original language/text Bible was written in?

[Joey]

I know the "Old Testament" was written in Hebrew, and the "New Testament" was written in Greek .. my question is..was the entire Bible written in Hebrew and Greek, or was some of it aramaic? Also, when reading the Bible, whats some of your opinions on different translations? (King James, NIV, Christian Standard) .. is the only way to really accurately study the Bible to learn Hebrew and Greek?

[D.C.]

Well I'm not a scholar on the different languages of the Bible. But I know Hebrew and Greek were the main languages. The chances of Aramaic are slight I would say, not because I know for certain, but because the Old Testament was written by Hebrew speaking people for the Hebrews. The New Testament would probably be a mix of both Greek and Hebrew. Mark was found in Greek, because the original writer intended the Gospel for a Roman audience. Also most of the Epistles were sent to gentile Churches and he main language of the day was Greek. Of course then there might have been a church that read Aramaic, so it's possible. But again I am not a Bible scholar.

I would recommend buying a English Standard Version(ESV) translation of the Bible. The main reason for this is because it is a "word-for-word" translation of the Bible, not the typical "thought-for-thought" translation of the NIV. I also think if you want a terrific Bible that supports the beliefs and ideas of the Bible get the Apologetics Bible. It is awesome.

[[deleted user]]

wow

[Nathan]

so much is lost and changed that the best way to live Gods word is to do what it feels right in your heart to do and pray for guidance direct from God.

How do you know that is the best way?

[Nathan]

All paths lead to the same destination.....God!

Not mine. I am an atheist. Out of curiosity, how do you know they all lead to God? How do you know there is a God? You don't believe the Bible, so where did you obtain this information?

[Nathan]

I know what I know and you choose what you believe......simple as that! ;-)

No, actually you think you know. There is a huge difference. Claiming to know something that is impossible to know is arrogant and childish.

[Nathan]

If that is the end of the debate, then you lose. There is no "true for me" and "true for you." Something is either true or it isn't true. I don't claim to know things that I cannot possibly know. You do. And that makes you arrogant and childish.

[Dovewing]

I'm kinda curious about why someone who is an athiest joined a christian group.

[Nathan]

I'm curious why you are curious about that.

[Dovewing]

Well then, we're both curious.

[Nathan]

you do not know and can not possibly know what I know or can or can not prove.

Actually I can know what you cannot know. You cannot know the unknowable.

Nor can you as a limited human know what is possible or impossible, I will remind you that very few years ago in human time human flight was impossible by all accepted human standards, electricity was a fantasy and would have been considered witchcraft less than 200 years ago, yet most homes in the world now have electric and in the last 100 years not only can humans indulge in flight all around the world and some of us have visited the moon.

Those things were accomplished by science, not by superstition.

I am sorry that you are so very attached to your very limited thinking and have an intense need to be right and debate every little issue into the ground.

More idiocy. Because I do not agree with you, I have "limited thinking." Talk about limited thinking. You obviously have no idea what open-mindedness actually consists of. If you care to know, I have linked a video that can help you. I am sure, however, that you will not watch the video as you are clearly a closed-minded, credulous individual.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T69TOu...

Also, you said I "debate things into the ground." I am curious. At what point is something debated into the ground? We have exchanged but a few posts. Very little debate has occurred.

Have a great life accepting your limitations, gratefully I am not cursed to the same way of thinking.

What exactly are my limitations? That I don't believe in myths? That I am smart? That I can debate? That I am successful?

[Nathan]

Define all that is unknowable then

I don't need to define all that is unknowable in order to show something that is unknowable. That is like saying I need to define all things that are hot in order to tell you that the stove is hot.

You cannot know that God exists. That is unknowable.

Someone who resorts to name calling and insults is not smart to my thinking or the thinking of the intelligent widely educated people I know.

Calling you arrogant when you are arrogant is not name calling. Calling you childish when you are acting childish is not name calling. You should learn what words mean.

And if you did not get my point that superstitious thinking from the past has become proven fact in todays world

Name one piece of superstitious thinking from the past that has become fact. Believing that someday people will be able to fly is not superstitious thinking. Believing that in the 1500s some people could magically fly, is superstitious thinking. One of those came true, the other is still false. Care to guess which?

not smart, not to debate any real things or ideas you just want to be right!

Instead of ranting like a small child, why don't you actually engage in debate? You are whining and stomping your feet. Obviously you are emotional, but I am unsure as to why. My comments have been rather benign.

I will never think your way, your mind is closed and decided on all that is real or unreal and honestly you can't prove any of it either.

Hilarious. The definition of a closed mind is one that will not change no matter what is presented to it. So, you have, by your own words, admitted that you have a closed mind. You said your mind will never changem but it is open. Both of these things cannot be true.

In my mind you are a splinter in my thinking that it is time for it to be removed.

You're not very good at metaphors are you?

I don't have to prove anything to anyone I need only to believe it for myself and it is true for me.

Apparently you do. You are awfully anxious and uncomfortable about expressing your beliefs. You so urgently want me to believe them. Is that because you know even as you type that you are spouting nonsense? Also, you may want to try using periods. They are very useful.

Your reality is true for you, and that is fine!

Reality is reality. There is no reality for you and reality for me. There is one reality. Whether we can see it accurately or not is a different story.

I would appreciate if you would not address me or comment on my posts on any of the groups I belong to on this web site or I will report you for harassment to the web administrator.

Too bad your report will go unanswered. I can address anyone I choose to address. I have not been disrespectful or harassing in anyway. Simply because you are not confident enough in your own beliefs to answer some simple questions, do not attempt to take it out on me or blame me for your shortcomings.

Hard to believe God would choose you as one of his defenders. I guess that is more evidence he doesn't exist.

[Nathan]

nitpickers like you that think they have something to prove and no one that wants to listen or even talk to them.

So no one wants to talk to me, but you are talking to me? Interesting logic.

It is distructive an act of war, and you are not even aware enough to know the conflict you precipitate.

How is disecting your faulty logic an act of war? Please explain. Or perhaps you are threatening me?

I have my views, they may change at some point, however I assure you that it will not be you or anyone like you that will be responsible for changing them.

Again you are showing that you are closed-minded. For shame.

I hope that one day you have the luxury of a personal debate in the middle east some where with an Imam, and you try to convicnce him that Allah does not exist.

Are you implying that you want me to die? How Christian of you. because someone threatens violence, does not make them right. Because parts of the Middle East have made apostasy a crime, does not make their belief in Allah true. And think about this; why would a system of beliefs need it to be illegal to speak out against them in order for them to survive? Perhaps it is because they have no basis in reality.

I have a better and nicer hope for you. I hope that one day you will gain the faculties of reason and logic. I wish a nice thing on you.

I wrote this in 1997

So a poem with a really bad rhyme scheme is supposed to do what for me?

We are but players in a drama we seek to control, as we can't accept our frail hopeless existence within a picture so vast, as to be staggering in scope. So we hide in delusions.

Yes, because you cannot accept the fact that life is fleeting, you hide in the delusion that it is not and that you will live forever in Heaven. Thank you for supporting my point.

Life is an accident...

What a bunch of nonsensical rubbish.

What is it that your successful at Nathan? Your 13, are you successful at mid school? Or are you a poser and a liar pretending to be 13 so you can debate and feel superior in your self righteous attitude.

At what point did I ever claim to be 13? You aren't very good at reading and understanding words, are you?

Your smart, but I assure you it is not in a way that is going to win you any friends.

I have many friends. Most of them are real-life friends. I don't need to increase my number of on-line friends. I have plenty of those too.

And debate, a debate is not about proving your right or the oposing view is wrong its about "to talk about something at length and in detail, especially as part of a formal exchange of opinion"

Actually, that is what debate is about.

Here is another definition for debate that you, not surprisingly, ignored:

a formal contest in which the affirmative and negative sides of a proposition are advocated by opposing speakers.

It is about opinions there is no goal in debateing of proving someone wrong or right.

So in Presidential debates, one candidate is not trying to prove the other wrong? Interesting. I think it is plain to see that you are making an utterly ridiculous statement here.

Discussions do not involve belittling, name calling or criticizing the opposing views it is a just a discussion.

Some discussions might not, but debates sure do. You are making such a ridiculous claim that I actually laughed out loud when I read this.

In real life most people just agree to disagree and leave it at that

Yes, that is why people argue over abortion, stem cell research, euthanasia, poverty, taxes, education...and on and on and on. They do so because they have "agreed to disagree." Ha ha. Please.

I think you need to take up a sport and work off some of your agression, perhaps football,boxing or martial arts would be a good use of your aggressive tendencies.

Aggressive? You really need to look up what words mean. Please note even one instance where I have been aggresive towards you.

[Nathan]

your profile says you are 13 and I would think you created your profile.....didn't you?

No, it doesn't. Nor has it ever. It says "Male, Rochester, NY." You can recognize numbers, right?

Don't you even know what your profile says?

Obviously you don't know what it says.

I wish you no harm in this life only all that you truly deserve, as is earned by your personal actions

Actually you did wish me harm. Now not only do you wish people harm, how Christian of you, but you also lie about it. You are such a good example of a religious hypocrite. Nice work.

Presidential debates are not about right or wrong they are about convincing the audience to vote for them, hoping that you will consider thier argument most convincing. Most of it is not even about truth or facts.

You are really showing how ridiculous you are and how you are either unintelligent or a fraud. If you truly believe that candidates are not trying to prove themselves right and others wrong, you are unintelligent. If you don't believe that, you are a fraud.

During the debates the two talk about why this candidate thinks this or that but shouldn't. Then the candidate retorts about why the other candidate should think the way he does.

Disecting is taking apart and in the instance...

So you took that long to explain that you don't even have one example of me being aggressive? Nice job. I have not attempted to cause pain or harm, so you, not surprisingly, are wrong again.

Your typed or written words are challenging and combative and I have stated numerous times that you are entitled to your views and I am entitled to mine, yet you refuse to stop your destructive assault on my way of thinking.

Here is an idea. Are you attempting to assault my way of thinking? Actually you are. You are attempting to tell me I am wrong and you are right. So if I am guilty, you are guilty. You are also acting like a baby. I mean are you seriously so immature that you can't handle someone telling you they disagree with you or asking you questions about your beliefs? Grow some thicker skin. Or, don't talk to me. If you can't handle it, run away. You are acting like a childish, ridiculous person who wants to stomp her feet and say, "Leave me alone!" yet stays in the same room with the person she feels is harming her when she could easily leave. You are acting childish, silly, and fatuous.

And you have repeatedly ignored my desire to end this conversation.

How imbecilic of a thing to say. Conversations are two-way streets.

And I have discovered that you repeat the same patterns with everyone you claim to debate with to the point that all of them seem to just quit responding because you can't be reasoned with and you won't go away.

Reason is what I use. If you were able to use it, you would understand that. It is quite the silly person who claims to use reason and then also claims to know the unknowable.

You have an obsessive compulsive personality and though you may not consider your actions aggressive,combative and destructive I do

Too bad your definitions for words don't match the actual definitions for words.

again I am asking you to stop repling to my posts I have no desire to converse with you.

Yet you converse with me. Is dishonesty a normal part of your conversation?

Debates at a competition level boil down to who the judge/s deem gave the most convincing argument

Argument? I thought debates weren't an argument and that people weren't trying to convinve one another of anything? That's what you claimed before.

You have your opinions and I have mine......leave mine alone.

No.

[Nathan]

Hey dude! I wouldn't let people know you spend so much time talkin' to yourself, they might decide to lock ya up or somethin'.
It really ain't cool.......ya know?

How mature. Too bad I have all the evidence I need of your idiotic claims in my posts. Uh oh...that's what italics are for. Idiot.

You realize that you lose because you have said such stupid things and can't defend them, so you try a dishonest tactic. I am not surprised but I am appalled.

This is just more dishonesty from another religious idiot. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Dishonest people are pathetic, worthless slime.

[Patricia]

Dovewing wrote: "I'm kinda curious about why someone who is an athiest joined a christian group."

They are here to stir you up. They want to start "foolish controversies" which we are told not to engage in. They don't want answers. they want a fight. You won't reach them so leave them to their own devices.

[Nathan]

You know dishonesty really well don't you mr. mid schooler

I am a teacher. You claimed my profile said I was 13 when it never did. Nor did I ever claim to be. In fact, you can check out all my posts. There are plenty where I tell my age and my job. I have never made such a ridiculous claim that I am 13. Why would I? Are you simply being dishonest again when you claim I said this or are you just stupid?

I lose nothing and you have nothing of importance!
Everyone sees you for who you really are and thats enough for me

And they see you for a sleazy, dishonest human.

[Nathan]

They are here to stir you up. They want to start "foolish controversies" which we are told not to engage in. They don't want answers. they want a fight. You won't reach them so leave them to their own devices.

There is where you are wrong. I do want answers. I just have never found a Christian who is actually willing to discuss his or her beliefs. They take offense at questions that "challenge" their faith. So when I ask these questions, they turn on me and become dishonest, villianous individuals, much like what you have seen above. This happens every time if I don't simply accept what they say as true right off the bat without question. You'll notice in post #6 and post #8 I was merely asking questions. It was "jeorge" who attacked me, not the other way around. What it turned into after that was merely my reaction to her or his hatred.

[Netbible]

Joey wrote: "I know the "Old Testament" was written in Hebrew, and the "New Testament" was written in Greek .. my question is..was the entire Bible written in Hebrew and Greek, or was some of it aramaic? Also, ..."

Check out the net bible study environment at http://netbible.org Here you can find the underlying language along with over 60.000+ notes to help you get into the translators mind. Also check out www.bible.org which is the largest Christian bible study site on the web use the search box to jump to any verse in in bible or search the bible for any word

[Nathan]

Nathan, as Joseph Addison wrote, “To be an atheist requires an infinitely greater measure of faith than to receive all the great truths which atheism would deny.”

It only takes as much faith to be an atheist as it does to not believe in invisible pink unicorns or celestial teapots. That is to say, none. When there is no evidence that something exists, the default position is taht it does not.

In this life, do you really think that anyone could understand ALL that is God?

No one claims to know everything. The only people who claim to know more than they can possibly know are religious people. Your "god of the gaps" argument doesn't hold any water. Because we don't understand how something works, does not mean that the answer is to say "God did it." It isn't even an answer at all to say "God did it." It is a cop out. It is a way to stop thinking about the topic and to stop trying to figure out the answer.

Believing in man’s limited abilities can only lead to countless disappointments.

Actually, believing in man's abilities has lead to every single medical and technological advance in the world. You wouldn't be alive if not for medicine. You wouldn't be reading what I wrote if not for scientific advancements. You can sit in a corner and pray all you want, but there is no evidence that prayer has ever led to anything good happening (besides perhaps comforting the person praying). Man's abilities are what get us through our days every single day. From your morning coffee, to your drive to work, to your favorite television show you dvr-ed, to your comfortable bed you snuggle in at night. I wouldn't say man's abilities are disappointing at all.

God gave us choice, otherwise what would be the point?

Actually, God didn't give me a choice at all. I can't believe in God. It is impossible. God must know, since he is omniscient, what it would take for me to believe in him, yet he removes the choice from my possible choices by not providing the evidence for his existence. If I had evidence for his existence, then I would have a true choice. I could choose to follow him or not follow him.

Beyond that, we will all soon discover; at which point it will be too late to mend the errors of our ways and the choices of our past.

That is just the shame of it. You never will know just how wrong you were. You will die and that will be it. Your consciousness will end and, as a result, you won't know anything about anything. You won't even have the chance to find out that your beliefs are just a fantasy.

“The wisest man is generally he who thinks himself the least so.” Nicolas Bolleau-Despreaux

That eliminates any religious person. Religion is arrogance under the guise of humility. And for that, among other reasons, it is shameful.

[Dovewing]

If the Bible isn't the truth, then why did nobody who was alive when it was written dispute it? Why did no one say "Jesus did not rise from the dead, I can show you his body to prove it."? The Bible was distributed all over when it was written. If it wasn't true, surely someone would have proved it wrong.

[Nathan]

If the Bible isn't the truth, then why did nobody who was alive when it was written dispute it?

First, how do you know no one disputed it? Second, people have been disputing the Bible since it was written. Every other religion on the planet disputes it through their very existence. Atheists dispute it through their existence.

I hope you believe in the Koran too. That has been around a long time and has similar people disputing it. So, by your rationale, it is true as well.

Why did no one say "Jesus did not rise from the dead, I can show you his body to prove it."?

And how would they do that? The parts of the Bible that mention Jesus weren't even written until 70 years (give or take) after he supposedly died. Are they going to prove that 70 years ago no one rose from the dead? How? By doing what?

The Bible was distributed all over when it was written. If it wasn't true, surely someone would have proved it wrong.

You need to check your Bible history. It wasn't distributed all over when it was written. There were few copies and the copies were written in a language most people couldn't read or understand. So, you are not even remotely correct.

However, people prove the Bible wrong all the time. Christians just don't listen. People point out the contradictions, historical inaccuracies, and immorality of the Bible and Christians simply deny those aspects and repeat the ones they like.

[Nathan]

What are you so afraid of Nathan? That becomes obvious with your attacks and diatribe.

Attacks? How am I attacking? You made statemnts that were untrue ans ridiculous. I countered those statements with reality. That isn't an attack. If you view it as one, perhaps it is you who is afraid.

You aren’t looking for truth – in fact you’re only looking for an argument.

Actually, what you did was prove that I was right. Simply because I don't believe your assertions immediately despite the fact that you provide no evidence, you get upset. You made claims. You provided not one ounce of evidence for those claims. I then questioned them, and you get offended. There's a huge shock.

I will address the rest of your points later. Must go to work.

[Nathan]

Creation and science can be taught together. But more and more man’s ego finds more pleasure at playing God than opening up his mind to a higher authority.

Creation is not science. No matter how hard you try, it simply isn't. Science makes claims and then tests those claims out. You can't test out "God did it." Therefore, it is not science.

Depending on what history books you have access to; the Bible was the foundation that two thirds of our founding fathers used to form a more perfect Union.

This is arguable. Even if it were true, my reply would be "So what?"

Our most important laws come from the Bible and also our established values.

Some of our most important laws are don't murder and don't steal. Those ideas were around long before the Bible came into existence. All the good laws that are seen in the Bible were laws before the Bible was written.

To force God out of people's lives permits others to play God for their own narrow view based on very limited knowledge of the facts.

Force God out of people's lives? What are you even talking about?

If it weren’t for the Bible we might have destroyed ourselves a long time ago.

Because of the Bible, many humans were destroyed throughout history. That is a fact. Your "we might have" is just that, a "might have." It is also a "might not have."

It is God’s word for His creation of which we were made in His image.

And how do you know that? See, you can't simply make claims and then not back them up with any evidence. When you do that, you are setting yourself up to be rejected. This is me rejecting you now. "What is asserted without reason can be denied without reason."

Any science, unless proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, remains but a theory.

That shows you have very little understanding of what a scientific theory is. It is not merelt an idea. It is a tested hypothesis with mountains of evidence to support it. It has no evidence refuting it. None.

Who says that Intelligent Design and science can’t share the same space? And, why are some so afraid of its respective shared and proven values?

No one is afraid of it. It simply isn't science.

In this finite life we will never be able to fully understand all that is God, and that’s the way it must be for us to earn our way to Him, or return into the nothingness of our own negative perceptions.

Too bad this finite life is the only life you have. Better make the best of it. Again, you are making wild claims but they are simply your assertions. They have no basis in fact and you haven't once said anything of value as you have not provided any evidence for why you think the way you think.

Einstein believed in God as many other scientists do because there are just too many variables that cannot ever be simply explained away as fact.

This is a lie. Einstein did not believe in a personal God. He said so himself. He used the word "god" metaphorically. By the way, the majority of scientists do not believe in God. Sorry.

I am actually really bored at rtesponding to your posts, so I am just going to stop here. I don't see why I should bother saying the same things over and over. You make claims and assert ideas without any shred of evidence to support those ideas or assertions. Guess what? That isn't what I asked for. You are merely proving my point. Christians like you want people to accept what they say without questioning. Why? because you think you have answers to all the world's questions when, in reality, you don't have answers at all. If you want to make some claims, do so. But then back them up with facts. It cracks me up that you accused me of writing a diatribe. that is all you have done here. You have written a pointless, valueless diatribe with no facts and no evidence. Take your preaching to another person, because I am not buying the nonsense that you are selling.

[Nathan]

So my advice to all on this site is to just let the sociopath rambel!and ignore and never respond to any of it!!

I am a sociopath because you can't form an argument and you are a dishonest coward who erases his/her comments after he/she writes them? Okay, fraud...keep trying.

Let me guess, you are going to erase what you wrote now, right?

[Tink]

Sticks and stones............adios! Sika

[Nathan]

I felt it best to delete my message to you as it was of a personal nature and should be sent via a private channel to prevent unwanted comment from those who would be unable to let it be a conversation between us alone.

Going to delete this one too, you dishonest creep?

[Nathan]

Sticks and stones............adios! Sika

Dishonest and a coward. Nice. Your parents must be so proud.

[Hp]

Simon wrote: "Nathan, your distortions and manipulations of my words only proves your demented and demonic intentions; however, futile attempts to distort truth to justify your own self-inflicted limitations.
..."

The atheist pragmatist can only accept a tangible existence that is mostly confined to the five senses of sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. They will buy into a scientific theory, but will reject any faith in God. Basically, they must think of themselves as a biological infestation and their life as an evolutionary mistake of happenstance of which they will eventually return to the nothingness from which they came. Their narcissistic impediments and self imposed limitations block any acceptance of a higher reality beyond their tangible grasp. They deprive themselves of a relationship with the one and only God of the Bible, and eventually into depravity they become the victim of their own defiance and making.

The five senses are all we really have to go on – what else is there? Evolution is by no means an “an evolutionary mistake of happenstance“ - the evolutionary algorithm used within natural selection is a very efficient way of searching possible survival spaces (summed up well at http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/6...). All the tangible evidence points to us being a “biological infestation” – do you have evidence that points to Adam and Eve and the breath of god? Perhaps Mitochondrial Eve (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitochon...) and Y-Chromosome Adam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y-chromo...) fit the bill? But where is god’s breath? Also the fusion of Hominidae chromosomes to form Human Chromosome 2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimpanz...) is interesting evidence of evolutionary descent from a common ape-like ancestor.

Just because a number of ignorant Bronze Age peoples could not understand the reality of existence does not make their ramblings true. Faith in something without evidence is not to be touted as something to be proud of; many people believe things in faith which you (and I) would agree are incorrect (Muslims, Mormons, Hindus). Where is your evidence that a lack of your biblical god will lead to depravity? There are many depraved acts inherent in your bible’s works. My “favourites” are:
Exodus. 32:25-29 –Moses, who had just received (one version of) the ten commandments, slaughters three thousand of his tribe for “dancing naked” – where was “thou shalt not kill”?;
Numbers 31 – God, via Moses, orders the slaughter of all captured women and children of the Midianites (except for the female virgins who are to be raped).

In contrast, for true Christians the God of the Bible provides a perfect blueprint to live a better life and earn life everlasting in Jesus Christ our saviour. We are all given a choice for God’s Light or satan’s darkness, right or wrong, good or evil, in God’s truth for us now and forever, or satan’s seductive temptations in the world of man. Without the God of the Bible there would only be nothingness in the world of man when left to his own devises.

Wrong. The bible is a sea of hate and control (see above). Sin and Satan are there from the start to render us unworthy of your “loving” god. A biblical Satan must work under the control of a biblical god – otherwise your god is no god! The Old Testament is then rife with ridiculous laws and rules we must adhere too to ensure gods love. Before the god of the bible appeared there is ample evidence of people living in harmony together - your argument is completely without basis.

If it were possible to know all that is God there would be no atheists. Without faith and understanding in God’s truth and only truth, only nothingness would prevail as our companion and eventual fate in a world that would eventually implode on life as we know it and would sooner or later extinguish itself. We see that happening all around us today as this chaotic world spins out of control and there’s no doubt that bubble will eventually burst. Revelation is NOT about what might happen - it is about what is coming as a result of a world gone wrong as more people fall away from God.

Where is your evidence for these statements? Jesus says that he speaks in parables so that many will misunderstand and not go to heaven (Mark 4:10-11 http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/mk/...).
Your biblical god is present in the Christian and Muslim peoples yet they are the greatest threat our world faces: The Islamic world bent on world domination and the Christian waiting for the fulfilment of the end days. Please explain the atheist threat? Where in the bible is validated revelation? How do we know for sure that this is the word of god? Remember that all we have of the New Testament was written at least thirty years after the crucifixion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Test...). The Koran is said to be the revealed word of the Biblical God – do you believe that too without corroborating evidence? The book of Mormon?

It’s easy for people of little or no faith to turn away from God in exchange for no accountability. It is with wisdom and faith in Him unconditionally to know and understand the difference and that life has purpose and meaning beyond our human imperfections and limitations. From nothingness only nothingness can come unless acted upon by a Higher Authority, God the Creator of all that is. An atheist only feeds into the frenzy of man, while the true Christian leads by Christ’s example for all that is good in Him who is the Way, the Truth, the Life, Light, and our life everlasting. As with all things, we earn our way for what we all ultimately become in His eyes.

There is always accountability: Kin Selection (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kin_sele...), Reciprocal Altruism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reciproc...) and the Super-Organism of Bloom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Luci...) pretty much explain why people love and care for each other: this help us, and hence our genes, survive. Who leads their life by Christ’s example? Every Christian I know is more “Paulian” than Christian and most definitely does not follow the teachings of Christ. Name any Christians you know who: forsakes their family for god (Matthew 10:34-39), gives away all their money to the poor (Matthew 19:21) or keeps to the laws of the Old Testament (Matthew 5:18-19 – that means you have to stone insolent children http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/say... ). Mind you, even the Paulians do not adhere to the bible: Women talk in church (1 Cor.14:38), they divorce and re-marry (Mark 10:11, Luke 16:18) and there are many who are effeminate, steal, covet or drink (1 Cor. 6:9-10). I am an atheist and I do not feed in a frenzy: I love my wife, children, family and friends and give to charities. I try to live the “Golden Rule” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gold...) which existed long before Christ and even your biblical god.

Well Nathan, ignorance definitely becomes you, and you obviously don’t have a clue what the meaning of truth is. It’s all either way over your head, or you serve what can only be found in darkness. You exhibit what you are in your distortions of the facts and analysis I presented. You sit their defending your choice without even attempting to understand what I wrote. Instead, you have elected to pervert and manipulate it to fit into your degenerate, senseless, and confused mindset. Demons of inequity like you, with your twisting of my words, demonstrate just how far some people have regressed. Since you are incapable of understanding what I wrote and your comments ludicrous, to say the least, there would be no point in further explaining it all to you. It’s not as important for you to see into my head and understand what I’m all about, as it is to look into yours and see yourself for what you have become.

So you judge – very Christian of you (Matthew 7:1-2). Truth is not what you happen to have faith in (remember that faith is belief despite or without evidence). I find it easy to understand your viewpoint: you were most likely born into a Christian family and then spent years being indoctrinated with Christian values. Simples.

I can only hope that you will someday discover the truth and that you life will be as full as it can be before it's too late.

Now we are into threats. Pascal’s wager is not great biblical logic: believe in god as it’s your best bet. You’ve just got to love that biblical god haven’t you? I, personally, refuse to believe in a god who shows no evidence of his existence; in fact all available evidence points away from the god of the bible (see God: The Failed Hypothesis by Victor Stenger http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/98...). A god who is willing to punish people for eternity if they refuse to believe the ridiculous two-thousand year old ramblings is not for me.

hp

[Nathan]

your distortions and manipulations of my words only proves your demented and demonic intentions

What distortions? Be specific. Your generalizations and inability to answer any of my questions shows that your head is far too pumped full of jesus juice and that you lack any capacity to think logically.

Also, you are correct, I am a demon. How did you find out? Who told you? 666 all the way baby!

They deprive themselves of a relationship with the one and only God of the Bible, and eventually into depravity they become the victim of their own defiance and making.

And how do you know that the God of the Bible is the one true God?

In contrast, for true Christians the God of the Bible provides a perfect blueprint to live a better life and earn life everlasting in Jesus Christ our savior.

It does? So that blueprint include stoning homosexuals and disobedient children to death as well as raping women? Interesting blueprint.

If it were possible to know all that is God there would be no atheists.

Isn't that what God wants, no atheists?

We see that happening all around us today as this chaotic world spins out of control and there’s no doubt that bubble will eventually burst.

The world isn't spinning out of control. Because of science and rational thought, it is less out of control now than it was in the past.

Well Nathan, ignorance definitely becomes you, and you obviously don’t have a clue what the meaning of truth is.

Nice claim. But I certainly don't think that truth has anything to do with believing in things for which there is absolutely no evidence and for which a small child can figure out the internal logical flaws.

It’s all either way over your head, or you serve what can only be found in darkness.

Or a third option, I am really smart and don't fall for the nonsensical BS that you sell. You still haven't provided one shred of evidence for any of the crap you spout. It is nonsense followed by more nonsense. Here is an idea, next time you post, actually post something of value. Instead of saying what you believe, follow it with why you believe it. Otherwise, don't bother posting your crap anymore. You are making yourself look like a fool.

You exhibit what you are in your distortions of the facts and analysis I presented.

You presented no such analysis and you presented no facts whatsoever. You made assertions. Those are not facts or even an argument. An argument requires reasons, not simply assertions. Again, specifically how did I distort anything you said? Pease, I can't wait to hear it.

Since you are incapable of understanding what I wrote and your comments ludicrous, to say the least, there would be no point in further explaining it all to you.

In other words, you can't explain what you wrote. That is fine. just don't pretend your failing is my failing.

You are essentially saying, "I asserted ideas for which I provided no evidence. If you don't believe what I said, it is because you don't understand it. I shouldn't bother to give you evidence or explain my assertions, because you don't understand my assertions."

This makes no sense. It is like the following:

Person A: "The death penalty should be legal."

Person B: "Why do you say that? I think it should be illegal because many innocent people have been put to death because they were 'found guilty' in a court of law."

Person A: "Well, why am I going to bother explaining why I think it should be legal anyway? You obviously don't understand."

This is your argument. Hopefully you can see how ridiculous you are being.

It’s not as important for you to see into my head and understand what I’m all about, as it is to look into yours and see yourself for what you have become.

Oh no! Oh no! What have I become!?!? Wait, I have become a rational, logical person. Oh, that is a good thing.

I can only hope that you will someday discover the truth and that you life will be as full as it can be before it's too late.

Always the last resort of the ignorant, undereducated Christian... the threat. "If you don't believe the way I do simply because I say so, you will burn in Hell!"

[Nathan]

I can see that Simon ran away.

[Hp]

Simon wrote: "This post began as a question, "What was the original language/text that the Bible was written in?"

Christianity is NOT benign: Given half a chance Christians will resort to burning witches (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch-hunt), hanging blasphemers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_A...) and jailing dissenters (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blasphem...) to protect their status-quo. So these were in the “distant” past but they lie just beneath the surface of our irrational religious world (or way above it in Islamic states). Luckily the UK is free from these horrifying acts but such activities continue throughout the religion-infested world (http://friendlyatheist.com/2009/04/19...). Christianity scares the willies out of me.

I do hate the bible: It is not the inspired word of a loving god; it is the controlling mechanism of evil people. People aren't "flawed and sinful" they are animals surviving in a hostile environment. You have been indoctrinated and part of this is the belief that you know the mind of your god - you do not. It is not a "fact that we must earn our way to what we finally become". I like it that faith is the only way but you still depend on “facts”. Reality is not within your reach. Reality is not what you want, it is what IS.

[Hp]

Simon wrote: "Without the Bible and Jesus Christ, there would be no guide or truth; we would not be able to define our values and the difference between right and wrong, good and evil..."

What makes you think that? There are many examples of genocide in your "good" book. Jesus stands with Moses (Mark 9:4) at the transfiguration; here is your standard for ethics hand-in-hand with a mass murderer. What a lovely image!

I consider rational thought the light and irrational superstition the dark. The best way to read the bible is not at all.

[Nathan]

When I came to your comment Nathan, it was clear that you were yet another troll on the hunt looking around to stir up trouble. Did you call in for reinforcements with your fellow malcontent and grump Hp because you needed support? But foolish me, I gave you the benefit of a doubt.

Yes, I needed reinforcements against a person who can't even form a logical argument.

I would have answered all those questions if I thought you were genuinely seeking answers, but you both only offer chaos within your self-inflected den of iniquity.

What a lie. You didn't answer them because you can't. You spent a ton of time typing and not making any valid points. If you were able to answer the questions, you could have used that time to do so. But instead, you wrote ridiculous diatribes. Nice work.

It has become clear that you will only continue your wicked intercourse and I will not further feed into yours, or your fellow conspirator’s predatory presence and useless pomposity.

Someone broke out the thesaurus in order to make himself feel smart. Too bad you still aren't smart.

The real question here is why you two atheists hate the Bible and Christians so much.

I hate neither, so that cannot be the real question.

Instead you invade a discussion for the sole purpose of misdirection, and manipulation, with no intent of having any useful dialogue.

Actually, it is quite the opposite. Your posts have been the misdirection. They have evaded answering all questions asked. They are nonsensical ramblings which attempt to apply the "more is more" concept. If you could just answer my questions, I would take those answers and think about them. However, you give me nothing. Nothing of value. All the Christians in this group have done the same. I ask simple questions and get nonsensical answers. It is appalling to say the least.

You present a subjective and narrow opinion of the Bible

Your opinion is objective? That kind of goes against the idea of it being an opinion, doesn't it?

Is it because you're trying to validate your position, having doubts with your own choices, are a false prophet trying to recruit the unsuspecting, or consider us a threat to you and your choice in some way?

Wow, you missed on all points. I enjoy discussion about religion. That's it.

All people are flawed and sinful

There is no such thing as sin.

It’s clear that you two put yourselves above anything, except maybe your boss or the law of the land.

I am certainly above that which does not exist. And God does not exist.

It’s also clear that with your fixed mindset and dark intent, any further exchange with you would be an exercise in futility.

I respond to logic. People who have a "fixed mindset" do not. You do not respond to logic. You have a fixed mindset. You are closed-minded to the extreme.

I just have too many important and meaningful things to do than waste my time with such negativity.

Talking to yourself with your hands folded isn't important.

Without the Bible and Jesus Christ, there would be no guide or truth; we would not be able to define our values and the difference between right and wrong, good and evil

Really? People do it without the Bible all the time.

As an atheist, the only guide you have is what you make-up or buy into as tangible fact along the way from the imperfect world of man.

That's the same thing you do. Only you pretend it doesn't come from man and that it comes from a higher power. You are bowing down to what men said, only you are doing it to men that lived thousands of years ago.