By
Gary DeVaney
Because this is a fair, often asked, question, it deserves an honest answer.
I, unlike many writers, I do not care to write about myself.
I am not the topic in a Bible debate.
I am not the authority - you are not the authority - the Biblical C&V facts are the authority.
My suggestion is: "Don't believe me or any other man.
Read the controversial Bible C&Vs - know what the Bible says about its God - and then decide for yourself."
Briefly, my story is: In the late 1970's I was a screen actor (SAG) in Hollywood, California, a Captain in the Army National Guard and an interviewer of major celebrities along with being a vice president of the Hollywood Stuntmen's Union.
I am an aerobatic Stunt Pilot - (The Pitts S2-A).
I've done stand-up comedy.
Retire US Reserve Army Officer Aerobatics Acting Did Make My Day
For recreation, I sparred with amateur boxers and one professional lightweight. He broke my nose in the first round of 3 rounds and I admit I never really got a glove on him. Once in a sparring match, I hurt my hand. Yeah, the referee stepped on it. I also broke my arm while arm-wrestling once. Orthopedic Surgeon time. Those were the fun, good old days.
I am now retired. I was a I was a practicing hypnotherapist for over 30 years - mostly in Los Angeles. My clients were miserable enough to pay money to emotionally feel better. I learned early that what brought them to therapy was - they felt entitled and they felt that life was not giving them all that they felt entitled to. I persoanally learned from observing that redundant pattern. I personally decided to get to know myself and to know what I did want. More importantly, I personally decided to know what I did not want in my life. For me, it proved not to be difficult. Once known, I became extremely good at avoiding what I did not want in my life. If you are successful at avoiding what you do not want in your life, your life can be pretty good.
A church I attended offered a program / seminary and I became a licensed, ordained minister.
I thought I knew the Bible pretty well. I did not.
When I received Bible questions, I would look things up instead of giving the usual "have faith" answer.
I wrote a couple of "self-help" books - "Thoughts of a Social Layman" (1980) and "Emotional Surgery" (1982).
I was in Irwin Zucker's office, my Los Angeles Public relations man, and I saw a book on his desk titled "God 2000, Religion without the Bible". It had Paul Winchell's picture on the back cover. Paul Winchell was a prominent 1950's TV puppeteer with puppets Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smith. Irwin saw my interest in the book and asked me to take it home and evaluate it. I did. I did meet Paul Winchell once socially some years later. He was quite a guy!
When I read Paul's book, I was upset. Paul documented selected, controversial Bible C&Vs that were shocking to my programmed, idealistic, naive view of God. I kept saying "That is NOT in the Bible!" It always was.
I was so angry that I went out and bought the biggest print, easy English Bible I could find. I read highlighted every controversial and contradictory Bible C&V that I found. I then bought the KJV Companion Bible for $100 from Pastor Arnold Murray and was given the Torah as a gift from a brilliant lady doctor / lawyer and found that all 3 Bibles basically documented the same things.
The controversial C&Vs started jumping off the page for me. I was so disturbed that I let my ordained ministerial license expire.
I am an Atheist. After I was a licensed, ordained minister, I personally studied and learned the controversial Bible C&Vs. Knowing the Bible is what made me an Atheist. Somehow, for me, the shocking and controversial knowledge broke the hypnosis. My conscience determined that something was wrong with the Biblical God character - fictional or not. If someone is going to promote, support, believe in and finance the Biblical God, they should at least know what the Biblical God has done - as documented by Bible C&V. Hence, The God Murders website. Maybe the Holy Spirit blinds believers as to what is written. Maybe they are too frightened to read those controversial Bible C&Vs. Maybe they are too evil themselves to realize how evil and insane the Bible God is to have done all that murdering. Believers never take a Bible C&V murder charge and attempt to defend God. They just demonize and condemn anyone who exposes these murderous C&Vs. They just worship the Biblical God as if God murdered no one. That is evil. In a US criminal court, it could be considered an accessory to murder. The Biblical God does not exist - but the belief in God certainly does.
I took issue with the Biblical God's C&V rap-sheet - whether this God is fictitious or not.
My self-study of the Bible started in 1982. I got my first computer from a therapy client in 1985 who was upgrading. Since then, I have downloaded my study and research through about 12 computers.
I found C. Dennis McKinsey in the mid 1980's and received his awesome news letter. He then wrote the book "The Encyclopedia of Biblical Errancy". His two (2) excellent books rounded out my Bible education. Dennis started his internet panel in 1995 and I was allowed to be a panel-member. I started my own web-site about 2004 and videoed "The God Murders".
In the early 1990's I found Pastor Arnold Murray doing his TV Bible C&V coverage. His Bible C&V approach richly contributed to my 10,000 hours of Bible study, research and debate. Pastor Arnold Murray and C. Dennis KcKinsey are my favorite Bible C&V sources.
What made me an Atheist was reading the Bible as it was written, C&V.
Then I knew what the Biblical God was documented to have done.
I am an advocate of true democracy. I promote free-thinking in a free-country. By knowing the Biblical God's rap-sheet / track-record, I vote that this insane, murderous God has no authority over me.
I have been a retired National Guard / Reserve Army officer since 1983. If I had been on active duty when President George W. Bush publically announced to the world that "God told him to attack Iraq", I would have willfully disobeyed Bush's illegal orders to murder and injure over a million Iraqis. George W. Bush intentionally lied and brutally murdered human beings. As of 2011, the United States of America has not yet imprisoned George W. Bush and his murderous, blood-thirsty gang.
My conclusion is: "The God of the Bible is not a good God and the Bible is not a good model for humanity."
I personally tend put human beings first and treat all humanity as equals.
I personally have no evidence that any supernatural God exists. The God of the Bible (fictional or not) I have studied and debated extensively. This God's mood-swings and morality is disgusting so I don't find this petty, jealous, murderous and insane Character to be worthy of fear, worship or positive attention. This Character is way too small, insecure and petty to have created the vast universe. I view that Jesus Christ never contributed anything positive for Humanity like electricity, transportation, television, air conditioning or anything else worth while for mankind. Believers would have us fear that Jesus brought Hell and "Eternal-Torment" if He is not accepted. That's too dictatorial and evil for my taste. I personally don't believe Jesus Christ and I do not find Jesus Christ worthy of anything worth while. I do wish that Christians would answer questions as honestly and thoroughly as most Atheists tend to.
C. Dennis McKinsey (Deceased) wrote the "Biblical Errancy" website. In my opinion, it surpasses any on the internet in exposing, defining and capturing Biblical Errancy.
C. Dennis McKinsey
Dennis' two (2) excellent books: "The Encyclopedia of Biblical Errancy" & "Biblical Errancy" (A Reference Guide) are on my shelf and are often referred to concerning my work.
Since the early 1990s, my mentor and friend, was C. Dennis McKinsey.
See all 100 of C. Dennis McKinsey's youtube videos:
http://www.youtube.com/user/klomckin#p/u
http://wheresjesus.multiply.com/journal/item/611/Biblical_Errancy_by_Dennis_McKins
Gary DeVaney (2009)
YouTube: "The Shocking God"
http://www.youtube.com/watchv=_DmjuxqC1MI
