""'As for your male and your female slaves, whom you may have; of the nations that are around you, from them you may buy male and female slaves."
Author: Leviticus 25 Verses #: 44
"You masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him."
Author: Ephesians 6 Verses #: 9
Moses and the prophets of the Old Testament did not speak against slavery. Jesus did not speak out against slavery. The apostles did not speak out against slavery. The church did not speak out against slavery until 1800 years after the life and death of Jesus. The southern baptist denomination was developed and created to speak out for the practice of slave owners and slavery in the south. It was through reasoning, justice and logic and conscience that mankind finally spoke "over" the bible's morality and declared slavery to be wrong, cruel and unjust and immoral. The bible did not establish this truth. Man evolved and advanced and listened to his inner morality and declared slavery illegal, but only after a very bitter civil war. Christians and non-christians alike spoke out against the practice of slavery out of human reasoning and a sense of morality and justice, not because the bible outlawed the practice of buying and selling other human beings for selfish motives and greed, but because man's morality finally broke through the lack of compassion that had existed for thousands of years. I believe that without the bible the practice of slavery would never have taken hold in western advanced societies. Racism fueled a morality that declared someone of another color to simply be "non-human" and thus suseptible to being marginalized and dominated and bought and sold as you would buy a pig or a mule or a cow. Female slaves could not "own" and control the rearing of their own children and could not hope for a lifetime lover and companion. Jesus could have spoken out against the practice of slavery. This truth puts the bible in question. This truth puts the morality of Jesus, the apostles and Moses in question. This truth begs the question of why would a god allow and stand silent for 4,000 years while "his" books were being written and "his" thoughts being told. This truth of silence forces one to ask "Is God Moral?" Who needs a god that does not recognize a basic and simple human truth? The above are just two of many bible verses that condone slavery and legitimate it with biblical laws, rather than rebuking and denouncing it. The bible is not a moral book. The bible condons what should have been condemned.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Contradictions over Jesus' genealogy by Thomas Quinn
The inerrant word of God, you say? Huh... That claim lacks a certain Christian humility, don't you think? Especially since there is no greater evidence of the Bible's human origins than its frequent disagreements with itself. A perfect god wouldn't allow this sort of thing. What would be the point? If he's willing to show off by parting oceans and stuff, he'd certainly want to impress us with a boo-boo free biography. Alas, it ain't so. Here is just a partial list of scriptural inconsistencies in the New Testament. Many of them are genuinely unimportant...all the more reason why there shouldn't be any inconsistencies. But here they are.
Matt 1:6-7 The genealogy of Jesus runs through David's son, Solomon.
Luke 3:23-31 The genealogy of Jesus runs through David's son, Nathan.
Matt 1:16 Joseph's father is Jacob.
Luke 3:23 Joseph's father is Heli.
Matt 1:17 There are 28 generations from David to Jesus.
Luke 3:23-38 There are 43 generations from David to Jesus.
Read more »
Posted by Thomas Quinn at 5:53 PM 2 comments
Matt 1:6-7 The genealogy of Jesus runs through David's son, Solomon.
Luke 3:23-31 The genealogy of Jesus runs through David's son, Nathan.
Matt 1:16 Joseph's father is Jacob.
Luke 3:23 Joseph's father is Heli.
Matt 1:17 There are 28 generations from David to Jesus.
Luke 3:23-38 There are 43 generations from David to Jesus.
Read more »
Posted by Thomas Quinn at 5:53 PM 2 comments
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Can and does Jesus heal PTSD?
http://www.truth-out.org/can-jesus-cure-shell-shock61984
In the dark ages there were very few medicines and even less knowledge of the human body and the human mind. Currently, army psychologists are giving soldiers suffering from PTSD and stress disorders a $5.00 bible and telling them the cure is in reading it. This "cure" is not unlike something a priest might have done a thousand years ago. There is no scientific or natural evidence that god can or is healing the minds and bodies of these soldiers of accumulated stress. This application of non-medicine puts the burden of healing and wellness back on the ill soldier. This does three things for the military: 1. It lowers their costs and responsibility. What could be easier and cheaper than saying here is a $5.00 bible and now it is up to you to read it until you are well. The burden of recovery is on the ill soldier and an invisible and silent and absent deity that the soldier is told to tap into for his health resources. Surely anyone can recognize that this is medicine out of the dark ages. Just because the army does not want to recognize the problem and hire the psychologists and psychiatrists that could apply the best current science to the problem, they make PTSD a spiritual problem. This is cruel spiritual abuse. In the end, the blame for someone not getting better is his/her own fault. This is just wrong. 2. The dependency on the bible rather than reason and logic makes for a soldier who is separated from reason and logic and placed squarely in the realm of a 4,000 year old deity that was born out of a fighting people in the deserts in the middle east. Believing in a deity that cannot be verified and told to fight another group of people because they oppose our deity builds a religiously motivated military who is fighting for "their" god. This puts military action into the elusive category religious fanaticism based on superstition and mysticism, not logic. It is very easy to control a religious fanatic, unskilled and uneducated preachers do it every sunday all across america. 3. Applying the bible to a physical/mental problem grows a religious military that is easy to control and manipulate because free thought is eliminated and skepticism is taken out of the equation. A religious person is controlled with religious teachings and instruction. The military uses religion and religion uses the military.
Back to my original link and question? How effective is the reading of the bible when dealing with psychological trauma. Is their any scientific and verifiable evidence that these soldiers should be treated in this way? I personally tried to heal PTSD for 30 years with diligent bible reading, forgiveness, faithful church attendance and the application of the "biblical" self help writers. I got no relief from a prayer meeting, a self-help book or from "giving the problem to god". The problems associated with PTSD did not go away and I suffered 30 years. When I gave away every christian self-help book and went to a therapist and a psychiatrist I began to heal. I truly weep for our soldiers who are told to go home and read their bibles. We wonder why so many of them blow their brains out.
It takes money, time and resources and acknowledgement of the problem of PTSD, but the military wants to sweep it under the rug and apply elusive spirituality to the problem with a $5.00 bible fix. Our soldiers deserve better.
In the dark ages there were very few medicines and even less knowledge of the human body and the human mind. Currently, army psychologists are giving soldiers suffering from PTSD and stress disorders a $5.00 bible and telling them the cure is in reading it. This "cure" is not unlike something a priest might have done a thousand years ago. There is no scientific or natural evidence that god can or is healing the minds and bodies of these soldiers of accumulated stress. This application of non-medicine puts the burden of healing and wellness back on the ill soldier. This does three things for the military: 1. It lowers their costs and responsibility. What could be easier and cheaper than saying here is a $5.00 bible and now it is up to you to read it until you are well. The burden of recovery is on the ill soldier and an invisible and silent and absent deity that the soldier is told to tap into for his health resources. Surely anyone can recognize that this is medicine out of the dark ages. Just because the army does not want to recognize the problem and hire the psychologists and psychiatrists that could apply the best current science to the problem, they make PTSD a spiritual problem. This is cruel spiritual abuse. In the end, the blame for someone not getting better is his/her own fault. This is just wrong. 2. The dependency on the bible rather than reason and logic makes for a soldier who is separated from reason and logic and placed squarely in the realm of a 4,000 year old deity that was born out of a fighting people in the deserts in the middle east. Believing in a deity that cannot be verified and told to fight another group of people because they oppose our deity builds a religiously motivated military who is fighting for "their" god. This puts military action into the elusive category religious fanaticism based on superstition and mysticism, not logic. It is very easy to control a religious fanatic, unskilled and uneducated preachers do it every sunday all across america. 3. Applying the bible to a physical/mental problem grows a religious military that is easy to control and manipulate because free thought is eliminated and skepticism is taken out of the equation. A religious person is controlled with religious teachings and instruction. The military uses religion and religion uses the military.
Back to my original link and question? How effective is the reading of the bible when dealing with psychological trauma. Is their any scientific and verifiable evidence that these soldiers should be treated in this way? I personally tried to heal PTSD for 30 years with diligent bible reading, forgiveness, faithful church attendance and the application of the "biblical" self help writers. I got no relief from a prayer meeting, a self-help book or from "giving the problem to god". The problems associated with PTSD did not go away and I suffered 30 years. When I gave away every christian self-help book and went to a therapist and a psychiatrist I began to heal. I truly weep for our soldiers who are told to go home and read their bibles. We wonder why so many of them blow their brains out.
It takes money, time and resources and acknowledgement of the problem of PTSD, but the military wants to sweep it under the rug and apply elusive spirituality to the problem with a $5.00 bible fix. Our soldiers deserve better.
Is it true?
"He said to them, "Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."
Author: Matthew 17 Verses #: 20
This is Jesus saying that problems do not go away because of unbelief. All that is necessary for life and health and wealth is belief. Is that statement true? Was it true at the time? Is it true now? This is a man claiming to be god and know god stating that belief in god fixes everything. What about peak oil? What about climate change? What about destruction of the planet with pollution? What about death and destruction by war? What about illness? What about poverty? What about food shortages?
Jesus is saying problems can "magically" disappear with belief. Is this a true statement? Has anyone had a problem disappear by apply an ascent of faith to the problem? NO. Logic and reason and knowledge and science and math lead to problem resolution not mysticism. For 2,000 years women and children died from a lack of science about obstetrics. When someone wants a safe delivery they go to a doctor that is trained to deliver babies and protect the life of the mother and the infant. There is no evidence that a greater "belief" in god solved any health or public crisis in the last 2,000 years of mankind applying christianity to culture. If struggling to reach a state of "greater belief" leaves you exhausted and unsure that you arrived anywhere, feeling guilt for the problem that does not go away and believing the problem is the fault of "unbelief" or lack of "faith" is exactly the place where religion wants you and needs you to be.....guilty, and feeling inadequate and insecure and in need of more religion and more faith. The solution to the problem is scientific, political, economic or cultural, not a lack of belief in an unseen and absent, silent, and mystical deity. Ask yourself if it is true that nothing is impossible? Growing old? Getting sick? Having an accident? It is not true and never was true. If everyone believes a lie...it is still a lie. If no one believes the truth...it is still the truth.
Author: Matthew 17 Verses #: 20
This is Jesus saying that problems do not go away because of unbelief. All that is necessary for life and health and wealth is belief. Is that statement true? Was it true at the time? Is it true now? This is a man claiming to be god and know god stating that belief in god fixes everything. What about peak oil? What about climate change? What about destruction of the planet with pollution? What about death and destruction by war? What about illness? What about poverty? What about food shortages?
Jesus is saying problems can "magically" disappear with belief. Is this a true statement? Has anyone had a problem disappear by apply an ascent of faith to the problem? NO. Logic and reason and knowledge and science and math lead to problem resolution not mysticism. For 2,000 years women and children died from a lack of science about obstetrics. When someone wants a safe delivery they go to a doctor that is trained to deliver babies and protect the life of the mother and the infant. There is no evidence that a greater "belief" in god solved any health or public crisis in the last 2,000 years of mankind applying christianity to culture. If struggling to reach a state of "greater belief" leaves you exhausted and unsure that you arrived anywhere, feeling guilt for the problem that does not go away and believing the problem is the fault of "unbelief" or lack of "faith" is exactly the place where religion wants you and needs you to be.....guilty, and feeling inadequate and insecure and in need of more religion and more faith. The solution to the problem is scientific, political, economic or cultural, not a lack of belief in an unseen and absent, silent, and mystical deity. Ask yourself if it is true that nothing is impossible? Growing old? Getting sick? Having an accident? It is not true and never was true. If everyone believes a lie...it is still a lie. If no one believes the truth...it is still the truth.
Monday, September 13, 2010
The dome on the rock owned by 3 competing gods
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Dome_of_the_Rock
The above link to an article about the Dome of the Rock highlights the problem of 3 religions (Islam, Judaism and Christianity) and their deities claiming rights the a piece of land in modern day Israel.
In times past a prophet could claim to hear from god and round up a local following that would eventually find the desire to create a new religion and worship the prophet and his words and life, but the world would go on and do it's best to assimilate and accomodate the new religion and the believers. Time would pass and a new prophet and a new religion would seek believers in honor of the new deity. The problem for the world at this juncture is that this has happened three times in one place in history and now "Houston we have a problem". Who has rightful claim to the land on which the Dome of the Rock sits? The world sits and watches as we now have 3 different deities competing for the rights to a piece of ground. First, the jews built a temple where animal sacrifice and worship to Yahweh centered their culture for centuries. Then came Jeshua, an iteranite jewish prophet who claimed Yahweh for his own and taught new teachings and a new religion. Four hundred years after his death a chapel was built on the destroyed temple mound to honor this Jesus. Two hundred years later, muslim conquerors leveled that shrine and built the dome on the rock mosque. It is said to be the place where Mohammed, their prophet was welcomed into paradise by his god Allah. Fast forward 1400 years and you have passionate followers of these gods claiming ownership of the holy ground. Passionate sermons and ministries are founded to push for the rebuilding of the temple so Jesus can come back to earth. The jewish Israeli's who have dispossed the palestinians of their homes, land, water and freedom in order to occupy the country given to them after World War II believe that nothing less than a pure jewish state is their right, given to them by their god, and the muslims revere the dome of the rock as one of their most holy sites. What is the solution to this collusion of deities? How many gods can one piece of land accomodate?
The fundamentalists of all three of these religions have no appetite for compromise and no one is backing down from loyalty to their ancient prophets and stone age gods and their "supposed" but unproven miracles. A substantial lack of proof for these "divine revelations" seems to hold no bearing for a modern man committed to his ancient gods. In a shrinking world possessed of atomic bombs it does not appear that any of these three gods is capable of stopping the other god of destructive genocide and domination by right of the "largest bombs" and "largest military" and most passionate believers willing to die for their deity. Why modern man clings to these ancient gods who did not advance the cause of mankind by simply explaining the "germ theory" of disease when they walked on the earth speaks of their total lack of knowledge of knowledge. The deities guiding them were content to let mankind suffer in ignorance for centuries. The 1800's began to bring about advances in science in spite of every attempt by religion to stop the progress of science. These deities never felt the need to speak of the human rights of slaves or women and both suffered for 2,000 years after the death of jesus. What good is a deity that encourages the death of any person who does not "believe" and condemns creation to an eternal place of punishment for skepticism and honest doubt? Without science mankind would be back in his illiterate stone age, but with these ancient religions mankind may end his planet all together with weapons of mass destruction. I vote we give up the confused and unenlightened deities and follow reason and logic and justice and disarm and call it a new day without stone age illiterate prophets who claim to speak for their god to be silenced in our minds and in our hearts.
The above link to an article about the Dome of the Rock highlights the problem of 3 religions (Islam, Judaism and Christianity) and their deities claiming rights the a piece of land in modern day Israel.
In times past a prophet could claim to hear from god and round up a local following that would eventually find the desire to create a new religion and worship the prophet and his words and life, but the world would go on and do it's best to assimilate and accomodate the new religion and the believers. Time would pass and a new prophet and a new religion would seek believers in honor of the new deity. The problem for the world at this juncture is that this has happened three times in one place in history and now "Houston we have a problem". Who has rightful claim to the land on which the Dome of the Rock sits? The world sits and watches as we now have 3 different deities competing for the rights to a piece of ground. First, the jews built a temple where animal sacrifice and worship to Yahweh centered their culture for centuries. Then came Jeshua, an iteranite jewish prophet who claimed Yahweh for his own and taught new teachings and a new religion. Four hundred years after his death a chapel was built on the destroyed temple mound to honor this Jesus. Two hundred years later, muslim conquerors leveled that shrine and built the dome on the rock mosque. It is said to be the place where Mohammed, their prophet was welcomed into paradise by his god Allah. Fast forward 1400 years and you have passionate followers of these gods claiming ownership of the holy ground. Passionate sermons and ministries are founded to push for the rebuilding of the temple so Jesus can come back to earth. The jewish Israeli's who have dispossed the palestinians of their homes, land, water and freedom in order to occupy the country given to them after World War II believe that nothing less than a pure jewish state is their right, given to them by their god, and the muslims revere the dome of the rock as one of their most holy sites. What is the solution to this collusion of deities? How many gods can one piece of land accomodate?
The fundamentalists of all three of these religions have no appetite for compromise and no one is backing down from loyalty to their ancient prophets and stone age gods and their "supposed" but unproven miracles. A substantial lack of proof for these "divine revelations" seems to hold no bearing for a modern man committed to his ancient gods. In a shrinking world possessed of atomic bombs it does not appear that any of these three gods is capable of stopping the other god of destructive genocide and domination by right of the "largest bombs" and "largest military" and most passionate believers willing to die for their deity. Why modern man clings to these ancient gods who did not advance the cause of mankind by simply explaining the "germ theory" of disease when they walked on the earth speaks of their total lack of knowledge of knowledge. The deities guiding them were content to let mankind suffer in ignorance for centuries. The 1800's began to bring about advances in science in spite of every attempt by religion to stop the progress of science. These deities never felt the need to speak of the human rights of slaves or women and both suffered for 2,000 years after the death of jesus. What good is a deity that encourages the death of any person who does not "believe" and condemns creation to an eternal place of punishment for skepticism and honest doubt? Without science mankind would be back in his illiterate stone age, but with these ancient religions mankind may end his planet all together with weapons of mass destruction. I vote we give up the confused and unenlightened deities and follow reason and logic and justice and disarm and call it a new day without stone age illiterate prophets who claim to speak for their god to be silenced in our minds and in our hearts.
Monday, September 6, 2010
The fall of woman
Genesis describes a "paradise" that was created by god. First for Adam (the man he created from dirt) and then for his "helpmeet" Eve (who was created from one of Adam's ribs). They did not wear clothing and they had everything that they needed and walked with god daily. God put a tree of fruit in the middle of the garden that was "forbidden" for Adam and Eve to eat for the fruit possessed a power that would allow them to know "good and evil". One day, Satan, in the form of a serpent tempted Eve to eat the fruit "so she would be like god" and then she gave the fruit to Adam to eat. Once they ate the fruit they realized that they were naked and they hid from god in shame. God found them and killed an animal and made clothes for them and kicked them out of the garden after he cursed them by making them work for their food. He cursed Eve by making childbirth painful. The other part of the curse was for Eve to "desire" Adam, but for Adam to rule over Eve. The fall of Adam and Eve made Eve a "lesser" human to be dominated and subjugated. The "fall of man" gave Adam dominance over Eve even though she would "desire" to be equal and for the relationship to once again be one of love and companionship.
The fall of mankind sets up a culture of "patriarchy" where man is dominate as the family and tribal authority. Any woman who has ever gardened knows that she is subjected to toil and sweat to make food come out of the ground, and Adam's "curse" is her curse. The lost paradise is forever Eve's fault and she is thereafter judged to be a weaker and less trustworthy creature. Sex is changed to one of "desire" that is not met as she is seen as one who exists to bring forth children in pain. Love and tenderness and equality is now out of the equation as angry domination on the part of Adam takes over. This story unfairly blames Eve, and thereafter all women for the pain in childbirth and the inequality in male/female relationships. The fall of mankind sets up a pattern of patriarchy that has been followed for 4,000 years. The western cultures have evolved into more or less secular humanistic cultures where reason and logic can sometimes ascend above ancient tribal folklore myths, but the muslims are still deeply entrenched in the myth with cultures that are a mirror the effects of the curse. For christians to know what life was like 4.000 years ago for women and children, they need to look no further than taliban ruled villages in Afghanistan.
I discuss the "fall of womankind" in order to point out that without the myth we do not need a "savior". If Eve's failure to obey a command by her creator never happened, we have nothing to be saved "from".
It is all just "make believe" told by ancient sheepherders to give them authority in their affairs and help them understand their plight and shape their tribes as they see fit. Once the mind rejects the story, one rejects the need for a god as a "savior", for one no longer needs to be saved.
Once the myth of the fall of womankind is rejected, men and women are free to create a society where women are equal and have a voice in the affairs of the culture. Christians everywhere would wish that the muslims would throw off the myth of male dominance that causes so much female suffering as a result of their belief in the fall of mankind. Christians are blinded by "faith" in the bible and unable to see the same mirror image in their own beliefs and their own culture. It is only fair that if we expect the muslims to discard the myth of the fall of mankinnd that christians would too. Celebrate logic and reason today and envision a future where we do not teach our children 4,000 year old stories of how the world began and how mankind came about when science tells us differently. Encourage a culture of justice based on reason and logic and celebrate equality today! It does not make sense to teach a creation story written by men who had no knowledge of the earth, the solar system or the universe, but created a myth that served their purposes and filled their "knowledge" void.
The fall of mankind sets up a culture of "patriarchy" where man is dominate as the family and tribal authority. Any woman who has ever gardened knows that she is subjected to toil and sweat to make food come out of the ground, and Adam's "curse" is her curse. The lost paradise is forever Eve's fault and she is thereafter judged to be a weaker and less trustworthy creature. Sex is changed to one of "desire" that is not met as she is seen as one who exists to bring forth children in pain. Love and tenderness and equality is now out of the equation as angry domination on the part of Adam takes over. This story unfairly blames Eve, and thereafter all women for the pain in childbirth and the inequality in male/female relationships. The fall of mankind sets up a pattern of patriarchy that has been followed for 4,000 years. The western cultures have evolved into more or less secular humanistic cultures where reason and logic can sometimes ascend above ancient tribal folklore myths, but the muslims are still deeply entrenched in the myth with cultures that are a mirror the effects of the curse. For christians to know what life was like 4.000 years ago for women and children, they need to look no further than taliban ruled villages in Afghanistan.
I discuss the "fall of womankind" in order to point out that without the myth we do not need a "savior". If Eve's failure to obey a command by her creator never happened, we have nothing to be saved "from".
It is all just "make believe" told by ancient sheepherders to give them authority in their affairs and help them understand their plight and shape their tribes as they see fit. Once the mind rejects the story, one rejects the need for a god as a "savior", for one no longer needs to be saved.
Once the myth of the fall of womankind is rejected, men and women are free to create a society where women are equal and have a voice in the affairs of the culture. Christians everywhere would wish that the muslims would throw off the myth of male dominance that causes so much female suffering as a result of their belief in the fall of mankind. Christians are blinded by "faith" in the bible and unable to see the same mirror image in their own beliefs and their own culture. It is only fair that if we expect the muslims to discard the myth of the fall of mankinnd that christians would too. Celebrate logic and reason today and envision a future where we do not teach our children 4,000 year old stories of how the world began and how mankind came about when science tells us differently. Encourage a culture of justice based on reason and logic and celebrate equality today! It does not make sense to teach a creation story written by men who had no knowledge of the earth, the solar system or the universe, but created a myth that served their purposes and filled their "knowledge" void.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Jesus and the Pentagon
"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren't troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet."
Author: Matthew 24 Verses #: 6
Jesus tells his listeners to not be concerned about wars or even rumors of wars. He boldly claims that war is necessary for the end of time to come. Millions of christian americans wake up everyday and hope that they will be raptured, the world will be destroyed by war and Jesus will come back and set up a theocratic world-wide government that will last for 1,000 years while satan is subdued. At the end of the 1,000 year millenium, the angels will fight it out, at which time god and his armies of angels will win and eternity will be established. For a believing nation, that clings to the "supposed" words of a palestinian prophet from 2,000 years ago, possession of an earth destroying military empire is strangely comforting. We have it within out power to fulfill this prophecy and no one seems troubled. The peace movement is "dead" or at least nearly silenced as unpatriotic and unbiblical. God has always approved the killing of tribes outside of the hebrews and christians. "Love your enemies" does not apply to Iraqi's, Afghani's or Iranians. It is nearly impossible to convince an american christian to oppose the wars of the past decade and the next decade. At the very least they consider it a hopeless endeavor to oppose war, and in a larger view, it is not in their best "eternal" interests to do so.
Consequently, the earth is now poised with muslims who are taught that Islam must dominate the planet and the christians who believe that war in the middle east is necessary to usher the "end times". The children on both sides will suffer a great deal in the next century because of these ancient prophets and their books. Maybe humans should at least be humane and not create offspring who are destined by the prophets to kill and be killed on behalf of their commands. Just because a prophet declared divine revelation doesn't mean that he heard from god or was god. Panda's have stopped breeding in the face of ecosystem stress, should humans do any less when we are poised to destroy the planet?
Author: Matthew 24 Verses #: 6
Jesus tells his listeners to not be concerned about wars or even rumors of wars. He boldly claims that war is necessary for the end of time to come. Millions of christian americans wake up everyday and hope that they will be raptured, the world will be destroyed by war and Jesus will come back and set up a theocratic world-wide government that will last for 1,000 years while satan is subdued. At the end of the 1,000 year millenium, the angels will fight it out, at which time god and his armies of angels will win and eternity will be established. For a believing nation, that clings to the "supposed" words of a palestinian prophet from 2,000 years ago, possession of an earth destroying military empire is strangely comforting. We have it within out power to fulfill this prophecy and no one seems troubled. The peace movement is "dead" or at least nearly silenced as unpatriotic and unbiblical. God has always approved the killing of tribes outside of the hebrews and christians. "Love your enemies" does not apply to Iraqi's, Afghani's or Iranians. It is nearly impossible to convince an american christian to oppose the wars of the past decade and the next decade. At the very least they consider it a hopeless endeavor to oppose war, and in a larger view, it is not in their best "eternal" interests to do so.
Consequently, the earth is now poised with muslims who are taught that Islam must dominate the planet and the christians who believe that war in the middle east is necessary to usher the "end times". The children on both sides will suffer a great deal in the next century because of these ancient prophets and their books. Maybe humans should at least be humane and not create offspring who are destined by the prophets to kill and be killed on behalf of their commands. Just because a prophet declared divine revelation doesn't mean that he heard from god or was god. Panda's have stopped breeding in the face of ecosystem stress, should humans do any less when we are poised to destroy the planet?
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Lord of Armies (Hosts)
The phrase "Lord of Hosts" which appears in the Bible (in the original Hebrew) literally means, "Lord of Armies." I guess "hosts" was the King James English translation of that phrase. But the ancients believed that if they won a military victory, it was because whatever god or gods they worshiped had looked after them. You see the same kind of thinking in Homer's Iliad -- Zeus protecting one side, Hera protecting the other. We haven't come very far from that primitive ideology.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Are you predestined?
"For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."}"
Author: Romans 8 Verses #: 29
"having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,"
Author: Ephesians 1 Verses #: 5
The doctrine of "predestination" of being "chosen" and "foreordained" to be "saved" is taught in the New Testament letters, but is really a carry over from the "chosen" Hebrew nation. This doctrine was hotly debated for centuries and is at the root of denominationalism. The teaching of predestination teaches that god know's ahead of time who will be allowed to go to heaven because he actually predestines them. The evangelical movement of the last 60 years has overriden this teaching of predestination and teaches that it is false and that individuals have a "free will". The predestination debate has not gone away, but for the moment the evangelicals overlook the verses that teach predestination as it does not fit the current theological worldview that faith can be coerced, demanded and imposed on people with the fear of hell. The 25 references that Jesus makes to hell allows the teaching of hell to compliment evangelism perfectly. Predestination involves god overriding free will thus making evangelism a mute point. People judge themselves to be too important in the saving and being saved to leave hell up to predestination. Hell, in and of itself is a cruel enough concept, let alone the concept that god "predestines" some people to go there and some people to be excluded makes it even more unfair and barbaric for a "god of love and justice". Of course, god never claimed through ancient scripture to be a god of love and justice. He just claims to be able to do what he wants, when he wants, to whom he wants. This is a recurrinng theme in both the Old and New Testament. Jesus claims he is sent to the jews, claims that anyone can go to heaven that believes on him and then takes the claim back on several occasions by adding more requirements to salvation than mere mental ascent. Predestination leaves one unsure of one's salvation. The believer didn't appear to make the choice to believe in God, rather god made the choice for them to believe in the vicarious bloodshed of a jewish prophet to atone for one's "sins". The verses pertaining to predestination cannot be denied and are clear, but are largely ignored and overridden in the popular demand to know for sure one is going to heaven.
Author: Romans 8 Verses #: 29
"having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,"
Author: Ephesians 1 Verses #: 5
The doctrine of "predestination" of being "chosen" and "foreordained" to be "saved" is taught in the New Testament letters, but is really a carry over from the "chosen" Hebrew nation. This doctrine was hotly debated for centuries and is at the root of denominationalism. The teaching of predestination teaches that god know's ahead of time who will be allowed to go to heaven because he actually predestines them. The evangelical movement of the last 60 years has overriden this teaching of predestination and teaches that it is false and that individuals have a "free will". The predestination debate has not gone away, but for the moment the evangelicals overlook the verses that teach predestination as it does not fit the current theological worldview that faith can be coerced, demanded and imposed on people with the fear of hell. The 25 references that Jesus makes to hell allows the teaching of hell to compliment evangelism perfectly. Predestination involves god overriding free will thus making evangelism a mute point. People judge themselves to be too important in the saving and being saved to leave hell up to predestination. Hell, in and of itself is a cruel enough concept, let alone the concept that god "predestines" some people to go there and some people to be excluded makes it even more unfair and barbaric for a "god of love and justice". Of course, god never claimed through ancient scripture to be a god of love and justice. He just claims to be able to do what he wants, when he wants, to whom he wants. This is a recurrinng theme in both the Old and New Testament. Jesus claims he is sent to the jews, claims that anyone can go to heaven that believes on him and then takes the claim back on several occasions by adding more requirements to salvation than mere mental ascent. Predestination leaves one unsure of one's salvation. The believer didn't appear to make the choice to believe in God, rather god made the choice for them to believe in the vicarious bloodshed of a jewish prophet to atone for one's "sins". The verses pertaining to predestination cannot be denied and are clear, but are largely ignored and overridden in the popular demand to know for sure one is going to heaven.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Throwing children against stones!
Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.--Psalms 137:9
No one in the human race can be made happy by throwing infants and children against stones. The fact that bible verses like this get overlooked, while others are revered is just crazy making. Murder is an unnatural act. Humans do not need religion to tell them that murder of infants and children are wrong under any circumstance. God killed the "firstborn" in Egypt in the story of Pharoah and Moses. God always approved of the killing of innocent women and children and the elderly in the many genocides of the bible. David, who is credited with writing the Psalms was one of the most violent kings of all time and yet God said David was a man after God's own heart. The tribes that surrounded the hebrew tribe were never safe from acts of war against them. Dashing children against stones was obviously encouraged in their acts of aggression. How terribly sad. Surely mankind can do better by rising above the abrahamic religions of islam, judaism and christianity. These are not religions of peace!
No one in the human race can be made happy by throwing infants and children against stones. The fact that bible verses like this get overlooked, while others are revered is just crazy making. Murder is an unnatural act. Humans do not need religion to tell them that murder of infants and children are wrong under any circumstance. God killed the "firstborn" in Egypt in the story of Pharoah and Moses. God always approved of the killing of innocent women and children and the elderly in the many genocides of the bible. David, who is credited with writing the Psalms was one of the most violent kings of all time and yet God said David was a man after God's own heart. The tribes that surrounded the hebrew tribe were never safe from acts of war against them. Dashing children against stones was obviously encouraged in their acts of aggression. How terribly sad. Surely mankind can do better by rising above the abrahamic religions of islam, judaism and christianity. These are not religions of peace!
A scapegoat is a bad idea!
"But the goat, on which the lot fell for the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before Yahweh, to make atonement for him, to send him away for the scapegoat into the wilderness."
Author: Leviticus 16 Verses #: 10
The belief that humans need religion to tell them not to kill and not to lie and not to steal, etc. is an insult to the intelligence of the human race. To foster a "religion" that allows you to place your sins on a goat once a year and send him out into the wilderness to die and thus take away your "guilt" is immoral and takes the responsibility for sin off the sinner and puts it on the goat. To allow a "prophet" to take your sins away and leave you guilt free and free of responsibility is equally immoral. The convenience of simply "believing" on a "savior" who died for your sins should not absolve you of guilt. In order to arrive at a more moral and just society we must make men more accountable for child abuse, murder and theft, etc. not less. The church has been a "racket" in which the pope sits at the top and has the power to pray you into heaven. The blood of a jewish rabbi 2,000 years ago lets you off the hook to sin and sin again. How much further along would the world be if 4,000 years ago a civil society made people "pay" for their wrongs and make their wrongs right rather than allowing a goat to bear their guilt once a year. This is an ancient tribal belief that looked for a human sacrifice. Yeshua was a perfect candidate.
The destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. allowed this myth to become wildly popular when animals could not longer be sacrificed. A little appreciation of ancient history can go a long way. The early catholic church made a fortune selling "favors" and prayers for the dead. Mysticism, superstition and the combining and collusion of religion made Yeshua into a very profitable "savior".
Author: Leviticus 16 Verses #: 10
The belief that humans need religion to tell them not to kill and not to lie and not to steal, etc. is an insult to the intelligence of the human race. To foster a "religion" that allows you to place your sins on a goat once a year and send him out into the wilderness to die and thus take away your "guilt" is immoral and takes the responsibility for sin off the sinner and puts it on the goat. To allow a "prophet" to take your sins away and leave you guilt free and free of responsibility is equally immoral. The convenience of simply "believing" on a "savior" who died for your sins should not absolve you of guilt. In order to arrive at a more moral and just society we must make men more accountable for child abuse, murder and theft, etc. not less. The church has been a "racket" in which the pope sits at the top and has the power to pray you into heaven. The blood of a jewish rabbi 2,000 years ago lets you off the hook to sin and sin again. How much further along would the world be if 4,000 years ago a civil society made people "pay" for their wrongs and make their wrongs right rather than allowing a goat to bear their guilt once a year. This is an ancient tribal belief that looked for a human sacrifice. Yeshua was a perfect candidate.
The destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. allowed this myth to become wildly popular when animals could not longer be sacrificed. A little appreciation of ancient history can go a long way. The early catholic church made a fortune selling "favors" and prayers for the dead. Mysticism, superstition and the combining and collusion of religion made Yeshua into a very profitable "savior".
Monday, August 23, 2010
Let them have "dominion" (and ruin the earth)
"God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.""
Author: Genesis 1 Verses #: 26
Other translations suggest that the word dominion means to "rule over". The christian nation that we live in has taken this "dominionism" very seriously. How wonderful it would be if this ancient and ignorant male writer would have said to "understand" and live in peace and respect with ecosystems. We pollute our rivers with toxic chemicals. We destroy streams by extracting natural gas. We overfish and destroy life in the oceans. We treat livestock with the most cruelty imaginable before we kill them violently. The "dominion" of mankind is going to destroy the planet. Our refusal to control population growth rates with edicts from the pope will lead to a planet of 9 billion in the next 30 to 50 years that the planet cannot sustain. Unless we raise up a generation of biologists, ecologists and environmentalists who have to power to dictate sane public policy life on our little planet is doomed. We will kill each other fighting over which imaginary deity is the most real and most worthy of absolute loyalty. The panda's have quit reproducing long ago. Do they know something we don't know?
Author: Genesis 1 Verses #: 26
Other translations suggest that the word dominion means to "rule over". The christian nation that we live in has taken this "dominionism" very seriously. How wonderful it would be if this ancient and ignorant male writer would have said to "understand" and live in peace and respect with ecosystems. We pollute our rivers with toxic chemicals. We destroy streams by extracting natural gas. We overfish and destroy life in the oceans. We treat livestock with the most cruelty imaginable before we kill them violently. The "dominion" of mankind is going to destroy the planet. Our refusal to control population growth rates with edicts from the pope will lead to a planet of 9 billion in the next 30 to 50 years that the planet cannot sustain. Unless we raise up a generation of biologists, ecologists and environmentalists who have to power to dictate sane public policy life on our little planet is doomed. We will kill each other fighting over which imaginary deity is the most real and most worthy of absolute loyalty. The panda's have quit reproducing long ago. Do they know something we don't know?
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Child abuse encouraged by the bible
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.--Pr:22:15
This verse has been the sole justification for centuries and centuries of childhood abuse. The human race has been whipping, beating and spanking and hitting their offspring for centuries based on this one verse. Humans and especially, children are very fragile and capable of being injured both emotionally and physically. Children have their own unique view of the world but that does not mean that they are beyond reason and must be beaten into submission. Child abuse, just like spiritual abuse is rampant in the church because cruelly, it is justified in the bible. The abuser does not benefit the heart of the child, but breaks it. I find it surprising that many children who experience being spanked/beaten as children grow up to continue a relationship with the parent abuser and with the parent's god. I do think that children resent and remember abuse their whole lives and it does interfere with affection toward parents and others. Children who experience being beaten with a "rod" of correction often grow up hypervigilant and become abusers themselves. The "good" book encourages parents to spank their children when they see fit and for perceived "foolishness". Children need love and discipline and attention, rest and nutrition and adequate periods of exercise. They do not need to be spanked and beaten with a rod. In my opinion, this verse is proof that an all-knowing and all-wise god wrote the bible. It was written by violent men who had a very limited knowledge of psychology and sociology and biology. Talk to your children, listen to your children...don't beat them when you are having a bad day and want to extend your personality as their "authority". Parents do not have a right to use a "rod" on their children...that is spiritual, physical and psychological abuse. I have to wonder if it is why america is so violent and why we are military empire of dominance and authoritarianism.
This verse has been the sole justification for centuries and centuries of childhood abuse. The human race has been whipping, beating and spanking and hitting their offspring for centuries based on this one verse. Humans and especially, children are very fragile and capable of being injured both emotionally and physically. Children have their own unique view of the world but that does not mean that they are beyond reason and must be beaten into submission. Child abuse, just like spiritual abuse is rampant in the church because cruelly, it is justified in the bible. The abuser does not benefit the heart of the child, but breaks it. I find it surprising that many children who experience being spanked/beaten as children grow up to continue a relationship with the parent abuser and with the parent's god. I do think that children resent and remember abuse their whole lives and it does interfere with affection toward parents and others. Children who experience being beaten with a "rod" of correction often grow up hypervigilant and become abusers themselves. The "good" book encourages parents to spank their children when they see fit and for perceived "foolishness". Children need love and discipline and attention, rest and nutrition and adequate periods of exercise. They do not need to be spanked and beaten with a rod. In my opinion, this verse is proof that an all-knowing and all-wise god wrote the bible. It was written by violent men who had a very limited knowledge of psychology and sociology and biology. Talk to your children, listen to your children...don't beat them when you are having a bad day and want to extend your personality as their "authority". Parents do not have a right to use a "rod" on their children...that is spiritual, physical and psychological abuse. I have to wonder if it is why america is so violent and why we are military empire of dominance and authoritarianism.
Friday, August 20, 2010
A website link about the bible
http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/robert_ingersoll/about_the_holy_bible.html
A very thorough "Walk through the Bible" with the eyes of a critic! Whether you are a believer or a doubter this informative website will be fascinating.
A very thorough "Walk through the Bible" with the eyes of a critic! Whether you are a believer or a doubter this informative website will be fascinating.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
200 foreskins buys David King Saul's Daughter
"and David arose and went, he and his men, and killed of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might be the king's son-in-law. Saul gave him Michal his daughter as wife."
Author: 1 Samuel 18 Verses #: 27
David, "a man after God's own heart" goes out and kills 200 men and brings their foreskins to King Saul in order to obtain King Saul's daughter as his wife. David eventually has countless wives in the course of his lifetime. So many wives that no one really knows how many wives he had. David uses extreme violence against another tribe to prove his manhood and qualifications to become attached to the royal household. The barberism of the tribal desert warfare was horrible, and yet David is an ultimate biblical hero second only to Jesus. We are led to believe that his one failure was that of adultery and the murder of Uriah the Hittite, Bathsheba's husband, when in fact, David did not show restraint when accumulating wives or attacking and murdering neighboring tribes. He was a man of war and of violence. I don't see how it can beneficial to teach young children about this biblical hero unless the church is wanting to continue world dominance through militarism and war....in which case....David can be a useful and very violent role model.
Author: 1 Samuel 18 Verses #: 27
David, "a man after God's own heart" goes out and kills 200 men and brings their foreskins to King Saul in order to obtain King Saul's daughter as his wife. David eventually has countless wives in the course of his lifetime. So many wives that no one really knows how many wives he had. David uses extreme violence against another tribe to prove his manhood and qualifications to become attached to the royal household. The barberism of the tribal desert warfare was horrible, and yet David is an ultimate biblical hero second only to Jesus. We are led to believe that his one failure was that of adultery and the murder of Uriah the Hittite, Bathsheba's husband, when in fact, David did not show restraint when accumulating wives or attacking and murdering neighboring tribes. He was a man of war and of violence. I don't see how it can beneficial to teach young children about this biblical hero unless the church is wanting to continue world dominance through militarism and war....in which case....David can be a useful and very violent role model.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Hitler proclaims to be a christian
My feelings as a Christian points me to my Lord and Savior as a fighter. It points me to the man who once in loneliness, surrounded by a few followers, recognized these Jews for what they were and summoned men to fight against them and who, God's truth! was greatest not as a sufferer but as a fighter. In boundless love as a Christian and as a man I read through the passage which tells us how the Lord at last rose in His might and seized the scourge to drive out of the Temple the brood of vipers and adders. ...Today, after two thousand years, with deepest emotion I recognize more profoundly than ever before the fact that it was for this that He had to shed his blood upon the Cross. ...
- Adolf Hitler, speech on April 12, 1922
Hitler had command of christian theology and never denounced his faith. He justified his hatred of the jews with his theology and justified the holocaust by proclaiming the jews were "liberals" and "evil". We participate in the same rationalization today as a nation who invaded "evildoers" as Bush was remembered as saying. We killed 1 to 2 million Iraqui's and destroyed their electrical grids and water systems because they were "evildoers". Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi nation were accused of threatening to use weapons of mass destruction, which we now know never existed. Hitler justified the holocaust as eliminating the "evil" jews and we justify war by eliminating muslims in a genocide and war of tyranny and terror upon the populations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fallujah will never be free of depleted uranium. It is a place of birth defects and cancer and illness from our weapons foisted upon them. The current wars are not condemned by the church or the american population, even though they are creating a deficit that we will never recover from. Bush could never have taken the nation to war if the church and "evangelicals" were to have vehemently opposed him. Hitler could never have carried out the holocaust if the german church and the catholic church would have stood up for the jews. This is just a fact.
- Adolf Hitler, speech on April 12, 1922
Hitler had command of christian theology and never denounced his faith. He justified his hatred of the jews with his theology and justified the holocaust by proclaiming the jews were "liberals" and "evil". We participate in the same rationalization today as a nation who invaded "evildoers" as Bush was remembered as saying. We killed 1 to 2 million Iraqui's and destroyed their electrical grids and water systems because they were "evildoers". Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi nation were accused of threatening to use weapons of mass destruction, which we now know never existed. Hitler justified the holocaust as eliminating the "evil" jews and we justify war by eliminating muslims in a genocide and war of tyranny and terror upon the populations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fallujah will never be free of depleted uranium. It is a place of birth defects and cancer and illness from our weapons foisted upon them. The current wars are not condemned by the church or the american population, even though they are creating a deficit that we will never recover from. Bush could never have taken the nation to war if the church and "evangelicals" were to have vehemently opposed him. Hitler could never have carried out the holocaust if the german church and the catholic church would have stood up for the jews. This is just a fact.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Genocide and the Bible Youtube Discussion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_itrJx2FJI
God, the patriarchs and modern day christians do not denounce genocide.
God, the patriarchs and modern day christians do not denounce genocide.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Violent Biblical Genocide of the Ammonites
"He brought forth the people who were therein, and cut [them] with saws, and with iron picks, and with axes. David did so to all the cities of the children of Ammon. David and all the people returned to Jerusalem."
Author: 1 Chronicles 20 Verses #: 3
This is a description of mass murder and genocide of the Ammonites. This story about David is repeated twice in the Old Testament. When one ponders on why America is addicted to war and spends 51% of funds from the treasury on military empire you need look no further than the "good book" that we swear on in all courts of law. David is described as a "man after God's own heart". David's reign as King was one of the most violent in the whole of the Old Testament. Thou shalt not kill did not apply to foreigners and groups of people living in proximity to David's kingdom. Modern day jews and christians alike hold the biblical view of genocide and military dominance of societies who believe different than they do. America killed 3 to 4 million Vietnamese without regard to women and children and destroyed whole villages during the Vietnam war without resistance by "the church". One year after Martin Luther King spoke out against the Vietnam War he was killed. The church was silent during Vietnam and has been silent during the Iraq war. Pro-life evangelicals do not grieve for the loss of life within Iraq by our bombs and tanks and guns. They concern themselves with forcing women to carry, birth and raise children that they do not want and remain in agreement and in support of a violent military agenda. No doubt, the violence and constant warfare in the Old Testament numb the conscience of believers of Yahweh.
Author: 1 Chronicles 20 Verses #: 3
This is a description of mass murder and genocide of the Ammonites. This story about David is repeated twice in the Old Testament. When one ponders on why America is addicted to war and spends 51% of funds from the treasury on military empire you need look no further than the "good book" that we swear on in all courts of law. David is described as a "man after God's own heart". David's reign as King was one of the most violent in the whole of the Old Testament. Thou shalt not kill did not apply to foreigners and groups of people living in proximity to David's kingdom. Modern day jews and christians alike hold the biblical view of genocide and military dominance of societies who believe different than they do. America killed 3 to 4 million Vietnamese without regard to women and children and destroyed whole villages during the Vietnam war without resistance by "the church". One year after Martin Luther King spoke out against the Vietnam War he was killed. The church was silent during Vietnam and has been silent during the Iraq war. Pro-life evangelicals do not grieve for the loss of life within Iraq by our bombs and tanks and guns. They concern themselves with forcing women to carry, birth and raise children that they do not want and remain in agreement and in support of a violent military agenda. No doubt, the violence and constant warfare in the Old Testament numb the conscience of believers of Yahweh.
Younger female widows to receive no welfare
"But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Christ, they desire to marry;"
Author: 1 Timothy 5 Verses #: 11
Paul had instructed Timothy to instruct the church to care for "widows" who were "widows indeed" if they did not have family to care for them, but to deny support to the younger widows because they were more likely to desire to have a spouse. Biblical marriages were arranged marriages until the last 200 to 300 years. The family chose your spouse and arranged who you were to be married to. Paul is assuming and chastising and denying care to younger widows because they were likely to desire to marry. This is cruel treatment and this is a cruel view against young widows, who no doubt have children that they were struggling to feed and clothe and house. It is natural to desire to pass through life with someone who will share and care for you and your children. Paul, again, shows a lack of tenderness and compassion to young widows who may need help and may desire companionship. Paul views a desire to marry as something sinful. He instructs Timothy and other single believers to remain single as he was. A desire to marry was a desire to give into "fleshly desires". Women desired children in hopes that when they grew older the children would take care of them. The teachings of Paul that instructed single believers to remain single was not a jewish teaching and tradition, but eventually became a way to be "godly". It became a prerequistite to priesthood. Through Paul's teachings godliness was attributed to a single and celibate lifestyle. This was a unique New Testament concept fostered by the teachings of Paul, who never met Jesus, nor heard Jesus speak. The very earliest 1st century jewish believers rejected Paul's teachings and status as an apostle. It was nearly a hundred years after Paul's writing that certain groups vied for Paul's doctrines and teachings to be taught. In the 2nd and 3rd century the followers of Paul began to dominate christianity by calling themselves "Pauline" christians. The earliest christians did not have Paul's teachings and did not follow Paul's teachings and no doubt viewed all widows in a more compassionate light.
Author: 1 Timothy 5 Verses #: 11
Paul had instructed Timothy to instruct the church to care for "widows" who were "widows indeed" if they did not have family to care for them, but to deny support to the younger widows because they were more likely to desire to have a spouse. Biblical marriages were arranged marriages until the last 200 to 300 years. The family chose your spouse and arranged who you were to be married to. Paul is assuming and chastising and denying care to younger widows because they were likely to desire to marry. This is cruel treatment and this is a cruel view against young widows, who no doubt have children that they were struggling to feed and clothe and house. It is natural to desire to pass through life with someone who will share and care for you and your children. Paul, again, shows a lack of tenderness and compassion to young widows who may need help and may desire companionship. Paul views a desire to marry as something sinful. He instructs Timothy and other single believers to remain single as he was. A desire to marry was a desire to give into "fleshly desires". Women desired children in hopes that when they grew older the children would take care of them. The teachings of Paul that instructed single believers to remain single was not a jewish teaching and tradition, but eventually became a way to be "godly". It became a prerequistite to priesthood. Through Paul's teachings godliness was attributed to a single and celibate lifestyle. This was a unique New Testament concept fostered by the teachings of Paul, who never met Jesus, nor heard Jesus speak. The very earliest 1st century jewish believers rejected Paul's teachings and status as an apostle. It was nearly a hundred years after Paul's writing that certain groups vied for Paul's doctrines and teachings to be taught. In the 2nd and 3rd century the followers of Paul began to dominate christianity by calling themselves "Pauline" christians. The earliest christians did not have Paul's teachings and did not follow Paul's teachings and no doubt viewed all widows in a more compassionate light.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Biblical declaration that knowledge is bad news!
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. – Ecclesiastes 1:18
Ancient and illiterate sheep herders who form the cast of characters known as the "Patriarchs". They no doubt had little use for women, foreigners or baby girls, but who would guess that they had little use for knowlege? Because they had no use for science, biology and education for the masses? It took mankind 4,000 years to advance without knowledge and about 200 years to advance with "knowledge" of science, medicine and education. Who wants to go back to the stone age of the patriarchs of slavery, genocide, gender inequality and ignorance?
Without education mankind will descend backwards into illiterate ignorance and superstition and myths from which we have escaped.
I think it is time america "de-funds" the pentagon and funds education and rewards innovation and develops scientists who can move us beyond our addiction to fossil fuels, which are running out. The bible clearly does not have the answers as it so proudly states.
Ancient and illiterate sheep herders who form the cast of characters known as the "Patriarchs". They no doubt had little use for women, foreigners or baby girls, but who would guess that they had little use for knowlege? Because they had no use for science, biology and education for the masses? It took mankind 4,000 years to advance without knowledge and about 200 years to advance with "knowledge" of science, medicine and education. Who wants to go back to the stone age of the patriarchs of slavery, genocide, gender inequality and ignorance?
Without education mankind will descend backwards into illiterate ignorance and superstition and myths from which we have escaped.
I think it is time america "de-funds" the pentagon and funds education and rewards innovation and develops scientists who can move us beyond our addiction to fossil fuels, which are running out. The bible clearly does not have the answers as it so proudly states.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)