Psalms 1-8

[wolfpurplemoon]

Psalm 1: People who believe in God & follow his laws are blessed and lots of good things happen to them.
Psalm 2: Heathens are angry and will be slaves of those who believe in God (would make anyone angry I'd imagine)
Psalm 3: A prayer that all the thousands of people who set themselves against the believer will be smited by God
Psalm 4: Fairly standard prayer
Psalm 5: A request for God to destroy the wicked and workers of iniquity, and bless the speaker
Psalm 6: Someone who is very ill asking to be returned to health
Psalm 7: More praying that the righteous speaker will be blessed and his enemies will be smited
Psalm 8: Telling God that he made everything and praising him for it (sucking up?)

Comments

[spicytoys.livejournal.com]

I just started reading this journal today. What are you hoping to gain by reading all of this? I'd never have the will power to get through the whole thing; the language is sooo boring! But I often think I should read it just to know the stories.

[wolfpurplemoon]

You're right about the language being boring, it is very hard to wade through it all!

I dunno what I hope to gain, just to be able to say 'I have read it and I'm still an atheist thankyouverymuch' would be something I guess.

As for will power, knowing that I only have to read a relatively small amount each day makes it more manageable, though I am behind my reading plan right now due to being away for a couple of days!

Thanks for reading! (and love the icon!)

[k2rider78.livejournal.com]

I've also been enjoying your posts. I find your perspective interesting and entertaining. Good luck with your reading.

[wolfpurplemoon]

Thanks, I'm glad some people appreciate what I'm doing!

[k2rider78.livejournal.com]

I was raised in the Roman Catholic faith but I'm pretty much an agnostic now. Whatever faith someone believes it's important for me to show respect. But I also think some take themselves to seriously. Reading the Bible through seems a bit overwhelming but you can do it.

[bill_sheehan.livejournal.com]

When I was a believer, the Eighth Psalm contained some of my very favorite lines in the entire Bible.

When I look at the heavens, the work of your fingers,
The moon and stars you have set in their courses,
What is man, that you are mindful of him?
The son of man, that you behold him?
You have made him a little lower than the angels...

Sadly, like so much of faith, when thoughtfully examined the Psalm reveals only egotism, magical thinking, and self-deception.

[(Anonymous)]

You said when you were a believer. Why did you stop??

[bill_sheehan.livejournal.com]

It's a long story. Short form: As a result of study, reflection, and much painful wrestling with cognitive dissonance, I reached the conclusion that my belief was rationally impoverished, logically incoherent, and morally bankrupt. No matter how much I wanted it to be true, my faith was based on self-deception and wishful thinking, and held without a shred of proof and despite all evidence to the contrary.

This is the only life I have. There is a lot less of it in front of me than behind me. I would rather spend the remainder of it as fruitfully and truthfully as possible.

[(Anonymous)]

But what if you are wrong and this isn't the only life you have? As a believer I sometimes think that:what if I'm wrong? Then I look at the way God has worked in my life and decide even if I were wrong, what joy to live my life serving others, worshipping God , and having hope -which is what keeps us believers going- hope. God IS sovereign and He loves you more than you could ever imagine!

[wolfpurplemoon]

Um, yeah, that'd be Pascal's Wager. The answer to that is, how do you know that your religion amongst all the possibilities in the world is the right one?

[bill_sheehan.livejournal.com]

You appear to have given this much thought, Anonymous. Perhaps you know something I don't. How do you know your beliefs are correct? The Prophet Mohammed said the revelation he received from the Angel Gabriel was the final word from God. Do you profess that he is the messenger of the one God? Do you pray five times a day while facing east? Do you give alms, observe the Ramadan fast, and try to make a pilgrimage to Mecca? These are the things you must do to please God and gain Paradise. And are you Shi'a, Sunni, or Sufi?

Or perhaps you believe an even later revelation. Joseph Smith said that God told him all religions were false, and helped him create the one true religion, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Do you believe in God and Jesus? Do you do good by being fair, kinds, loving, and so on? Are you developing moral character? Do you repent of your sins and receive the Atonement of Christ? Have you been baptized by immersion according to the Mormon rite, and participate in other Mormon ordinances? Do you spread the Mormon faith? This is how Mormons attain salvation, and they're one of the fastest-growing religions on earth, so surely they must be especially favored of God.

Or are you one of the 144,000 Jehovah's Witnesses who were predestined from before time to rule with Christ in the kingdom of God? Not much you can do about that, I suppose, God has already made his choice.

Do you believe that the Pope is the vicar of Christ on earth, the bridge between God and man? Do you believe in the one holy Catholic and Apostolic church, outside of which no one may be saved? Do you believe that the consecrated Host and wine are the real body and blood of Christ? Do you believe that the Virgin Mary was conceived without sin and assumed bodily into heaven while still alive?

Or perhaps you are a Protestant. Were you baptized as an infant or as an adult? By immersion, affusion, or aspersion? Do you worship on Saturday or Sunday? Is the Bible the inerrant word of God or just a good book? How many books are in your Bible? Do you use grape juice or wine in communion? Is dancing prohibited or permitted?

Or did you just stick with the religion you grew up in, believing that the ability to give yourself warm fuzzy sentimental feelings proves that it must be true? It sounds like you're taking an awfully big risk. There are tens of thousands of Christian denominations - are you sure you're doing it right? You say you have hope - I sure hope that's enough. Hell sounds like a pretty nasty place - you'd better be positive.

For me, lacking evidence that any such place exists, I see no more reason to fear it than I fear Darth Vader's Death Star. And it's not as though there are no costs to your wager. I have spent large amounts of money, effort, and time to the practice of my religion. I do not begrudge the tithes and effort so much - education is always costly, and doubtless some of it went to good and praiseworthy things. Time, on the other hand, is a very limited and finite resource, and I do not wish to waste any more of it on fantasy and self-deception.

[wolfpurplemoon]

Your comments are always a pleasure to read, and this is a brilliant rebuttal of Pascal's Wager, thanks for taking the time to reply to some of the commenters on my blog.

[(Anonymous)]

Isaiah 53 - written 700 years before Christ. Prophecies fulfilled. Your arguments are nothing knew under the sun. And are all answerable. -Brandon

[wolfpurplemoon]

It is easy to write about events several decades after and make them fit to an old so called prophecy. Doesn't prove anything.

[(Anonymous)]

You could also question the historical accuracy of George washington being our first president. The dates of the books in the bible are not in question in the historical community. -Brandon

[(Anonymous)]

Please read lee strobel's a case for faith. If you are seeking truth, it is highly enlightening.

[(Anonymous)]

It's so sad that you came to this conclusion. I can only reason that your conclusion stems from a search in which you were lookiong for something "logical" instead of building a relationship with the Living God. The beauty of God is that despite your conclusions, He continues to love you and waits patiently for you to return to Him.