Thursday, June 19, 2014

I Have Issues with the Bible

My issues with the bible started when I was about 15 years old. I had a friend who was very ill, and many people told me that if I prayed, it would surely help. Indeed, there were prayers for the sick in the bible, and I diligently said them many times a day. Needless to say, my friend's condition worsened and she eventually passed away. 

The bible ended up in shreds, and I became an instant atheist. 


A few years after that I became acquainted with a born again Christian who suggested that I read the whole bible instead of being in a bad place about my friend's passing. 

So I did.

I have an open mind if I have anything, and I certainly liked the idea of giving God and the bible another shot. I had a funny, positive feeling about her suggestion. I felt I would read this book and have many revelations (no pun intended). 

And I did--but not the kind I thought I would have.

Instead of learning that God is a loving and kind being that the priest told me about when my mom could still get me to go to church on Sunday, I read that God is pretty vengeful and tricky.


For instance, he created man in his image, and gave him free will and the ability to choose. He also gave him original sin, although I do not understand why. So then he didn't like what his creations were doing--and destroyed them all! What? God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because he did not like what the people in the city had become? The bible said its inhabitants were "depraved". So instead of helping and fixing things (he was right there waiting!) he "rained down sulfur from the heavens." And he had already done this once before with Noah--not with sulfur, but with a terrible and all encompassing flood. Hmmm....

Sounds like a bad father to me...


Deuteronomy has plenty of He-Man Woman Haters Club quotes that not only make me angry, but make me feel I want nothing to do with the Christian religion. (I AM Christian, Russian Orthodox to be exact, but do not practice).

For example:

Deuteronomy 22:13-21 states that if a woman is not a virgin on her wedding night she must be executed. (No mention of men here...)

Deuteronomy 22:28-29 tells us that a virgin who is raped must marry her rapist.

Deuteronomy 25:11-12 warns that if a woman stands up for her husband in a fight by grabbing the other man's genitals then her hand shall be cut off and no pity shall be shown to her.

What the hell?!

God could not have said these things...could he?

And speaking of God saying things, why is it he was talking up a storm back then, but we hear nothing but a resounding echo of our own voices when we talk to him now?

Back to the bible...


Remember when you were in school and kids got picked on by bullies? The bullies said they would beat you up after school, or tell you to do something mean to another unsuspecting victim or else they would beat YOU up. Awful kids. Well, remember what God said to Abraham? He told him to take his only son Isaac and kill him. Abraham was ready to do it. Suddenly God said nope--it was just a test. I would not care if I were offered eternal life, a home in heaven, feathery wings and a solid gold halo--if someone or something told me to kill my only son I would cordially invite him to go fuck himself. I don't see much difference between this God and the bullies in school. Here is a chart that supposedly explains what God meant:

God told Abraham to kill his son


Why do I need a chart to explain this? Why does Jesus speak in such confusing language? In Mark, Jesus says he speaks in parables to confuse people so they will go to hell :) Again--what?? When Jesus was asked why he spoke in parables, he told his disciples they would be shown the mysteries of heaven--but not the others. So basically you had to believe BEFORE you were shown any of the truth.

Sigh. I don't like his methods.

Again--I would not hang around with this person in school and would not want him as a friend--why would I want to consider him my heavenly "father".

Old Testament, you say? True. But the new says in Matthew 5:17:

Jesus strongly approves of the law and the prophets. He hasn't the slightest objection to the cruelties of the Old Testament


I also don't care for the fact that we are told we can't do anything without Jesus--and we are nothing without him. That is very much contradictory to what I want my son to know. He should know that you have the power inside to run your own lives, and the decisions you make are what will shape you.

And why did Jesus need to kill a fig tree? A fig tree that he was mad at for not bearing fruit--even though it was not fig season...ah...he did it to show how much God hated figs, because he wanted figs and could not find any. This sounds like a petulant three year old who is told they can't have a lollipop.


Of course there is the part that says "true" Christians can cast out devils, speak in tongues, take up serpents, drink poisons without harm, and cure the sick by touching them. Nope. Just not true. Another radical Christian lost his life this past February after handling poisonous snakes and refusing medical treatment after he was bitten.

Yes, I know people go to church and feel Christianity and the bible show them the "good and proper" way to live, and I have nooo problem with that, if you are actually using it to be a better person. If you are a believer who condemns others, looks down on certain lifestyles, judges anyone who is not a believer in Jesus, or harms others because of your beliefs, then maybe you should find a better way to be a "good" person.


To sum things up, the bible is too contradictory to make any sense as a guidebook for my life. There are too many cruelties and atrocities and I would rather not follow a guide who condones that mindset.

Although I can't prove there is NOT a God, the book that tells me that I must believe in one or I will forever burn in a fiery pit of hell is not the kind of book for me.

12 comments:

  1. Beautiful little piece of writhing. Outstanding.

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  2. I often wonder how much of the Bible was edited by translaters to include the dominant social mores of their time. Some bits just sound added, like "Thou shalt not suffer a witch." That is so out of context where it is, and in such a different voice that it reads like bathroom graffitti. I was not upset by God's vengeance with the flood as much as I was alarmed when afterwards He was like, "Oops." If He can make a mistake, then an I in trouble! :) Anyhow, I view religious texts like myth or poetry: not literal, rational, or itelligible. They evoke emotion, and connect me to the true source of what is.

    Xoxo,
    -aniko

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    1. Oh I am pretty sure you are right about the added bits Aniko. My cousin feels it is the biggest game of telephone ever.
      I wish everyone could look at the bible with a rational eye like you, but alas, that is not the case. It does evoke emotion, and a whole lot of hate and judgement in some.
      Yes there are some good lessons--but too much commotion in between.
      So glad you came by!!
      XO

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  3. Wonderful post! Great at calling out so much horrible BS that christians deny exists in the bible, probably the biggest book of useless ancient hearsay ever printed. Another horrible tool used to keep women down and submissive. I get creeped out if I find one in my motel room drawer. More power to you and your child, Lady, for taking back your freedom and steering your own lives! peace.

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    1. Thanks shutinski!
      Although I do know some really terrific Christians, I can't pretend those things aren't said in the bible, and I can't just blip over them and accept the rest.
      Hope you pop in again.
      Peace right back to you.
      :)

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  4. Excellent post, Penelope!
    I've not only come to same conclusion as you, and it isn't just because the Bible makes no sense to me, either, but also... did you know--does anyone really know these few facts??? There were 60 different versions of the Bible floating around Europe at the time and that's when King James abolished the others? He liked his version better--that's about all that we're left with.
    The man who translated the Kin James bible was put to death for heresy?
    The word "unicorn" was used in a line in the bible. Now, if there are no such things as unicorns, why would it be put in the bible if the bible is "truth". Of course, since those days the word "ox" has been put in place of "unicorn".

    I have my issues with not only the bible but God. I find worshiping a god of any kind a little bit archaic. Especially the Biblical God--for all the reasons you state. I was once asked by my mother-in-law what I believed in. I didn't answer her. I should have. My answer is "In myself".

    People don't have to be Christian to be good. It has nothing to do with your inner self and how you treat others. I try to be kind and thoughtful throughout my day, allowing people to get across the street whenever I'm driving the big bus, and other things I do. I think the whole idea of the bible was basically so that certain men could rule. Think about it--why were there crusaids into another country? To get the letters and such in order to write the bible. These "Christains" KILLED for the old tablets and brittle papers--which were not exactly in tact when found, and so they probably did have to make things up. No wonder the Middle East hate Christains so much!
    Glad to hear from you again, Penelope. I enjoyed this very much!

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    1. You have the perfect answer Lorelei, myself!!
      Totally with you--if you need a book of laws and things to make you afraid to "act" like a good person, you might not be such a great person in the first place! (Not YOU--you know what I mean.) I did NOT know about the King James translator.
      And as for worshiping, sounds a bit sociopathic to me.
      Glad you came by--always good to chat with you.

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  5. You're the only person I can talk to on this subject and give these sorts of comments w/o being judged.
    Thank you, Pen. Take care!

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    1. YW!
      And no way sister--the judgement is what I am AGAINST :)
      XO

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  6. Ure being wise in ur own understanding. Stay still and know He is God and there is no other. People can believe in whatever they choose but they must choose wisely. Truth or not it never hurts believing. I'd rather believe...ironic how people wants to make it to heaven...they just wish God wasn't there! God cannot be seen BC He is Spirit but u can feel Him if u seek Him with all ur heart. The truth is the only thing people deny, why? BC its easier not to obbey orders. Obedience to law is freedom. U need the Holy Spirit to really reveal the kingdom of heaven otherwise ur souls will be lost notbc He is evil but because u choose us own ways and deny Him. Bible is Spiritual no one can never understand it as u would by reading any other book. That's the word of God written in there. Believe it or not. Bye

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  7. I would never pass judgement on a good person who believes in the bible and god. If you do good work and believe what you read and are happy that is wonderful. Not everyone believes--and if they are happy and good more power to them too. Billions of us exist here with various beliefs. I hope we can all become open-minded. So glad you came by.

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