For those interested iamnotback and I have recently concluded a very deep philosophical debate.
It started off as a debate on slavery before moving on to a discussion of the characteristics of evil. From there it spiraled into a discussion of God concluding with a contrast between the worship of nature and the worship of God.
The debate started in the Martin Armstrong thread here:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1082909.msg17608266#msg17608266
It concluded in the Dark Enlightenment thread.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=495527.msg17633518#msg17633518
The fear of God is necessary to maximize cooperation over defection. It is not cost free so individuals who fear God must form a community of like minded individuals to maximize the benefits of cooperation. Ultimately there is no current or future functional mechanism more optimized for maximizing cooperation then a universal and genuine the fear of the LORD. This is why religion will grow and ultimately out compete lesser more inefficient strategies. For a deeper analysis we must enter the realm of religious texts.
Bible is filled with many words. It is filled with many concepts. Each of these concepts is often difficult to consider in the light of all the rest of the concepts. So...
Get yourself a set of Bible CDs in a language that is common to you,
Bit bias here. Why you not encouraging him to get some Quran etc... CD's as well, so he can get a nice balanced view?
My arguments upthread and elsewhere commit me to Ethical Monotheism. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are all at theoretically congruent with my position.
BADeckers advice to not just read but also listen to the Bible including the New Testament is interesting and something I had not previously considered I will probably follow it. There is nothing wrong with with reading the Quran also as one should fully understand all of ones options. Finally, I intend to take a very close look at Judaism.
In the end I will choose the option I feel is closest to truth. However, as I have no real desire to engage in further theological debates I will likely keep that choice to myself.
It started off as a debate on slavery before moving on to a discussion of the characteristics of evil. From there it spiraled into a discussion of God concluding with a contrast between the worship of nature and the worship of God.
The debate started in the Martin Armstrong thread here:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1082909.msg17608266#msg17608266
It concluded in the Dark Enlightenment thread.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=495527.msg17633518#msg17633518
Proverbs 9:10
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom"
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom"
The fear of God is necessary to maximize cooperation over defection. It is not cost free so individuals who fear God must form a community of like minded individuals to maximize the benefits of cooperation. Ultimately there is no current or future functional mechanism more optimized for maximizing cooperation then a universal and genuine the fear of the LORD. This is why religion will grow and ultimately out compete lesser more inefficient strategies. For a deeper analysis we must enter the realm of religious texts.
Get yourself a set of Bible CDs in a language that is common to you,
Bit bias here. Why you not encouraging him to get some Quran etc... CD's as well, so he can get a nice balanced view?
My arguments upthread and elsewhere commit me to Ethical Monotheism. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are all at theoretically congruent with my position.
BADeckers advice to not just read but also listen to the Bible including the New Testament is interesting and something I had not previously considered I will probably follow it. There is nothing wrong with with reading the Quran also as one should fully understand all of ones options. Finally, I intend to take a very close look at Judaism.
In the end I will choose the option I feel is closest to truth. However, as I have no real desire to engage in further theological debates I will likely keep that choice to myself.
Another option is to read Quantum Physics textbook, or read History books, read any books that talk about reality.
If you seek refuge in some Bronze Age or a 6-th century poetry, that is fine, just don't come out and say that this is 'the truth'. Literature is fine as long as it is treated/interpreted as such.
Do you want to know the history of human kind, how it all started? Read this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Sapiens-Humankind-Yuval-Noah-Harari/dp/0062316095/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485869151&sr=8-1&keywords=brief+history+of+human
For me, theology is a study of literature. Like you, I have no interest in it.
However, when someone comes out and says they have a talking, winged horse sitting on a unicorn in their backyard, I have to confront the BS.
When someone suggests the idea of someone coming out and saying they have a talking, winged horse sitting on a unicorn in their back yard, we all have to wonder about the credulity of the person making the suggestion.
If we did not have the printing press or any other methods of easily recording and making copies of books, and the only way to make a copy of a book was to copy it by hand, what would a quantum physics book or "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" look like in a thousand years?
My guess is that there wouldn't be any copies around. People are only interested in the truth. Without the easy method of propagating propaganda like the printing press, all that would be left are the multiple thousands of handmade copies of the Bible, and a few copies of other religious books. Modern science would be almost completely gone.