Previously, I have prevented Evangelical zealots from filling the comment section with proof texts, often without any commentary. Such people think that the Bible is self-explanatory; which is contrary to what the Good Book actually teaches on the matter. Question? If the Bible is self-explanatory, why are there 900 or so Christian colleges in the United States that train people for 4-6 years to preach the self-explanatory Bible? If the Bible is self-explanatory, why do Evangelical preachers hold multiple services every week to teach congregations the Word of God?
With that thought in mind, I have decided to alter this site’s policy on quoting Bible verses in the comment section.
You may now quote Bible verses as long as you do not claim they are supernatural or authoritative. The verses will be treated just like the words of any other written text.
You are required, then, to state why you are quoting these verses. Don’t assume we know. We are not as smart as you are. I received a Men in Black-like mind wipe when I deconverted, so I lost fifty years of knowledge overnight. I don’t know squat compared to you, oh great one!
If you invoke God, the supernatural, or some sort of authority, you are required to give evidence for the existence of God; that this God is the God of the Christian Bible; that the God of the Christian Bible supernaturally birthed the Bible, giving it his authority. The Bible is like no other book, you may say, but such faith claims will not suffice. You must defend your God and his Bible on the fields of Evidence and Reason.
If you cannot do so, your proof texts are not welcome.
Why should any of us care what your holy book says?
Well, it’s God’s Word.
Prove it.
You wrongly assume your Bible’s words have some sort of magical power or meaning to the non-initiated or those no longer in the cult.
They don’t.
Talking about the Bible can be interesting. I enjoy the intellectual exercise. After all, I was a Christian for 50 years — 17 years longer than Jesus was 😂
But, it’s just a book, no different from hundreds of other books I’ve owned.
However, once you claim the Bible is supernatural and authoritative, questions are sure to follow.
I hope you understand,
Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
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