Posted on 02/08/2013 6:58:50 PM PST by daniel1212
The word Jesus stuck in my throat like an elephant tusk; no matter how hard I choked, I couldn't hack it out. Those who professed the name commanded my pity and wrath.
I began researching the Religious Right..
Ken Smith encouraged me to explore the kind of questions I admire:
Ken and his wife, Floy, and I became friends.
I started reading the Bible. I read the way a glutton devours.
I counted the costs. And I did not like the math on the other side..
Then, one ordinary day, I came to Jesus, openhanded..
(Excerpt) Read more at christianitytoday.com ...
Check out this article-
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/01/10/how-can-the-gospel-be-good-news-to-gays/
It contains the following quote:
‘The Bible is consistent in prohibiting homosexual practice. Jesus himself condemns “sexual immorality” (Mark 7:21, for example). Though Jesus does not directly mention homosexual activity, he does include it. The Greek word we translate as “sexual immorality” (porneia, from which we get the word pornography) is a catch-all term for any sexual activity outside heterosexual marriage.’
- and therefore YOU are also guessing.
I only accept fact and no facts relate to that subject except one and that is that the vast majority of the Jewish population were unable to read or write and less than 1/10 of 1 percent could. Those were primarily Royalty and the Religious Leaders.
The population listened to the Pharisees recite scripture (Torah) because they could not read. The average citizen used stamps to indicate signature or Romans wrote their name and town in their census. Stamps were produced and recorded by the Pharisees and scribes (usually scribes).
Know your facts and know your history.
PS. Nobody has ever found a city by the name of Bethlehem even though the tourist guides say they think they do - don’t forget that the only “Think” they do. There is no mention of Bethlehem in various writings but they do not tell where it was nor if it was a city or a region of Judea.
The city of Bethlehem was only named such during the crusades because nobody could find “said” city and they found one that fit the basic description so that is how it got on the map. It had a Arabic name and was populated primarily by Arabs.
And that proves... what?
Apples and crab cakes maybe?
Read the original document.
Oh right. There is no original document or copies of said documents.
These have been concocted from letters written in response to a request by Paul and those were most likely written by scribes.
I say “probably” because there were zero/zilch written, published or copied from original writings.
I still say that the creation of the bible was one of the most beneficial things that occurred through out history but due to the time and nature of literacy throughout the entire world at that time, there was a very small minority that could actually read and write.
The middle east was the worst in that regard. Greeks, Mesopotamians, Romans and some Germanic tribes could read and write.
The NASB version of the bible was first published in 1995.
That is like trying to relate to Moby Dick in today’s realities and language.
Read Moby Dick sometime and you will not understand much of it as it was written over a century ago.
The Bible was supposedly written 2 thousand century ago.
Have ANY of the historical writings (other than Pauls) survived?)
THE Shroud is an artifact but proves nothing except that it "possibly" covered the body of a dead person. Who? We have no way of knowing.
Certainly an “Intelligent Designer” of the Universe is self evident - Does that mean that other life can not exist elsewhere in the Universe?
We know for a fact that viruses (with DNA) have been found in meteorites that came from who knows where. We also know that we evolved and did not just one day appear on the earth. We evolved. We are STILL evolving.
Just compare our brains and skills to those of the time of Christ. We are considerably evolved - though not by that much but it has been a mere 2000 years.
Go back 5000 years and you would see still more differences.
ETC.
The Shroud of Turin was carbon dated (probably correctly) but there were THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS of "Men" who were similarly intured. (Spelling)?
Scientists discovered the pollen was unique to the geographic area that Christ resided. THAT STILL LEAVES THOUSANDS upon thousands OF VARIABLES.
It’s also been shown the 3D image on the Shroud was likely caused by a “mini-nuclear” micro-second explosion similar to the Big Bang.(PURE CONJUNCTURE)- PROOF IS STILL LACKING.
That in 2000 years, this 3D image on a cloth has NEVER been reproduced. SO? You are grasping at faith not fact.
If a Christian believes and it turns out they were wrong, no downside. NOW THERE IS A TRUE STATEMENT
If an atheist is wrong, the downside is HUGE! ANOTHER TRUE STATEMENT.
Remember that I DO believe in a single creator(GOD). His name is not Thor, Zeus (etc) as they were all vane and self centered creations for people who loved having a God for every occasion.
Choose wisely.... I choose based of fact not on whim. I study history, culture, archeology and anthropology and make my decisions on probable facts. If I am proven wrong, I will prove myself wrong and won't need you to tell me "I told you so".
If you can prove any of this and not just conjectured results I will be the first to accept FACT and not the faith of conjecture.
Words. Not fact.
Zoroaster, Buddha, Confucius all wrote their scriptures.
Do you believe them?
They had good things to say and much you will find in the Christian scriptures (only in other wording.) They also made some statements which were equally unprovable and in many cases (self delusional). It is up to the reader to determine what is good and what is not.
Christ is the only one I know of that got it just about as right as right could be. Some of his transcriptions through history may have diluted or deluded his preachings but most of it is reasonable, moral and would lead people to a good life.
Oh??
Based upon what?
What STANDARD are you using to make this judgement call?
Do we 'know', for a FACT, that the test results are TRUE and/or ACCURATE?
The preponderance of evidence precludes any other conclusion and there is a lot more than a mere GREAT preponderance of evidence.
I know because I have two friends who’s whole life if chasing down meteors and they are paid by research centers for their finds. They look for all kinds of evidence. Chemicals, minerals, age of specimen(how long they have been in space, trace elements as well as life.
There are actually hundreds of people who make a living on finding meteorites and delivering them to Universities and such.
PS. There is no way an uncut meteorite can be injected with life signs.
Based on the success of the Christian proliferation and success of Christian cultures.
Being good to others, helping others in time of need, having a moral consciousness that goes well beyond “do no harm” are just a few of the reasons why Christianity has been so wide spread.
There is no way Global Warming data can be faked; either.
Now I'm left wondering why ISLAM is so big...
Islam is so widespread because the only way to escape is to either die or change your name and go underground.
They are propagandized from birth till death (ie - brainwashed) 7 days a week / 5 times per day and never allowed to philosophize to do introspection studies on other rebellious beliefs.
No but cut meteorites can be inspected for imbedded life signs.
That is what makes my two friends independently self supporting and able to travel the world.
They slice each pristine meteorite into VERY thin slices and distribute them to Universities and research centers around the world.
They get upwards of $40,000 per 1/8th inch slice and they usually make close to $500,000 per meteorite
.
Christ is the only one I know of that got it just about as right as right could be.
Oh??
Based upon what?
What STANDARD are you using to make this judgement call?
BASED ON LOGIC AND MY PERSONAL JUDGEMENT OF MORALITY.
I’m in the WRONG business!
HMMMmmm...
Just how DO you judge ‘morality’?
Sorry. You are most likely in the right business.
We need all kinds of workers and jobs.
The only way you are NOT in the right business is if you hate what you are doing.
I judge morality by =
1. Do no harm
2. Do I feel good about what I have done when all is done.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.