What God May Really Be Like – Misbeliefs About God

Can We Prove The Bible Is Inspired By God?

Many who claim the Bible is inspired by God seem to imply that God guided and controlled the writers, ensuring they wrote exactly what God intended, even while using their own vocabularies and styles. What proof do they have for such a claim?

Circular reasoning is not proof

Verses like 2 Timothy 3:16 (“All Scripture is God-breathed”) and 2 Peter 1:21 (“men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God”) are used to support the idea of divine inspiration and inerrancy. My claiming this Post is inspired by God doesn’t make it so. Those who claim this proof would not accept the Koran being inspired by Allah because internally it claims to be so

Fulfilled Prophecies are not proof

It is claimed the Bible contains hundreds of prophecies that have been fulfilled with precision, demonstrating God’s sovereignty and inspiration. I have written  here why it is doubtful God’s knows the future, thus negating genuine freedom. Thus, prophecies aren’t likely claiming what will happen in the future. They can’t. God doesn’t know what will happen in the future. Did God really have Jesus killed so God’s supposed words could be fulfilled? One can assume most prophecies are conditional because God changes if people will repent of their evil ways. See here.  Old Testament passages interpreted as Messianic prophecies could be conditional – Jesus will be killed if people don’t turn from evil.

Many passages, assumed to be Messianic, are not interpreted as such by many biblical scholars. Psalm 22 is often interpreted as regarding Jesus’ crucifixion, including reference to Jesus’ broken bones (Jn 19:36). Other scholars suggest this psalm regards a current suffering individual and later claimed by NT writer as referring to Jesus.

It is often claimed archaeological confirmation prove God’s inspiration of the Bible

Many archaeological claimed discoveries ae disputed. One only needs to internet search biblical archaeology to notice not all biblical scholars confirmed the historical accuracy of all biblical accounts.  For example – findings do not support the biblical account of Jericho’s destruction around 1400 BC, as was uninhabited during Joshua’s supposed invasion. These scholars are not intentionally trying to disparage the Bible

Unity of the Bible written by 40 authors over 1500 years

The unity of the Bible having an undisputed message is debatable. Contradictions are one reason to doubt God’s inspiration/oversight of the Bible. If God can raise the dead, God can obviously control transmissions of words supposedly given to the biblical writers – but God didn’t! The list of contradictions may be trivial but are sizable (See Gregory Boyd, Inspired Imperfection, Chapter 1):

• II Sam 24:1 says God incited David to sin; I Chr 21:1 blames it on Satan
• 2 Kgs 24:6 says Jehoiakim had a son; Jer 36:30 says Jehoiakim didn’t have a son to reign after him
• Does God take pleasure in destroying (Deut. 28:63), or does God take no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezek. 33:11)?
• Does God punish children for the sins of parents (Ex. 34:7; Num. 14:18), or does God never punish children for what parents do (Ezek. 18:20)?
• Matthew says Jeremiah rather than Zechariah spoke about the thirty pieces of silver (Mt 27:9-10. Zech 11:12-13)
• Did Jesus say the rooster would crow once after Peter’s three denials (Mt 26.34, Lk 22:34, John 13:38), or did the rooster crow twice (Mk 14:30)

9 Reasons To Not Trust The Bible’s Claims About God!

Why it matters if you assume the Bible is inspired by God

An inspired Book can lead to violence in God’s name. God supposedly orders Israel to commit hundreds of atrocities in the OT (i.e. I Sam 15:3). God’s assumed justification of violence can lead to imitation of violent solutions such as capital punishment, blowing up abortion clinics, or unnecessary wars in the name of God. An inspired book can lead to false claims about God concerning moral issues. The truth is biblical scholars who have a deep respect for Scriptures don’t agree what the Bible says about gays, women, hell, and other moral issues. See here.  See here.  See here.  Gays are often condemned, women’s leadership roles are limited despite their gifts, and it is suggested a fiery torturous afterlife awaits infidels in God’s name. It is perfectly okay to question if writers always understood God perfectly. It is only natural to wonder if God’s actions would ever violate our moral intuitions of a loving God regardless of one’s interpretation.

Click on FOLLOW button on this page to enter email address to be notified of future Posts. No other unrelated emails will be sent. Go to About/Using This Site tab at top of page or Menu on phones to help navigate this Site. I also blog at http://donewithreligion.com If you wish to discuss anything I have written, you can email me at medwar2@gmail.com  

What May Be The Greatest Unknown Sin?

We can’t be certain about God’s true character much less if God exist. Whether one believes in a God has an obvious faith component. Let’s not accuse those who believe in a God as needing a crutch or accuse those, who question the reality of an invisible God, as being wicked and ignorant of their feelings. If wrong to doubt God exists, Christians sin if doubt God in tough times. Christians are wrong a lot and destroy relationships by being so damn certain! 

The illusion of “certainty” may be the greatest reason we fail living by the golden rule

It requires some faith that a loving God is real. Feelings aren’t visible proof. Trusting there is such a God is no different than flying. We can’t be sure the plane won’t crash – we fly because we have reasonable faith that all safety precautions have been performed to land safely. Many God-followers or leaders seem hell-bent in telling people what to believe about God according to their interpretation of the Bible. Politicians seem hell-bent in claiming certainty regarding policies such as climate change, though there are reasonable arguments on both sides of the aisle. Open-minded uncertainty could go a long way to healing our nation and personal relationships.

Why might we love certainty?

Many find comfort psychologically in certainty rather than uncertainty. One may believe the seemingly certain narrative because unknowing can create anxiety. Also, disagreeing with friends or those in leadership about God’s character can lead to conflict and loneliness due to isolation. It doesn’t matter if those who proclaim certainty have good intentions or believe their ideas are right about God. Unless we are talking about universal accepted evilness such as rape, openness is critical in case we are wrong.

What is the path toward truth in an uncertain world 

What actions in relationships should guide us? Perfect ones of course. We may not always know what perfect love is, but we somehow know we ought to love others like we want to be loved. A parent’s perfect love surely is the same as God’s love. I don’t know one person, whether a church-goer or not, that doesn’t think any God worth believing in must be a perfect, loving God. Even atheists would agree if they thought a Supreme Being existed. The Bible even implies such an idea: “Be perfect, therefore as your heavenly Parent is perfect” (Mt. 5:48). We still must decide what perfect love is, but God surely didn’t create us to be totally clueless.

Why doesn’t God reveal more certainty? 

Billions of lives have been harmed by the Bible not being clearer that slavery or restricting women’s roles, etc. are certainly wrong. The only rationalization I know at this time why God seems so hidden is that God’s awing or overwhelming presence may only lead to fearful obligations to obey. The road traveled of learning, reflecting, and not being pressured may best lead to lasting convictions and more meaningful relationships. But God doesn’t get enough credit for communicating through our moral senses. There is almost universal belief that we ought to love one another how we want to be loved. Evils such as rape, sexual abuse, murder, stealing, etc. are universal beliefs. We don’t always know how to love best but we aren’t morally clueless.

Uncertainty can lead to acting more loving.

Truth is often not known but to be pursued. If you find one rational person that has a difference of opinion from your own, you should consider their opinion. I don’t care if it concerns the safety of vaccines, climate solutions, whether Hell literally exist, or if God condemns gays. We often don’t recognize what doesn’t work in our personal relationships always doesn’t work in the public arena. Partners who act as if they are always right and their partner is wrong are headed toward divorce or a sucky relationship. Having good intentions by believing you are right for the whole doesn’t matter when certainty isn’t universal. Being unable to declare the certainty or morality of our opinions forces us to listen and express ideas openly that can lead to the greater good. God doesn’t attempt to force but influence us to make choices with the interest of others in mind.

Click on FOLLOW button on this page to enter email address to be notified of future Posts. No other unrelated emails will be sent. Go to About/Using This Site tab at top of page or Menu on phones to help navigate this Site. I also blog at http://donewithreligion.com If you wish to discuss anything I have written, you can email me at medwar2@gmail.com  

Books That May Change Your View Of God!

I wrote here 10 books that help changed my view of God for the better than what I had been taught at an earlier age. Intuitively, is God worth believing if not perfectly loving? Humans can only understand such love according to what perfect human love is like. See here.  I don’t always know what exactly such love is, but I would disregard biblical interpretations that don’t seemingly lead to loving your neighbor more according to your moral intuitions and understandings of perfection.

What inspired this Post is lately I have been cleaning out my book shelves. I am getting older and eventually all these books got to be moved somewhere. I probably had over a thousand books to begin with. I think I got it down to 100 books. I kept those that are favorites authors or those that I may read again. I am convinced one way to pursue truth is reading the ideas of others.

To add to my original list of 10 books is 5 more that I just didn’t want to leave out. Some are dated but worth your consideration. I think I am done:

• Chris Holtzen – The God Who Trusts: A Relational Theology of Divine. God is more loving humanly speaking than biblical folks give credit for. If God can be angry, God can be sad. God feels the same pain I do when my children are suffering. One can only get as close to God as their image of God allows.

• Clark Pinnock &Robert Brow – Unbounded Love. This book early on confirmed what my gut had been telling me for years about the true nature of God.

• Clark Pinnock’s – A Wideness in God’s Mercy. I happily was empowered to imagine that God may eventually saved all people either here on earth in the life to come.

• Mickelson – Women, Authority, and the Bible. One of the first books I read on biblical gender roles that confirmed my intuitive views on men and women roles at home and in the church. So many books on the subject followed.

• Talbott – The Inescapable Love Of God. Talbott argues Western theological tradition has managed to twist the New Testament message of love, forgiveness, and hope into a message of fear and guilt.

Click on FOLLOW button on this page to enter email address to be notified of future Posts. No other unrelated emails will be sent. Go to About/Using This Site tab at top of page or Menu on phones to help navigate this Site. I also blog at http://donewithreligion.com If you wish to discuss anything I have written, you can email me at medwar2@gmail.com  

What Can Good Marriages Do Even Better?

It isn’t easy having a good marriage. Marriages, unlike many relationships, are a 24/7 friendship. Live with a friend all the time and see if the relationship is as friendly. Relationships often start off well because reality hasn’t set in – sharing closets, bathrooms, in-laws, children. Differences become more and more obvious. I wrote here  what good marriages tend to have in common. They treat one another like they do their best friend, they talk and solve their differences in an open, productive way, and encouragements are at a ratio of least 5:1 per criticisms. Learning to live happily incompatible is complicated but worth it, and it usually takes two to tango.

What negative flaw do solid marriages off have in common? 

Everyone can spot an unhappy marriage. Just listen. But good marriages often violate an aspect of the golden rule necessary for a good marriage – treating their partner like they want to be treated. Want to give advice to your partner? Then advise and talk to like you would like you want to be given advice or if partner had a different opinion on a matter. Avoid be perceived as “snippy.”

I am guilty what I am about to advise early on in marriage and may still be. I worry if my kids picked up on this flaw! I think I am doing much better in this past decade but you would have to ask my partner, kids, and their partners. I notice couples who aren’t necessarily on the brink of divorce do this in front of others. Imagine what they do when others aren’t looking. When giving advice or differ with what comes out of your partner’s mouth…..watch the words you use to respond. 

When disagreeing with partner don’t start with: 

You need to

YOU should

What!

C’mon name of partner!

No …..

Huh!

Ask you partner how you can respond differently when having different opinions

Positive reactions when having different opinions 

What about

What if

Maybe

Perhaps

Possibly 

Ask your partner how your responses can be less critical/snippy when alone or in public

React to you partner in every situation positively and less critically or challenging!

Click on FOLLOW button on this page to enter email address to be notified of future Posts. No other unrelated emails will be sent. Go to About/Using This Site tab at top of page or Menu on phones to help navigate this Site. I also blog at http://donewithreligion.com If you wish to discuss anything I have written, you can email me at medwar2@gmail.com

Why Is It Important To Know Hell Is A Myth?

I write a good bit about the topic of Hell to defend biblical and moral reasons to reject. See here.  See here. Polls in the past few years suggest about 60% of Americans believe in Hell as a place many go after their death. I would suggest a large percentage who believe in Hell think it may be a literal place of everlasting torture/suffering. That is a lot of people, when including their relationships, where such views negatively influence others about God’s character. Is God a sadistic torturer?  I think it is important to put this view of Hell to bed for many reasons.

Hell gives people a wrong impression of God, thus turning people away 

A loving God couldn’t possibly torture anyone forever since such pain serves no lasting purpose. Humans wouldn’t even create such a place for their worst enemies. Hitler was condemned for torturing millions of Jews; God is said to torture billions unending. The only reason to think a loving God would create such as a place as Hell would be if we believed a Book taught such a horrific thing. It doesn’t. (See links above) If we humans really believed Hell made moral sense, we would never cease from warning our friends to repent to escape Hell.  A moral God can’t be a hellish, sadistic, torturer. 

Hell prevents a genuine relationship with God   

What kind of relationship comes forth when threatened with endless torture if you don’t obey. Are you close to your parents because of fear or respect. Fear doesn’t lead to change but trying to avoid getting caught. God isn’t saving you from Hell, but hoping to help you become more the person you desire to be while here on life. Fear may work temporarily in the religion or political arena, but it can’t last. Jesus came to encourage living a life worth living – not to get you out of Hell. The advantage of a relationship with a loving God is that there is a voice outside imperfect beings – a God who inspires, forgives, and encourages. Genuine changes result when knowing you are deeply loved by a parent or God empowering you to reflect such love to others.

Hell encourages a hidden agenda in our relationships 

Conversations with God-followers often feels like them trying to change your beliefs. We all hate when our partner doesn’t listen and just wants to give advice. Many avoid spiritual discussions because they can smell a hidden agenda a mile away. It’s wrong to engage in friendships with others for the purpose of converting them to believe as you do, without advising upfront your agenda. I was taught God’s good news was saving people from Hell so they could get into Heaven. I was wrong according to Jesus. See here.  All I know to do is to focus on living where actions speak louder than words in case others want to pursue convos about God. God may truly exist! 

Hell can impact one’s view of justice in God’s name 

Many interpret the Quran or the Bible advocating killing Jews or condemning gays respectively, because Allah or God supposedly approves such actions. Extremists don’t acknowledge their interpretation could be wrong or that the writers possibly didn’t understand God perfectly.  God supposedly ordered Israel to commit hundreds of atrocities in the OT – “… put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.” (I Sam. 15:3) God’s possible justification of violence can lead to imitation of violent solutions such as capital punishment, blowing up abortion clinics, or unnecessary wars in the name of God.  

Hell represents wrongly the main message of the Bible and Jesus

The main message of the Bible and Jesus isn’t about avoiding Hell to get into Heaven. It is so important to know that God cares about you here and now and not about just the afterlife. Jesus spoke of a life worth living being a loving life empowered by God. Jesus’ salvation was about living a meaningful life here on earth with God’s help. The Bible/Jesus/God’s message isn’t dropping to your knees to avoid Hell to go to Heaven after death, but start loving now – a path toward great relationships.  See here.

God only seeks to inspire you to avoid a life full of regrets

I believe Jesus spoke of loving God not to get into heaven but to receive help in loving others as you love yourself now. You may be different than me, but I get help from God in pursuing a life not full of regrets. Try it! It’s on God to come through for you if you choose to follow. Jesus when leaving this earth spoke of having God’s spirit within us. If you refuse to love, you may end up a lonely, regretful soul.

Click on FOLLOW button on this page to enter email address to be notified of future Posts. No other unrelated emails will be sent. Go to About/Using This Site tab at top of page or Menu on phones to help navigate this Site. I also blog at http://donewithreligion.com If you wish to discuss anything I have written, you can email me at medwar2@gmail.com