What good does religion offer the world today?

God provided the warning, Frank.
Who do you suppose has been providing the conseqences?

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Who do you suppose has been providing the conseqences?

An agent of God, I'm guessing.

You have a way with words, Blue.

Watch him try to squirm out of this one, again.

Yep. That would be Satan, according to neologist.

You neglect to take account the attribute of free will.
And Adam and Eve were not newbies
Adam had been around long enough to name the animals.

Don't fall into the misconception that the creative days were. 24 hours
The seventh has not ended.

I truly do not know what you mean by "denying reality".

..but the bottom line is that instead of looking for a sin that is not a denial of reality...

...try looking for a sin that is not a thought or deed that offends your god.

If you can offer one for consideration, we'll discuss it.

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I truly do not know what you mean by "denying reality".

I think you are being a little disingenuous there. If you've been on A2K for awhile and haven't seen examples of denying reality, you're not paying attention. Yes, I'm well aware that I am often accused of it myself, simply for believing there is a God. But the thing that defines it is when you take a position and defend it knowing that you are doing so on a false pretense. The TV evangelist who rails against homosexuality but is caught hiring a male prostitute is obviously denying reality.

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..but the bottom line is that instead of looking for a sin that is not a denial of reality...

...try looking for a sin that is not a thought or deed that offends your god.

Your statement clearly shows that you assume God and what offends him to be arbitrary and capricious. I'm saying that is not true and given you examples and reasoning supporting that position but you refuse to give me an example that demonstrates that he is.

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If you can offer one for consideration, we'll discuss it.

You are attempting to get me to argue your case for you. I've already stated that I don't think there is such an example. If you contend that there is, it is incumbent upon you to provide it. I'm saying they can all be traced to a denial of reality and that is the only thing that 'offends' God.

If you want to think "sin" is a denial of reality...fine with me. If you want to think all can be traced to a denial of reality...also fine with me.

I think "sin" is doing something that offends a god.

I think I would win that argument every time.

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If you want to think "sin" is a denial of reality...fine with me. If you want to think all can be traced to a denial of reality...also fine with me.

I think "sin" is doing something that offends a god.

I think I would win that argument every time.

You're missing the point. There is no argument because that is true. But Saying that a sin is something that offends a god adds no specificity to what sin is. It does nothing to tell the hearer what he must do to avoid offending God. It doesn't tell you what it is about sin that is offensive. It only leaves the hearer wondering and hoping he does not inadvertently stumble into offending because he has no ******* idea what it might be. I.e., a nightmare scenario.

My answer attempted to bring some understanding and meaning to the term 'sin'.

Of course this all assumes that one believes there is a God, otherwise Im wasting valuable time that I could be spending with my GF who is impatiently waiting for me in bed.

Good night all...

Defining the things you mentioned as sins is a denial of reality.

Hope you broke 70, and if you didn't, you can have a clear conscious. Hoping for better things does not offend God.

. . Actually, it was the god who neglected to take the attribute of free will into account. . .

Also, it would be better if the days referred to in the creation narrative were 24 hour intervals. That would make the biblical claim that the earth was created along with all manner of green things before the sun a little more believable. But even then it remains unbelievable.

Amazing! Since he created humans with that facility. Do you suppose he forgo

How did you discover that?

Jehovah's permission to Satan was not absolute.
I can give someone permission to drive my car without including permission to drive on the sidewalk.

Jehovah's permission to Satan was not absolute.
I can give someone permission to drive my car without including permission to drive on the sidewalk.

So, God gave permission to Satan saying, "he (and by extension humankind, by your interpretation) is in your hands, just don't kill him," and by the way, don't drive on the sidewalk.

Got it.