migya wrote:I've never understood why people can follow the Bible and its killing, blood thirsty god character!
Preferably never say never my friend.
Just exactly HOW is one supposed to follow advice like that?
I attended college. Went to law school. Read a lot of books, but ... the one book I could never read was The Bible. I was in my mid twenties I'm sure, maybe even later than that. I literally couldn't read two or maybe three pages of it.
I did have some Aunt's who were EXTREMELY FABULOUSLY CONNECTED TO Jesus Christ And God ... My One Aunt I say had the job of Welcoming souls into this world ... children. The love that flows from a True Christian, or anybody else who may find a different way to get in that space.
But ... I did get "into" the "Art Of Self Improvement" and I did, at one time, decide, perhaps, it was a clue.
Why wouldn't I be able to read this.
Especially because, from my perception as a little child, including aunt's and uncles and Bible Books, I have ALWAYS Loved ... at the very least ... "the notion" ... of Jesus Christ.
When I finally was able to read it ...
{The Bible I read daily is wearing well, heavily noted & underlined OCD

}
And I do greatly appreciate the various versions
Online
I definitely don't read it as an intellectual exercise.
I definitely believe in the benefits of "putting God first," and believe that those benefits may be revealed to anyone.
'Course I believe that anybody can make their free throws.
I've had some interesting observations over time, especially with regard to The Old Testament. I confess I much prefer The New Testament ... First Four Books ... but since it's been a while now I have a much greater familiarity with the wisdom contained inside.
The only thing that really counts to me is what one Asks of oneself and one's God. I say there's a God because when I Asked for mine ... he showed up BIG TIME ... and does ... again and again and again.
One of the more fascinating things that I ever heard anyone say on the subject was said by the more famous Robert Kennedy Jr. Jr. on Larry King
{a known Biblical resource ô¿~} ... when asked how he could still have his faith despite the tragedy's of the Kennedy family ... he said .. there's no way he couldn't have faith .. everytime he ASKED .. something showed up ... as he described .. Always .. Immediately .. Or Very Shortly ..
That's the real demonstration to me of faith ... and by the way the faith and/or the love I would describe is anything but "political."
I do make one political statement on the subject. I'm confused by those who are described as Christians, describe themselves as Christians etc. , in High Places ... I'm confused because I don't understand how they could be reading and/or studying the same book I'm reading.
You ask and something shows up.
You ask and something shows up.
You ask and something shows up.
Sound familiar ...
Boring ... Repetetive ...
The goals tend to be different ... and less repetitive.