Sam Harris talks about the relevance of the bible in the 21st century (Short Version)

[Doby]

yeah what is your point? the bible is messed up therefore there is no god? nothing useful?you know everything about yourself? you know about all planes, dimensions and reality of existence? wow.

[xtiaan3]

Im not sure I understand your question, or statement. But the point is yes, the Bible doesn't stand up to critical review in the 21st century, from a stand point of historical accuracy, lack of scientific principles, implausible myths and based on it's primitive content, it could have been easily written by people living in the 1st century. This, to any rational thinking person, doesn't lend credibility to the notion that it was authored by the creator of the universe.

[Doby]

What don't you understand? They are questions to you because they have question marks at the end of the sentences. You answered one. Your point is that the bible is not authored by the creator or the universe according to all available information you, as a human in this realm, have. (cont)

[Doby]

My other questions to you are: Do you honestly believe there is nothing useful in the bible? The other question is: Do you know everything about yourself? Even your science does not know this. Do you know about all planes, dimensions and realities of existence?

[Doby]

You keep using science as your measuring tools. Have you not researched the new breakthroughs in String Theory that are now supporting multi-dimensions? Have you done no studies on the greatest scientist of all time, Einstein and his thoughts on the matter? I will make it simple for you. Do you really think this is the only plane of reality? Do you think this plane is "real?"

[xtiaan3]

There are some great morals in the Bible and there are some horrible ones. But if its not the word of God, then its a little irrelevant, right? It should remain an important piece of literature but nothing more. I certainly don't know all about myself, but Im not going to learn about myself from this book of myths. String theory is an interesting idea with lots more science to be learnt on the matter. (cont)

[xtiaan3]

Not sure what thoughts of Einstein you're referring to, but here is his quote "I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly...". The other questions are more philosophical. There may be other planes of reality... I'm sure science will have a better understanding of it one day. Will we find that there is in fact a deity at the bottom of it all... maybe, but i doubt it. All this still doesn't make the Bible anymore relevant or believable.

[jjccccc]

so whats your point

[Andrea2rose]

God does not promise a life without suffering and in fact warns of even the suffering in this present age. I have not been without suffering in my life and have had many a hissy fit with God myself. The thing that I think you need to do is to tell God how you feel yourself. He will not strike you down for it, as actually he already knows exactly the thoughts of your heart. But tell Him, talk to Him and ask Him to make Himself known to you. I absolutely promise you that you will find Him.

[AkuAnon93]

It's obviously a common error for christians like yourself to beleive that : (a) non-theists are "looking" for YOUR god, (b) that we haven't already been exposed to, and actively deny your religion. And of course your god is not going to strike me down for not beleiving in him. What a silly thing to say. Thor isn't going to strike you down either.

[AkuAnon93]

Overall I think it's kind of funny how christians do this. You ask non-theists or people of other religions to blindly beleive and then you will gain faith. The obvious lapse in logic is that, for a person to do the things you're asking, requires faith. If you don't have faith in a beleif, it won't become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Another words, the approach christians love to use is ass backwards.

[Andrea2rose]

You see, I was saved from rape one day, and there was no third person visibly present in the equation. It had to be a miracle. And then, there is the tangible undeniable presence of God

[xtiaan3]

If the very hand of God grabbed him and through him down, then yes, but if its something that could have happened by coincidence, then your standard of a miracle is very low. 190,000 woman get raped in the US/year Statistically a large % of them are good Christian women who no doubt prayed to God to save them. Why did God save you and not these poor women? According to you he is quite capable of intervening. Did he ignore them or is it at all conceivable to you there is no God answering prayers?

[Andrea2rose]

I could tell you, but I am not finding you respectful enough for me to convey the personal details. However, I will say that what happened was enough to convince me of the miraculous, and to want God in my life again.

[xtiaan3]

I'm not asking for any personal details, and I think I have been nothing but respectful to you. Id still like to know how you rationalize your position that God can intervene when he likes, yet countless atrocities happen to good people every day. This suggests to me 1 of 3 things; He is unable to in every case 2) He deliberately only helps some people and not others 3) There is no higher power intervening in our daily affairs. As a non-believer, the latter makes perfect sense in every situation

[Andrea2rose]

I have to say and I mean this most honestly, that none of the evidence presented by Sam Harris has made any impression on me whatsoever!! I hate to say this, but he appears to me as being rather foolish. I am not asking you to trust me, just to say, if you really are looking for Jesus, you will find him.

[xtiaan3]

Well he is not really presenting evidence, he is making a point that the Bible is a very unimpressive book, if the claim is that it's author created the UNIVERSE!! Couldn't he dedicate one page to astrophysics, surely he knew some people would ask for more evidence. This would have settled it. The fact that nothing like this is in the Bible makes it hard to accept. This is what Sam is saying. As for 'looking for Jesus', a Muslim person with say the same about Mohammad, its not convincing!

[Andrea2rose]

My faith is not a card, it is a reality. And regarding the Bible, Iv'e read it several times. You will not see Jesus for a reality until He makes himself known to you, so I wll not argue with you. I pray that you should know Him. And with repentance, He will accept you just like that, and He will not be phased by all the things you've said about Him so far. He's bigger than that, and His love knows no limit.

[xtiaan3]

I went to a Christian school and participated in all the rituals. It never sat well with me. Too many questions with less than adequate answers. The older I got, the more I looked into it and the less impressed I became. If I'm going to devote my life to this guy there'd better be some compelling evidence... not "Just trust me" b/c that doesn't cut it anymore. I think you're willing to believe no matter how much evidence is presented to the contrary. Just listen to the points made in this video!

[Andrea2rose]

No, Jesus calls all to repentance and eternal life. And He does not wish that any man should perish. But you will not see the truth about Jesus, until the veil is taken from your eyes. And to understand the Bible you need the Holy Spirit. And if you knew the Love of Jesus Christ, your understanding would be very different.

[xtiaan3]

If you believe the Bible, then you have to believe Jesus said that, those are his words! You are just dismissing it away and invoking yet more superstition. Whenever the Bible falls short, as it so often does in history and science, religious people simply pull the faith card. I suggest you look at the Bible more critically and question it a little more. Remember, your faith in Jesus is simply a product of your upbringing. Had you been born in Afghanistan you would believe a different fairytale.

[myboringlife]

I dont need to run around and criticize everyone and/or the bible. I read things with an open mind and an open heart. I dont feel the need to tell everyone how wrong they are. if the Bible falls short, then that may just be that you dont understand that part. I'm sure there are man parts of the Bible that are misunderstand, not only by some people but maybe by a lot of people. We have to read the Bible with open minds and open hearts.

My faith in Jesus is my faith in Jesus.

[xtiaan3]

You do run around making your beliefs known to everyone... you post more of your opinions online that anyone I know... and thats a great thing. I criticize the Bible b/c I think its dangerous, irrelevant and it's time we get over this ancient book that has no place in todays discourse. The bible doesn't fall short by my standards, it falls short from a stand point of critical inquiry, history and science. This is just a fact.

[Andrea2rose]

"love one another as I have loved you". Can you do better than that? Greater love has no man that layeth down his life for his friends. Is there any philosophy higher than that?

[xtiaan3]

Sure there are some great moral quotes, but there are just as many that promote intolerance, bigotry and murder. "But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me" So Jesus wants everyone that doesn't worship him, rounded up and murdered in front of him? Thats NEW testament, forget the notion that all the death and murder is only found in the old. This book is ancient superstition, and should NOT be used as a moral guide.

[myboringlife]

did jesus say he wanted his enemies murdered? if you are my enemy and i slay you.. could i not do that by making friends with you?

[myboringlife]

Consider the possibility that the Bible holds KEYS for mankind.

[xtiaan3]

The Bible is mythical story telling... nothing more.

[myboringlife]

I respect you and your beliefs. If you respect mine, then why are you spending so much time commenting on me and what I believe? You tell me what I believe is a lie, all the horrible things it's done, etc.. wouldnt your time be better put into telling everyone what it us that you believe instead of telling everyone what it is you dont believe?

[xtiaan3]

First, I respect you and I always will... but i don't respect any beliefs that are so far removed from rational thinking that they can't be taken seriously. Second, you posted on my video, so you are inviting critical debate... correct? You post a lot of stuff online, and most of it is somewhat controversial. So you have to expect some are going to have counter views and comment accordingly.

[myboringlife]

Maybe the Bible wasnt written to be relevant to ME and YOU. Maybe there were many more people that have lived that needed things that were in the bible. How arrogant and egotistical can we be to think it was just created for US living right NOW?