Then I must be a scientist of sorts. However, I would make a distinction between scientists and mad scientists. I postulate that "the universe" is not there. A scientist will find evidence of this. A mad scientist won't. Christ!
How about the prophetical statements contained in the Bible ? Only one who can see the end from the beginning could render such statements with accuracy.
none of them stand up to skeptical inquiry. http://atheism.about.com/gi/dynamic...rg/library/magazines/tsr/1998/3/983front.html http://atheism.about.com/gi/dynamic...rg/library/magazines/tsr/1993/2/2examp93.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible_prophecy
The religious sites you referenced are skeptical regarding Biblical prophecy but the level of "inquiry" is rather biased and quite rudimentary, as I am sure you know. If YOU have a question or position regarding Biblical prophecy, I would be happy to debate. I have spent the majority of my adult years studying the subject [specifically the book of Daniel, of which I have amassed a library spanning several hundred years worth of academic commentary], but I have little interest in arguing. Best regards
if you have studied the subject you should know how weak the claims are. the people who wrote the later books read the earlier books and where looking to set an agenda.
Without knowing which prophecies you are speaking of specifically, my remarks would degenerate into a boring lecture, I fear. But, lets look at the premise of your argument, that prophecy is nothing more than the "re-publishing" of prior works, updated to "fit" current events. This logic would have to conclude that the assumed prophetical message was "fulfilled" at the time of the editing, otherwise, the more recent editor is making future assumptions that may not fit with the original assumption, and also relying on a future editor to revise and extend his remarks. Given what we know of human nature , this "continuous editing" seems rather far fetched. Also, your argument, if I may, would have trouble regarding prophetical statements contained in the New Testament, as the lineage of the works are well documented, and much early commentary exists.
give it your best shot with your best prophecy. We have heard talk enough. We have listened to all the drowsy, idealess, vapid sermons that we wish to hear. We have read your Bible and the works of your best minds. We have heard your prayers, your solemn groans and your reverential amens. All these amount to less than nothing. We want one fact. We beg at the doors of your churches for just one little fact. We pass our hats along your pews and under your pulpits and implore you for just one fact. We know all about your mouldy wonders and your stale miracles. We want a this year's fact. We ask only one. Give us one fact for charity. Your miracles are too ancient. The witnesses have been dead for nearly two thousand years. -- Robert Green Ingersoll,
This is a trick. Time has a beginning and an end, and is scripted in between. The gOd of this world is the gOd of time [not eternity], and is the author of the script [think: scripture]. The scripture that it writes is nothing but the "prophecy" of the crucifixion of the Son of God because that is all that time is: the condemnation of the Son of God by the gOd he welcomes into his mind instead of his Father...*Our Father*. As such, the gOd of this world is an idol upheld by deception for our destruction...for the destruction of our mind [temple]. "Prophecy" is a deceptive device to impress the gullible and keep them interested in the future. This takes their focus off of what is NoW. And without accepting what is NoW, the decieved are entrapped in time...forever...if that were possible. What is NoW? The truth is NoW. The Kingdom of God is NoW. So, the day of salation is "today" - NoW - not tommorrow in the future. Time is a vast illusion that would put the Kingdom of God in the past or in the future. So the story of time is the story of paradise lost, and paradise somehow restored...over time...over conditions...over laws obeyed...over sins paid...ect. It's all kabballa [b.s.]. The Son of God stands at the beginning of time and at the end of time [alpha and omega]. He also stands in time as "Christmas" time. Time cannot stand it. Want prophecy? The Dow will trade at 100,000 in 45 years. So what? I've proved nothing. The point is this: those who take my advice will understand what it means to be rich. Christ!