Archaeology 'Demonstrates the Reliability of the Bible,' Leading Archaeologist Says

I totally reject Wikipedia as a source. Even it’s cofounder Larry Sanger rejects it stating Wikipedia is so biased to the left it is useless.

If you use real scholars (for example, Daniel Wallace), I will read your post.

 

What would Jesus say if he saw Christians today?
He already answered that in Revelations 3 and 4 in the letters the the 7 churches.

They detail 7 basic types of church, from the prestige obsessed mega church to the benevolent church doing gods will.

The churches that Jesus praises are the ones that puts God first and foremost. One that he criticizes does good deeds but their motivation is not to glorify God.

So when you ask me to use Jesus as the measuring stick, you have a problem since you reject all the god stuff. The churches Jesus puts at the bottom are the ones you would put on top.

 

Daniel Wallace is a true class clown .. Representing the "Evangelical" loon tune bus. Having no credibilty in theological circles. In other words .. not only does Acadamia have no respect for these jokers .. and for good reason .. Christian Theolgians Religious Historians - Seminaries - don't have any respect for these jokers either .. For good reason.

Matt is anonymous .. .. The Author uses all of Mark .. except for a few verses that are derogatory to Jesus and/or the disciples .. a slight sin of omission - "artistic license " "Pious Fraud". In addition this author adds some material .. which is thought to come from some other earlier source .. - the infamous "Q" - where that came from we do not know .. highly unlikely it was the tax collector who authored the document -- but, could have been some oral tradition from Matt's sermonizing someone wrote down at some point.

 

Based on your blatant misreading - much less “interpretations” - of obvious biblical passages, then Daniel Wallace must be one of the worlds experts on textual criticism. And guess what? He is.

 

I havn't misread anything that you have shown .. It is you who gets it scripturally handed to you in every exchange .. you ending up running from the scripture I post... and there is no such thing as a "World Expert on textual Criticism" who sings the Fundamentalist tune .. in a league of their own those adherents .. sorry . but no credibility they have.

Regardless .. no need to dwell on Ad Hom fallacy .. I gave you the story of Matt .. did you have any comment .. or did you wish to continue fallacizing - What part of "We have no idea if Matt had anything to do with Matt" according to modern Scholarship .. "the fundamentalist loons excepted" would you like clarified further ?

 

You said you would answer my question if I explained Matthew 7:21, which you took out of context. I explained it and showed it proved the opposite of what you claimed, it shows Jesus saying salvation is not through works but through faith.

You could not answer my simple question.

Now you smear a man you know nothing about. Whatever religion you follow it turns it’s followers hearts black. Your posts prove it.

 

There is no such thing as Satan either, let alone some logical scheming parody of a human being. This is fairytale stuff similar to Milton's use of personification in order to make Christian dogma simple for the uneducated as well as "exciting".

"Satan" is merely the absence of good.

 

Right or wrong?
I don't care. Dead us dead. "Résurrection" is the cyclical principle of natural régénération. But while alive I can say I did no evil and on balance, did some good.
The rest is irrelevant. I think the term is counting angels on the head of à pin.

And please do not tell me what I WOULD do. That is idle spéculation designed to cause confrontation. I'll sidestep that, thanks.

 

The sources are there for you. These are not controversial points.

 

That is a steaming pile of falsehood .. Jesus gives a works based salvation formulation in 7:21:29 .. part of which why the majority of Christianity rejects Sola Fide.

Jesus does not mention one word about Faith as a requirement .. nor infer that in any way that faith is a requirement. The answer to your simple question -- as given by Jesus .. is that it is the Foolish person who only hears the word .. but is not a doer of the word.

"By their deeds" you will recognize them says Jesus .. Not "By their Faith" .. Jesus condemns such people .. those running around crying "Jesus Jesus" .. Speaking in Tongues like the Pentecostals and fundamentalists.

What Man am I smearing .. what are these nonsense false accusations . projecting your doings on to me. It is you who smears the name of Jesus... putting words in his mouth .. usurping the position of the Logos .. Speaking for God .. Replacing the teachings of Jesus with man made dogma from your Idol Martin Luther.

 

Here is the "would" fallacy again.
Since i am not arrogant enough to read Jesus mind and Révélations was written a century after jesus' existence, I'll give it à miss as an attempt at some fire and brimstone tall tale telling.
OTOH taking the general message of the gospels as a guide to what Jesus values and tried to pass on, I would say he would weep at the corruption of his words.
Throughout the centuries those who purport to be Christian have used the theology as their own path to what I consider evil.
Conquest, rape, pillage, child abuse, coersion, power hunger, amassing enormous private wealth , subversion of native beliefs, torture , slavery, murder and destruction.
All in the name of their "god".
Is this your God?
Do you wonder I don't glorify god.
I prefer to go about my life as a social and coopérative human being, and seriously do not care a jot for the niceties of who said what thousands of years ago.
And I seriously doubt that any god would find that objectionable. I don't believe he would spend his time awarding brownie points and free passes to heaven because I can prove the relevant veracity of some obscure historical figure.
God to me is à simple personnification of coopérative and socially supportive principles which contribute to the better peace and progress of the planet we share. Many faiths share these principles because otherwise we would destroy each other. By the genetic drive of self préservation and the potential to maximise the expérience of being alive, we construct these universal principles to best allow the development of the planet.
God is not some controlling power imagined as some Wizard of Oz figure. It is the simplistic way we can understand how to develop as a species. That is fundamental in ALL life. Plants develop ways to protect themselves. They don't allow that which leads to their own extinction. As do all animals. It is a simple genetic fact.
That is my god. Not the endless search for some gotcha moment or some waste of time discussing those pinhead angels.
Take à walk. Be part of life in all its forms. Do what you can to protect and develop it. Go and lend à hand to someone or thing that needs it. Be part of what you call a godhead instead of bickering over dusty petty détails.
Avoid hurting life . Enjoy your existence and that of others and do what you can.
None of us have long.

 

"By their deeds" you will recognize them says Jesus .. Not "By their Faith" .. Jesus condemns such people .. those running around crying "Jesus Jesus" .. Speaking in Tongues like the Pentecostals and fundamentalists."

Indeed.
You can't say you have faith is the ultimate relationship with "god".
It is like sitting in a cave mumbling "I believe in good" while not contribiting anything to the existence or continuance of the good.
And discussing ancient text from a time before christianity doesnt justify christianity.
Why do you think so many "godly" people get off their backsides and pursue an active faith?
Faith is ,as you would say, manifested in good works. I doubt they spend time discussing the "real meaning" of some obscure person who was alive 2000 plus years ago.
There is more faith and worship in considering the lilies of the field.
Matthew 6:28

 

Naw. Satan is the good guy, if the vision of God is the tyrant version.

 

"The bird of time has but a little way to flutter, and lo, the bird is on the wing" Omar Khayam

 

What's doubly stupid about this "Sola Fide" - "Salvation by Faith Alone" dogma .. declared heresy when introduced in the 14th century .. the Church surviving fine for 1400 years without that in doctrine .. the vast majority of Christianity (everyone but Protestant) rejecting "Sola Fide" to this day - is that the adherents can't tell you what "Having Faith" actually means ... and you are supposed to bet your salvation on this.

Ask one of these adherents "Faith in What" -- ? That Jesus was God ? That Jesus was the Son of God ? Faith in the resurrection .. that Jesus was the Messiah, Faith that your sins will be washed clean .. on the basis of this belief

So is this faith in something about the personage of Jesus .. or is it Faith in the teachings of Jesus ?

Tell me -- I want to be redeemed .. what am I supposed to have faith in .. The Free pass theory ? Faith that having Faith - gives me a free pass through Judgement .. Tell me .. I want the free pass mate.. give up the goods.

How about we read what the dude had to say. Never mind about the "Tim Tebow" types described by Jesus .. a NFL QB who would do a big prayer dance after scoring a touchdown "Jesus Jesus" "Lord Lord" "Thank you Jesus -- Thank You Jesus" Jesus hated that .. and said so.. .. but never mind whether this is.. or is not .. the "Faith Alone" crowd.

WTF is - The will of the Father. and notice the "Only" those that do this .. what ever "This" is.

This questions .. sets the Adherent off running to other parts of the Bible most often Paul .. upon which I tell them .. No .. What did "Jesus" have to say .. in this Sermon .. which is Matt 5-7 Sermon on the mount. Why would you look elsewhere for answers .. when Jesus has spent an entire sermon explaining what "The Will of the Father" is.

and they won't look .. won't open the box .. cause they have Jesus/God .. in a box already .. have him labeled with this that and the other characteristic "All Loving" "All knowing" ad infinitum .. but if they look in a different box .. and see conflicting Characteristics .. such as Jesus getting angry and lashing out .. that doesn't work too well.

I use this particular example as this is what the Author of Matt did .. The author used all of Mark .. the entire thing "Sans" a few passages that were derogatory to Jesus and/or the disciples. and that is right from the Catholic Encyclopedia if one goes there under Matt .. not some secret found at some occult web site. No one debates this fact .. sans the fundamentalists who refuse anything that conflicts with literalist doctrine.

but I digress --- WTF did Jesus have to say - in his most famous sermon. How Jesus answer the question he poses ?

Works - Works .. and more works.. Judge not lest you be judges .. let ye without sin cast first rock .. and numerous other examples of the Golden Rule .. which Jesus says is the rock on which his teachings are based.

How do we know ? Matt 7:12 - "Don't do to others what you hate - This sums up the law and the prophets"

Oh .. OK .. like that is not too obvious .. Ding Ding Ding.. accompanied by red lights flashing. Maybe when HeyZeus says "This sums up the Law and the Prophets" .. it means he wants you to pay attention.

Rabbi Hillel - who I have substituted in the first part . Teacher of Jesus - extremely Famous Rabbi 110 BC - 10 AD .. had been around awhile when Jesus showed up... once responded to a question on the Torah "Don't do to others what you hate. The Rest is all Commentary - now go and learn"

So What is the will of the Father ? While there may be more to it .. it is at least this much .. Deeds .. the Golden Rule is deeds .. as is the entire Sermon Jesus gives.

So after giving this big sermon - the topic of which is how to achieve salvation - giving works works and more works .. he summarizes .starting With the Golden Rule then getting into the wolves in sheeps clothing.. then finishing with the above .. that it is the doers .. not the hearers that have a solid foundation in Christ .. who have been "Put Right" with God.

So - According to Jesus - Practice the Golden Rule .. and you are good -- and he could not have made it more clear -- hence why the vast majority of Christianity has a works component to the salvation formulation.

One last thing of interest .. while a somewhat vague .. and open to different interpretation .. What is the very first thing Jesus says in his one and only and most famous sermon. The first words out of mouth

"Blessed are the poor in spirit" - For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

What ? What that mean ? har har har What that mean mate .. tell me .. looks like it could be a back handed kick at "Sola Fide" - but it hard to say. I like it .. what ever it means ..

 

The absence of good in what, a jar of peanut butter? And without good in a man, what resides there. You are wrong. God is real. So is Satan. It is all a matter of choice as to whom we serve. If you believe that it is wrong to steal, rape, and murder. You cannot prove it to be so. You can only acknowledge it and echo it in harmony with some intangible personal orb that you possess. You say there is no God, and then turn right around and act like God or a servant to God with your holy proclamations like Moses having returned from the mount, tablets in hand.

 

I utterly reject your tone of voice.
How dare you accuse me of holy proclamations!! Listen to yourself!!
You sound like something out of Nathaniel Hawthorne. The ones he made fun of.

The highest guardian of the church of England and Scotland in the UK once said affinity with god comes in the million small acts done every day (sic).
I'll go with that.

 

Oh please. Now you hide behind the God you dismiss as myth. Which is it. Is you is or is you ain't.

 

I suggest you aren't as clever as you think you are.
I told you what GOOD is.
There is no logical prime directive called God.
If you can't get your head around that, I can't help you.

 

Believe what you will. It is not the same as knowing. Belief on its own may as well be gossip, rumor, babel, and/or myth. Of such is you head filled.

 

Do not dare to think you know me.
As much as you think you are some mystic or spiritual genius.
Do you think your God will be impresssed and put you on the front row of favour?
You aren't. Instead you are saturated with the propaganda you constantly repeat. You think speaking "old testament" and threatening people gives you some ticket to truth.
You have no idea of my "journey" or how I found my truth. Ans it has nothing to do with gossip or myth
I don't hold to myths and I don't drown in scripture or paraphrase or quote anyone. I don't try to sell my version of what someone else has told me.
I found my values by myself and I have found nothing but renforcement of them.
Now what good works have you done today? Or have you spent it lecturing others?

 

Im not telling you what to believe, I’m suggesting you examine various possibilities. Keep an open mind.

Im a committed Christian, but I talk to people of other beliefs all the time. I want to know why and what they believe. I accept challenges to my belief, if I can’t accept challenges and criticism of my belief then I am unsure of my belief.

I met with a Pakistani Muslim for lunch for 6 years, we talked about our religions, exchanged books and articles, We each thought the other was wrong, Islam and Christianity are incompatible with each other, but we were friendly and honest. I haven’t seen him in years but when he moved away he was still Muslim.

But I have seen many Muslims in a Muslim area including an Imam who were sure they knew the Truth become Christians.
Keeping an open mind is important.

 

Sorry. Not interested on confession or conversion.
I am 73 years old and have done all the discussions and explorations already. Most of it just living with my eyes wide open.

 

Then use the reliable sources. You may have a good arguement but if I see Wikipedia I skip the entire post

 

You repeat the exact same arguments, often with the same language.

I think you are a bot.