 Re: the universe
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
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Don't be embarassed Dwight You are NOT "your brothers keeper"
Thank God!

Fidelis et Fortis
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 Re: the universe
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Don't be embarassed Dwight You are NOT "your brothers keeper"
Thank God!
And, once again here Larry ol' boy...IF there IS one, of course! 

Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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 Re: the universe
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(...you know...kind of a whole "control mechanism" sort'a thing)
You've hit the nail on the head Dwight,all religions as we know them today were set up and supported by the ruling or upper class to keep the peasants under control.
They instilled in the peasants that the "next life" would be better and that the more they suffered in this life the better the next life would be.
Of course and they wrote the laws to benefit themselves. But that is kind of a different bend on this subject however it is the one that sticks in my craw the most how religion has been used forever. Whether it is blowing up people because they want to determine their own destiny or warping the truths to brainwash the masses it is hypocracy any way you look at it.
Yeah, Christianity was brought on by the upper ruling class. That's why Jesus said he didn't come to fix the righteous. It's why He said the meek and poor will inherit the earth. That's why He was born in a smelly manger or cave and the lowest class, the shepherds, were allowed to witness it firsthand. A ruling class would never allow themselves to be upstaged. And they didn't. Jesus did say, "I come not to bring peace, but a sword" and sho nuff, we gots us some swordin'! Would any of you die for a lie? The apostles only had to recant to save their skins. Yet not one did. And they died horrible deaths. All they had to do was, well, lie. But they didn't. And they paid for it with their lives. If Jesus is saving the lives of those dying by suicide, addiction, depression, etc., is that control or brainwashing? Hitler, Stalin, and Mohammed forcibly controlled and brainwashed. They were upper ruling class.
06 in Mulberry. AI, Dunstalls, Nology coils, TTP
Keep your faith in God, but keep your powder dry.
-Oliver Cromwell
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 Re: the universe
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That bit by Carlin is the epitome of hypocrisy! He goes on and on telling whoever will listen about his athiesm, which is faith based. And then tells people who hold to a different faith that they have to keep their faith to themselves.
Yeah James, I suppose that your point here might be a valid one...maybe. However, from what I've witnessed over these 65 years of existence on this planet, no more so than the hypocrisy I've often seen exhibited by many of the so-called Faithful I've observed over that amount of time.
(...still though, at least YOU didn't "leave in a huff" like Mike did after watching Carlin's display of "hypocrisy" there...and so, hats off to YOU here, anyway!!!)
Sounds like someones offensiveness offended someone. I was no Carlin, but used every word he did. He would offend me now too. Hypocrisy is part of the gene pool of mankind. I am no stranger to it.
06 in Mulberry. AI, Dunstalls, Nology coils, TTP
Keep your faith in God, but keep your powder dry.
-Oliver Cromwell
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 Re: the universe
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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(...you know...kind of a whole "control mechanism" sort'a thing)
You've hit the nail on the head Dwight,all religions as we know them today were set up and supported by the ruling or upper class to keep the peasants under control.
They instilled in the peasants that the "next life" would be better and that the more they suffered in this life the better the next life would be.
Of course and they wrote the laws to benefit themselves. But that is kind of a different bend on this subject however it is the one that sticks in my craw the most how religion has been used forever. Whether it is blowing up people because they want to determine their own destiny or warping the truths to brainwash the masses it is hypocracy any way you look at it.
Yeah, Christianity was brought on by the upper ruling class. That's why Jesus said he didn't come to fix the righteous. It's why He said the meek and poor will inherit the earth. That's why He was born in a smelly manger or cave and the lowest class, the shepherds, were allowed to witness it firsthand. A ruling class would never allow themselves to be upstaged. And they didn't. Jesus did say, "I come not to bring peace, but a sword" and sho nuff, we gots us some swordin'! Would any of you die for a lie? The apostles only had to recant to save their skins. Yet not one did. And they died horrible deaths. All they had to do was, well, lie. But they didn't. And they paid for it with their lives. If Jesus is saving the lives of those dying by suicide, addiction, depression, etc., is that control or brainwashing? Hitler, Stalin, and Mohammed forcibly controlled and brainwashed. They were upper ruling class.
I am not criticizing the original concepts just those that bend them to suite their own needs and that goes for most religions. God didn't say drop tons of bombs on innocent victoms so the rules were bent to justify it. Or Alla didn't say take down the twin towers but the rules were bent to justify the act. Governments love to stand on a soapbox and espouse their particular religious bent but in the back room are sceeming how to screw the very people they were just addressing backed by the money people who write the laws.
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 Re: the universe
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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Read the Koran. You will find that it commands believers to be at war with non believers until the entire world is Islamic.
Christians were/are commanded to go forth and spread the good news. Christ himself peacefully left any place that did not accept him, and commanded his followers to do the same.
Slight difference.
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
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 Re: the universe
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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Yeah, Christianity was brought on by the upper ruling class. That's why Jesus said he didn't come to fix the righteous. It's why He said the meek and poor will inherit the earth. That's why He was born in a smelly manger or cave and the lowest class, the shepherds, were allowed to witness it firsthand. A ruling class would never allow themselves to be upstaged. And they didn't. Jesus did say, "I come not to bring peace, but a sword" and sho nuff, we gots us some swordin'! Would any of you die for a lie? The apostles only had to recant to save their skins. Yet not one did. And they died horrible deaths. All they had to do was, well, lie. But they didn't. And they paid for it with their lives. If Jesus is saving the lives of those dying by suicide, addiction, depression, etc., is that control or brainwashing? Hitler, Stalin, and Mohammed forcibly controlled and brainwashed. They were upper ruling class.
But the questions become apparent, how do we know they died horrible deaths? We don't know they existed at all. There is some historical evidence with Jesus and his older brother James, other than that? Then again, his older brother James makes a new question.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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 Re: the universe
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
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Then again, his older brother James makes a new question.
Ahhh, a little "pot stirring, eh?) First, I don't have much of a problem with the "historical record". While I understand there isn't any any "screaming physical evidence", there is enough ancedotal and oral testimony to satisfy most historians, that is, those without an "axe to grind". The part in which you allude to Christ's "brothers", is more interesting. It is pretty clear to me, from even a cursory reading of the New Testament, that Jesus had brothers and sisters. Albeight, I would call them "half brothers". The entire "virgin" birth thing was lifted practically whole cloth from other religious traditions from around the area. And the silly "perpetuall" virgin thing only came around centuries later when "sex" was seen as "dirty" or at best, a neccessary evil for women. It's pretty simple for me, a practicing Christian. God implanted a "divine seed" into Mary and from that Jesus was born. Afterwards, her and Joseph had a perfectly normal sex life that resulted in more children, her's and Joseph's. The whole "peputual virginity thing was tacked on hundreds of years later to satisfy and reinforce Mary's later importance outside of canonical (read Catholic) New Testamant appearances.
Fidelis et Fortis
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 Re: the universe
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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A lot things were lifted. Like 12 Roman gods went hand in hand with the Council of 12 for Rome, 12 Greek gods, 12 months, 12 sons of Jacob, Ismael had 12 princes, 12 stars on the crown of the church, 12,000 from each tribe will be saved, Luke 2:42 Christ was 12 years old when he first preached, and 12 disciples.
It was destined to go here.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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 Re: the universe
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
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A lot things were lifted. Like 12 Roman gods went hand in hand with the Council of 12 for Rome, 12 Greek gods, 12 months, 12 sons of Jacob, Ismael had 12 princes, 12 stars on the crown of the church, 12,000 from each tribe will be saved, Luke 2:42 Christ was 12 years old when he first preached, and 12 disciples.
It was destined to go here.
Yeah, but that's not uncommon with human culture. I don't think stuff was absolutely lifted as much as there has always seemed to be "favorite" numbers among man. The number 7 comes up a lot also, mostly among Jewish tradition. Maybe our brains are "hard wired" to favor certain numbers?
Fidelis et Fortis
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 Re: the universe
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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A lot things were lifted. Like 12 Roman gods went hand in hand with the Council of 12 for Rome, 12 Greek gods, 12 months, 12 sons of Jacob, Ismael had 12 princes, 12 stars on the crown of the church, 12,000 from each tribe will be saved, Luke 2:42 Christ was 12 years old when he first preached, and 12 disciples.
It was destined to go here.
I have heard the Bible story was only written hundreds of years after all these miracles etc. etc. are supposed to have happened.We know Christmas was the ancient Viking Yule feast.
Dinosaur.
"Oh Man I only ride 'em.I don't know what makes 'em work". Donald "Oddball" Sutherland
"Don't let the bastards get you down". Kris Kristofferson
"I am only paranoid because everyone is against me". Larry [Frank Burns] Linville
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 Re: the universe
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Dinosaur.
"Oh Man I only ride 'em.I don't know what makes 'em work". Donald "Oddball" Sutherland
"Don't let the bastards get you down". Kris Kristofferson
"I am only paranoid because everyone is against me". Larry [Frank Burns] Linville
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 Re: the universe
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
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I have heard the Bible story was only written hundreds of years after all these miracles etc. etc. are supposed to have happened.We know Christmas was the ancient Viking Yule feast.
and I think you are generally correct. We "modern" people only ascribe reliability to the written word. But the written word has only been around for the majority of people since the invention of the printing press in the late 15 century. There were, of course, hand copied documents before that. But the reliability of "oral" information had been relied upon for centuries before writing became even fairly common. The vast majority of information considered vital to whichever civilization you want to pick, from Babolonian to Roman Mystery religions, relied on the accurate memorization and recitation of information. Even here, in our own time and place, I am a member of an organization (Freemasons)that uses "ritual" information that has not been written down. Rather, the information has been passed down orally for more than 300 years, with little change. And I am not talking about small amounts. Thousands of words in hundreds of sentences are part of our "library". Because modern man has learned to use the very accessable technology of writing, we have lost the ability to memorize data and information. But the ancients were able to memorize and pass down information with little to no "errors" for many centuries and THAT was considered normal. So, after a few hundred years of oral recitation of the Gospel was done, people finally DID start writing the information down, as writing AND reading became more commonplace. But for the examples outlined above, the writing of the Gospels centuries after the fact does not in any way reflect poorly on their accurate retelling of the Gospel story.
Fidelis et Fortis
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 Re: the universe
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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A lot things were lifted. Like 12 Roman gods went hand in hand with the Council of 12 for Rome, 12 Greek gods, 12 months, 12 sons of Jacob, Ismael had 12 princes, 12 stars on the crown of the church, 12,000 from each tribe will be saved, Luke 2:42 Christ was 12 years old when he first preached, and 12 disciples.
It was destined to go here.
I have heard the Bible story was only written hundreds of years after all these miracles etc. etc. are supposed to have happened.We know Christmas was the ancient Viking Yule feast.
Negatory. Most of it was written within 70 years of Christ's death.
http://www.biblestudy.org/beginner/when-was-new-testament-written.html
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
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 Re: the universe
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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The assembled "New Testament" started in about 300 ce. and was later discussed to settle differing opinions at the Council of Nicaea if memory serves me well about 25 years before Constantine died. The blessing or nod, so to speak, by Constantine put Christianity on a serious footing and the ability to grow exponentially.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were the big deal. The bible you find in the hotel room was from 1600. That is right, 1600 years after the birth of Christ.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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 Re: the universe
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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The assembled "New Testament" started in about 300 ce. and was later discussed to settle differing opinions at the Council of Nicaea if memory serves me well about 25 years before Constantine died. The blessing or nod, so to speak, by Constantine put Christianity on a serious footing and the ability to grow exponentially.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were the big deal. The bible you find in the hotel room was from 1600. That is right, 1600 years after the birth of Christ.
The books were written within 100 of Christ's birth. They still find them around the middle east in clay jars every now and then. The First Council of Nicaea took texts that were already hundreds of years old and declared them as either in or out of their official Bible. The idea that the Council basically wrote the Bible was tossed out there by anti Christians at least a millennia later.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
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 Re: the universe
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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Larry, who wrote these stories 67 years or more after a person was dead? Who verified these stories as accurate when nobody alive and around Christ at the time witnessed a thing?
Constantine galvanized the religion and made it legal to be a religion. 292 years after Christ was dead they were still arguing trinity vs. Godhead vs. Son of God. Subsequent counsels once the church was organized made a collective dogma that guided what was on the editors floor vs. what went into the gospels.
The fact something saying something was found in a jar is simply that. A story was found in a jar.
If somebody digs up a Clive Cussler novel a few thousand years from now, its not a history book.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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 Re: the universe
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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....The First Council of Nicaea took texts that were already hundreds of years old and declared them as either in or out of their official Bible. ...
There is no evidence that any biblical canon was discussed at this Council, (only ecclesiastical ground rules and Christological issues). The declaration you mention may have been a notion Voltaire came up with in the 1700's.
The first complete list of the texts included in the current NT was produced by Athanasius of Alexandria in the mid-360's, several decades after the council. The first actual biblical canon may (or may not) have been formulated in the early 390's at the Synod (greek for meeting or congregation) of Hippo Regius (in Algeria). Obviously a work in progress.
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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 Re: the universe
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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I have heard the Bible story was only written hundreds of years after all these miracles etc. etc. are supposed to have happened.We know Christmas was the ancient Viking Yule feast.
and I think you are generally correct. We "modern" people only ascribe reliability to the written word. But the written word has only been around for the majority of people since the invention of the printing press in the late 15 century. There were, of course, hand copied documents before that. But the reliability of "oral" information had been relied upon for centuries before writing became even fairly common. The vast majority of information considered vital to whichever civilization you want to pick, from Babolonian to Roman Mystery religions, relied on the accurate memorization and recitation of information. Even here, in our own time and place, I am a member of an organization (Freemasons)that uses "ritual" information that has not been written down. Rather, the information has been passed down orally for more than 300 years, with little change. And I am not talking about small amounts. Thousands of words in hundreds of sentences are part of our "library". Because modern man has learned to use the very accessable technology of writing, we have lost the ability to memorize data and information. But the ancients were able to memorize and pass down information with little to no "errors" for many centuries and THAT was considered normal. So, after a few hundred years of oral recitation of the Gospel was done, people finally DID start writing the information down, as writing AND reading became more commonplace. But for the examples outlined above, the writing of the Gospels centuries after the fact does not in any way reflect poorly on their accurate retelling of the Gospel story.
To comment on your last sentences, Rich, I think if you re-read them you will find that the Gospels actually have several discrepancies between them.
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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 Re: the universe
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Yeah well, "the actual word of God" or not, once again I'll say, KEEP RELIGION SEPARATE FROM THE SECULAR WORLD OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW is all I'll ever ask!
And THAT means practice your OWN personal version of your OWN "chosen" religion if you want, but do NOT force your own religious tenants by use of secular law upon those who do not share your religious beliefs.
Although of course, the vast majority of "religious people" on this planet don't "chose" their religion, as they'll usually stay with the religion they were indoctrinated into in their childhood, and because of variously applied cultural and social pressures to continue "believing" as they were indoctrinated as a child.
And sooooo, you guys can argue ALL you want about the "facts" and/or the "myths" of Christianity or any OTHER religion, BUT what I said in my FIRST paragraph above would be, AND has been since the age of about 25 and when I decided I was agnostic, MY main concern when it comes to the topic of "Religion".
(...and because frankly, I see "religion" all to often doing to mankind in this day and age as contributing to the continuance of this species of ours in a tribal and combative state, and ESPECIALLY whenever it's mixed with politics!!!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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 Re: the universe
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Yeah well, "the actual word of God" or not, once again I'll say, KEEP RELIGION SEPARATE FROM THE SECULAR WORLD OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW is all I'll ever ask!
And THAT means practice your OWN personal version of your OWN "chosen" religion if you want, but do NOT force your own religious tenants by use of secular law upon those who do not share your religious beliefs.
Although of course, the vast majority of "religious people" on this planet don't "chose" their religion, as they'll usually stay with the religion they were indoctrinated into in their childhood, and because of variously applied cultural and social pressures to continue "believing" as they were indoctrinated as a child.
And sooooo, you guys can argue ALL you want about the "facts" and/or the "myths" of Christianity or any OTHER religion, BUT what I said in my FIRST paragraph above would be, AND has been since the age of about 25 and when I decided I was agnostic, MY main concern when it comes to the topic of "Religion".
(...and because frankly, I see "religion" all to often doing to mankind in this day and age as contributing to the continuance of this species of ours in a tribal and combative state, and ESPECIALLY whenever it's mixed with politics!!!)
The great thing about God, country, and internet, is you have the power not to listen so no one is forcing anything on anyone, yet. No one has a sword to your neck (like when gun control happens), like the Christians dying now, as prophesied. If anyone is forcin anything, it is the Christian haters, but that's another rant. When people get combative, as CAPS send the message of yelling, they indeed are the combatants. We have the right to our beliefs, for now, and you will have your way very soon. Censorship will come when guns get confiscated (just a guess) by the left (another) and God will be removed much to your delight, Dwight (ryhme, yay). Separation of church and state was not for people to remove God from our heritage but for the gov not to infringe on how we worship, i.e. freedom of religion, however discrimination is exactly what is happening. We obviously all know our heritage and it stems from our founders belief in Jesus Christ. We are not a Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, or what have you country. Yes we are a mix. Heck, the Catholics weren't even allowed to serve in the gov at first and we allegedly serve Jesus. The few agnostics of the signing of the DoI may not have agreed, but they all worked together to come to a conclusion. The Christians could have excluded them, as agnostics were a very small minority, but Jesus was for everyone. Believers are a small minority on BNA. Would this site be better served if we were not here? How bout the country? World? Rant. Why can we not be respectful here as most are? If you insist on ragging on a fellow brother or sister i insist on defending them to keep them strong in their faith as we are getting kicked in the teeth, just like i would defend you if we agreed on suntin. We are taught to submit, to a fault, and we are dying for it, as prophesied. Maybe some of you get off on that like the Romans did and radicals of today, i hope not. Yeah, strong words, but c'mon guys, relax. I love you brothers and hope we can meet with a hug. After all, the Apostle Paul (rhymed again) said to greet each other with a holy kiss. But that was a different era. Kisses ain't be happenin with me either; since i stopped drinking anyways and i ain't from France 
06 in Mulberry. AI, Dunstalls, Nology coils, TTP
Keep your faith in God, but keep your powder dry.
-Oliver Cromwell
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 Re: the universe
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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Quote:
Quote:
....The First Council of Nicaea took texts that were already hundreds of years old and declared them as either in or out of their official Bible. ...
There is no evidence that any biblical canon was discussed at this Council, (only ecclesiastical ground rules and Christological issues). The declaration you mention may have been a notion Voltaire came up with in the 1700's.
The first complete list of the texts included in the current NT was produced by Athanasius of Alexandria in the mid-360's, several decades after the council.
You are correct, I didn't explain it well. The council was the formation of standards, the big one being the holy trinity. This set in motion a set of standards for cannons and gospels. It didn't settle arguments but did establish a framework where leaders had a set conduit to others and came to agree or disagree with some order.
The council is the foundation that the current Christian house is built on. And the nod from Constantine was a shot in the arm for the minority view of the trinity. They did argue trinity for a few hundred years or more. But that foundation built from there is kinda like the Winchester mansion.
I think the trinity discussions had to happen because of the lazy way they simply incorporated the Jewish laws. Idolatry was a problem if Christ was a man or a son as you can't worship but the one God. Then they do it again with prayers to saints and Mary. If you don't have a line to the big boss how does an intermediary help it along. What or who declared mortals to be able to hear our prayers after they die. It gets confusing for the next centuries. Then again last year in Austin a minister pushed a deaf man on his forehead to the ground. When he got up he could hear. The papers didn't carry the story for some reason.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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 Re: the universe
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I am confident that the God who made the universe and sustains it to this day is able to guide the decisions made in any counsel, government or decision making to secure that the 66 books of the Bible are indeed His word for us. The ancient writings, the dead sea scrolls among them, bear evidence of that, the rest I accept by faith. Much like my faith in God. The existence of an ordered, complex and interdependent universe provides evidence of His existence, the rest I accept by faith. Faith, yes. Blind faith, no thanks. I'll take mine with evidence please.
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
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To comment on your last sentences, Rich, I think if you re-read them you will find that the Gospels actually have several discrepancies between them.
Sure, there are minor discrepancies in the telling of the gospel story, which is to be expected coming from different authors, although the later authors seemed to be familiar with earlier authors. The point I was making was not about minor differences between the gospels. I was pointing out that the tradition of WRITTEN history is fairly new, and not necessarily any more ACCUATE than the earlier oral traditions.
Fidelis et Fortis
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Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
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I am confident that the God who made the universe and sustains it to this day is able to guide the decisions made in any counsel, government or decision making to secure that the 66 books of the Bible are indeed His word for us. The ancient writings, the dead sea scrolls among them, bear evidence of that, the rest I accept by faith. Much like my faith in God. The existence of an ordered, complex and interdependent universe provides evidence of His existence, the rest I accept by faith. Faith, yes. Blind faith, no thanks. I'll take mine with evidence please.
We are talking about 1700 to 2000 years ago for the new testament and Christ. The Dead Sea Scrolls are a little older possibly. If they knew the Romans were coming to destroy their city/settlement maybe that is why the scrolls were hidden. There is not one single word in the scrolls about Christ. We know the Jews existed, they have a big book on their history and laws. Nothing in it verifies that anything is true, they just say it is. Ever notice God didn't talk to Moses in public view or earshot. I am not sure Moses existed either to be honest.
Your faith is not ever questioned here. My assertion is we have no clue what created it all. That is all on faith, no evidence, none, not a word that your God or anybodies God is the one that did it.
Faith is what brings people peace, direction, understanding of why they are. That is good for them. I believe its misguided for people to try to strip it away by any means. So when Goddess Ran brings the tide that lets me catch fish, I think that is pretty cool. Religion is tribal, they are not all right, maybe none of them are because they all claim to know for sure. What I know for sure is they can't all be right. I doubt any of them are.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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 Re: the universe
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,518 Likes: 31
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,518 Likes: 31 |
Quote:
I am not sure Moses existed either to be honest.
I was in Israel talking to some Israeli archaeologists around 15 years ago and they and their association reckon pretty much the same.
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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 Re: the universe
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
...since i stopped drinking anyways and i ain't from France
Hmmmm..."since you stopped drinking", eh?!
So Ron ol' boy. Sounds like you're one of those folks who might have had a "little problem" limiting your intake of the stuff at one time, if I'm not readin' too much into this line of yours here, eh?!
Yep, and if I'm NOT(oh, and btw, MY use of the occasional uppercase within my text does NOT mean I'm "yelling", but is INSTEAD my way of using the concept of conversational "inflection", and as if I'm talking to others and changing the tonal quality of my voice as I go along and so as to EMPHASIZE certain words within my texts that I feel are most important within said text...sorry for the digression here...now where was I...oh yeah) and if I'm NOT "readin' too much" into your "I don't drink anymore" comment, AND because you seem to find your religion such a great and powerful addition to your life, I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that "finding Jesus" helped you "stopped drinking". Am I RIGHT?
Ya see, over these many years on this planet, I've noticed a number of people with either drug and/or alcohol "issues", but once they "found Jesus" they've then used that to help control these negative impulses of theirs.
And so in closing, IF I'm wrong about this, then please forgive me for my presumptuousness, and as I understand "good Christians" are taught to do, BUT if I'm RIGHT about this, then how about fessin' up here and sayin' so.
(...'cause you see, because I'VE never suffered from this sort of thing, perhaps THAT is why I personally have never felt the need to "find Jesus" and then use this as a "replacement", OR if you will, a "control mechanism")
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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 Re: the universe
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,689 Likes: 21
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,689 Likes: 21 |
Dwight I thought you were talking to me for a minute. You know I have a problem. I drink two beers and cause a problem.  Don't we do this discussion about every 18 months? Seems like I have been on this circular track before.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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 Re: the universe
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,995 Likes: 10
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,995 Likes: 10 |
I quit drinking 20+ yrs ago now.Best thing I ever did.I would have been dead by now.Then 5 years after that I HAD to stop smoking after 30+years.[triple bypass] I didn't want to but I did and that was another great idea for me.
Dinosaur.
"Oh Man I only ride 'em.I don't know what makes 'em work". Donald "Oddball" Sutherland
"Don't let the bastards get you down". Kris Kristofferson
"I am only paranoid because everyone is against me". Larry [Frank Burns] Linville
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 Re: the universe
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
I don't drink hardly at all (the occasional beer just to be sociable) but there is a country song out with words to the effect of..."my friends say I have a drinking problem, but I don't have any problem drinking at all... 
Fidelis et Fortis
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 Re: the universe
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
I thought you were talking to me for a minute. You know I have a problem. I drink two beers and cause a problem. 
Don't we do this discussion about every 18 months? Seems like I have been on this circular track before.
Nope, wasn't talkin' to you there, Ron. Nope, it was the OTHER "Ron" I was talkin' to here.
BUT, now you've brought up that whole "two beers and causing trouble" thing here, this DOES remind me of that time inside the Spirit Room saloon in Jerome Arizona where after you had those two beers, you walked over to that one dude wearin' the Harley T-shirt and told him your Triumph was a MUCH better machine than that piece o' crap bike HE was ridin'!
(...naaaah, only kiddin' Ron here, guys...he didn't do that...well, not that I REMEMBER anyway)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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 Re: the universe
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3
Old Hand
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OP
Old Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3 |
You know, I really feel bad. When I started this thread, I just wanted to share the notion that the universe is a giant diesel engine lighting off stars with compression ignition. I really had no intention of starting any religious wars.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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 Re: the universe
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7 |
Quote:
You know, I really feel bad. When I started this thread, I just wanted to share the notion that the universe is a giant diesel engine lighting off stars with compression ignition. I really had no intention of starting any religious wars.
Don't worry about. This gang would start a fight if we were discussing car wax, snack cakes or dental floss. 
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
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 Re: the universe
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,689 Likes: 21
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,689 Likes: 21 |
Quote:
You know, I really feel bad. When I started this thread, I just wanted to share the notion that the universe is a giant diesel engine lighting off stars with compression ignition. I really had no intention of starting any religious wars.
Your post was worded exactly right and interesting because the process does the same thing a diesel engine does.
It took it exactly one post to start to go off the rails. It was inevitable. But its not your fault. And, IMHO it really causes no problems. People can read, respond, or leave it alone.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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 Re: the universe
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
I haven't seen any war. Sharing of points of views. Pretty respectably, I think. Besides, you might have saved a soul or two on here. I'm sure at least a couple of us are gonna pray for the souls of the atheistic heathens who refuse to be enlightened by us well meaning Christians! 
Fidelis et Fortis
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 Re: the universe
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
I haven't seen any war. Sharing of points of views. Pretty respectably, I think. Besides, you might have saved a soul or two on here. I'm sure at least a couple of us are gonna pray for the souls of the atheistic heathens who refuse to be enlightened by us well meaning Christians!

Nah, I doubt it, Rich.
Ya see, I'll bet the final outcome for everybody who has been involved in this thing could probably be summed up best in the refrain portion of the following John Lennon composed (and coincidentally titled) song "Across the Universe":
"Nothing's gonna change my world Nothing's gonna change my world"
(...wanna bet?) 
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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 Re: the universe
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 146
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 146 |
All good Greybeard. Sorry if I took the discussion off topic. Without a cylinder to contain it, I guess the universe is an EXTERNAL combustion engine!
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 Re: the universe
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,689 Likes: 21
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,689 Likes: 21 |
You did nothing wrong. When we discuss universe it has to go to where it is as a discussion. And what occurred is not wrong.
When I said the first post I meant nothing snarky about it. If it wasn't you it was soon to come. And once it did the discussion started as it was inevitable. Mankind cannot avoid the application of faith as soon as science stops.
Imagine a few thousand years ago. If you shoot an arrow into the air it comes back down. Why does the moon not fall on us, it looks pretty big and it goes away in the daytime too. That lent itself to the sun rises and set moving around the earth and we are standing still. It made perfect sense until we knew better.
I try to aggravate one person a day. Today may be your day.
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 Re: the universe
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3
Old Hand
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OP
Old Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3 |
That thing with the moon is easy to explain. According to the Hindu book, there was a giant floating in space. When he died, his body became the earth. His eyes popped out with one becoming the sun and the other became the moon. Dunno about the stars and planets, I guess parts broke off or he wet farted them or something.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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 Re: the universe
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
Quote:
That thing with the moon is easy to explain. According to the Hindu book, there was a giant floating in space.
Yeah, but who was the Giant's parents? And around and around we go! A lot of this thinking is really useless if we all just agree that the universe, or "omniverse" as I like to reference it, does in fact, revolve around ME! Least wise, that's what I always told the wife and kids! 
Fidelis et Fortis
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