[WileOut]

If you only read one book in your life (aside from the Bible), this book is a book that should be required by law to be read twice by every person by the time they turn 21, and again once every decade to keep its teachings in mind. It is the best book I have ever read, a life changing book, much more valuable than any book that could teach you to become rich beyond your wildest imagination (if such a book existed, and could only be read by you....lets say).

It is called "Man's Search For Meaning" by Viktor Frankl. Read it boys, you may become bored or not understand why I recommend it so highly, but as you read you will come to understand why I recommend it. Frankl in my opinion is one of the most important people to ever live. If you read about his life's work, he has probably saved millions of lives, mostly with this book he wrote. How many people can say that they have done this?

Have a great weekend.

[fsugolf]

thanks for the heads up, have a few books in line now, but sounds like a good read

[JohnGalt2341]

I'll put it on my list whether it's good or bad because I'll read just about anything. However, do you REALLY think the bible is the best book of all time? I could go into my local library blindfolded and pick out a book at random and it would likely be more ethical than the bible. If you don't believe me I'll be more than happy to give you dozens of quotes from the bible that are incredibly disturbing. For starters, just grab your bible and read the first 3 pages of the book of genesis. It's hard for me to fathom that anyone could actually believe that nonsense unless they are extremely uneducated. No offense.

[RogueScholar]

I'm amazed that it's not required reading in high school. I own several copies because I lend it to friends and acquaintances frequently. Good job bringing accessible psychology to the degen community. Perhaps in a month we can have a thread about logotherapy.

[Tsoprano]

Originally Posted by RogueScholar

I'm amazed that it's not required reading in high school. I own several copies because I lend it to friends and acquaintances frequently. Good job bringing accessible psychology to the degen community. Perhaps in a month we can have a thread about logotherapy.

I recommend "Horton Hears A Who" by Dr. Seuss. That's the last book I read.

[WileOut]

Originally Posted by JohnGalt2341

I'll put it on my list whether it's good or bad because I'll read just about anything. However, do you REALLY think the bible is the best book of all time? I could go into my local library blindfolded and pick out a book at random and it would likely be more ethical than the bible. If you don't believe me I'll be more than happy to give you dozens of quotes from the bible that are incredibly disturbing. For starters, just grab your bible and read the first 3 pages of the book of genesis. It's hard for me to fathom that anyone could actually believe that nonsense unless they are extremely uneducated. No offense.

About 75% of the people in the United States alone are Christians. Look at the stats of Western and Eastern Europe (including Russia), and I bet the stats are similar.

The vast majority of the most highly skilled people, in the most highly developed parts of the world, are Christian. My cousin is an Aeronautical Engineer who works for the US government developing our upcoming new fighter jets. Va Tech graduate. He is a Christian. Are you smarter than he is? Tens of millions of doctors, lawyers, many of the most intelligent people to ever live are/were Christians. Perhaps a majority of say the top 20% of the smartest people to ever live (during and after Jesus of course) were Christians, but who can really know that. Lets say from 1000 AD on, it took a little while for the word to spread and no internet back then

However looking at the stats I gave of the majority of 1st world countries, it is not a reach to say that "probably" most of the smartest people to live since Jesus died and was resurrected have been Christians. Maybe half at worse?

Maybe it is you who is over looking something. I do understand how a non Christian could get discouraged in a Christian country (that happens to give equal freedoms to non Christians, be thankful for that), you are way outnumbered here. But I won't blame you for staying here anyway

To answer your question, the Bible is words from God himself. G O D. How can there be a better book?

[JohnGalt2341]

WileOut, just because the majority of people believe in something doesn't make it any more or less true. Just a few hundred years ago the majority of people believed the earth was flat. And if you believed the earth revolved around the sun you were considered insane. That doesn't mean the earth was flat and the center of the universe. It just means the majority of the people were uneducated when it comes to such matters. I know there are plenty of highly skilled Christians. However, approximately 90% of all Scientists are Atheists. Most progress when it comes to human advancements come from Scientists. And most of those Scientists are Atheists. I could name dozens of Atheists that have done great things for humanity. It's much harder for me to think of Christians that have done such things although I don't deny that there are probably some. Another thing that I find odd is, the countries with the least amount of believers tend to be the countries with the least amount of crime. However, countries that are extremely religious are also extremely crime ridden and usually poverty stricken as well deprived of freedom. Why is it that over 99% of US prisoners believe in God? That should make prison a pretty safe place, right? Why is it not? Where as countries like Sweden and Norway that have a high percentage of Atheists have very little crime. With "no guidance" from God the crime should be rampant. But it's not. Why is that? Bill Gates(likely smarter than the both of us put together, not to mention your cousin) has donated more money to charity than any Christian in the history of the world. My point, Christianity is probably the most overrated thing in the history of the world. I know you want to believe, but just because a person wants to believe something is true doesn't make it any more true. I was going to quote some Bible versus in this message but I rambled on far too long. Perhaps "I'll quote God" in my next message. Peace.

[wtf]

ok john, do you think leonardo da vinci is smart? or possibly the smartest human ever, a devout christian

glad you mention the two least crime ridden countries and attempt to extrapolate RELIGION as the reason, now tell us the most crime ridden countries, i suspect you will find and different or more logical explanation other than religion

[Team Ramrod]

I feel sorry for people that are lost.

[jjgold]

Ramrod I am still trying to find myself and i am 43, I really do not know who I am and no fukkin look is going to help.

[Outlawdino]

The Dale Carnagie books are great as well.

[JohnGalt2341]

Originally Posted by wtf

ok john, do you think leonardo da vinci is smart? or possibly the smartest human ever, a devout christian glad you mention the two least crime ridden countries and attempt to extrapolate RELIGION as the reason, now tell us the most crime ridden countries, i suspect you will find and different or more logical explanation other than religion

Obviously Da Vinci was a geinus, especially for his time. However, that was 500 years ago. Atheists back then were almost non-existent. I'm not saying Da Vinci was an Atheist, but if he would have ever said he was he would have likely been killed.... in the name of Christianity no less. That's some peaceful religion.

Also, I have a question for Ramrod, who's lost?

[JohnGalt2341]

Originally Posted by Outlawdino

The Dale Carnagie books are great as well.

How to win friends and influence people is about a million times better than the bible.

[eidolon]

And your 90% scientist being atheist, is way off. Agnostics is the largest group. But atheist are the majority in philosophy and astronomy.
And I'm sure know Stephen Hawking is agnostic and not atheist.

[JohnGalt2341]

Originally Posted by eidolon

And your 90% scientist being atheist, is way off. Agnostics is the largest group. But atheist are the majority in philosophy and astronomy. And I'm sure know Stephen Hawking is agnostic and not atheist.

Ok Ok, how about Atheist/Agnostic. There's really not that much of a difference. It's just different levels of certainty. I myself consider myself both an Atheist and an Agnostic. How about this, what percentage of Scientists consider themselves religious? When you consider elite Scientists the percentage is even smaller.

[donjuan]

I prefer Hans Christian Andersen's works to the Bible if we are comparing stuff in the same genre.

[DiggityDaggityDo]

The bible? Who the hell reads that other than crazies?

[Extra Innings]

Read it many times...

[Pecos Bill]

Is there a movie about it?

[Pecos Bill]

reading is BOOORING...

[Trojan]

Reading is for queers

[Vesuvius]

I don't read books.

[THE PROFIT]

Originally Posted by Tsoprano

I recommend "Horton Hears A Who" by Dr. Seuss. That's the last book I read.

Way better than the bible, & no wrath, vengeance, & senseless killing.

[Pecos Bill]

This is the last book i read, in junior high. Scared the shit out of me

[THE PROFIT]

Originally Posted by Extra Innings

Read it many times...

Tell me all about it! You cant!

[DrStale]

Originally Posted by donjuan

I prefer Hans Christian Andersen's works to the Bible if we are comparing stuff in the same genre.

While I would agree with this statement regardless of my knowledge of Andersen, I'm a big fan of his stuff. Guy was pretty strange too, personality deficiencies often make for great artists. "The Little Mermaid" is excellent, Disney version it is not.

Originally Posted by Pecos Bill

This is the last book i read, in junior high. Scared the shit out of me

[THE PROFIT]

Boys we all know religion from it's inception thousands of years before Christianity was to control the masses. Religion is a joke. Belief in the gods is just to make mankind feel better and the need for answers. As the human evolved he needed answers he couldn't figure out. So they made them up. Where I came from & where I'm going when I die is not a question I need answered. I came from my momma & the rest is a fuked up ride! Why is there so many educated people that can't accept or are so arrogant that they think that not only their species, but better yet theirself, is better & more desrving of death. They think they get to go to a grand afterlife. There's alot of disaapointed people after that last breath

[stevek173]

HUGE read (in its significance, not a long book at all). Read it more than once might have to again now that you brought it up; it would be perfect for this time in my life.

brother

[stealthyburrito]

Originally Posted by donjuan

I prefer Hans Christian Andersen's works to the Bible if we are comparing stuff in the same genre.

Indeed, a compilation of tall tales and fables

[stevek173]

Originally Posted by THE PROFIT

Boys we all know religion from it's inception thousands of years before Christianity was to control the masses. Religion is a joke. Belief in the gods is just to make mankind feel better and the need for answers. As the human evolved he needed answers he couldn't figure out. So they made them up. Where I came from & where I'm going when I die is not a question I need answered. I came from my momma & the rest is a fuked up ride! Why is there so many educated people that can't accept or are so arrogant that they think that not only their species, but better yet theirself, is better & more desrving of death. They think they get to go to a grand afterlife. There's alot of disaapointed people after that last breath

+ev new avatar profit

[THE PROFIT]

Thanks, already got alot of compliments & a thread about it. Seems popular

[JohnGalt2341]

Originally Posted by THE PROFIT

Boys we all know religion from it's inception thousands of years before Christianity was to control the masses. Religion is a joke. Belief in the gods is just to make mankind feel better and the need for answers. As the human evolved he needed answers he couldn't figure out. So they made them up. Where I came from & where I'm going when I die is not a question I need answered. I came from my momma & the rest is a fuked up ride! Why is there so many educated people that can't accept or are so arrogant that they think that not only their species, but better yet theirself, is better & more desrving of death. They think they get to go to a grand afterlife. There's alot of disaapointed people after that last breath

[teaserpleaser]

good read

[MartinBlank]

Great book----and how ironic is it that a kid like Pecos would trash reading and fail to recognize or understand that Frankl's book could probably benefit him the most?

Frankl's book should be manadatory reading---and yes, he doesn't get nearly enough credit for the work(s) he has done.

[smitch124]

Re-reading this book now, certainly an important read. It is interesting, though, how just mentioning the bible in comparison can cause such instant bickering. Ah well, needed to take a break from the bleakness and horror described in the 1st half of the book.

Playing poker now, will be less upset when I get rivered.