quote Originally posted by Arns85GT: The reason is that God doesn't want people to plan around it. He just wants people to repent and believe.

And here is the issue. How does anyone know what God wants? Maybe there is an end date and the text was destroyed, or hasn't been found. Maybe God is sitting up there saying ... "warmer... warmer.... oh... colder.. colder..oh you are so close.... warmer.... keep looking". Maybe the bible was "written" by Satan. Maybe it was completely made up. There are so many reasons to question it and to understand the culture at the time makes it even more complex. There are some strange things in the Bible...

Anyway, just a light-hearted discussion because people have their views on religion and it is up to them to decide what is best for themselves.

I have been actively trying to stay out of this... "discussion", but I cannot any more.

quote Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. (Deuteronomy 4:1-2)

quote Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. (Proverbs 30:5-6)

quote For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19)

If I understand all of this correctly, G(g)od(No, I am not Christian, and it is highly unlikely that I will ever return to the Judeo-Christian faith) is saying that he did not inspire these words and concepts, the scripture was carefully dictated to the ones who were directed to write it down. Word for word. It was not concepts and ideas that were given, but specific words and language. There is no room for interpretation or conceptual translation.

quote Originally posted by Arns85GT: What I am posting is not main stream in nature.

That much is clear, and I agree.

quote There is little doubt that the World, before 1917, had never seen anything like Communism.

What World are you speaking of? There have been a multitude of communal societies throughout history, some of them more successful than others. It was probably the dominant form of social organization in the western hemisphere prior to the arrival of the Europeans. Reciting those facts does not mean that I endorse Communism in our modern technological society; I was merely refuting a specific assertion.

quote Being killed by the sword, in their term of reference was to be killed by any weapon. It referred to warfare, not the weapon

Gregory: What was that?
Man #1: I think it was "Blessed are the cheesemakers".
Mrs. Gregory: Aha, what's so special about the cheesemakers?
Gregory: Well, obviously it's not meant to be taken literally; it refers to any manufacturers of dairy products.

Me: You can't argue for Biblical literalism and Biblical metaphor at the same time.

[This message has been edited by Marvin McInnis (edited 11-12-2012).]

quote Originally posted by jaskispyder: And here is the issue. How does anyone know what God wants? Maybe there is an end date and the text was destroyed, or hasn't been found. Maybe God is sitting up there saying ... "warmer... warmer.... oh... colder.. colder..oh you are so close.... warmer.... keep looking". Maybe the bible was "written" by Satan. Maybe it was completely made up. There are so many reasons to question it and to understand the culture at the time makes it even more complex. There are some strange things in the Bible... Anyway, just a light-hearted discussion because people have their views on religion and it is up to them to decide what is best for themselves.

Heh

YOU might be taking it lightheartedly, but WOW, some folks take it all VERY seriously. (to frightening levels)
I imagine a few of the folks here reading the forum while sitting cross-legged on the floor of a small, dark room with red and brown splattered walls, smackin' themselves w/ those cat 'o nine tails...mumbling stuff in Latin... adding new splatterings of red as they whip themselves...

"Clamo, clamatis, omnes clamamus pro glace lactis...Clamo, clamatis, omnes clamamus pro glace lactis...Clamo, clamatis, omnes clamamus pro glace lactis..."

Behold, a pale green horse!

[This message has been edited by TheDigitalAlchemist (edited 11-12-2012).]