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I am not sure exactly where this post needs to go, but it seems that it would fit here...
I grew up as a Southern Baptist, but now am pretty much a non-denominational Christian. It is important to understand that I am a free thinker, I look at multiple angles and views, I think outside of the box, and I tend to look at the bigger picture. Part of my job as a CSI is to help with psychological profiling. I use that when studying history to get a better understanding of what was going on at the time, and why. All is rarely what it seems.
In this post I'd like to talk about a few points of interest that I have struggled with over the years. I understand some of these may strike a nerve with some people. My intend is not diabolic in nature by any means. These are issues that I have come across, researched until I was blue in the face, and finally came to my own conclusions.
1. I prefer the NASB translation of the Bible, even though I grew up on the KJV and love it as one of the greatest literary works of all time. What I have found...rather what scholars have found and published and I read about, was that the KJV had some obscure translations in it. Given that the age in which it was penned (circa 1611 CE) had far fewer textual resources than we do now, errors were bound to happen. Even though the KJV is a literal translation (which are more accurate than dynamic or paraphrased versions) the NASB is more true in the "word for word" translation from the Hebrew, Greek and even Aramaic. Keep in mind that the Rosetta Stone, Dead Sea Scrolls, etc. were not found until long after the KJV was penned. YMMV.
2. I used to read the Bible and take the most popular stories literally. It wasn't until I got older and started thinking for myself (which means questioning things...oh the taboo!) that I realized not everything is black and white. What Genesis says about the serpent in the garden in one translation may be something completely different in another. So many religions/denominations assume a certain position on a particular translation. Assumptions are bad when you are going for historical/biblical accuracy. Now I read the Bible with an open mind, I review what other religions/translations say about a verse, and I try to rationalize what was really going on, or what is really meant (metaphorical vs. literal). This gives me greater understanding and appreciation of God's word.
3. As a philosopher (I say that loosely) I have to believe that we have free will, given to us by God as one of the greatest gifts. It can also be a curse. If God interferes with a free will choice that a human being makes, it is no longer free will. Having said that, I have come to the conclusion that bad things happen to good people not because God allows them to, but because someone made a free will choice to do something bad and God can't/won't do anything about it, lest He is in violation of the doctrine of free will. The next time someone asks "why do bad things happen to good people," don't answer with a vague cop-out such as "it's God's will, He works in mysterious ways, etc." Tell them that someone made a free will choice and God won't interfere with it.
I have several more floating around in my thoughts, but I'll stop there. Comments? Opinions?
I grew up as a Southern Baptist, but now am pretty much a non-denominational Christian. It is important to understand that I am a free thinker, I look at multiple angles and views, I think outside of the box, and I tend to look at the bigger picture. Part of my job as a CSI is to help with psychological profiling. I use that when studying history to get a better understanding of what was going on at the time, and why. All is rarely what it seems.
In this post I'd like to talk about a few points of interest that I have struggled with over the years. I understand some of these may strike a nerve with some people. My intend is not diabolic in nature by any means. These are issues that I have come across, researched until I was blue in the face, and finally came to my own conclusions.
1. I prefer the NASB translation of the Bible, even though I grew up on the KJV and love it as one of the greatest literary works of all time. What I have found...rather what scholars have found and published and I read about, was that the KJV had some obscure translations in it. Given that the age in which it was penned (circa 1611 CE) had far fewer textual resources than we do now, errors were bound to happen. Even though the KJV is a literal translation (which are more accurate than dynamic or paraphrased versions) the NASB is more true in the "word for word" translation from the Hebrew, Greek and even Aramaic. Keep in mind that the Rosetta Stone, Dead Sea Scrolls, etc. were not found until long after the KJV was penned. YMMV.
2. I used to read the Bible and take the most popular stories literally. It wasn't until I got older and started thinking for myself (which means questioning things...oh the taboo!) that I realized not everything is black and white. What Genesis says about the serpent in the garden in one translation may be something completely different in another. So many religions/denominations assume a certain position on a particular translation. Assumptions are bad when you are going for historical/biblical accuracy. Now I read the Bible with an open mind, I review what other religions/translations say about a verse, and I try to rationalize what was really going on, or what is really meant (metaphorical vs. literal). This gives me greater understanding and appreciation of God's word.
3. As a philosopher (I say that loosely) I have to believe that we have free will, given to us by God as one of the greatest gifts. It can also be a curse. If God interferes with a free will choice that a human being makes, it is no longer free will. Having said that, I have come to the conclusion that bad things happen to good people not because God allows them to, but because someone made a free will choice to do something bad and God can't/won't do anything about it, lest He is in violation of the doctrine of free will. The next time someone asks "why do bad things happen to good people," don't answer with a vague cop-out such as "it's God's will, He works in mysterious ways, etc." Tell them that someone made a free will choice and God won't interfere with it.
I have several more floating around in my thoughts, but I'll stop there. Comments? Opinions?