Biblical Literalism

[kenmaynard]

I do not believe we should take the bible literally. The bible contains truth, but is not meant to be a scientific or historical document. I don't mean to be insulting, but I truly don't understand how anyone can be a young earther, or think Noah's Ark was a literal real story, or how dinosaurs and people lived at the same time.

I have always heard that the bible is the inspired word of God not the literal word of God. When I see a movie that was inspired by real events or based on a true story I understand that the things in the movie aren't actually what happened, but are there to dramatize.

To me the young earthers are to Christianity what Wahhabism is to Islam. I am not saying all young earthers are hate filled, but most have no problem denying equal rights to gays, or athiests. People like Fred Phelps only make Christians and Christianity seem hateful. Young earthers make Christians seem gullible and stupid.

Christianity needs another reform, and just as moderate Muslims should stand up to Wahhabists, so should rational Christians stand up to the fringe of our own religion. No creation in science class. No trying to defend denying other people equal rights.

 

[Ret]

I do not believe we should take the bible literally. The bible contains truth, but is not meant to be a scientific or historical document. I don't mean to be insulting, but I truly don't understand how anyone can be a young earther, or think Noah's Ark was a literal real story, or how dinosaurs and people lived at the same time.

I have always heard that the bible is the inspired word of God not the literal word of God...

So, do you believe that Jesus Christ is a real living...LITERAL person?

Are any parts of the Bible LITERAL?

 

[jasoncran]

did christ come from the lineage of adam or somewhere else, He aslo said that the last days would be like the time of noah, was that figurative as well?. What about the prophecy spoken by enoch and quoted by jude, or the cities of sodom and gommorah, did he die on the cross, God wants faith and it's only faith the pleases him, that's not to say that we cant reason, but the bible is lilteral in many parts, i dont subscribe to the modern version of the sadducee doctrine. Our puny minds cant understand all things of god, what about this or that is just an excust to some not to believe, i have done it. If the Lord shook the earth and with a loud voice said I AM THE LORD ALMIGHTY WORSHIP ME AND ME ALONE, MANY WOULD STILL DENY HIM ANYWAY, lOOK AT WHAT THE PHARISSEES TOLD JESUS ON THE CROSS.

jason

 

[kenmaynard]

I do not believe we should take the bible literally. The bible contains truth, but is not meant to be a scientific or historical document. I don't mean to be insulting, but I truly don't understand how anyone can be a young earther, or think Noah's Ark was a literal real story, or how dinosaurs and people lived at the same time.

I have always heard that the bible is the inspired word of God not the literal word of God...

So, do you believe that Jesus Christ is a real living...LITERAL person?

Are any parts of the Bible LITERAL?

The bible was written by real people so I think Jesus was a real person. Some parts are based on actual events.

 

[kenmaynard]

did christ come from the lineage of adam or somewhere else, He aslo said that the last days would be like the time of noah, was that figurative as well?. What about the prophecy spoken by enoch and quoted by jude, or the cities of sodom and gommorah, did he die on the cross, God wants faith and it's only faith the pleases him, that's not to say that we cant reason, but the bible is lilteral in many parts, i dont subscribe to the modern version of the sadducee doctrine. Our puny minds cant understand all things of god, what about this or that is just an excust to some not to believe, i have done it. If the Lord shook the earth and with a loud voice said I AM THE LORD ALMIGHTY WORSHIP ME AND ME ALONE, MANY WOULD STILL DENY HIM ANYWAY, lOOK AT WHAT THE PHARISSEES TOLD JESUS ON THE CROSS.

jason

Adam and Eve is not a literal. Noah is not literal. We have brains and should use reason.

 

[jasoncran]

using your logic then its safe to assume that Jesus didnt rise from the dead or was born from a virgin, not exactly scientific explanable, who is jesus to you. My point is you cant explain it all, i can't see touch or smell jesus or see him with any other mechanations of man, unless he reveals himself in the flesh. Yet by faith he's real, that's how the lord's want it. Why do you think that Jesus said to the pharisee that this adulteress generation seeketh a sign, but none shall be given to them save the sign of jonah the prophet.

You also are questioning the stories of jesus in the gospel, was the lineages of jesus real in mathew? no what then, I dont believe in liberalism, the bible is inerrant.

jason

 

[lovely]

kenmaynard,

Do you believe that the geneology of Christ is accurate? We recently read part of the Annals of the World by James Ussher, and it was pretty neat to see how Scripture fit into history. Noah was part of Christ's lineage, as Jason pointed out, and so no Noah no Jesus. The Bible is a significant historical document, and I don't understand why people seem to think it is somehow more reasonable to deny it's historical value...it seems less reasonable and more of a prejudice than anything.

I also could never agree with your generalizations about young earthers. I don't even think it's relevent to the argument.

The Lord bless you.

 

[westtexas]

did christ come from the lineage of adam or somewhere else, He aslo said that the last days would be like the time of noah, was that figurative as well?. What about the prophecy spoken by enoch and quoted by jude, or the cities of sodom and gommorah, did he die on the cross, God wants faith and it's only faith the pleases him, that's not to say that we cant reason, but the bible is lilteral in many parts, i dont subscribe to the modern version of the sadducee doctrine. Our puny minds cant understand all things of god, what about this or that is just an excust to some not to believe, i have done it. If the Lord shook the earth and with a loud voice said I AM THE LORD ALMIGHTY WORSHIP ME AND ME ALONE, MANY WOULD STILL DENY HIM ANYWAY, lOOK AT WHAT THE PHARISSEES TOLD JESUS ON THE CROSS.

jason

Adam and Eve is not a literal. Noah is not literal. We have brains and should use reason.

I personally believe both those accounts to be literal.

 

[GodspromisesRyes]

ken,

if you are a christian and yet do not believe the bible but instead you believe what you choose to believe, then what makes you a christian at all? If you are a christian then you must believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that he lived sinless and is the only one to ever do so, that He was crucified for our sins and was raised up on the third day, that he ascended to heaven and sits on the right hand of God. You must believe that it is by faith in Him that we have access to His grace to be saved and that God is a rewarded of those who dilidgently seek him.- Now if you believe all of this then HOW do you believe it when it is all declared no where but in the bible that you are taring apart? Beyond that Jesus is the WORD of GOD made flesh, and the bible is the written WORD of God so when you are discounting parts of the bible(at your own will and choosing) then you are throwing away and discrediting parts of Jesus.

Now if the bible is not all true, then how can any of it be believed whatsoever? And if only parts are true but not all of it then how are we all to know what parts are fake and what parts are true to know what to accurately believe in and how to accurately lead our lives apart from sin? If we like a certian sin can we say " well my logic tells me nothing is wrong with this deed so i cannot take the bible seriously when it says thou shalt not......."? Can you please tell me how long you have been a christian and how you are sure you are one?

 

[follower of Christ]

The bible was written by real people so I think Jesus was a real person. Some parts are based on actual events.

So you need to amend your statement to say that some of it IS literal...correct ?
And if some of it is literal, then OUR job is to discern what is and what isnt based on what the text itself presents, not what scientists and philosophers want us to believe.

 

[follower of Christ]

Adam and Eve is not a literal. Noah is not literal. We have brains and should use reason.

Says who ? you ? Why ?
Why arent Adam and Noah literal but a story of a Man-God who died, came back to life and then flew away into the clouds is ?!?
What is your logic/reasoning used to discern the matter ?

 

[kenmaynard]

Adam and Eve is not a literal. Noah is not literal. We have brains and should use reason.

Says who ? you ? Why ?
Why arent Adam and Noah literal but a story of a Man-God who died, came back to life and then flew away into the clouds is ?!?
What is your logic/reasoning used to discern the matter ?

I didn't say Jesus the Man-God who died, came back to life and flew away into the clouds is real. I said was an actual man who lived and then died. One does not need to believe in magic Jesus to believe there was truth in his words. Buddhists don't believe in the deity of the Buddha, and Christians don't need to believe in the deity of Jesus to be a Christian.

I have been a Christian my whole life. I think I was three or four when I started Sunday School. The paranoid rationalizations that young earthers and biblical literalists have to believe in to keep their beliefs is quit disturbing. Sure science gave us nuclear power, the car, computer, refines oil found by geologists using old earth theory. Sure modern medicine given to us by pharmaceutical companies who employ biologists and biochemists who use the theory all life is related and have a common ancestor, use their theory to create amazing new drugs. You believe all this is some conspiracy. That they cabal to destroy the world, and make up the lies of an old earth, and evolution.

The Church has always hated that man can gain knowledge with out the church. That there can be truth outside what they tell you to believe. Copernicus and Galileo were called heretics for suggesting the earth is not the center of the universe.

People tend to believe what they were brought up to believe. That one can believe that their own special brand of belief will get them eternal reward, while all others will be put to eternal suffering, by a loving God quit frankly smaks of complete arrogance. All religions have elements of truth to them. That anyone could claim Christianity, but use Jesus to deny another equal rights is true evil.

Superstition usually leads to evil. Witch trials, suicide bombers, wars, and genocide. The young earthers claim the United States was founded as a Christian nation,and their nation is being stolen from them, but when one says that do they reflect that, the founders of this country owned other human beings, and more often than not, treated them quite horribly. What is actually happening is that people are using their brains more and not falling for superstitious rationalizations that allow themselves to be controlled to ignore mans inhumanity to man. Science and humanists have been fighting this battle since the dark ages. It is a battle against superstition and ignorance.

There are many rational Christians just like myself, and I am quite tired of the Fred Phelp's of the world, and the young earthers making us all look hateful, ignorant, paranoid.

 

[GodspromisesRyes]

Actually christians MUST believe that Jesus is deity to be Christians. No one can be saved without faith that Jesus Christ is the SON OF GOD.

Also they must believe that Jesus the SON OF GOD, is the ONLY way of salvation. That salvation is found in no other.1Jo 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.


1Jo 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [(but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also].

I am curious for you to please expound on your christian faith? Do you believe you are christian just because you grew up in a christian home or went to sunday school because that does not make anyone a christian. You are not only exhibiting a mocking attitude towards the WORD OF GOD,but also you are slaying down in your heart and with your mouth the brethern who christ died to save, whom He has bought with a great price and yet you are speaking of us who love Him, like we are dirt under your feet, to stupid to see where you and the world is right while the word of God is wrong and cannot be believed.

I do not say this lightly, but you should seek God about if you are saved. If you are then repent and believe the word of God. Pray on and meditate on these verses

Jam 3:1 ¶ My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.


Jam 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same [is] a perfect man, [and] able also to bridle the whole body.


Jam 3:3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.


Jam 3:4 Behold also the ships, which though [they be] so great, and [are] driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.


Jam 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!


Jam 3:6 And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.


Jam 3:7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:


Jam 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.


Jam 3:9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.


Jam 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.


Jam 3:11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet [water] and bitter?


Jam 3:12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so [can] no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.


Jam 3:13 ¶ Who [is] a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.


Jam 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.


Jam 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but [is] earthly, sensual, devilish.


Jam 3:16 For where envying and strife [is], there [is] confusion and every evil work.


Jam 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [and] easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.


Jam 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Col 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ye in him:


Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.


Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.


Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

 

[MMarc]

I do not believe we should take the bible literally. The bible contains truth, but is not meant to be a scientific or historical document. I don't mean to be insulting, but I truly don't understand how anyone can be a young earther, or think Noah's Ark was a literal real story, or how dinosaurs and people lived at the same time.

I have always heard that the bible is the inspired word of God not the literal word of God. When I see a movie that was inspired by real events or based on a true story I understand that the things in the movie aren't actually what happened, but are there to dramatize.

To me the young earthers are to Christianity what Wahhabism is to Islam. I am not saying all young earthers are hate filled, but most have no problem denying equal rights to gays, or athiests. People like Fred Phelps only make Christians and Christianity seem hateful. Young earthers make Christians seem gullible and stupid.

Christianity needs another reform, and just as moderate Muslims should stand up to Wahhabists, so should rational Christians stand up to the fringe of our own religion. No creation in science class. No trying to defend denying other people equal rights.

You might want to google biblical archeology, they found Egyptian chariots in the red sea, Sodom and Gomorah, Mount Sinai, Noah's ark. Etc....Dead sea scrolls.

 

[Heidi]

I do not believe we should take the bible literally. The bible contains truth, but is not meant to be a scientific or historical document. I don't mean to be insulting, but I truly don't understand how anyone can be a young earther, or think Noah's Ark was a literal real story, or how dinosaurs and people lived at the same time.

I have always heard that the bible is the inspired word of God not the literal word of God. When I see a movie that was inspired by real events or based on a true story I understand that the things in the movie aren't actually what happened, but are there to dramatize.

To me the young earthers are to Christianity what Wahhabism is to Islam. I am not saying all young earthers are hate filled, but most have no problem denying equal rights to gays, or athiests. People like Fred Phelps only make Christians and Christianity seem hateful. Young earthers make Christians seem gullible and stupid.

Christianity needs another reform, and just as moderate Muslims should stand up to Wahhabists, so should rational Christians stand up to the fringe of our own religion. No creation in science class. No trying to defend denying other people equal rights.

So please tell us the real history of the Jews, i.e., who the first Jew was, when they lived, where they lived, who their kings were, what they did, etc.

 

[lovely]

Adam and Eve is not a literal. Noah is not literal. We have brains and should use reason.

Says who ? you ? Why ?
Why arent Adam and Noah literal but a story of a Man-God who died, came back to life and then flew away into the clouds is ?!?
What is your logic/reasoning used to discern the matter ?

I didn't say Jesus the Man-God who died, came back to life and flew away into the clouds is real. I said was an actual man who lived and then died. One does not need to believe in magic Jesus to believe there was truth in his words. Buddhists don't believe in the deity of the Buddha, and Christians don't need to believe in the deity of Jesus to be a Christian.

I have been a Christian my whole life. I think I was three or four when I started Sunday School. The paranoid rationalizations that young earthers and biblical literalists have to believe in to keep their beliefs is quit disturbing. Sure science gave us nuclear power, the car, computer, refines oil found by geologists using old earth theory. Sure modern medicine given to us by pharmaceutical companies who employ biologists and biochemists who use the theory all life is related and have a common ancestor, use their theory to create amazing new drugs. You believe all this is some conspiracy. That they cabal to destroy the world, and make up the lies of an old earth, and evolution.

The Church has always hated that man can gain knowledge with out the church. That there can be truth outside what they tell you to believe. Copernicus and Galileo were called heretics for suggesting the earth is not the center of the universe.

People tend to believe what they were brought up to believe. That one can believe that their own special brand of belief will get them eternal reward, while all others will be put to eternal suffering, by a loving God quit frankly smaks of complete arrogance. All religions have elements of truth to them. That anyone could claim Christianity, but use Jesus to deny another equal rights is true evil.

Superstition usually leads to evil. Witch trials, suicide bombers, wars, and genocide. The young earthers claim the United States was founded as a Christian nation,and their nation is being stolen from them, but when one says that do they reflect that, the founders of this country owned other human beings, and more often than not, treated them quite horribly. What is actually happening is that people are using their brains more and not falling for superstitious rationalizations that allow themselves to be controlled to ignore mans inhumanity to man. Science and humanists have been fighting this battle since the dark ages. It is a battle against superstition and ignorance.

There are many rational Christians just like myself, and I am quite tired of the Fred Phelp's of the world, and the young earthers making us all look hateful, ignorant, paranoid.

It seems like you hate the body, and that your anger is causing you to want to hurt/insult people. It als seems like you desire to declare the superiority of your own beliefs and intelligence to others. Is it not hateful, ignorant, and paranoid to portray brothers and sisters who love Christ in such a way? Boast in the Lord alone, bear with the brotherhood, and avoid generalizations if you can. The Lord bless you.

Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.â€Â

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.â€Â

 

[kenmaynard]

I don't hate anyone. It is not hate of others to point out their folly. It is not Christian to deny equal rights. It is not Christian to hold up signs that say God hates Fags. The united states has been getting lower and lower in international rankings in science education, and education in general. Why is that? I think it has to do, at least somewhat, to the increase in biblical literalism, and young earthers. Why should a child pay attention in school if all they hear in church is that what they are learning is a lie? They will remain uneducated.

 

[jasoncran]

so were all uneducated superstistious fools, i dont hate gays, i used to be one, Humanism is what you preach not the true christ, I wont subscribe to that philosophy. Science has become the new religion now, to say that scientist aren't infallable is stupid , no, i recall those mistakes and will list one from the field of phsycology. In the 1950's it was common to lobotomize the mentally disabled people and place them in hospitals, often forced and treated with shock therapy, my aunt was almost subjected to that. If my grandparents didnt hide here during the 50's she would unalbe to work,(she can work and live in a halfway house throw the therapy she has recieved).

Do you recall the fact that it was common back then to remove tonsils unecessarily? oops

Christians have done wrong no doubt, but if you really read the word and believe what it says is true.Hatred aint unique to christians. Since you brought up our lower standards of education, which we do have, but that's another topic, i dont want to blame the church on that one, i graduated highschool in 1991 and the standards of grades has gotten easier, who's to blame on this hmmmm the educators not the church..

sciencists arent perfect either and are fallable

a good reading
http://www.breakpoint.org/features-colu ... ent-truths
jason

 

[lovely]

The increase in Biblical literalism? Biblical literalism has not increased.

I received a poor education, but it wasn't due to Biblical literalism. Perhaps it was all the red tape, misplaced funds, the metal detectors, the gangs, the drugs, and the teachers who were underpaid, exhausted, and fed up, etc. What else can we blame on YE'ers or those who have a more fundamentalist/ literal leaning? You've mentioned a lot of horrible things that you blame on the YE'er, but you don't know even the majority of the brethren that you accuse. It's not rational. To accuse the brotherhood for America's poor education is not pointing out 'folly' at all, because you can't even draw that line in a rational way, but rather dumping any wrongs you can think of on a single group of people and then writing about it to encourage others to do the same. Mr. Phelps is one man, not an entire group of people, and so again I don't see comparing many of our brothers and sisters to him as simply pointing out a 'folly'. This type of hateful dumping is based in pride, is pure prejudice, dangerous, and the exact thing you are accusing others of doing. I take the Bible more literally, and I have never bombed anyone, never held up a sign, or even felt, that 'God Hates Fags', never held a witch trial, never taught my children to ignore science, etc. I believe you are throwing the baby out with the bath water concerning Biblical literalsim.

I fellowship with many families who take the Bible literally, and who home educate at their own expense, and their children are well educated and generally outscoring, and so I don't know how they could be blamed for the low test scores out in the (secular) public sector which prohibits God in the classroom. Many of them also adopt children and care for disabled children, btw. These people are supporting the secular system with their tax dollars even though they have withdrawn their own children, and so I fail to see how they are to blame. The educators who are failing need to accept the blame, and work on solving the problem, rather than searching out the Christians to be their scapegoat.

Back to the topic, what is your logical, and scriptural, argument for not taking the Bible literally? We mentioned the geneology, but you never seemed to give an answer about the actual historical account of Christ's family. Another place we could begin is Jesus overcoming death and the grave. Where do you stand on Him being raised up again supernaturally by the Father? Do you believe that as believers we have eternal life? Another question would be that if Adam never existed then how could sin have entered through one man, and why would we need Jesus to die?

On the surface, unraveling the Word so that we don't have to humble ourselves, so that we don't look 'superstitious' or look as if we believe in a 'magic' Jesus, would seem to be the more reasonable thing to do, but when we follow it to it's logical end it really just brings us to an empty Gospel void of God's Truth. God is our Creator, and capable of supernatural power. The prophets did miracles and God provided for them with supernatural interventions. Jesus did do miracles, and He died and rose again. The Apostles also did miracles and healed many people. God sent His Son to die so that we, who were condemned by our sin, might live eternally with Him. Adam, Noah, the flood, Jonah, were all real.

Paul tells us that if Jesus didn't rise again, then we have no hope of eternal life either. Jesus' teachings are beautiful, but His work on the cross, His death and resurrection, is nothing short of a miraculous form of God's love for us. "It pleased God to bruise Him" according to Isaiah 53, and that's an amazing love toward us. Consider Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians.

The Resurrection of the Dead (1 Corinthians 15)

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.†But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,†it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

 

[Heidi]

I don't hate anyone. It is not hate of others to point out their folly. It is not Christian to deny equal rights. It is not Christian to hold up signs that say God hates Fags. The united states has been getting lower and lower in international rankings in science education, and education in general. Why is that? I think it has to do, at least somewhat, to the increase in biblical literalism, and young earthers. Why should a child pay attention in school if all they hear in church is that what they are learning is a lie? They will remain uneducated.

1 Corinthians 3;19, "For the wisdom of the world is foolishness in God's sight." So sorry, but trying to gain worldly wisdom only leads to death. ;) The only higher education is the wisdom that comes from God.

And Christians are the only ones who love homosexuals because we want them to go to heaven. The secular world wants nothing better than for homosexuals to go straight to hell. :verysad