people (if I remember correctly)? Were Noah and his family the only 'pure' people left? No babies? Could He have created a flood that would still have saved them and the animals without the need for an ark?

I ask because I'm curious how other people have worked these things out. These things gnaw at me, but it seems that there are other people who have found a way over the obstacles. I'm honestly curious how you did that.

Gotta leave the office for a while, so apologies if I don't respond to your responses.

Sometimes it's hard to tell here whether people are asking questions in a mocking way or in a truly curious way, so I am sorry if I misjudged your questions, but I am glad you are just really curious about why or how I(and others here) could believe such things.

I really don't have all the answers to your questions though.

I have doubted or questioned things in my beliefs before, many times, but every time I find the same answer for myself: that I believe it's true.

______

One more thing I wanted to say which is in reply to Pedroh's post about Revelation and all the crazy beasts that are described...

When it is said that these people take the Bible literal, does that mean that they literally think it's God words written through man, and that it's all true? Or does it mean more specifically that they believe that in Revelations, like what Pedroh mentioned, every thing described is exactly the way it will be? There is a difference there.

Well it depends on what we're talking about - but yes I think the issue here is people taking the content of the text to be literally true.

To go back to the Noah's Ark story - do you believe that the story is literally true - about 1 man and his family who built a big boat that could carry the majority of the world's animal life?

Yes

[homesick_american 1]

Well it depends on what we're talking about - but yes I think the issue here is people taking the content of the text to be literally true.

To go back to the Noah's Ark story - do you believe that the story is literally true - about 1 man and his family who built a big boat that could carry the majority of the world's animal life?

Yes

:lol: :lol:

No offense.

[chri'stina 190]

Well it depends on what we're talking about - but yes I think the issue here is people taking the content of the text to be literally true.

To go back to the Noah's Ark story - do you believe that the story is literally true - about 1 man and his family who built a big boat that could carry the majority of the world's animal life?

Yes

:lol: :lol:

No offense.

No it's not at all offensive when someone laughs at you. (where's the rolling eye smiley when you need it?)

Maybe you should read the article rclouse posted.

[Portlander 0]

God fails to save idiot in lion enclosure

A man in Ukraine set out to prove that the Lord would protect him when he clambered

into the lion enclosure at a Kiev zoo Sunday, The St Petersburg Times reports.

An official at the zoo said: "The man shouted 'God will save me, if he exists', lowered

himself by a rope into the enclosure, took his shoes off and went up to the lions."

The man got his answer when an affronted lioness grabbed him by the throat and killed

him in front of horrified visitors. The official helpfully explained: "A lioness went straight

for him, knocked him down and severed his carotid artery."

I've heard that peoepl commiting suicide often take their shoes off first....

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

God can make anything possible.

Then why Noah? Why an ark?

I don't understand how those questions relate to what Gary posted. There are a lot of "why" questions in life.

Why oatmeal for breakfast?

How could we answer why Noah and why an ark, since we didn't decide those things ourselves. The only answers I could give are the reasons given in the bible, that Noah was considered righteous by God so he was asked to do this. And an ark to be able to hold everything he was supposed to bring with him.

If you don't believe in that story, then you won't agree with my answers, so then what's the point of asking it?

I suppose I am attempting to look into the mind of God, if you will. If, with Him, everything is possible, then why did He chose this man and this answer to ridding the Earth of sinful people (if I remember correctly)? Were Noah and his family the only 'pure' people left? No babies? Could He have created a flood that would still have saved them and the animals without the need for an ark?

I ask because I'm curious how other people have worked these things out. These things gnaw at me, but it seems that there are other people who have found a way over the obstacles. I'm honestly curious how you did that.

Gotta leave the office for a while, so apologies if I don't respond to your responses.

Sometimes it's hard to tell here whether people are asking questions in a mocking way or in a truly curious way, so I am sorry if I misjudged your questions, but I am glad you are just really curious about why or how I(and others here) could believe such things.

I really don't have all the answers to your questions though.

I have doubted or questioned things in my beliefs before, many times, but every time I find the same answer for myself: that I believe it's true.

______

One more thing I wanted to say which is in reply to Pedroh's post about Revelation and all the crazy beasts that are described...

When it is said that these people take the Bible literal, does that mean that they literally think it's God words written through man, and that it's all true? Or does it mean more specifically that they believe that in Revelations, like what Pedroh mentioned, every thing described is exactly the way it will be? There is a difference there.

Well it depends on what we're talking about - but yes I think the issue here is people taking the content of the text to be literally true.

To go back to the Noah's Ark story - do you believe that the story is literally true - about 1 man and his family who built a big boat that could carry the majority of the world's animal life?

Yes

Given the way that early history is recorded in the bible I'm less inclined to believe that. There is some archaelogical evidence for large-scale flooding, and flood stories crop up in the mythology of numerous ancient cultures (including the Sumerians - one of, if not the earliest known civilisations in that part of the world). Personally I think that the biblical Noah never existed and that he (like the story) is more likely the amalgamation of several different people and events. At the very least - I don't think its unreasonable to suggest that a degree of exaggeration is at work. Ancient sources were notoriously unreliable for specifics and exaggerated for effect..

Moreover, given the impossibility of building a very large ship out of ancient world materials (wood etc would limit its size) no ancient civilization from that period had any ships that were capable of anything but coastal sailing in relatively shallow waters. Triremes and Galleys etc. were not exactly known for their resistance to adverse weather conditions.

Edited May 29, 2007 by erekose

[Portlander 0]

Well, as far as I'm concerned, if the Bible wasn't written with God's authority and guidance, then there is no God to be pissed about it anyway. As I said above:

If Jesus didn't rise from the dead, then the Bible isn't true.

If the Bible isn't true, then there is no God.

If there is no God, don't pi$$ me off!

So believing in God is the only thing keeping you from a life of crime?

To an extent, yes. If there is no God, then there is no source of absolute right and wrong, it's simply whatever you feel is right.

There ARE other ways, you know. Acting good is its own reward. Silly to say, but living life without regrets it a great way to be, God or not. I generally believe that you know in your hear whether something is right or wrong, and your psyche reflects that. Thus, by acting with good intentions and with kindness you live a better, more fulfilling life than if you are a scoundrel.

I also believe that people who refrain from crime simply because of the threat of punishment are going to hell, if there is one, anyway. Course, I strongly believe that there is no hell. My belief in God is a little more, ehhh ephemeral. But Hell certainly has its place right next to Middle Earth in the land of fantasy for me!

[Jenn! 918]

I also believe that people who refrain from crime simply because of the threat of punishment are going to hell, if there is one, anyway.

Interesting idea. It does make sense to me that the rewards should be greater for one who does something of their own accord rather than in hopes of securing a place in heaven or avoiding a place in hell.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

someone wrote a book in God's name? He's gonna be pissed.

Well, as far as I'm concerned, if the Bible wasn't written with God's authority and guidance, then there is no God to be pissed about it anyway. As I said above:

If Jesus didn't rise from the dead, then the Bible isn't true.

If the Bible isn't true, then there is no God.

If there is no God, don't pi$$ me off!

God gave us free will. That includes the ability to write an incorrect book in his name. Without free will we would be his puppets.

Ok, so from what I understand, god gave us free will. God, the omnipotent and omniscient being gave us free will. So every decision I make is entirely my own and up to random chance if that's what I let drive it. I could flip a coin and make all my decisions, using heads or tails as my moral compass.

And god, knowing everything as he/she/it does, would have already known the outcome in advance. So my decision was determined long before I used my "free will" to make it so? Or is it that god can't see the decision in advance, making him/her/it not quite as all powerful/all knowing as he/she/it is made out to be.

I know the free will part but you'll have to ask god yourself for the rest.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well, as far as I'm concerned, if the Bible wasn't written with God's authority and guidance, then there is no God to be pissed about it anyway. As I said above:

If Jesus didn't rise from the dead, then the Bible isn't true.

If the Bible isn't true, then there is no God.

If there is no God, don't pi$$ me off!

So believing in God is the only thing keeping you from a life of crime?

To an extent, yes. If there is no God, then there is no source of absolute right and wrong, it's simply whatever you feel is right.

There ARE other ways, you know. Acting good is its own reward. Silly to say, but living life without regrets it a great way to be, God or not. I generally believe that you know in your hear whether something is right or wrong, and your psyche reflects that. Thus, by acting with good intentions and with kindness you live a better, more fulfilling life than if you are a scoundrel.

I also believe that people who refrain from crime simply because of the threat of punishment are going to hell, if there is one, anyway. Course, I strongly believe that there is no hell. My belief in God is a little more, ehhh ephemeral. But Hell certainly has its place right next to Middle Earth in the land of fantasy for me!

Not that anyone has directly suggested this - but the idea that devoutly religious people would suddenly turn criminal if Christianity were proven a lie seems rather pitiable to me. I mean if someone needs emotional crutches that badly who are we to kick them away? Then again its easy to feel sympathy for disillusioned fundamentalists; only for the fact that many of them have, and would do violence (if they could) to people who question their belief systems.