Critical Thinking and the Bible #14 God's Preference for the Self-Interested

This is the fourteenth episode in the series Critical Thinking and the Bible, in which I conduct a critical examination of Scripture. In this episode, I discuss the conscience, human ability to love, as well as selfish inclinations, and the fact that the Bible seems to indicate, at least in some of its stories, that God prefers those who act selfishly. This series is recommended for all Christians, including Catholics, Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, and any Bible believers.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Bible
• god
• scripture
• abraham
• jesus
• yahweh
• love
• conscience
• religion
• christian
• christianity
• theism
• atheism
• critical thinking
• thunderf00t
• christopher hitchens
• hitchens
• dawkins
• richard dawkins
• belief
• faith
• miracle
• venomfangx

[LetReasonPrevail1]

Nice, bro. I found your vids, and I plan on checking out the whole series.

Kudos for framing your bible analysis as "Critical Thinking". There is a dearth of critical thinking when it comes to the bible. Instead, I am bombarded with a seemingly never-ending stream of logically fallacious hogwash...circular reasoning, appeals to consequence, appeals to authority, non sequitors, and just plain bullshit to name a few.

Keep fighting the good fight.

Cheers,

Let Reason Prevail

[nathanaelstacy1]

@LetReasonPrevail1 Thanks for the support, LRP

[ultradevon04]

What was the point of god testing people when he/it already knew what they were going to do in the first place. If one is all knowing, why the need to test anything? It all seems like BS to me!

[GFoladi]

@nathanaelstacy1 I'm not offended at all I just feel sorry for you. And a bit disappointed to see you're not as intelligent as I thought you were

[nathanaelstacy1]

@GFoladi Not to be rude, but the idea of you educating me is absurd. But thanks anyway. Lol. Good bye.

[GFoladi]

@GFoladi (con't)that alone proves that people can change what's wrong and right, and if you can't accept that then I'm just wasting my time because you can't educate someone in denial

[GFoladi]

@nathanaelstacy1 you're in such a denial it's unbelievable. To us who live in advanced countries, yea rape is wrong. But they accept that and you can't go and change what they do. I know you think rape is wrong and I'm not saying people should go around raping others, I'm saying they're ok with a man kidnapping a woman and raping her. If that's not enough for you....If 2 people have sex without 1's consent that's considered rape, but if both of them want it, then that's ok.(con't)

[nathanaelstacy1]

@GFoladi This is your "living proof"? Seriously? Rape, and a preying mantis? First, I can say the rape is wrong, whether the society in which it occurs permits it or not. And if someone within that society with the power to do so were to outlaw rape, that would be an improvement in that society. Why? Because rape is wrong -- that fact would not change -- and finally that society would realize a moral reality that was already true.

[GFoladi]

@nathanaelstacy1 (con't) If I kidnap a girl/woman and I go rape her that's considered wrong in most places right? What if I told you there is a tribe, a small tribe, but still a society of people that men kidnap women and if they can "pull it off" they have the right to marry that woman. This is not a joke.

When a praying mantis(female) mates with a male, after the female eats the male. On very rare occasions the male escapes, they know this, I wouldn't say it's right but who am I to judge?

[GFoladi]

@nathanaelstacy1 it's obviously not that simple, but it's not a load of crap and society and individuals decide what is right and wrong, who else would decide it? Different societies and individuals have their differences but everyone's decision and opinion influences others, therefore there comes a compromise. I'll give you examples and living proof if you want....(con't)