Can I start a Pinocchioist religion, the story book has much useful wisdom and many people read it?
597244
While I will support your right to worship as you wish, I must say that a religion based upon total truth is way so not my belief system...But I can REALLY get behind <and in front> of the body parts growing to heroic proportions...
132433
You should read the book "Conversations With God an Uncommon Dialogue" by Neale Donald Walsch...it is VERY eye opening and explains quite a bit about people.  It explains the WHY behind a lot of the things we do.  You don't have to be religious to read it either.
773082
I could have written this question myself, and I look forward to your answers received.  I too am of the mind that it is what we are taught, and in the worst cases what we are taught to fear the questioning of.\n\nI always thought it would be an interesting (although possibly psycologically cruel) experiment to take a child or two from each of the major religions and raise them with no mention or concept of "god" or religion.  Would the develop a belief of their own?  At least it would be interesting to see what an intelligent person would lean toward if they only learn of the concept of god after growing to an age where they can decide on their own.\n\nI feel that is what I did, but in reverse, and it sounds like what happened to you as well.  As I got older and learned more about our world, I found that I didn't really believe what I was taught all my life.  Frankly, I don't feel the need to believe in a god or religion.\n\nI believe in being a good person as much as I can be, and that is fundamentally based in not causing other creatures intentional harm and living a moral and decent life.  Very similar ideas to what most religions teach.\n\nI also think it is a fine line between a religion and a cult.  Religions just have broad acceptance.  Kind of like if in 3000 years, the Branch Davidians were the most popular religion and David Coresh is referred to as Jesus is today.  Obviously that won't happen, and I really only used that example because I think it is the one most people will know of whom I am speaking.
781032
There are a lot of good suggestion already written here, and frankly I don't think which version you use will make a lot of difference when you read it. It may down the road when you start to study and look for teaching in it. Then you will want to get an accurate version and stay away from paraphrases versions like the NIV.  The important thing is that you allow God to teach you while you read. In James 1:5 it says, "...if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." This is a promise from God that if you ask Him He will give you wisdom as you read. So, when you read it, pray in your heart and ask God to open it up to you. It is a spiritual book and needs the Spirit of God to direct you.
1000812
I like it.  Hopefully some believers will read it as well.
409245
I recommend that you look into the folklore literature which will demonstrate how similar the bible and its themes are to other mythologies. Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung are excellent authors to start with. Christians basically believe what every other faith believes. Their way is the only TRUE path to God. In my opinion (as a Christian) that's incredibly narrow-minded. If you've read the Chronicles of Narnia (and if you haven't you should) the last chapter of book 7 "The last Battle" has a scene where Aslan (Christ) allows a young man who was a follower of Tash (another god/demon) into the real Narnia (Heaven) because his actions were congruent with the Aslan's teachings even though the young man didn't realize it. Basically I believe that those who are following Christ's spirit or philosophy even if they're not doing so in name have as much if not more truth than most christians.
164560
Travel and Preach people and teach them thae values to stick themself to.\n\nLove, humanity, extend a helping hand, doing a favour without expecting one back... You can find one of the persons these days is Shri Satya Sai Baba ..\nhttp://www.srisathyasai.org.in/\n\nAsoka  (an Indian Ruler , once upon a time) was on path of preaching Bhuddism after he saw devastation.
483353
Absolutely...a really good book to read is "Misquoting Jesus" by Bart Ehrman.  He did a lot of research on this topic.
1153356
Hello, crazy guy! Are you trying to start your own crazy religion, like scientology, only less money-mad?\n\nDarwin's theory of evolution holds pretty well up to reality. How could you ever believe the opposite?
1083745
Yes. \n\nBut you are the one that needs to learn how to read. \n\nThe literary form is when in a story a person tells a story to make a point. Like jesus telling about a 10 maidens .... The story about Jonah is not told that way.\n\nThat non the less this is about morality you may be right but a parable it is not.
451461
Trying to make sense of religion is like trying to teach a pig to sing.  Don't waste your time with fairy tales.
418335
Start your own religion, preach often and loudly, especially throughout the Bible Belt and the Southwest, and you'll attract some followers. But you can't claim to be the Son of God, that's already taken and you'll sound like a tool. Your religion should have a mix of Western religion with Eastern philosophy and you'll attract the best of both worlds.
1153365
I think it is a bunch of stories made up - fairytale like tales more or less.  If people found out that this was true they would probably just toss the book aside - recycle it, burn it, whatever - there will always be the true believers and the book will never go away.
1044974
If you don't recognize a story (a parable) as a way to explain the life facts that other humans act differently and speak other languages; you may be a danger to yourself and others.\n\nIt is also true, in this framework, that god has given us the abilities to travel, to learn other ways, and to recognize that humanity is more important than cultural details.
957310
That sounds like a beautiful idea, I commend you. If I went to your college I would most definately join, because though I am a Buddhist I am also an agnostic.By leading through example you will give a good name to atheism and agnosticism. You should hold conferences to learn about other beliefs, to show that you are open to other ideas...
420062
I know it's probably not the sort of thing you're looking for, but when I was 6, my father read the Old Testament book of Job to me, and I found it truly fascinating. I couldn't wait until school was out, and he'd read me the next installment. I had him tell me the story of Job over and over again.\n\nThe Old Testament story of Joseph and his coat of many colors (or Jonah and the whale) might be a hit. There are tons of great Old Testament stories. The walls of Jericho coming down is a good story, too. And don't forget Noah's Ark.\n\nFor the New Testament perspective, the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand might work. If the kids are sharp, they might like hearing about Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus. Any of the healing stories with Jesus could get their attention (the raising of Jairus' daughter, etc).
529525
yes but my views have changed. The bible is an amazing story that offers insights into the spiritual development of man. I'm not a christian but i believe there are many great lessons to be learned from this book. The biggest hoaxes of all time is 1)God is a man in the sky that favors christians and sends you to hell if you don't get your weekly quota of church in.2) Jesus was a whiteman who was the son of god. 3) you need to go to church and pray to worship god. \nGod is individual and god is everything. The good and the bad make god just as the teacher and the taught make up the teaching.