And again I ask, how does one go about proving that God influenced those writers? I think the claim that God didn’t influence them is just as valid as claiming they weren’t influenced by the ghost of Elvis. Would you even bother to respond in like fashion if that claim had been made, tomndebb?
Evidence tells us that only humans can read and write. Why should we believe it to be any other way?
I have no intention of claiming that there is proof that God influenced any writer.
I also refrain from making the absurd claim that there actually is proof in either direction. I have often contradicted religious posters who have made odd claims about the clear accuracy of their beliefs. (I don’t recall any such poster claiming “proof,” but I would certainly respond in the same way to them.) Claiming proof while failing to even offer evidence is nothing more than attempt to claim victory based on one’s beliefs.
Before we can consider the possibility that God influenced anybody, don’t we first have to figure out if he exists or not?
I agree. (Although if the stories of the Decalogue or of Daniel and Belshazzar were true, it would seem that God occasionally wrote things, himself. 
)
However, monavis’s claim is that we have proof that no god actually provided the thoughts that the various authors wrote. We have no such proof, and not even evidence has been offered.
Meh
Those battles rage on forever in this forum. None of them provide, (outside each poster’s mind), proof for one position or the other.
But that doesn’t answer the question as to whether you would respond the same way if an alternate claim had been made such as my previous example. If someone said that the ghost of Elvis couldn’t possibly have influenced somebody’s writing, would you even bother to post a variation of what you posted here?
It would depend on the topic. If it was posted by someone who was clearly a loon, I would probably ignore it. If it was posted by someone with a bit more gravitas who was attempting to make a serious point, I probably would respond the same way.
Suggested revision: There is no proof that any human writer or teacher has received their message from a supernatural source.
Acceptable, tomndebb?
Suggested revision of revision: There is no evidence that any human writer or teacher has received their message from a supernatural source.
Either of those are fine.
I considered “evidence” but decided on “proof” as witness testimony is (usually) considered evidence, and, whether compelling or not, there is testimony for supernatural influence & inspiration.
Proof suggests established validity.
That to is a belief, just like Hinduism, or any belief system. I fully believe that if people are better person’s for their beliefs and follow them and not harm others it can be a good thing.
Can you prove it, isn’t true that what we have learned of God is from another person or our own mind? I am sorry if you took it personally, but because I disagree with you thinking isn’t dragging your comments, any more than any other thing I write. I believe I can prove that you are writing on this board and you are human like I am.
You seem to be an educated human and I also draw that conclusion. In the same context, I look to the other writers the same as in thousands of years passed. By the same reasoning I could claim God told me it was just humans , but my claim would not be true.
If the Psalmist is correct then all are gods, unless he was writing just to the Jewish people of his day. I don’t fault you for not believing or seeing things differently than I.
My claim was not about the writers “belief” that god spoke to the writers of the Bible anymore than who does the writings today. I just don’t believe that God would inspire so many different versions, or sort out some person to spread his word, to me it would make a supreme being unfair. and Humans all through history have so many different ideas of a God. And Muslims seem to believe that God inspired Muhammad and other writers and we have no more proof that didn’t happen anymore that the gospel writers and it is a fact (if historians are correct) Humans decided what was of God and what was not.
Beliefs are just that, myself included, but I do know that the writings of the Bible were written by humans, and I see no reason to think they were inspired or written.
I had said my piece on this, and have no quarrel with anyone who disagrees with me!
It still suggests that it is a" belief" in a person who wrote something, that he/she considers from God.
Is this addressing anything?
Personally I tend to point out that believers do not agree with each other, even within the same religion. People are should follow thier conscience , but the should alos understand that when they invoke God or some holy book, it is still just thier personal opinion.
The difference between
I oppose this because God thinks or feels X
I oppose this because my personal opinion is that God thinks or feels X, is relevant. IMO
You really do seem to have some difficulty keeping track of what you yourself are discussing.
Never had anyone ever say that.
Says the guy who brings up a ritual and then asks me why I did. :rolleyes: