why would anyone worship such a being? are you afraid if it? as free americans we dont fear tyrants. we put a boot in their ass. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsbYlnI3TQc
He didn't quote Jesus very much. Just reinterpreted what he had heard and learned through his prosecution of Jesus' legacy which was called "the Way". Whatever appeared to him on the road to Damascus was nOt Jesus, nOt Christ, nOt the Holy Spirit. The bodily resurrection theme for the elect is very much of the school of Pharisee. Stephen had a sayings gospel "Words of the Master". Paul would have known about it as he was there when they stoned him...holding coats. Could have sourced it, but didn't. Paul was more of a theologian, trying to figure out a way to tie Jesus up with the Tanakh, and make him a sacrificial Messiah. Paul felt he needed divine blood money to pay for what he figured was real: sin. Utterly misinterpreted the crucifixion/resurrection parody. Created a smoke screen over the correct interpretation. The four pop gospels came later, and to indeed put words in Jesus mouth, upwards of 80% . Christ!
It is precisely because I have the knowledge of a speck that I ask for clarification. Can you provide any? 1th 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
its really quite simple. there are no answers for the contradictions. if you are a believer you simply rationalize them away in your mind. churches say you must have "childlike faith" for a reason. children dont have the ability to think logically yet.
Good morning, I appreciate the direct response. If I may, I would break my remarks into two parts. The first part will be allegorical, the second doctrinal. [ caveat= I am not endeavoring to debate / argue you or anyone into "submission" ! I am merely defining the basis and understanding for the faith that I have, you may reject, ponder or agree as you see fit. That is your right, and I respect that. ] I will suggest that a possible answer to your question, and may I say a very good question, is in front of us all. [I have found, that many "proofs of logic" are hard-wired into the realm we physically exist in, again, this is my faith.] It was the will, purpose and good pleasure of G-D to create Adam. The same CAN be true in humanity. A man and a women, desire to have a child. They desire this, hopefully, as an extension of their love for each other. The child arrives. The parents of the child, obviously have many more years of "living experience", and have for the most part, lived through or observed conduct which tends to lead to pain, death, agony, exhilaration, pleasure, honor, happiness, etc.. How shall the parents of the child impart this knowledge ? How shall the parents allow for experience and growth of the child ? The parent could rule the actions of the child with an iron "fist", covered with a velvet glove, and few could argue that the parents were not acting in the best interests of the child. But how would this type of parental action effect the child ? More than likely, the child, as is human nature [ I will address why I believe this is in our nature, under my doctrinal remarks], would resent this type of parental behaviour. Many of the lessons, which could be considered "perfect" as a result of the parents "headstart" in life, would fall on deaf ears, and some would be accepted as valid. A parent could "preach" until the cows come home, that if you touch that pretty looking flame, you will experience a very profound pain............well, I think we all know the answer to that one ! Upon burning himself, the child has gained a respect for the knowledge of the parent, but has also gained first hand "knowledge". And so the cycle continues. I would offer, that the greatest love a parent can show, is to impart the knowledge and wisdom they have "earned", and then allow the child to live, albeit with its own consequences and experiences. Then, and only then, will the child look at the love, wisdom, experience of the parent, with a profound and honest analysis. The child then may come to the parents for advise, knowing that it is worthy, and the child may have grown to honor and respect this wisdom, which is in part the result of the breaching and dis-regarding of the initial parental claims. I have described a scenario using humanity. How could it be different with an Omnipotent and Righteous G-D ? The garden contained the perfect will and good pleasure of G-D for His creature. It was an act of extreme love, in my opinion, and act of G-D stooping down to his creature, to say of all the trees in my garden, you may freely enjoy, but in the "fruit" of this one tree, is the knowledge of all that is not perfect. I have placed this here because I love you, and will not hold anything back....so that your love and respect for Me, your Creator, may be pure... Please, heed my warning, do not touch the flame........... I will address the doctrinal issues to your question, when I return later today. Respectfully
Good morning TraderZones, You bring up an interesting point regarding what we call science. If G-D created the heavens and the earth, the power of that act is somewhat unthinkable, at least for me. He could have designed His creation in an infinite amount of ways, I would think. The "creation" could have subsisted in nothing more than the unknowable and unsearchable breathing in and breathing out of the Creator. The "scientific laws" hard-wired into creation, is in my opinion, another facet of the great love that G-D has shown His creature. It gives a reason for man to extend himself, to exercise his intellect, to add another realm of meaning to human history, to the history of creation. I see science as an extension, a "foot-print" if you will, of the great act of love , that is observable in His creation, not as some "proof" otherwise.
I asked you questions directly in above posts, and you danced around most. So what you accuse others of, you yourself do. The direct answer to your questions are, that the scripture is written for the "faithful" and is impenetrable and incomprehensible to the blind. This is said quite a few times throughout scripture. "The preaching of the cross is foolishness to those that are perishing." You may not like it and think it is unfair, but the answer, once again, is that you keep imaging you have the capability to grasp the divine, when you yourself are a "speck." You will continue challenging and chuckling, but you will understand when it is too late.