"You just need to read the Bible!"
By David G. McAfee
I've actually read the Bible... in fact, I've read and studied the
Christian texts more than the majority of believers. When I went to
school for Religious Studies, I learned about the Hebrew Scriptures
and the New Testament doctrines. I learned about which books
were excluded early on when they didn't fit with what was later
determined to be "Orthodox" Christianity and about the many
Mesopotamian and Greek influences of the Christian Creation
narrative. I read about the other deities that came long before and
influenced the creation of the Judeo-Christian God, and I learned
about how the New Testament scriptures were written decades
after the supposed death and resurrection of Jesus by people who
were not eye witnesses. I also discovered how Christianity began as
a small cult and spread, through a combination of violence and
proselytization, to become the most followed religion. I encourage
believers to take a look at the Bible and the history of the religion
with a critical eye — instead of through the "interpretation" of the
Church or a pastor. Even if you think it will only strengthen your
faith, I encourage you to study more about the holy texts and fry to
see that they re nothing more than cultural myths, no different
from any other religious tradition that came before and after yours
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