Well... this topic got abit off topic.Where the heck are the moderators??? I'm suprised they let such a string of cussing go on... oh well.
Well I've been quietly watching what's going on, couldn't resist getting into the argument. Kinda stupid of me, no way can I convince you, but what the heck.
Haven't bothered to read everything I'll just make a couple comments. I've found a ton of great bands in the meantime to listen to, namely: Kalmah, In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, Opeth, etc, etc... still going to get COB as soon as I get to college, because they remain my favorite band.
Now just a few comments (I'm going to ignore the evolution issue, it's too complex... and I'm not a scientist so I'm not qualified to argue it)... but just so you know, it's possible to be a christian and still believe in evolution. If you interpret the creation story and the 6 days of creation as having been thousands/millions of years. I know some christians who believe in evolution, I think they're wrong, but they're still christians/saved.
This is really complex, I don't claim to understand God, and frankly I'm glad I don't, God's far beyond my limited scope. But here's my try at theology.
Basically, God hates sin, but loves people. He created Satan, and set into motion all this stuff, and sent his son to save the world, all to bring glory to himself. Ok this might sound selfish but it's not. Everyone and everything glorifies something, whether it's money, cars, junk, whatever. We're supposed to glorify God alone but none of us achieve this completely(even Christians who still sin). Since everything is supposed to glorify God... who's God supposed to glorify? Well himself of course.
Now, someone said that Jesus told his disciples they'd have eternal life yet they still died. Correct. But what you fail to understand due to your not knowing the issue at hand well enough is that Eternal life does not mean they never die on Earth. Eternal life means to spend eternity in heaven. Everyone lives forever in the afterlife, but if you're in hell, it's basically like you're in Eternal death.
The interesting thing is that everyone goes to where they want to go. You people would rather go to hell then bow down to God and confess your sins. Your very attitude shows this. You're basically going to get what you're asking for.
Oh and about that quoted verse about the whole iron chariot thing... God sometimes during the conquest of Canaan allowed the Israelites to lose ON PURPOSE. Usually it was because someone had commited a sin God had specifically forbade, or because the Israelites didn't have enuff faith. Regardless, it was never because God lacked the power to overcome some human weaklings.
There are no contradictions in the bible. Tell me a contradiction you find in the Bible and I'll prove you wrong.
Oh and whoever said Jesus is white?!?!? That's dead wrong and you can blame that ignorance on the person who said that and the artists who paint the painting but trust me, it does NOT say that in the bible.
And I'm pretty sure that historians have a good grasp on how people were nailed to crosses. They were probably nailed hands feet, and chest.
About the serpent thing, those people got it all wrong. Jesus told SPECIFIC people who he was sending out as missionaries that they would touch serpents and not be harmed. He didnt tell ALL CHRISTIANS that. So blame it on the ignorance of those who misinterpret it, not on the bible.
Now I'm kinda tired it's 1:00 AM in the morning here, and I feel like watching some Alias shows so I g2g, but I'll leave you all with this question.
I seriously don't understand how anyone can be a complete atheist. It's impossible IMO. Even if you believe in evolution, in the big bang or whatever that started it... my question is what started the big bang?? Aliens? Ok so let's say aliens started the big bang. Where did the aliens go from? Another, previous big bang? Who/what started that?
You see there has to be something that started the world and was not started by anything else. IT IS COMPLETELY IGNORANT AND FROM MY POINT OF VIEW ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DISBELIEVE IN THE EXISTANCE OF ANY ALMIGHTY BEING THAT CONTROLS EVERYTHING.
Prove me wrong on that point, and kudos to you.
Goodnight.