Are you ready for the return of Jesus Christ? Have you been cleansed by His blood?

[TheWay]

The problem is that the Bible, both testaments, is full of a lot more than wisdom and instruction.

It contains many troubling and violent elements alongside its parables and teachings.

There are stories of genocide, slavery, misogyny, divine wrath, and harsh punishments that can be deeply unsettling.

I would fear the fella in the Old Testament, put it that way, because that's not benevolence imho.

God is a righteous judge, and there are countless examples in Scripture of God rightly judging the wicked, whether it be a foreign people or His own people. Any rational person should fear God, and that fear should lead them to repentance. However, the problem is we are not dealing with rationality, but evil. The wisdom of this world if foolishness before God.

Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, and wickedness as with cart rope, who say, “Let him make haste, let him hasten his work, that we may see it; let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, that we may know it!” Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine, and champions at mixing strong drink; who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice for the innocent! Therefore as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as the dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust, because they have rejected the law of the LORD of Armies, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 5:18-24)

[andy06shake]

God is a righteous judge, and there are countless examples in Scripture of God rightly judging the wicked, whether it be a foreign people or His own people. Any rational person should fear God, and that fear should lead them to repentance. However, the problem is we are not dealing with rationality, but evil. The wisdom of this world if foolishness before God.

Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, and wickedness as with cart rope, who say, “Let him make haste, let him hasten his work, that we may see it; let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, that we may know it!” Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine, and champions at mixing strong drink; who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice for the innocent! Therefore as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as the dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust, because they have rejected the law of the LORD of Armies, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 5:18-24)

Which one? 

There are so many, you see.

Are they all righteous judges?

Evil is the intentional infliction of harm or suffering, driven by selfishness, malice, or ignorance.

It happens when individuals or groups prioritize their desires over others well-being.

[IdeomotorPrisoner]

Any rational person should fear God

Hmmmm.. Bold statement, are you sure?

I really cant think of a bigger waste of time than to fear random divine judgdment. I don't need to compound my insanity. I might as well just subliminally fulfill my expectation of doom.

But there's some great ideas in the bible...

So I choose to focus the more Ecclesiastical parts like; eating, drinking, being merry, and worrying about horrible depressing things when there's a time for that... unless I read or watch the news...

Plus, the people that use god for their vain holier than thou will to martyrdom are much more frightening. Way more than their god could be.

But you did say "rational..."

So what does thy religious tolerance say of this:

Deism is a philosophical belief that acknowledges a creator god but rejects divine intervention or revelation. Deists believe God created the universe with natural laws and then left it to operate without interference. They emphasize reason and natural observation as the primary means of understanding God's existence and purpose, rather than relying on religious texts or supernatural events.

...you can absolutely be rational with a non-interfering god. You can even be more rational to let that which can be experienced by the 5 senses (or cant be) affirm design - without the bias (and error) of the sixth sense mucking things up.

[andy06shake]

Hmmmm.. Bold statement, are you sure?

I really cant think of a bigger waste of time than to fear random divine judgdment. I don't need to compound my insanity. I might as well just subliminally fulfill my expectation of doom.

But there's some great ideas in the bible...

So I choose to focus the more Ecclesiastical things like; eating, drinking, being merry. (Unless i read or watch the news) And worrying about horrible depressing things when there's a time for that. 

Plus, the people that use god for their vain holier than thou will to martyrdom are much more frightening. Way more than thirty god could be.

But you did say "rational..."

So what say thy religious tolerance say of this:

...you can absolutely be rational with a non-interfering god. You can even be more rational to let that which can be experienced by the 5 senses (or cant be) affirm design - without the bias (and error) of the sixth sense mucking things up.

Maybe it's the other way about, hence the absence?

What if God fears his creation?

Considering how unpredictable or even dangerous we can be.

It may explain the consignment to eternal hellfire over simple disagreement.

[Kurokage]

The New Testament Scriptures were completed during the lifetimes of the Apostles. The latest book, Revelation, was written around 95 AD. One of the oldest fragments, the Rylands Library Papyrus P52, is dated to around 125 AD, approximately within one generation of the completion of the New Testament texts.

There's lot's of mystery surrounding the actual authors of the new testament and when it was written, so Ill stick with my response of it being a few hundreds years after the events. but as it's an amalgamation from many authors, that could be anything from 100CE to 300CE with no evidence it was completed during the lifetimes of the Apostles and was an evolving 'story'

As for Revelation...

The earliest instance of a substantial objection to the Book of Revelation arises with Gaius in the early third century. He dismisses the book based on the argument that it was a fabrication by the heretic Cerinthus.
In the middle of the 3rd century, Alexandrian Bishop Dyonisius raised further objections.
He emphasized in one of his letters: “By the phraseology also we can measure the difference between the Gospel and Epistle and the Revelation. The first two are written not only without any blunders in the use of Greek but with remarkable skill regarding diction, logical thought, and orderly expression.”
As it turns out, modern scholarship concurs with the bishop’s analysis. In the Introduction to the New Testament, Delbert Burkett concludes: “Most scholars today, therefore, attribute the Revelation and the Gospel to different authors, neither of which was the apostle John.”

[TheWay]

Which one? 

There are so many, you see.

Are they all righteous judges?

Evil is the intentional infliction of harm or suffering, driven by selfishness, malice, or ignorance.

It happens when individuals or groups prioritize their desires over others well-being.

There is only One true God—the God of the Bible. The Father and the Son Christ Jesus. All the others are worthless, powerless idols.

Sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD! Bless his name! Proclaim his salvation from day to day! Declare his glory amongst the nations, his marvellous works amongst all the peoples. For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised! He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Honour and majesty are before him. Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the LORD, you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come into his courts. Worship the LORD in holy array. Tremble before him, all the earth. Say amongst the nations, “The LORD reigns.” The world is also established. It can’t be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar, and its fullness! Let the field and all that is in it exult! Then all the trees of the woods shall sing for joy before the LORD; for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, the peoples with his truth. (Psalms 96:1-13 WEBPB)

Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, “You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, I announce to you. The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands. He isn’t served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath and all things. He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons and the boundaries of their dwellings, that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ‘For in him we live, move, and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’ Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man. The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent, because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.” Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, “We want to hear you again concerning this.” (Acts 17:22-32 WEBPB)

[TheWay]

There's lot's of mystery surrounding the actual authors of the new testament and when it was written, so Ill stick with my response of it being a few hundreds years after the events. but as it's an amalgamation from many authors, that could be anything from 100CE to 300CE with no evidence it was completed during the lifetimes of the Apostles and was an evolving 'story'

As for Revelation...

You’re free to hold your current view, but I’d encourage you to look deeper—there’s far more evidence than just some conflicting opinions of historians.

The reliability of Christianity’s claims and trust in the Bible is grounded in four key areas of evidence: manuscript consistency, archaeological findings, fulfilled prophecies, and internal cohesion. Manuscript evidence highlights the unparalleled preservation of biblical texts, with thousands of ancient copies, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, which support the consistency of modern Bibles. Archaeological discoveries, such as the pool of Bethesda, confirm the Bible’s historical accuracy. Somewhere in the order of 2,000 prophecies, including hundreds about Christ Jesus, have been fulfilled with remarkable precision, further supporting the Bible’s divine inspiration. Finally, the internal cohesion of the Bible, despite being written over approximately 1,500 years by some 40 authors, demonstrates its unified and divinely guided message. Together, these pillars offer compelling reasons to trust the Bible as a faithful record of God’s revelation.

And let’s not forget the eyewitness testimony of Jesus’ apostles. They upheld this testimony faithfully, unwavering even in the face of torture and execution.

[TheWay]

Hmmmm.. Bold statement, are you sure?

I really cant think of a bigger waste of time than to fear random divine judgdment. I don't need to compound my insanity. I might as well just subliminally fulfill my expectation of doom.

But there's some great ideas in the bible...

So I choose to focus the more Ecclesiastical parts like; eating, drinking, being merry, and worrying about horrible depressing things when there's a time for that... unless I read or watch the news...

Plus, the people that use god for their vain holier than thou will to martyrdom are much more frightening. Way more than their god could be.

But you did say "rational..."

So what does thy religious tolerance say of this:

...you can absolutely be rational with a non-interfering god. You can even be more rational to let that which can be experienced by the 5 senses (or cant be) affirm design - without the bias (and error) of the sixth sense mucking things up.

Scripture consistently presents the fear of God as the rational response to His majesty, sovereignty, and authority. To reject that fear is to reject wisdom itself, and based on His word in Scripture, means certain death. I mean, it's because of Him that you are even able to draw your next breath. Here's some excerpts: 

Pro_1:7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
Pro_8:13  The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
Pro_9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Pro_10:27  The fear of the LORD prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
Pro_14:26  In the fear of the LORD is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his children.
Pro_14:27  The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning people from the snares of death.
Pro_15:16  Better is little, with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure with trouble.
Pro_15:33  The fear of the LORD teaches wisdom. Before honour is humility.
Pro_16:6  By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Pro_19:23  The fear of the LORD leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble.
Pro_22:4  The result of humility and the fear of the LORD is wealth, honour, and life.
Pro_29:25  The fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in the LORD is kept safe.

“Don’t call a conspiracy all that this people call a conspiracy. Don’t fear their threats or be terrorised. The LORD of Armies is who you must respect as holy. He is the one you must fear. He is the one you must dread. He will be a sanctuary, but for both houses of Israel, he will be a stumbling stone and a rock that makes them fall. For the people of Jerusalem, he will be a trap and a snare. Many will stumble over it, fall, be broken, be snared, and be captured.” (Isaiah 8:12-15 WEBPB)

[greymagick]

According to those that have had a near death experience, NDE (it's a whole field of scientific study now, at this point), all those who have this experience say they have a "life review", and they essentially re-live the positive and negative consequences of their actions in their lives.  So if you were a bad person and did a lot of negative things to people, you actually end up feeling the pain you caused others etc.  Or if you had loving experiences with others, you feel that as well.  So basically, your own soul and essence of being is the judge of your life.  God and Jesus are just a metaphor, in my opinion.  Religions are mythologies, the writings of all can be interpreted symbolically and metaphorically.  That's the secret, I think.  We judge ourselves in the end, and that can be just as bad, or just as good, depending on what kind of person you are, and what kind of life you lived...

[andy06shake]

There is only One true God—the God of the Bible. The Father and the Son Christ Jesus. All the others are worthless, powerless idols.

Sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD! Bless his name! Proclaim his salvation from day to day! Declare his glory amongst the nations, his marvellous works amongst all the peoples. For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised! He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Honour and majesty are before him. Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the LORD, you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come into his courts. Worship the LORD in holy array. Tremble before him, all the earth. Say amongst the nations, “The LORD reigns.” The world is also established. It can’t be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar, and its fullness! Let the field and all that is in it exult! Then all the trees of the woods shall sing for joy before the LORD; for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, the peoples with his truth. (Psalms 96:1-13 WEBPB)

Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, “You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, I announce to you. The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands. He isn’t served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath and all things. He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons and the boundaries of their dwellings, that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ‘For in him we live, move, and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’ Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man. The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent, because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.” Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, “We want to hear you again concerning this.” (Acts 17:22-32 WEBPB)

Yeah, but that's what a Christian (im one also) would say.

The problem being different cultures have their own gods, scriptures, and experiences.

None of which can be objectively proven or disproven.

Science, history, and archaeology simply dont confirm one deity over others.

And monotheism, like polytheism, or atheism, rests on belief, not evidence.