Ten Commandments - One at A Time (dogma, eternity, bible)

[meogi]

Originally Posted by TVOR

Your point that if we accept the premise that God exists, then the wizard would not be false eludes me. Whether God exists or not, has no bearing on the existence of the Wizard - it was simply an analogy I used to demonstrate the logical fallacy of begging the question. There is probably also an argument regarding the fallacy of the appeal to authority, but it hasn't arisen in this thread yet. Others will arise as the thread is played out.

Oh, I was under the impression you were equating the wizard as god (not just using an analogy). My mistake. (And I obviously can't spell premise... or at least realize it's plural)

Originally Posted by LightKeeper

I like to look at this commandment as meaning don't worship money, food, another person rather than having more spiritual principals.

Wouldn't those be false idols? Or are false idols and other gods the same?

[The Voice of Reason]

Originally Posted by meogi

Oh, I was under the impression you were equating the wizard as god (not just using an analogy).

You were close - I was equating the role of the Wizard to the role that God plays in the minds of Christians. I did not mean it literally (as though I thought the Wizard was God), I was only using the similarity of their roles and powers in an analagous sense. To be more precise, the Wizard fills the role of God for the people of Oz - he is all-powerful, all-knowing, omnipotent (in the land of Oz), and none can dare question him.
I hope that no one on this site would confuse that with the Judeo Christian God - merely make the comparison.

TVOR

[anders]

That the commandments are ten only proves that people had ten fingers.

I agree with the posters who claim that the wording must mean that there really are other gods; otherwise the statement is pointless. Many gods are mentioned in the OT, presented as real ones. Take for instance Ex. 12:12 "all the gods of Egypt", Ps. 97:7 "all gods".

[Ardhanariswar]

ahaha. ten fingers.

the thing with that is that a child being told not to do something without any reason or evidence will do it. we are children (at heart). as humans we are naturally born to strive for morality, in our own perceptions of it.

[Engyo]

Well, Buddhism sidesteps this particular issue, by worshipping no gods at all. Thus none are put "before" the god of the bible.

[linwood]

I find no moral value in this commandment, it seems to exist as another bit of the "fear factor" God likes to put out there.

Many stories in the Bible lead you to believe there are indeed other gods besides Yahweh.

In Genesis when God says "We need to expel Adam and Eve before they eat from the Tree of Life and become like us".
In the story of the tower of Babal where he is again afraid humans will "Become like us"
Who is us?
The argument is made that he is speaking to his angels but technically aren`t the angels gods in their own right, not as powerful as Yahweh but gods none the less.
Satan is a god.

In Exodus there is a character called Ballaam who is a medium, he speaks to Yahweh and will speak to the god of your choice for the right price.

When Yahweh speaks against the Midianites and Caananites for worshipping Baal I get the impression Yahweh himself believes Baal exists but is merely what he thinks of as a lesser god.
If Baal was non-existant why would Yahweh get so mad that the Midianites worshipped him?

[The Voice of Reason]

Originally Posted by linwood

I find no moral value in this commandment, it seems to exist as another bit of the "fear factor" God likes to put out there.

Many stories in the Bible lead you to believe there are indeed other gods besides Yahweh.

In Genesis when God says "We need to expel Adam and Eve before they eat from the Tree of Life and become like us".
In the story of the tower of Babal where he is again afraid humans will "Become like us"
Who is us?
The argument is made that he is speaking to his angels but technically aren`t the angels gods in their own right, not as powerful as Yahweh but gods none the less.
Satan is a god.

In Exodus there is a character called Ballaam who is a medium, he speaks to Yahweh and will speak to the god of your choice for the right price.

When Yahweh speaks against the Midianites and Caananites for worshipping Baal I get the impression Yahweh himself believes Baal exists but is merely what he thinks of as a lesser god.
If Baal was non-existant why would Yahweh get so mad that the Midianites worshipped him?

Don't you just love this guy? Comes right in there with the Biblical quotes. My faith in mankind is well founded. Thanks, Linwood.

TVOR

[meogi]

Originally Posted by TVOR

I love Carlin - and I have never heard his bit about the 10 Commandments.

Here ya go. - Sorry for the high pitched background... this was all I could find.

[retrorich]

For me, as an atheist, the first commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," has no meaning. I do not believe in gods, therefore their hierarchical ranking has no significance. It would be the equivalent of deeming Mickey Mouse superior to Donald Duck, or Santa Claus superior The Easter Bunny.

[cardero]

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me,"

If we are to believe that GOD is the first and the longest existing entity than the statement is TRUE-in that there is/was no Gods before him.

If we take it as a commandment than yes it is a bit self serving. For even GOD K(NOW)s that we are all gods the only difference BEing the time we have existed as entites (spiritual as well as physical) and our PURPOSE/agenda.

TRUE GOD fact No. 13
GOD does not need you to believe in Him. GOD does not need to PROVE himself to you.GOD does not need defending. GOD exists with or without your LOVE/worship/attention.


P.S. To the Voice Of Reason
Looking foward to when the thread gets up to THOU SHALL NOT KILL