well....a true contradiciton cannot exist in essence so... that means 1 or more of the information is based on misinformation...
was it not fact that the roman church altered the new testament to control the masses (poor people/lower class)
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well....a true contradiciton cannot exist in essence so... that means 1 or more of the information is based on misinformation...
was it not fact that the roman church altered the new testament to control the masses (poor people/lower class)
lol
Actually the Roman Catholic Church and it's place in today's chrstianity is interesting. Strictly speaking there was only a single christian church from roughly 350AD to about 1100 AD. At this point the church became split on a matter of theology, with both sides declaring the other heretic. It was in fact Helena, mother of the emperor Constantine who single-handedly promoted and created much of what Christianity is today in an effort to deify the works of her son - although as a Roman Catholic she's reviled by many modern christians.
But let's step back a bit further. The Bible was written for Hebrews, about Hebrews. Much of the OT is the basis of the Torah still used by Judaism today. God declares them, before and after the new Covenant, 'his chosen people'. Not christians.
However, much of the OT is based on Sumerian and Babylonian myths. The story of Moses and the Bullrushes for instance predates christianity by over 1000 years and is related in at least 4 other cultures about Kings and princes of different names.
Myths become Judaism, becomes christianity. Christianity then denies its roots and begins to see Hebews as sinners and 'other'. Christianity splits after 700 years and becomes Catholicism and 'real' christianity. 'Real' Christianity now says that the RC church is an abomination, denying its own roots, seeing its followers as sinners. 'Real' christianity then, over the subsequent 1000 years splits into over 3,500 different groups, ALL proclaiming to be the one true religion, denying their roots, etc, etc.
You see, although there are people from Christian groups posting to threads like this all over the internet in an attempt to browbeat people with the 'indisputable facts and no errors' that the bible contains (we're all meant to be impressed BTW) what they're actually doing is pointing people away from the real issues, of which there are many. Look at the history of the bible, the way that man and man alone has changed words and ideas in it continually to suit whatever he wants to believe. Look at how many people have died because of supposedly good and peaceful religion.
For me the main question is not, does the bible contain errors? Or, did Jesus really exist? The real issue is whether or not religion should be allowed to continue to create the disharmony it does? Christians of every kind have persecuted other christians and religions to the extent where millions of people have died in the name of one god or another.
And it continues right up to this day. Persecution and death, because christianity believes that we SHOULD believe it and nothing else, and if we don't we are the enemy. It cant even agree within itself anymore what constitutes a real christian.
If it merely held up its beliefs and said, "We believe that these things are true about our fath, how about you take a look at us and perhaps join us if you like what you see?" then that would be fine. But Christianity is unfortunately pro-active - the last word that thousands of people have heard in the moment before their deaths was, '"Convert!" It can't sit and hope that people are drawn to it's 'peaceful ways'. It has to pressurise, control and draw a thick line between them and us to feel safe. It denies its origins and considers itself to be absolutely error free and will give no leeway on that. Is that rational, logical and peaceful? Or is it bigotted and blindly, inherently dangerous?
Considering the deaths that religion is undeniably responsible for, is it the good thing it's meant to be?
MelT
Well put MelT........but the human animal is hardwired for religion they say. Seems that energy has to be channeled somewhere, if not through religion, then through a political ideology of some kind? We're very scarry beasties indeed when we run in packs.
Amen (an egyptian word no less) to that:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Hamlet
I have read the research about our hard-wiring, but I would have to dispute it. What I can't dispute though is that we can be dangerous mo'fo's once we get together into any kind of group:)
MelT
i'd say very much so. i don't think the bible is very historically accurate in many ways and is misleading to those who interpret it literally.
another interesting aspect is UFO's in the bible. chariots of fire? ufos.
"there are many different passages scattered throughout that completely contradict each other in both the Old and New Testaments"
A lack of spiritual understanding on your part does not make this statement true. The bible DOES NOT CONTRADICT itself in any way. I have studied it for many years and so have many scholars and no one has yet to prove any verse wrong but I guess you figured this all out on your own? I believe it is you that is lying, NOT GOD!!!!! EVERY WORD OF GOD IS PURE.
"A lack of spiritual understanding on your part does not make this statement true. The bible DOES NOT CONTRADICT itself in any way. I have studied it for many years and so have many scholars and no one has yet to prove any verse wrong but I guess you figured this all out on your own? I believe it is you that is lying, NOT GOD!!!!! EVERY WORD OF GOD IS PURE."
Geez, then you just read the parts your preacher told you to read. I haven't been able to read on it for more than five minutes without finding a contradiction. Let's see...one off the top of my head...hhmm, oh yeah, the man possessed by Legion. In one account it was only one man, in another it was three men who were possessed. Not a really significant example, but it does illustrate that at least one of the two stories is wrong. --or 'contradicting'.
Then there's the 'faith/works vs. 'works/faith' thing as requirements for getting into heaven. You know the one if you're familiar with the Bible.
Of course you could claim you have a 'spiritual' understanding which allows one to twist around means to fit whatever they want to believe, but then again the 911 Conspiracy kooks could claim the same thing for their blind faith in Alex Jones bullshit.
I suppose the thing to do would be to check out some different scholars, because the ones you're listening to are kissing the blarney stone.
who wrote the bible anyway...i know it wasn't god.
soo who can believe in what some guy wrote along time ago:confused:
Id have to agree with Dais on the fact that all ancient texts have parts missing, especially the bible. Remember how the Catholic Church was crooked back in the Medieval times, They operated for the sole purpose of making money, (To get to "Heavan, you had to support the church, and dont sin (Techniquelly impossible since Jesus was the only one who never sinned)...To support the church you had to make donations so your sins could be forgiven) ( You support the church and you were accepted by society, poor yet popular...You dont support the church, you became a bad person) and Ive read that they would change around parts of the bible to better suit thier purpose.
Im no saying that the bible is a fake, or that God doesnt exist but the Bbible should not be taken extremely literally (By this I mean the kind of "brain-washed" people you see that will tell you that your damned to hell rather than take a look at the fine-points of your beliefs) I kinda got off the main topic, apoligies, but Im high.
Just because this book was written thousands years ago doesn't give it any legitimacy. What do you think people would have thought about franks herbert's Dune if it would have be written 1000 years ago. My point, there has always been people with a fertile imagination, there still is, and will alway be. So, don't believe everything you read (bible) just because it's old. My guess is that Jesus was a man that we would call a schizophrenic today. He was probably in a paranoïd delirium while driveling about being sent by god. you know, the simplest explanation and most probably the truth. Nowday, we wouldn't believe someone who get to you and say: "Hey man I talked to God last night, he told me I was the chosen one". The mental health departement of your favorite hospital would take care of him with some good antiopsychotic drugs, sadly, 2000 years ago, they knew nothing about mental illness, we can't totally blame those(sadly, too much) who followed this guy(jesus). But, come on, give me a break. It is time to relegate religion to history books and stop fooling people's mind with all this non sense. Remember, religion is far from being the keeper of ethic and morality, so keep thinking by yourself if you already do, or start right now if you aren't.