the History Channel continues to circle the drain

[Michchamp]

Or lost for 1000 years, retold and translated dozens of times, or compiled based on prejudice of the time.

Following the basic message of the Bible is one thing, but believing everything or following all the scriptures is impossible, too many contradictions.

isn't that literally true? it's impossible to comply with the whole thing; basically, you're damned if you do, and you're damned if you don't?

There is another compilation I'm more fond of; it made a lot more sense to me, was intellectually consistent throughout, and didn't have the nerve or pretension to claim divine inspiration:

 

[byco42]

Or lost for 1000 years, retold and translated dozens of times, or compiled based on prejudice of the time.

Following the basic message of the Bible is one thing, but believing everything or following all the scriptures is impossible, too many contradictions.

The New Testament is easily traceable to the authors. Thousands of pages of original manuscripts and their translations still exist. And Catholics do not rely on Sola Scriptura anyway.

 

[Monster]

I can assure you with absolute certainty that I have heard an actual choir of angels singing. And the people who took the time to write down the events of the Bible--they were aware that they were simply making it up? Every word of it, from Genesis to Revelation? I doubt that. And no book has been more rigorously examined and reviewed than the contents of scripture.

Well, there could be parts that are based off of historical facts, but to say that it couldn't be made up is insane. You do know that there are more complex stories out there that are much longer, right? Works of fiction and/or mythology, I mean.

What's more likely...an invisible man (whom nobody has ever seen or actually heard and if you say you have, i'm going to call you crazy) created one planet that has sustainable life out of billions of planets in the universe or that the books were written by people looking for answers of why they were created, and slowly overtime it evolved into a religion?

 

[Monster]

The New Testament is easily traceable to the authors. Thousands of pages of original manuscripts and their translations still exist. And Catholics do not rely on Sola Scriptura anyway.

Oh, they do. But there are about a dozen books that the church has left out of the bible. Some say it's because they can't be authenticated (but really, which books can?) but most believe it's because the church hates the message in them.

I could never follow a book that would put women to death for not being a virgin when they were married or put a man to death for eating shellfish. Anyone who thinks that a God would care about that stuff is a moron.

 

[byco42]

Oh, they do. But there are about a dozen books that the church has left out of the bible. Some say it's because they can't be authenticated (but really, which books can?) but most believe it's because the church hates the message in them.

I could never follow a book that would put women to death for not being a virgin when they were married or put a man to death for eating shellfish. Anyone who thinks that a God would care about that stuff is a moron.

That's why the New Testament replaced the Old Testament and established a new covenant with God. The OT has some great stuff in it, though. Book of Wisdom. Psalms. Kings. Job. And the Pentateuch has some serious relevance as well. There are things called types that link the Old and New Testaments as well and it makes for some great chronological debates.

Example: Mary is mentioned in Genesis, 600 years before Jesus was born.

 

[Monster]

That's why the New Testament replaced the Old Testament and established a new covenant with God. The OT has some great stuff in it, though. Book of Wisdom. Psalms. Kings. Job. And the Pentateuch has some serious relevance as well. There are things called types that link the Old and New Testaments as well and it makes for some great chronological debates.

Example: Mary is mentioned in Genesis, 600 years before Jesus was born.

a covenant with God? How do you do that when God can't speak with you?

and as for the example, that's debatable. Some say it's Eve that is being referred to. Mary is never mentioned by name.

 

[redandguilty]

isn't that literally true? it's impossible to comply with the whole thing; basically, you're damned if you do, and you're damned if you don't?

There is another compilation I'm more fond of; it made a lot more sense to me, was intellectually consistent throughout, and didn't have the nerve or pretension to claim divine inspiration:

Careful. Have someone keep an eye on your sanity if you're going to look to him for instruction.

 

[redandguilty]

Oh, they do. But there are about a dozen books that the church has left out of the bible. Some say it's because they can't be authenticated (but really, which books can?) but most believe it's because the church hates the message in them.

I could never follow a book that would put women to death for not being a virgin when they were married or put a man to death for eating shellfish. Anyone who thinks that a God would care about that stuff is a moron.

I use Pythagorean theorem even though they killed a guy for arguing the square root of two could not be expressed as a fraction.

 

[byco42]

a covenant with God? How do you do that when God can't speak with you?

and as for the example, that's debatable. Some say it's Eve that is being referred to. Mary is never mentioned by name.

1. You are not listening. 2. Neither is Eve. And Eve's offspring didn't crush anything.

 

[Monster]

1. You are not listening. 2. Neither is Eve. And Eve's offspring didn't crush anything.

1. So you're saying that you've actually heard God's voice? Serious? That little thought in the back of your mind is not God speaking, it's your own brain answering you exactly how you want it to. If a man goes to prison after killing someone and says it was God's voice telling him to do it, do you think he should be believed? Why not? There are dozens of cases in which God tells people to kill others for their sins in the bible.

2. Cain and Abel?

And I know that the verse Genesis 3:15??? refers to a woman crushing the devil's head. It just makes no mention of mary. Just says "she". And unless I'm mistaken, Mary never did any crushing of Satan's head, nor will she at the end times. Oh, and also some people also believe the text is mistranslated and that God was referring to Jesus, not a woman.

 

[turok]

Wish that I could have an audience with the Pope (Francis). Would like for him to explain to me how "God" sent His only begotten Son supposedly centuries ago to this tiny blue dust-speck of a planet within the Milky Way galaxy, (much less the entire observable universe). So would he tell me that it is all just "heavenly" eye-candy to further amaze and overwhelm us, and as a result, much more seriously and deliberately test our faith?

 

[Monster]

Wish that I could have an audience with the Pope (Francis). Would like for him to explain to me how "God" sent His only begotten Son supposedly centuries ago to this tiny blue dust-speck of a planet within the Milky Way galaxy, (much less the entire observable universe). So would he tell me that it is all just "heavenly" eye-candy to further amaze and overwhelm us, and as a result, much more seriously and deliberately test our faith?

Meh, there's much older religions out there. Jesus is similar to many of the main characters in several different religions, so to ever call him original is crazy. Actually, if I remember right, Christmas (the date) is based off of a pagan holiday, based on lawlessness.

 

[tinselwolverine]

Meh, there's much older religions out there. Jesus is similar to many of the main characters in several different religions, so to ever call him original is crazy. Actually, if I remember right, Christmas (the date) is based off of a pagan holiday, based on lawlessness.

It's not based on lawlessess - or at least not primarily - it's based on the several solistice celebrations in the northern hemisphere, going back to primordial man.

 

[Monster]

It's not based on lawlessess - or at least not primarily - it's based on the several solistice celebrations in the northern hemisphere, going back to primordial man.

Like i said, the date is what its based off. Not the celebration.

 

[Thumb]

Like i said, the date is what its based off. Not the celebration.

The majority of Christmas celebrations have nothing to do with religion or Christianity anymore.

I remember reading a poll a while back taken of several age groups of children, and the older they got the farther down on the list Jesus and or the Nativity were when asked what Christmas was about.

 

[byco42]

1. So you're saying that you've actually heard God's voice? Serious? That little thought in the back of your mind is not God speaking, it's your own brain answering you exactly how you want it to. If a man goes to prison after killing someone and says it was God's voice telling him to do it, do you think he should be believed? Why not? There are dozens of cases in which God tells people to kill others for their sins in the bible.

2. Cain and Abel?

And I know that the verse Genesis 3:15??? refers to a woman crushing the devil's head. It just makes no mention of mary. Just says "she". And unless I'm mistaken, Mary never did any crushing of Satan's head, nor will she at the end times. Oh, and also some people also believe the text is mistranslated and that God was referring to Jesus, not a woman.

My prayers have been answered many times. The offspring that God speaks of is Jesus, by default making Mary the "Woman." And here is a type that I mentioned. Jesus, in the NT, refers to his mother as "Woman" when she suggests that he provide wine for the wedding feast. "Woman, my time has not yet come." The "time" meaning his public ministry and his conquering of death and sin, or what Satan wants us all to experience, and what was the result of his convincing Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. Jesus being God, and the very God who admonished the serpent in the garden, this makes sense that He would use that same term here.

 

[byco42]

Wish that I could have an audience with the Pope (Francis). Would like for him to explain to me how "God" sent His only begotten Son supposedly centuries ago to this tiny blue dust-speck of a planet within the Milky Way galaxy, (much less the entire observable universe). So would he tell me that it is all just "heavenly" eye-candy to further amaze and overwhelm us, and as a result, much more seriously and deliberately test our faith?

Be careful what you ask for, unless you are willing to be converted after he offers his answer.

 

[Monster]

God answers your prayer, yet ignores millions of starving kids, struggling families, and victimized women. "It's a test of faith"....of course it is. You go to Hell for not believing in him, no matter how good you are in life. I want no part of that kind of selfish ego-maniac.

 

[byco42]

God answers your prayer, yet ignores millions of starving kids, struggling families, and victimized women. "It's a test of faith"....of course it is. You go to Hell for not believing in him, no matter how good you are in life. I want no part of that kind of selfish ego-maniac.

Okay. It's his fault that we are so unfaithful and unforgiving. WE are perpetrating all the ills in the world, not Him. When I talk about my prayers being answered, it's not like I'm asking for a new car. Or Michigan to win a football game. What I pray for are the things I know He wants of me and others to aspire to already.

The straw-god you are imagining is not the one who created everything. For a real impression of who He really is, look to the Cross.

 

[Monster]

Okay. It's his fault that we are so unfaithful and unforgiving. WE are perpetrating all the ills in the world, not Him. When I talk about my prayers being answered, it's not like I'm asking for a new car. Or Michigan to win a football game. What I pray for are the things I know He wants of me and others to aspire to already.

The straw-god you are imagining is not the one who created everything. For a real impression of who He really is, look to the Cross.

The God I know is the one who has COMMANDED the deaths of millions of men, women, and children (in the bible). The God I know commanded babies heads to be dashed against the wall, pregnant women cut open, the babies killed. The God I know is the one who gives instructions on how to buy, sell, and trade slaves (including your own daughter). The God I know throws a tantrum any time somebody defies him, despite never giving actual proof of his existence. To be honest, Harry Potter seems more likely to be real. Perhaps Dumbledore gave JK Rowling inspiration to write the story?