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Author | Topic: Atheist Appreciation of Biblical Wisdom and Inspiration | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Buzsaw Inactive Member
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Hi Straggler. Great topic!
At the beginning of King Solomon's reign, he was given the unusual priviledge by God to essentially be granted whatever thing he desired. Instead of asking for wisdom and power, etc he asked for wisdom and knowledge to rule Israel well and justly, etc.
In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, "Ask what I shall give you." (2 Chronicles 1:7). "Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can rule this great people of Thine?" And God said to Solomon, "Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth, or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge, that you may rule My people, over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed, nor those who will come after you." (2 Chronicles 1:10-12). Solomon was not only renouned in all of the civilized world for his wisdom, but his kingdom had more wealth and renouned greatness than any before or after him. I would advise the entire book of Proverbs for a wisdom. You, Straggler, are wise to open this topic. Why? Because you, like Solomon are seeking wisdom. Wisdom helps one to apply knowledge. Many knowledgeable folk have little wisdom, but wise folk usually aquire (abe: knowledge) and other good things in life. Edited by Buzsaw, : as noted BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW. The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.
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Buzsaw Inactive Member
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ringo writes: He who tries to gain wisdom from one book is not wise. Very good, Ringo. That's the greatest argument for the Bible (abe: being the) most reliable and substantiated holy book chock full of wisdom, knowledge, history and fulfilled prophecy etc. It is unique; a compilation of 66 books, written over a period of some 1500 years from diverse nations by roughly 40 different writers from all walks of life including lowly self educated shepherds, nomadic prophets dwelling in the wilderness, fishermen, highly educated noblemen and majestic kings. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Edited by Buzsaw, : Noted in context BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW. The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.
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Buzsaw Inactive Member
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hooah writes: So full of wisdom, that the first verse that comes to your mind when recommending passages full of wisdom, is one about some guy asking god for wisdom. Yes, Hooah, wise men and women ever learn and ever become wiser. BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW. The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.
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Buzsaw Inactive Member
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jar writes: And even if what Buz claimed was true, how does that in any way address any value of the content The thread OP calls for references to content. One must read thoughtfully the content of reference to benefit the value of content. Savvy? BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW. The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.
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Buzsaw Inactive Member
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ringo writes: But the canon (your canon, that is) was decided by a handful of men in dresses. Not so. It evolved over centuries, beginning with the times of the writers. There's a thead on that ongoing if I recall rightly in which I weighed in on that count. In fact, so what? What is important relative to this thread is whether the source makes one wiser and more knowledgeable as well as where to find the most useful wisdom and knowledge in it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW. The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.
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Buzsaw Inactive Member
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Straggler writes: Are there particular passages that I can be directed to as being of significant timeless wisdom and meaning? Are there particular parts that even a die hard atheist can point to as being inspirational and insightful? The very first chapter of Proverbs, verses from King Solomon to his son contains a classic example of a significant timeless wise and meaningful passage to inspire insightfulness.
19 So [are] the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; [which] taketh away the life of the owners thereof. The above brings to mind the thousands of youth gangs and cartel drug war criminals, all void of wisdom and insight, whether athiest or religious who die young, not to mention their hapless victims and families who suffer so much. BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW. The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.
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Buzsaw Inactive Member
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Straggler writes: At the risk of completely derailing my own barely started topic I just wanted to ask: What would you ask for Buz? - If you were given that offer now? Quickly, off the top of my head, that when I walk through the pearly gates, inside I will find some of those for whom I've prayed for over the decades and to whom I've had a role for enlightment unto salvation. BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW. The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.
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Buzsaw Inactive Member
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jar writes: ........the creation of "a Bible" was a state decision, a matter of a state decision to create one unified manual that would be used in all of the churches built by the State Religion. The Christian concept of a Bible was something new.........l Mmm, not so, Jar. The Bible was essentially completed by A.D. 100. A couple of books, including Revelation were not included until later. The apostolic church relied on the teaching of Jesus' about God, Heaven, doctrine and how to set up the church. This was given to the apostles, compiled and handed down from them to the church bishops and deacons throughout the apostolic era. BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW. The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.
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Buzsaw Inactive Member
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ringo writes: So, if there's a high concentration of wisdom in the Bible, why don't people who believe the Bible exhibit an unusually high degree of wisdom? I see a correlation of the Biblical wisdom and the cultural advancement of Western civilization, especially in nations where the Bible is freely read and taught. OTO, we observe nations like Quranic Muslim indoctrinated, secularistic communistic cultures and Eastern block nations who's cultural life are all to often oppressive, impoverished and unbenevolent in times of disaster. BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW. The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.
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Buzsaw Inactive Member
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ringo writes: That's not what I asked. In western civilization itself, do believers in the Bible exhibit more wisdom than unbelievers? Are there, for example, fewer Bible believers in prison? Do Bible believers tend to have more successful marriages? If not, then maybe the supposed "superior wisdom" in western culture is in spite of the Bible instead of because of it. Perhaps you're confusing believers and practitioners of the Bible with professing Christians. To profess Christianity is one thing but to read, believe and practice Biblical fundamentals, quite another. Observing and comparing the cultures in aggregate reveals a lot relative to their beliefs and practices by and large. Sadly, Western cultures are rapidly declining in these (Biblically prophesied end of Gentile age days) of apostacy, commensurate with the decline of Biblical principles. BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW. The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.
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Buzsaw Inactive Member
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hooah writes: Buzsaw writes: I see a correlation of the Biblical wisdom and the cultural advancement of Western civilization, especially in nations where the Bible is freely read and taught. quote:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I see a correlation of the religious freedom and the cultural advancement of Western civilization, especially in nations where religious freedom is practiced and taught. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There, I fixed that for you. Thank you kindly, sir. However many nations forbid the reading of the scriptures which normally pre-empts practice. The US of A, in these latter days of apostacy is forbidding the reading and the practice of religion in areas of our modern culture which were allowed in our the days of our heritage.
OFF TOPIC - Please Do Not Respond to this message by continuing in this vein. AdminPD Edited by AdminPD, : Warning BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW. The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.
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Buzsaw Inactive Member
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Straggler writes: Why do you think it has had such a historical role? Right place right time? Christian missionary methods? Or is there something about the bible (as opposed to other aspects of Christianity) that lit people's imaginations in some way? Interestingly, this is weighs in on one of the fulfilled end time prophecies which I've cited in past threads as evidence supportive to the Biblical record. Jesus, during his Olivet Discourse prophecy addressing the questions asked by his apostles on the Mt of Olives before he was crucified cited as one of signs to look for before his 2nd advent, being that the gospel of his kingdom would be preached to all nations. Then the apostle John afterward in Revelation 14:6, said an angel flying in the heavens would be one media which would fulfill this prophecy. Perhaps the satelite flying in the midst of heaven named Sky Angel connected with Dominion Broadcasting is the fulfillment of that prophecy. I was one of the charter subscribers to that media a number of years ago. The Greek rendering of that word angelos can mean messenger as well as an angelic living creature.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come. 14:6And I saw another angel flying in mid heaven, having eternal good tidings to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people; 14:7and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters. BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW. The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.
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Buzsaw Inactive Member
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hooah writes: Where are you forbidden to practice your religion? Try teaching the New England Primer, chock full of Biblical stuff or singing from the Isaac Watts Hymnal to the kiddies in your average public school, major sources of education curricula for over a century in our nation's schools. See how long you would last doing that.
OFF TOPIC - Please Do Not Respond to this message by continuing in this vein. AdminPD Edited by AdminPD, : Warning BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW. The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.
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Buzsaw Inactive Member |
Jon writes: I still vote for James...It is an insightful look into Christian rhetoric. Anyone who has familiarized themselves with the Faith v. Works debate will certainly find it an enjoyable piece. One of my favorite lines: quote:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- James 2:19 (NRSV): You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believeand shudder. Lol, brother. Though the book of James may inspire wisdom into theists, likely it will do nothing to inspire anything into the mindset of athiests such as Straggler as per the OP. Objective thiests searching for truth, especially scientific minded ones, however might become wiser and/or inspired by evidence such as verifiable fulfilled prophecy, archeology or history relative to scriptural text. Over the centuries, athieists, in fact have become wiser and inspired by evidence related to scripture. The apostles themselves and Jesus often used evidence related scripture to inspire conversion into non-believers. An example would be the Athenian Greeks alluded to in the book of Acts and other Gentiles. BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW. The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.
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Buzsaw Inactive Member |
bluescat writes: Except for the fact that the Athenian Greeks weren't Atheists. Yah, you're right. Most were pagan and likely some agnostics, having a statue to the unknown god, according to the Apostle Paul in the NT book of Acts. Perhaps, though, what might inspire pagans and agnostics Biblically might be the same cited scriptures applying to athiests, including the Proverbs and the prophecies, etc. BUZSAW B 4 U 2 C Y BUZ SAW. The immeasurable present eternally extends the infinite past and infinitely consumes the eternal future.
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