provides love and happiness, etc, couldn't possibly be the same god responsible for murderers, rapists, thieves, miscarriages, etc. So they developed a spiritual hierarchy with the purely good force way at the top, isolated from earth and never having any contact with the malignancies produced down on planet earth. The levels of pure goodness apparently graduated downward in different levels. By the time you reach earth, not so milk and honey. In the gospels, the powers in the earth realm are identified as a judge, jailer, overseer among others. The prodigal son parable puts this cosmology in a nutshell. We see the kind, welcoming, non judgmental father who never leaves his estate, while his son descends from country to country until he ends up having to work for an uncaring manager.
Yes, taking Scripture literally should drive anyone to atheism or agnosticism. I really don't think most readers of scripture think about what's in it. Memes like the ones posted here might get some people thinking. Very little asking/receiving, seeking/finding going on !!!!!!
I hope all the readers who look at the religion topic will also view your posts.... I'm loving them !!!!
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