Holy Scripture and the Question of God

 

“If we ask a random orthodox religious person, what is the best religion, he or she would proudly claim his or her own religion to be the best. A Christian would say Christianity is the best, a Muslim would say Islam is the best, a Jewish would say Judaism is the best and a Hindu would say Hinduism is the best. It takes a lot of mental exercise to get rid of such biases.”

-- Abhijit Naskar

I believe in God. Oh, not in the God that everyone else takes for granted. I believe in an omnipotent force that created everything. My God is, most probably, pure energy. So, what of the God in "Holy Scripture"?  The God that made Adam and Eve.  The God that made mistakes.  What?  Mistakes, like Eve talking to serpents and eating forbidden fruit. God says, "What have you done?"  Eve has to explain this to God.

God throws them out of Eden and posts "cherubim" guards, so they can't return to eat from the Tree of Life and live forever. Guards?  How about a forcefield? Guards are fallible, but a forcefield? Not so much. But God is afraid they would eat from other trees, and become like, well, them. "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil." 

Who were "Us" that man became?

So, Adam and Eve were banished and gave birth to Cain and Abel. Cain kills Abel and is, again, banished to the land of Nod. Uh, why is there more land than Eden? Cain meets his wife.  His what?  Adam and Eve were the first... oh, never mind.  Cain built a city for her people, though.  

See where this is going? Genesis makes no sense for an "omnipotent" God (or Gods) who continues to make mistakes. God seems to banish His mistakes, and He might have banished significantly more mistakes than we are aware of.  

So, what if the God of the Bible wasn't really a "God," per se? Maybe the God we have been worshipping was an "alien" being, trying to create man from a lower life form, to do tasks in the greater garden called earth? It would explain the mistakes "God" keeps making. It would explain why God "gave up" writing things down, like the Ten Commandments, and wrote everything we needed to know across our hearts and minds. Genetically? 

Holy Scripture is interesting to read. And, if you read it, remember it was written by man, and inspired by God.  Also remember that at least three councils, two of Nicaea, peopled by men, chose which "books" to include as scripture and other such.  Women, for all they did, seem to of become subservient to men.  Well, isn't that special, especially when a woman gives birth to Jesus.  A woman described as the "most beloved" of God. So, this "biblical" history is why I have issues with biblical scripture. 

Simon Peter left the Holy Land and created a physical edifice to be known as the early church.  He disliked Mary, the beloved of Christ, and, I believe he really didn't like women, period. This may have given rise to his priests being celibate. Everything I read about Peter makes him out to be a woman-hating ass. Of course, I could be wrong. 

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch - it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either view any more right or wrong than the other. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint.

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning those opinions offered. After twenty-three years of military intelligence, I believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience... and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.

Ordained in 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As a weapon for his war on intolerance, he chose the pen. He wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony at: tolerantpastor@gmail.com