Jack Cummins

I do agree that the idea of being born from sin is mostly derived from Paul rather than Christ. In many ways I believe that so much of the thinking wi...

I am interested in your view because I think that while there were dark ages in the past, the erosion of religion will not necessarily prevent future ...

I have read a book by Manly Hall on the wisdom of all ages, but not the specific one about the development of Christianity. However, my reading of Ela...

One of the main premises of the Bible was the entire message of people being sinners. This was developed strongly in history, with the mythology of th...

I definitely think that power is a critical factor. However, I do wonder if it is possible for individuals to develop themselves in such a way that po...

I think that some people project so much onto transgender individuals, and that is why they have issues with individuals who are gender dysphoric or w...

I do think that my own answers to such questions do reflect my own mindset. If I am feeling stressed I often feel negative in my own thoughts about wh...

I don't know. It just seems that on the forum people project so much onto other groups and that was really why I raised it. But, I did feel that I may...

I have just moved my discussion to the lounge because it may be too depressing, but t, if I find that people are interested in it I will transfer it b...

So, maybe my question is a about myself. It actually arose in thinking about atrocities committed by human beings in the dark ages, in the name of rel...

I don't think that it is possible to say what would have happened if the church and The Bible had not played a significant role. I find the history as...

It is hard to know what would have happened if the Church had not existed. As far as I can see the Church, despite its negative effects, did form the ...

Yes, we should definitely not overlook the way in Anti-Semitism only last century and we don't know what is in our midst. The central problem is human...

I think that there is always such a mismatch between ethical ideas and practice. The ethical ideal in Christianity was of 'perfection',especially in t...

It does seem that there have been dark ages in the past, and it almost makes me feel optimistic about our current times, despite conflicts in the worl...

I agree that forgiveness was important but I don't think that it was always that simple. For example, I believe learning in history that in the Cathol...

I know that some people do think that some of the ideas in The Bible were made up. It is so hard to know on what level many of the ideas were believed...

I think that criticism and looking behind the surface in the ideas and writings in The Bible is very important. I remember going to commentaries in li...

Thinking about the 'Old' and the 'New' Testaments is also probably extremely complex, because it involved the migration of ideas at various places in ...

I had a busy day so haven't really been involved in the discussion on the thread today, but I do believe that interpretations of ideas in the Bible ha...

I think that you are correct to see the Bible as having a basis for ethics and metaphysics. We can say that we have the ten commandments and Jesus emp...

I think that a lot of people do see Jung's ideas of the psyche as outdated. However, I think if you read his writings he really goes beyond psychology...

I think that it comes down to the complex way in which mind is not just dependent on a brain, but the chemicals arising within the brain, especially t...

I have tried not to get too far into discussion of Genesis because I am aware that there is another thread on the topic. However, I will make one comm...

I have looked at you old posts, and I can see problems arising from The Bible, and its application. I have certainly experienced preaching from others...

In thinking about the way in which The Bible incorporates ideas about the relationship between God and human beings, I think that Jung's emphasis on t...

I think that The Bible has been and can be interpreted in various ways and angles. Even though many approach it as a work of literature, I am not sure...

Thanks for the useful links about Judaism.

Thanks for your poem. With regard to your remark about 'divine inspiration' we may ask what that may entail. In the most simplistic explanation, we ma...

I can appreciate the idea of there being a pathway in the evolution of truth. The only one query which I would have is whether each new step is actual...

Thanks for your link about Muriel Spark. I read 'The Book of Job' after reading, 'Answer to Job' by Jung. However, I have to say that, 'The Book of Jo...

I see your point of view about calling the Old Testament as 'Old' comes from a specific interpretation, and it is simply the way I have seen it worded...

I became fascinated by 'The Book of Revelation' in sixth form, and art based on it. But, I do think that literal interpretations of it are extremely p...

I also see The Bible as a starting point for thinking about religious questions, and think that it is basis for deeper analysis, rather than clear ans...

I really was opening this discussion with a view to looking at it from various angles, ranging from the Christian to the Marxist and any other angles....

Of course, it is possible to not mention The Bible, and I am sure that it is not essential to philosophy. But, I do think that it is hovering in the b...

I think that The Bible can be a rich source, but I do think that it is so extremely difficult to interpret. Yes, I think it is important to bear in mi...

I agree with looking at the Bible beyond the Christian viewpoint. Most definitely, it is important to be aware of Judaism and varying aspects of this ...

In thinking of comparing the Bible with other perspectives we have to begin from the way in which the Bible has been the starting point for Christiani...

I do agree with you that the literalist interpretations of the Bible are the most unhelpful. I think that many people from religious backgrounds would...

Thanks for your link on the hermaneutical interpretation, which points to different ways in which the Bible can be approached. Of course, it does appe...

That sounds good, and it is not as if the answers to the question have to be overnight, because philosophers and others have spent a long time thinkin...

I think that the question of God's existence, and the debate between theism and atheism is central to philosophy. It is not about winning or losing , ...

One aspect which I think is important is that the gospels and other writings of the New Testament were written many years after the time of Jesus's de...

I don't see how we can really look into characters fully in discussions on the forum, because we don't know know much about other people's lives at al...

I am reading 'Dawkins, Dennett, Harris, Hitchens: The Four Horsemen (The Discussion that Sparked an Atheist Revolution, 2019). One idea which I will r...

I accidentally knocked my phone, sending my reply through before I finished it. But, I managed to edit and finish it afterwards, as above. I also wish...

I think that the question of socialism vs brainwashing is extremely complex, and I do see your point about being brought up to be tolerant as a form o...

I was brought up with religious beliefs, and had friends who were not religious when I was a child, so I was able to reflect on it when I was about 10...

Generally, my own view is that shifts in religious views and other ones is that they do fluctuate according to needs, personal and social. I know that...