What bible story do you find hardest to believe?

[Nettiebelle]

"danclark

Use of Bibles

Theodore Roosevelt did not use a Bible when taking the oath in 1901. Barack Obama, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Harry S. Truman, and Richard Nixon (also a Quaker) swore the oath on two Bibles. John Quincy Adams swore on a book of law, with the intention that he was swearing on the constitution.[8] Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in on a Roman Catholic missal on Air Force One. Washington kissed the Bible afterwards,[9] and subsequent presidents followed suit, up to and including Harry Truman,[10] but Dwight D. Eisenhower broke that tradition by saying his own prayer instead of kissing the Bible.[11]-Wikipedia

So help me God"

The historical debate over who first used "So help me God," is marred by ignoring the two forms of giving the oath. The first, now in disuse, is when the administrator articulates the constitutional oath in the form of a question, as in, "Do you George Washington solemnly swear...", requesting an affirmation. At that point a response of "I do" or "I swear" completes the oath. Without verbatim transcripts, the scant existing evidence shows this was the common procedure at least until the early 20th century. In 1865 the Sacramento Daily Union covered the second inauguration of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln finished his oath with "So help me God," and he kissed the bible.[33] In 1881, the New York Times article covering the swearing in of Chester A. Arthur, reported that he responded to the question of accepting the oath with the words, "I will, so help me God".[6] In 1929, Time magazine reported that the Chief Justice began the oath uttering, "You, Herbert Hoover, do you solemnly swear..."[7] Hoover replied with a simple "I do".

A Federal law suit filed in the District of Columbia by Michael Newdow on December 30, 2008 contended the second, current form of administration, where both the Chief Justice and the President articulate the oath, appending "So help me God", to be a breach of the Constitutional instructions. The suit distinguishes between the words spoken by the administrator, which must conform to the exact 35 words of the Constitution, and the President, who has a right to add a personal prayer, such as "So help me God."[34]

Chief Justice Roberts' reply was that his "prompting" for these four extra-constitutional words were to be recited "after" the oath of office, and not as a part of the oath as claimed in the suit. After rendering the oath to President Barack Obama, Roberts prompted with a question "So help you God?", to which the President responded, "So help me God."[35]

The first Congress explicitly prescribed the phrase "So help me God" in oaths under the Judiciary Act of 1789 for all U.S. judges and officers other than the President. It was prescribed even earlier under the various first state constitutions[36] as well as by the Second Continental Congress in 1776.[37][38] Although the phrase is mandatory in these oaths, the said Act also allows for the option that the phrase be omitted by the officer, in which case it would be called an affirmation instead of an oath: "Which words, so help me God, shall be omitted in all cases where an affirmation is admitted instead of an oath."[39] In contrast, the oath of the President is the only oath specified in the Constitution. It does not include the closing phrase "So help me God", and it also allows for the optional form of an affirmation which is not considered an oath. In practice, however, most Presidents, at least during the last century, have opted to take the oath (rather than an affirmation), to use a Bible to do so, and also to close the oath with the customary phrase.

The earliest known source indicating Washington added "So help me God" to his acceptance, not to the oath, is attributed to Washington Irving, aged six at the time of the inauguration, and first appears 65 years after the event.[40]- Wikipedia

IMO most likely all Presidents have been Christian, and the majority of the first Congress also.

[Nettiebelle]

Romans Road wrote:

<quoted text>
Easter bunny, easter eggs, Santa, elves, etc etc are attempts from Satan to pervert the real meaning.
Jesus Christ left the glory of Heaven, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, went to the cross for our sins, died, rose from the dead, showed Himself to the apostles and over 500 eye-witnesses, ascended to Heaven, is currently at the right hand of the Father.

Things like Easter Eggs, Christmas Trees, etc.,originated from other practices other than Christianity, but these things have all been blended in WITH certain religious holidays.
I have always enjoyed them; practiced them.
~shrug~
They do not hold the same meaning as they did originally, most likely.

[Nancy Botwin]

Nettiebelle wrote:

<quoted text>Hold on, shortcake.
I have never damned anyone to hell, and I never will.
I happen to be one of those Christians who believes that non-Christians have the same chance of salvation as I do.
I have enough trouble with Jehovah Witnesses myself, dear.
lol
I am a Catholic and I live in the south, which is mostly Protestant.
I fully support your right to believe as you wish.
Please also recognize my same right.
I post a lot of stuff about the Catholic faith because there are few Catholics who post here.
Yet, the smartest posters and those I can learn something from are not Christians; they are atheists or agnostics.
Or, of a different faith.

You lost me at "shortcake". And yes, your other Christians buddies have been condemning everyone to hell fire that disagrees with them. Perhaps you need to have a chat with them. Personally, I don't care if your pink with purple polk-a-dots. Are you an honorable person and are you kind? That's all that matters to me.

Around here it's not just the JW's but the Mormon's as well. Whatever floats your boat...just don't come sail it in my pond. That's my motto!
Have a great day!(Really)

[Romans Road]

Earth Child 1 wrote:

<quoted text>500 witnesses and only a few people wrote about it..........LOL. After that, people were tortured and murdered into believing.

In those days few people could read and write. Word of mouth from eye-witnesses is what started and established Christianity. Why do you think we are still discussing it almost 2000 years later?

[rajibastard]

Hows about the Bible story when Mary is inseminated by a ghost how far fetched is that...Almost as unbelievable as death and rebirth ........

[STEPHMAR]

Shoe wrote:

Adam and Eve. Just can't and don't buy it. There are quite a few that I find hard to believe but Adam and Eve I definetly do not believe.

There is nothing unbelievable about the Story of Adam and Eve. What is hard to believe is the implication that Eve was the "first sinner." What bull-shit? Satan was the "first sinner." However, as usual,blame the poor woman for all of man's ills. Sound like 'sexism' to me.

[Hell Sucks]

danclark wrote:

Here's something not yet discussed. Politicians. When they are sworn in-take an oath with a hand on the bible. What do they do? Break the oath. How much do politicians have faith when swearing on the bible? I don't hear anyone speak of this.

Actually, it goes much deeper than that. In a secular court, what sort of fair act is it to use the Bible as a instrument of preventing perjury? For those that don't believe, it has no meaning. For those that do, God tells us never to swear on anything in His name or any other oath.

James 5:

12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

So actually a Christian should be able to refuse the oath as it would conflict with their religious beliefs. What it comes down to is that the oath is forcing the hand of a believer and is perjury if proven to either that lie. Therefore the use of the Bible as vow of honesty in the courts is hypocritical and unconstitutional to those that believe on The Holy Bible.

[Romans Road]

Nettiebelle wrote:

<quoted text>Things like Easter Eggs, Christmas Trees, etc.,originated from other practices other than Christianity, but these things have all been blended in WITH certain religious holidays.
I have always enjoyed them; practiced them.
~shrug~
They do not hold the same meaning as they did originally, most likely.

The Harlot Roman Catholic Church, which came hundreds of years after the TRUE church, added in all kinds of pagan customs and practices into Christianity.

[Earth Child 1]

Romans Road wrote:

<quoted text>
In those days few people could read and write. Word of mouth from eye-witnesses is what started and established Christianity. Why do you think we are still discussing it almost 2000 years later?

No, toots, it was intimidation, torture, murder, etc..........that established most of it.

[Nettiebelle]

Nancy Botwin wrote:

<quoted text>
You lost me at "shortcake". And yes, your other Christians buddies have been condemning everyone to hell fire that disagrees with them. Perhaps you need to have a chat with them. Personally, I don't care if your pink with purple polk-a-dots. Are you an honorable person and are you kind? That's all that matters to me.
Around here it's not just the JW's but the Mormon's as well. Whatever floats your boat...just don't come sail it in my pond. That's my motto!
Have a great day!(Really)

The only posters I know of who consistently condemn folks to hell are fundies, and they don't like me much either.

[Nettiebelle]

Romans Road wrote:

<quoted text>
The Harlot Roman Catholic Church, which came hundreds of years after the TRUE church, added in all kinds of pagan customs and practices into Christianity.

The Catholic Church was the first and only church around and for a long time.
As for Christmas trees, etc., yeah, plenty of things were borrowed from pagan practices/beliefs, etc., including most of the stories in the Old Testament.
I really do not care where these 'practices' like Easter Eggs came from, they are not required as Doctrine, etc. I enjoy them personally.

And, whoever posted about folks being threatened, killed, etc., to make them convert to Christianity, yeah, that is most likely true!
Still, it is the faith itself which draws me to it, always was.
It doesn't matter which faith you research, all of them contain some people who have done wrong things.
I would hope that we have grown beyond that, yet, here old RR is spewing her stuff, so.........
Still, he/she is a dying breed.

[Nettiebelle]

Hell Sucks wrote:

<quoted text>
Actually, it goes much deeper than that. In a secular court, what sort of fair act is it to use the Bible as a instrument of preventing perjury? For those that don't believe, it has no meaning. For those that do, God tells us never to swear on anything in His name or any other oath.
James 5:
12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
So actually a Christian should be able to refuse the oath as it would conflict with their religious beliefs. What it comes down to is that the oath is forcing the hand of a believer and is perjury if proven to either that lie. Therefore the use of the Bible as vow of honesty in the courts is hypocritical and unconstitutional to those that believe on The Holy Bible.

Hi HS,
Good to see you posting.
Interesting stuff, and thank you for posting this one!

[Nettiebelle]

STEPHMAR wrote:

<quoted text>There is nothing unbelievable about the Story of Adam and Eve. What is hard to believe is the implication that Eve was the "first sinner." What bull-shit? Satan was the "first sinner." However, as usual,blame the poor woman for all of man's ills. Sound like 'sexism' to me.

The Garden of Eden story is just that, a story.
Yet, there was, somewhere along the way, an Adam and Eve.

[Hell Sucks]

Nettiebelle wrote:

<quoted text>The only posters I know of who consistently condemn folks to hell are fundies, and they don't like me much either.

Nah, hell sucks. Let's plan a reunion in heaven instead.

How are you doing Nettie? Been quite a while since we've gotten to exchange greetings. Still looking for that light at the end of the winter tunnel. But I have faith that it too shall pass and we will be given a new scenery of greening foliage, blooming flowers, the energizing through the sun's warm rays, and returning songbirds to enjoy anew.

[Nettiebelle]

Hell Sucks wrote:

<quoted text>
Nah, hell sucks. Let's plan a reunion in heaven instead.
How are you doing Nettie? Been quite a while since we've gotten to exchange greetings. Still looking for that light at the end of the winter tunnel. But I have faith that it too shall pass and we will be given a new scenery of greening foliage, blooming flowers, the energizing through the sun's warm rays, and returning songbirds to enjoy anew.

I am doing well.
Hang in there, Spring is coming.
:)

[GodSmacked]

aWitchintheWoods wrote:

<quoted text>
**big grin**
Thank you, GS. I enjoy you also.

WW I do hope you will grace us with your presence more often because this group of poster truly need your insightful view on things as it pertains to the topic at hand.

[dr fill]

GodSmacked wrote:

<quoted text>
WW I do hope you will grace us with your presence more often because this group of poster truly need your insightful view on things as it pertains to the topic at hand.

I myself like the talking snake story.Its a story they stole from the sumerians and tweeked it a little.The sumerian story had a group called the order of the snake.Then the goat herder bible writers stole it and added that a snake talked.If they said that now days what would people think hah?

[GodSmacked]

dr fill wrote:

<quoted text>I myself like the talking snake story.Its a story they stole from the sumerians and tweeked it a little.The sumerian story had a group called the order of the snake.Then the goat herder bible writers stole it and added that a snake talked.If they said that now days what would people think hah?

Dear your analogy here is, shall we say, and I mean this in the most kind heartfelt way, low brow. You may consider trying harder next time however I personal could careless what others think because my life is just to legendary to be bothered with such things as low brow posts unless I am sharing and giving insight to give the poster a more kosher take on the subject at hand.

Now Witchinthewood, well, she has class and style with her posting and in due time you will see that Dear. WW has an astonishing wit with the written word.

[GodSmacked]

I see my entourage has entered the thread. I just adore each and everyone of you and appreciate you showing me that each of you hang on every word I post. Please do keep this up going forward because it gives me that star quality I so deserve.

[dr fill]

GodSmacked wrote:

<quoted text>
Dear your analogy here is, shall we say, and I mean this in the most kind heartfelt way, low brow. You may consider trying harder next time however I personal could careless what others think because my life is just to legendary to be bothered with such things as low brow posts unless I am sharing and giving insight to give the poster a more kosher take on the subject at hand.
Now Witchinthewood, well, she has class and style with her posting and in due time you will see that Dear. WW has an astonishing wit with the written word.

So you dont believe that the goat herder bible writers stole the storys from the sumerians? Very interesting yet telling?