I have no certitude that gods exist or not, but i suppose that god as described by religion is a man concept.

you know, i think your posts make up about 25% of this thread alone

maybe your inner atheism you've been in denial about all along is slowly coming out

Christians post verses like John 3:16 as stand-alone verses all the time. Isn't that "out of context?"

If you can't post a "negative" Bible verse without it being "out of context", then should Christians be able to post "positive" Bible verses without it being "out of context"?

The difference is that atheists typically quote Bible verses to support whatever argument they are making, without actually understand the context and meaning of that Bible verse.

Talking about war? He who lives by the sword dies by the sword. Against gay marriage? Christians shouldn't get tattoos or eat shellfish either. Support a capitalist system? Standard quote of the rich man being unable to get to heaven. Critical of immoral behavior? Jesus said not to judge, maaaaaan.

...it is almost impossible to cite John 3:16 out of context . It is used by Christians as a thought provoking opening and pretty much means exactly what it says .

This post was edited by WidowMaKer_MK on Jul 22 2015 06:38pm

austin 3:16 >

There was a Pew Research study done that suggested Agnostics and Atheists actually understood the Bible more than Christians:

http://www.pewforum.org/2010/09/28/u-s-religious-knowledge-survey/

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2010/09/28/130191248/atheists-and-agnostics-know-more-about-bible-than-religious

So you are saying Atheists typically quote "negative" Bible verses out of context to prove a point? Don't Christians do the same thing with "positive" Bible verses?

My point is that if you are going to say a stand alone Bible verse is out of context, then you can't use a stand alone Bible verse for either a positive (John 3:16) or negative message because by that definition they are both out of context.

... when I post a citation it is for my fellow Christians . What a non-believer thinks it means is irrelevant .

That survey is irrelevant to this forum or this discussion.

What do you mean by a negative Bible verse? I really don't think there is such a thing from a Christian perspective.

You are taking the words "out of context" too literally. A certain scripture can be used in a topic in an intelligent way, to perhaps lend some insight, perspective, or even aid in an argument.

Unfortunately atheists rarely if ever use scripture in an intelligent way. It's usually just a display of their ignorance of the Bible.

Ephesians 6:5 - "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ."

1 Peter 2:18 - “Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the cruel.”

Deuteronomy 22:28-29 - "If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay her father fifty shekels[a] of silver. He must marry the young woman, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives."

Inb4 out of context.

Nah, this book is literally the word of God. Slaves, you better obey your masters with respect and fear, even the cruel stuff, and ladies, if you get raped by a man, you get paid 50 silver but you gotta marry him forever and never get divorced.

Word of God, yo.