Merged (edited) General thoughts about Christianity and the bible

[P.J. Denyer]

Just to clarify, even most religious Bible scholars agree that Acts is fiction.

Young Earth Creationists agree that the so called 'Ark' in Turkey is a natural rock formation, facts don't matter to Randy.

 

[SpuriusMaximus]

Well, obviously.

 

[P.J. Denyer]

Thanks for the link. It only applies to the new testament.

Daniel and Ecclesiastes are New Testament now? Good to know.

 

[Pixel42]

facts don't matter to Randy.

He appears to use the words facts and claims with the opposite meanings. For example he used the word claims in the title of this thread, when facts would have been the correct word, and has used the word facts to describe the unevidenced claims made in (and about) the bible throughout the thread.

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

He appears to use the words facts and claims with the opposite meanings. For example he used the word claims in the title of this thread, when facts would have been the correct word, and has used the word facts to describe the unevidenced claims made in (and about) the bible throughout the thread.

That's frequently referred to as "lying".

 

[P.J. Denyer]

That's frequently referred to as "lying".

Yes but 'Lying for Jebus' is okay.

 

[Steve]

The Bible doesn't present itself as fiction. The Lord of the Rings does.

The bible is an inanimate object that does not "present itself" as anything. Any "presentation" of the bible is solely by believers who, wrongly, have convinced themselves that the book contains some resemblance to scientific and/or historical accuracy.

 

[malbui]

I think the academic term is "Goat Shaggers".

Honestly. You drive the change from nomadic herding to agriculture and nobody mentions that. You hit upon the idea of writing and nobody mentions that. You adopt iron rather than bronze for tools and weapons and nobody mentions that. But you shag several thousand goats...

 

[Steve]

I can give you a geneology that says I'm a direct descendent of Aragorn. Does that make Tolkien's Legendarium true?

I would follow you, my King!

 

[Steve]

Wow - you are a very fast reader.

His handlers have all manner of references at hand.

 

[Rusty Tyler]

Wow - you are a very fast reader.

I'm familiar with Bart.
I appreciate some of his observations. (don't recall which ones at the moment)
His debates with Dan Wallace are good. But Dan usually wins.

 

[Rusty Tyler]

Just to clarify, even most religious Bible scholars agree that Acts is fiction.

That's funny.
Why do the Apostles make themselves look like bungling idiots?
You would think that a fabrication would put a LOT more shine on the apple.

(now I suppose I'll get lectures about apples. - sigh)

 

[Rusty Tyler]

He appears to use the words facts and claims with the opposite meanings. For example he used the word claims in the title of this thread, when facts would have been the correct word, and has used the word facts to describe the unevidenced claims made in (and about) the bible throughout the thread.

Are your claims factual?

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Yes but 'Lying for Jebus' is okay.

Well, given that Jesus is a lie to begin with I'll say that's spot on.

 

[Reformed Offlian]

Are you accounting for the fact that one lineage was of Mary and the other of Joseph?

There is no such fact. That is something apologists made up.

Both lineages trace through Joseph, and neither mentions Mary. Also, the whole point of the exercise is to establish being "of the House of David" as part of Jesus' patrimony. Thus, not only does the "lineage of Mary" hypothesis not find any support in a plain reading of the text, it also makes little sense given what one can reasonably surmise of the authors' likely motives and intentions.

 

[Ryan O'Dine]

Rusty, what brought you to Christianity? Was it YouTube videos? Someone on an internet forum? Was it the claim of miracles? Something in the Bible itself? A pastor or a friend?

I ask because I feel it's relevant to the thread.

 

[Rusty Tyler]

Rusty, what brought you to Christianity? Was it YouTube videos? Someone on an internet forum? Was it the claim of miracles? Something in the Bible itself? A pastor or a friend?

That's a good question, thanks.
Basically, I was raised in the church. Protestant evangelical,
a non-denominational community church.
But that was not enough to initiate a relationship with God.

At eight years of age I was attending a Summer Bible camp in Wisconsin.
In a morning chapel service the man speaking did as they always did, he gave
an invitation to receive Christ. He asked that all heads be bowed and all eyes closed.
But I found myself peeking to see if any of these "lost sinners" would raise a hand.

At that moment God spoke to me. Though it was a supernatural event,
it seemed as natural to me as anything. I knew who it was and wasn't frightened,
or disturbed by it. What I heard was mind-blowing. It came like a tap on my shoulder.

The message was clear and direct. "If you think it is so important, why haven't you done it?"
I was speechless. I answered with my feet. I knew the drill. I rose to my feet and pushed my way
to the aisle to go forward before we were even asked to do so.

When I was a young adult I made a connection about this event that had not been apparent
to me at the time. The man who led me to Christ was the son of the man that led my father to the Lord.
A Christian Alliance missionary that went from farm to farm inviting people to Sunday School
and sharing the gospel in the area where my father grew up. Basically in the middle of nowhere.
Such a wonderful mystery, the workings of our great God.

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I was asked to not come back to Sunday School when I was eight. I asked the teacher "where did Noah's sons get their wives?" I was gone, gone, gone. Teacher looked scared. That was fun.

 

[Steve]

That's funny.
Why do the Apostles make themselves look like bungling idiots?
You would think that a fabrication would put a LOT more shine on the apple.

(now I suppose I'll get lectures about apples. - sigh)

Hey man! The apostles were just, like, these dudes, y'know. That other persons made up stories about. They had no say in the matter.

 

[Rusty Tyler]

"where did Noah's sons get their wives?"

Are you sure that was the question?
"Where did Cain get his wife?" is more typical.