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So, my Christian beginnings started in 3rd grade. We were baptized, I have seen the photos... but I don’t remember going to church. But in 3rd grade our public school was redistricted, so my parents elected to send us to a parochial school. Turns out, my dad’s parents went to that school and so did my dad. It was small with excellent teachers. (Not Catholic) We attended until 8th grade, then assimilated into the public school system... where we did very well. But church ... we didn’t do so well there. I don’t know what it was but I have two sisters... dad didn’t usually go because... golf ... so it was mom and my sisters and I. One of us... sometimes two of us... had some sort of problem with church ... the standing up and sitting down? Heat? I don’t know. We experienced fainting and vomiting in the hymnal with regularity. Not to mention the hellfire and damnation sermons ... it was never my thing. Once I discovered Margaret Meade and Marvin Harris religion fell into mythology and I began to explore other religions Hinduism, etc

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I'm going to have to Google Margaret Meade and Marvin Harris.

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Anthropologists... studying human cultures... the profound arrogance of Christian missionaries to enter a peaceful indigenous community and slay the heathens for not accepting their way ... pretty much changed my mind about Christianity.

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I appreciate reading this series. There was a time when I would have agreed with you 100%. Atheist logic is bulletproof. However, you've noticed that I'm digging deep into the Bible and writing about it. The truth is, I can't refute your arguments. I can only say that studying the Bible is good for me right now. For better or for worse, atheist logic led me to a depressing form of nihilism, so I'm searching these ancient books for a way out. Hopefully I can find a way out without reverting to dogmatic exclusion and close-minded irrationality.

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Any philosophy or belief system can be dogmatic and exclusionary. There are plenty of benign Christians, and I would imagine there are plenty of benign atheists. I hope your study of the Bible bears fruit. There is plenty of beautiful prose in those old stories. For me, there are no cosmic answers or revelations of why I exist and what I should do with that while it lasts. Humanism, on the other hand, gives me a shield against nihilism.

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Beautifully written takes time. Is it not obvious that these reworkings of mostly Greek myths (and history) takes so much time, is so well done (although still with many contradictions and errors) that it has to be a product of Empire.

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All quite true, in my estimation.

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Thank you for your articles. I have relatives who are very devout and believe the Bible holds all answers. They happen to also be people who got straight As in school or at least worshipped at the GPA altar. They always had or expect a right answer. Now what happens after death is something they do not have the answer for (really) but then again they have their Bible textbook for that, right? Test is passed and they maintain their A average. Some people cannot handle not knowing everything. I think if you have an open mind you are gonna get a grade of C (or worse) once in a while and are prepared to go to your grave without knowing it all. I want to be open to learning until the last seconds.

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Openness to experience (learning) is a fundamental personality trait that I enjoy in myself and in others. I'm glad we share the trait, Mary.

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Bill,

Luckily, I took a speed reading course back in 1965. So, I have been able to get through most of your postings since I got your first message. Speed reading is really designed for books rather than laptops. Of course, in 65 there were no laptops.

It has always amazed me how people believe the shit they believe! The 2.1% that have over 130 IQ understand what you are talking about, as for the rest, I don't think anything will help! What really amazes me more than anything is the people that should fall into that category that claim to believe. I guess it is an act to placate those that aren't as smart.

I really like what you have got to say! As I indicated, I fully research everything I post before I put it in writing. It is an open invitation in most cases to sue me for defamation, however, everyone seems to be too smart for that.

Steve

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