Who here is NOT a free thinker when it comes to spirituality?

[Quixote1818]

I am just curious if their are any ridged or fundamentalist spiritual people on DU. Anyone here think the Bible is 100% true? Anyone believe in Noah's Ark or Religious things way outside the realm of science? Just curious.

[alittlelark]

1. There are a few who have the beliefs you describe

but they are either hit and runners or post quite infrequently.

The '100% true' bible believers don't hang here often...;)

[DIKB]

3. Just cause they don't

buy it 100% doesn't mean they're really "Freethinkers"

My parents are openminded Catholics, but I'm the only Freethinker of the family.

[saltpoint]

2. I think the Bible is interesting but not literally true.

Bill Cosby's account of Noah and the ark comes pretty close, I think.

My recipe has been several parts mixed, including a little Buddhism, some paganism, the Hellenic pantheon, and some ass-kicking leftist New Testament passages thrown out by the holy originals of the early Church.

It's a coat of many colors and fragments that tends to repel but which fits me ok.

[Quixote1818]

4. I like Jefferson's ideas on Jesus

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/jesus/jefferson.html

[saltpoint]

6. I second that --

-- and will buy you a beer to boot.

[GetTheRightVote]

5. Yes, I believe in the bible, noah, and God as my savior

but that does not make me a bad person either, lol. Certainly not a right winger, those people do not appear to care about anyone but themselves and their money not to much about the reality of God and good deeds, hard work, sharing/caring for others.... etc. I hate their abuse of my christian beliefs though I am far from perfect either. By the way I am always here and post alot, though sometimes I just read too.

I believe deeply in Gods influence in my life and that he/she has helped me a great deal but I believe as well that this is why I am a lefter because I do truly believe that our greatest gift if we do believe is to give to others and this side of the spectrum appears to do that to me anyway. The right wing just does not get it at all, they are not living in good christian shoes at all, tend to be selfish it seems to me, but I am sure that there are good people over there that should be over here.

There are many christians I am sure on this side of the tracks.

:kick:

[Quixote1818]

9. Interesting, and glad to have you on the left even if we see things

Different. As a disciple of Jefferson and his love of individuality and spiritual freedom I am a firm believer that spirituality is different for everyone and that all five billion of us tap into God in our own unique way. Some through Christ, some through nature, some through many other religions or even a mix of different religions. The important thing to me is that we are tolerant of this. Also, you don't have to believe in God to be blessed and make it to heaven (if their is a heaven). Thats part of the riddle and the important thing is to seek knowledge to grow and love your neighbor.

[tjwmason]

7. I believe that the Bible is 100% true

But that not all of it is to be taken literally.

The Bible was interpreted on a number of levels, including allegorically and figuratively, for centuries before silly people came along and invented Biblical fundamentalism.

I have a quote somewhere which is centuries old (I think that it is Origen of Alexandria), wherein he considers the idea that the world is necessarily 6000 years old to be pure nonsense.

[Az]

8. So how would you react to a verse that is factually incorrect?

Not going to issue a challenge on this as this is not the place. But what if you were shown a verse that was clearly wrong? Would that dismantle your belief? Or would you shift away from presuming the work was infallible? Or would there be a different path you would find?

[tjwmason]

10. It wouldn't be a litteral point

As I have said, for the first many centuries of the Church it was realised that the important point is not the literal accuracy of a point but rather its essential meaning.

For example, taking the issue of the creation account in Genesis. There are two important points, first is creation ex nihilo and the second is the presence of an interested and loving God. Neither of these has been contradicted by scientific investigation into the origin of the species. Even the basic notion that there were 6 24 hour days of creation is a very modern development.

The Bible is awash with allegory, and the fundamental message being trasmitted is destroyed if we raise allegorical statements to the level of literal truth.

[Az]

11. Still curious

Are you saying that as long as the basic morality concept is satisfied the reality of the model is irrelevant? IE if some fact is incorrectly proclaimed but the moral component is intact cohesion is maintained?

[tjwmason]

12. Basically yes

But more than just moral, also dogmatic content.