D Friday, October 30, 2009 METRO 17 The Big Picture Lost in translation Believe in Santa: Believe in God? Jamie G, you should know by now that Bible-bashers pick and choose which parts they want to believe in word for word, which parts they want to interpret to suit their views, and which parts they want to ignore. For example, anyone with an ounce of sense knows creationism is nonsense. But some people still believe in it, and those who want to believe in it, but know its ridiculous, invented Christian science! Its okay to pick and choose what is to be taken literally and what is not, it just depends how the cultural wind is blowing at the time. People did not exist with the dinosaurs, but for as long as people have existed, theyve invented gods to explain things they dont understand, while many have also claimed to be gods. Christianity was merely fortunate enough to gain the strongest following of many competing religions over the years and be one of the most enduring, but it has no more claim to be true than Native Americans believing in Sun gods or ancient Greeks believing in Zeus. Disgruntled Non-Believer Eoghan, while I dont necessarily agree with everything Christian scientists claim, I cannot deny the fact that the Bible is very accurate, pays strict attention to detail, and the events contained within altered our calendar; ie, 2009 years after what? Also, the Bible was written over 5,000 years, on three continents, in three languages, by more than 50 authors from all walks of life, and most of it can be proved by historical and archaeological evidence. Jamie, excellent point, but couldnt the sedimentation process be sped up significantly by a global-scale flood, thereby speeding up the process of fossilisation? Recessionosaurus Dublins best-read letters page Metro Mail E-mail letters to mail@metroireland.ie with a name. Or text us. Text MAIL followed by comment and name to 53131. *Texts cost 30cent per message + standard network charges. SP. Oxygen8 Communications, Hospitality House, Cumberland Street South, D2. Customer service number 0818286606 talk to us Jock off! Why do some people sit in the aisle seat blocking the empty seat next to them with a bag on a busy train? It is so ignorant! However, while I enjoy telling them to move over, as most people wouldnt be bothered, enough is now enough! I call on my fellow passengers to unite the clans and eradicate these seat- hoarding brutes! W Wallace Ready, aim: Maria, a few weeks ago I had a job interview. I was starved afterwards and bought a chicken roll with loads of coleslaw. While waiting for the Luas, I unwrapped the roll and was just about to get stuck in, when a big blob of white landed on the sleeve of my suit fantastic aiming by our winged friends. Thankfully, it didnt happen before the interview, it didnt go on my roll AND the stain came out! And I also got the job! M, The Graduate Aww: Im in my mid-thirties, have a good job and am told Im attractive but I can be a little quiet initially because Im quite shy. The problem is, Im still single! I really want to meet a man and settle down. Im tired of the pub/club scene, Ive tried everything. What do I do now? Im really lonely! A In Brief The Bible has been translated and retranslated, edited to suit the times and ambitions of those in power its true meaning is lost to history. Most adults dont believe in the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny, so why believe in a being who is everywhere, sees everything, can do anything yet allows suffering? Just because an ancient book and a person on stage tells you to? Come on, people, think for yourselves! Jboy, by text Dinosaurs were a global phenomenon, yet are strangely absent from the records of the Egyptians, who were fond of painting images of animals, and the Romans who kept vast records, travelled extensively and collected species from all over their empire. The reason dinosaurs do not appear in the Bible is because they had died out 65million years earlier. Which is kind of a shame as it would make the Bible much more interesting if it had passages which read: And verily did Peter shout Look out, Jesus, its one of those big, scaly, toothy, meat- eating things, run! Kilyth Sendusyour txt Well said, D in Dublin! Westlife are nothing more than pop industry puppets who have no discernible talent. If I want mime artists, Ill check out Marcel Marceau! Ann Believe it or not, Westlife do play instruments. Drums, piano, trumpet and guitar, just to name a few. And yes, they are a band! Y, D4 Completely agree, L in Dublin, typical of the Brits trying to claim Irish success stories as their own! That is exactly what they were inferring, D in Dublin, so dont kid yourself! PJ Ive seen a scaffolding company with the slogan Guaranteed satisfaction with every erection. The Badger Maria, I sat on a bar of chocolate. And if that wasnt bad enough, it was an Aero and the bubbles made it look like I had diarrhoea! Rig What do you call an Irishman holding two big panes of glass? Paddy ODoors... Beef Jerky txt MAIL to 53131* On the beach... A sculpture of a skull on Tamarama Beach forms part of the 13th annual Bondi Sculpture by the Sea exhibition in Sydney, Australia. The spectacular Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk is transformed into a giant sculpture park as more than 100 sculptures by artists from Australia and across the world are put on display Picture: EPA index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html