To all those who think my description of the world situation (back a few posts) is crazy:
I have worked on my beliefs long and hard. Can you come up with something better that resolves the various dichotomies in trying to preserve as much of the Bible's value and at the same time face the best of scientific evidence.
Is it wacky to believe in aliens instead of angels and demons? Is it wacky to believe that angels and demons may have actually been material beings with an advanced technology? Do we have any more proof that angels and demons exist than that material beings from an advanced society exist?
Something is clearly wrong with this stage of human and cultural evolution. Is it crazy to attribute this to our intrinsic selfishness as evolved organisms? Evoltuion teaches us that selfishness is the main motor to evolutionary variation. Predators develop sharper teeth and claws and stronger jaws and faster speed to continue to eat their prey. Prey develop offensive odors, stronger armor, menacing quills, speed, toxic glands, protective coloration to evade their predators. Nations develop similarly. When will all this selfishness come to an end? In a nuclear holocaust or perhaps a collision with an asteroid that will set evolution into a new direction? The only hope is if a more learned "big brother" shows us how the way out.
Then you have the Bible. What's wrong with viewing it as a history of world cultures in transition? Do you have to believe in it as the ignorant writers did or can some of it be salvaged. As it stands the fundamentalist approach is totally crazy. At least I try to salvage some of the Bible.
Although most interpretations of prophesies have been wrong due to premature assertions there IS a coherent picture that has emerged recently.
The death of the Soviet Union = Slaughter of the seventh head of the Rev. 13 beast.
The appearance of the revived beast as a tame lamb. The re-emergence of the true nature of Russia - totalitarian regime determined to dominate the world. (Read a little besides american press - Putin is a dangerous man who presided over the bombing of Moscow residents to justify the Chechen war.)
The richest entity to ever dominate the earth Babylon the Great (USA). Her merchants (Haliburton etc.) are the top ranking men of the earth. The USA fornication with elites in various lands that results in lavish life-styles for USA stooge leaders to the detriment of their people.
The prophecy about the "holy ones" who get out of Babylon the Great and are spared from her destruction.
The 10 CIS nations (Former Soviet Republics) who never have received empire but who eventually see an advantage to cooperate with Russia and finally destroy the Harlot (USA).
The destruction of Babylon The Great. The devastation of her riches that make all those with merchant ships weep over their loss of their major buyer.
This is not any crazier than belief in Jesus Christ, The Flood, Resurrection. In fact it shows the Bible has some relevance yet at the same time allows for our updated scientific view of the universe.
When New York City is nuked by an alleged "terrorist" bomb we will all look at this a little differently. We will have time while the USA determines that the Russian King of the North Anti-Christ - Putin - is responsible. But after that its curtains for the USA and her inhabitiants.