Attention Christians - please give me your thoughts

We were discussing the 'other' books written but that were not included in the Bible. HUNDREDS of them.. all authenticated by being from the same time period.  Why are these ignored by Christians?  I would have thought that Christians would have been flocking to read them and include them in the 'big book'.  Is it because some contradict what the current book says? Is it because Mary's book insinuated that there was more between her and Jesus?

When I was a Christian and I found out about this I remembered being very excited and wanting to read them!  But no one else did.. it was hush hush and disregarded... part of the reason for my spiraling decent (or incline!) to Athiesm.

Anyway, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Edit: We started discussing this in the "Muslims voting for Obama calling him their savior? " thread

Original Post by jules817:

that makes me sad for people Tom. I bet Jesus questioned a lot of things when he was around.

 Believe me Jules, I do not lead by blind faith.  I did not always believe.  I have questioned everything.   It's the way I have chosen to live, and I don't judge anyone for believing/not believing in other things.  I try to hlep others when they ask.  Just thought I could help with the op since I have done extensive research.   

Original Post by moonikins:

The books giving power and authority to women were all left out of the bible. Gee, I wonder why 250 powerful old men in 325 AD would find that it was divine inspiration to deny power to women.

::sigh::  And then we had to go and blow it with the 19th amendment... ;)

i've always gotten the feeling that jesus was probably a free and forward thinker for his time. I bet he would be horrified by people just blindly following something written so long ago and denying the truth and science we have been gifted with. i bet he didn't deny the science and technology of his time.

right, jules.  But they admit that it is only their belief, and that the argument is strong for the other side as well.  At least they aren't saying "Well, we are right and there is no other valid argument".

(snip) So, are there dinosaurs in the Bible? The matter is far from settled. It depends on how you interpret the available evidences and how you view the world around you.

Original Post by jules817:

read the last paragraph. THAT particular site believes that men hunted dinosaurs.

are "dinosaurs" a code word for "older than a cougar" ;)

*Maybe this was a bad thread to start.. Mooni! LOL  I hate talking religion sometimes*

I told you this would be fun to read. I fully expected many of the answers I've seen. You can't reason with unreason. Sometimes it is scary to see how many unreasoning people are out there.

Original Post by kindlerenz:

Of course it HAD to be written by men. What do you expect, a giant HAND to reach down from the clouds with a feather pen?

 

 I love that image!  As well as God Bowling when it storms.

It was written by men, inspired by God.  God created us in his image.  He Created.  He made us like him -- To Be Creative, which is were we get thinking, writting, making art, dancing, the whole lot - and when we are truly creating is when we are closest to God.  I think that the men who wrote the books in the Bible desired closeness with God.

peaches,  my point was that i will not take anything literally or as fact from a site written by people who believe men hunted dinosaurs. if other people want to, good luck to them!

Original Post by kateduttongillett:

It was written by men, inspired by God.  God created us in his image.  He Created.  He made us like him -- To Be Creative, which is were we get thinking, writting, making art, dancing, the whole lot - and when we are truly creating is when we are closest to God.  I think that the men who wrote the books in the Bible desired closeness with God.

and none of the women of the time desired closeness with god?  none? 

Original Post by jules817:

read the last paragraph. THAT particular site believes that men hunted dinosaurs.

 Mmmmmm...grain-fed brontosaurus burger...

Michael Crichton had it all wrong.  Not a theme park, but a ranch and slaughterhouse!

Original Post by kateduttongillett:

Original Post by jules817:

that makes me sad for people Tom. I bet Jesus questioned a lot of things when he was around.

 I believe that being Christian is a journey of questions, Not being sure that because I have read a particular book and go to church every Sunday, that I KNOW the answers!!  Jesus questioned the Pharisees A LOT!

 So, Christ set an example by questioning authority and the way things were set up. Correct?

*passes DN some ketchup*

just stay alert, i think i heard a T-Rex bellowing in the distance.

Original Post by pgeorgian:

Original Post by kateduttongillett:

It was written by men, inspired by God.  God created us in his image.  He Created.  He made us like him -- To Be Creative, which is were we get thinking, writting, making art, dancing, the whole lot - and when we are truly creating is when we are closest to God.  I think that the men who wrote the books in the Bible desired closeness with God.

and none of the women of the time desired closeness with god?  none? 

 Well, if the women did write that or desire closeness to god it wasn't divinely inspired, so says 250 old men in 325 AD.

Original Post by pgeorgian:

and none of the women of the time desired closeness with god?  none? 

Pfft.  Duh.  Of course not, the sly little foxes they are.

I think that might have been me you heard bellowing in the distance.

Original Post by jules817:

i've always gotten the feeling that jesus was probably a free and forward thinker for his time. I bet he would be horrified by people just blindly following something written so long ago and denying the truth and science we have been gifted with. i bet he didn't deny the science and technology of his time.

 

 

 that he was scared a great many people, so they got rid of him

Original Post by moonikins:

I think that might have been me you heard bellowing in the distance.

 *presses bellows together*

Original Post by kindlerenz:

Of course it HAD to be written by men. What do you expect, a giant HAND to reach down from the clouds with a feather pen?

 

You misunderstand my emphasis: when I use the word "written" I mean more than just in the physical sense.

For one, if it were truly divinely inspired and a reflection of jesus' practices and God's will that sexual orientation wouldn't be an issue nor would there be any mysogonistic tones.

edit: Anyway, I'm not getting sucked into some silly religious "debate".

Why couldn't men have been on earth at the same time as dinosaurs? Sorry but I don't understand the line of thinking. I must have missed something.

in the greek, women were not stripped of power and authority...Priscilla was a contemporaryof Paul and was listed first when he spoke of them...showing that she, not her hubby was the main worker...

the scripture that many use against women was talking about a certain situation where women were interupting in the service and not letting the dude teach....so they were told to wait and ask questions after...