68
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] jordanlund@lemmy.world 30 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

I was raised in a religious family, went to church every Sunday.

When I realized I had actual questions that they refused to acknowledge, I walked away. I was eight.

Example question:

Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 offer two different creation myths. Why? Is one "right" and the other "wrong"?

Genesis one: Animals created first, then people (man and woman created at the same time.) 7 day creation.

Genesis two: Man created first, then animals for man to name, then woman from the rib when god realizes he made a mistake and none of the animals are a fit companion for man. Not a 7 day creation.

Answer:

The reason for it is plain in the original Hebrew. Genesis 1 is the Elohist tradition (the Gods are referred to, in PLURAL, as Elohim.) Genesis 2 is the Jawist tradition where God is referred to as YHWH or JHVH.

Early editors took two different creation myths and mashed them together.

If you can't, or won't explain that to an eight year old... well... doesn't speak well for your faith.

[-] HopingForBetter@lemmings.world 4 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Most churches won't even employ someone who knows the answer to this.

It's not even a "Won't tell you." thing; more of a "Why would anyone question the good book?" thing.

Whenever I looked too closely, I began to be black-listed and got the, "It's too bad that's where you are, because we hoped you would be a great leader."

Not defending stupidity at all, btw, just further emphasizing the blissful ignorance that is largely exonerated in religious circles.

[-] jordanlund@lemmy.world 4 points 6 months ago

Which just kills me because the actual answers ARE out there.

For example - What's the deal with the "begats" chapter and how were people living for hundreds of years?

Answer: They aren't individuals, they are family lines. Such and such family came from so and so family and lasted 140 years before dying out.

Makes way, way more sense when you read it that way.

Amazing what you can learn by reading Asimov's Guide to the Bible. ;)

https://a.co/d/5RmDI4h

this post was submitted on 15 Mar 2024
68 points (97.2% liked)

Atheism

3970 readers
2 users here now

Community Guide


Archive Today will help you look at paywalled content the way search engines see it.


Statement of Purpose

Acceptable

Unacceptable

Depending on severity, you might be warned before adverse action is taken.

Inadvisable


Application of warnings or bans will be subject to moderator discretion. Feel free to appeal. If changes to the guidelines are necessary, they will be adjusted.


If you vocally harass or discriminate against any individual member, you will be removed.

Likewise, if you are a member, sympathizer or a resemblant of a group that is known to largely hate, mock, discriminate against, and/or want to take lives of any other group of people, and you were provably vocal about your hate, then you you will be banned on sight.

Provable means able to provide proof to the moderation, and, if necessary, to the community.

 ~ /c/nostupidquestions

If you want your space listed in this sidebar and it is especially relevant to the atheist or skeptic communities, PM DancingPickle and we'll have a look!


Connect with Atheists

Help and Support Links

Streaming Media

This is mostly YouTube at the moment. Podcasts and similar media - especially on federated platforms - may also feature here.

Orgs, Blogs, Zines

Mainstream

Bibliography

Start here...

...proceed here.

Proselytize Religion

From Reddit

As a community with an interest in providing the best resources to its members, the following wiki links are provided as historical reference until we can establish our own.

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS