Consensus amongst theologians is that Genesis is a compilation from four distinct authors with different areas of emphasis, and Moses is not the author as was traditionally taught.
Yes, I've read of that as well.
I've also read that much of it was written as an allegory (a fictional tale meant to teach a moral lesson).
"The real deal is this: the royalty controlling the court, the ones with the power, the ones with the ability to make a difference, with the ability to change our course, the ones who will live in infamy if we pass the tipping points, are the captains of industry, CEOs in fossil fuel companies such as EXXON/Mobil, automobile manufacturers, utilities, all of the leaders who have placed short-term profit above the fate of the planet and the well-being of our children." - James Hansen
What you are not grasping is that most people do not go to church to grow or to find a conscience.......they go for companionship, support, to fulfill social "needs" and for cookies.
People can get that at an orgy.
Along with STD's and spiritual degradation.
The meaning of life is not "sex", nor is it the materialist "buy a Mercedes and a Million dollar condo.
Life is ultimately a simplicity and the trappings of religious worship are not the essence of religion. They are largely fulfillment of social ritual creating a sense of belonging to a group. The priesthood likes them too because they provide a means of control.
However, wherever there is someone asking, and seeking to know, "Who am I?", "What am I?", or "Is there some meaning to life?" there is religion.
Rejecting some specific dogma or belief does not change that. Negation is not existence it is nothingness.
"Believe nothing merely because you have been told it. Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher. But whatsoever, after due examination and analysis, you find to be kind, conducive to the good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings - that doctrine believe and cling to, and take it as your guide. ~ Gautama Siddhartha The Buddha
However, wherever there is someone asking, and seeking to know, "Who am I?", "What am I?", or "Is there some meaning to life?" there is religion individual contemplation.
Religion is a mass movement and does not truly answer these questions, because it takes blind faith to BELIEVE that the answers provided are correct.
But if through self-contemplation a satisfactory answer is reached, then it can be believed without faith. It can also be modified or even discarded when new information becomes available. It just doesn't pay to become too (emotionally) invested in beliefs.
If it's right for you, then it's right for you even if it is not right for me. Even the infamous "satanist" Crowley said as much. Not that i understand much of what he wrote, but I understand that.
I've also read that much of it was written as an allegory (a fictional tale meant to teach a moral lesson).
Yes, I have read this too, although not completely fictional as the allegory is said to be of the fall of the previous great civilization of humanity with all remnants covered by the sands of time. The creation stories, flood and fall are prevalent far beyond the Bible.
" If you cannot govern yourself, you will be governed by assholes. " Randge, Poet de Forum, 1/11/11
"Life's tough, and even tougher if you're stupid." --John Wayne
The problem is, it is spread so thin among those that do not deserve compassion that the term has become meaningless.
Compassion is beyond the age of blame. It is the love of ONE for ALL with no exceptions. So there is none who "do not deserve" compassion as this is a judgment on others from a limited perspective within a linear time stream. Compassion can only arise when love supersedes the need to judge and where forgiveness is a state of being and not an occasional act granted on a whim.
" If you cannot govern yourself, you will be governed by assholes. " Randge, Poet de Forum, 1/11/11
"Life's tough, and even tougher if you're stupid." --John Wayne
IMO this "love for all" also dilutes love to the point of meaninglessness. No one is this one-dimensional. Even the jew 'god' does not make such a claim in scriptures where it is quoted verbatim somehow. bible.cc/isaiah/45-7.htm
IMO this "love for all" also dilutes love to the point of meaninglessness.
No one is this one-dimensional.
It is not an easy task for humans, but this type of love is an acknowledgement of yourself in all others and all others in yourself. It is the path beyond blame that persists through out humanity with few positives and a lot of negatives. Leveling the playing field to this extent leaves no room for the ego to thrive, but humility and modesty and love fill that void.
This type of love increases one's sense of responsibility for the self and for others, so it is extremely meaningful, IMHO. Humans find this difficult because most value the mask of personality and ego above the soul. When people believe that the mask is WHO they are, it is frightening to imagine otherwise which leaves few to tread this path.
One-dimentional? I see it as the opposite, multi-dimentional to the extent of ten billion human souls, which makes it difficult to fathom. : )
" If you cannot govern yourself, you will be governed by assholes. " Randge, Poet de Forum, 1/11/11
"Life's tough, and even tougher if you're stupid." --John Wayne
this type of love is an acknowledgement of yourself in all others and all others in yourself. It is the path beyond blame that persists through out humanity with few positives and a lot of negatives. Leveling the playing field to this extent leaves no room for the ego to thrive, but humility and modesty and love fill that void.
omg I just want to breed with you.
Is that wrong?
;)
"For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth, to know the worst, and to provide for it. ~ Patrick Henry
It is not an easy task for humans, but this type of love is an acknowledgement of yourself in all others and all others in yourself. It is the path beyond blame that persists through out humanity with few positives and a lot of negatives. Leveling the playing field to this extent leaves no room for the ego to thrive, but humility and modesty and love fill that void.
This type of love increases one's sense of responsibility for the self and for others, so it is extremely meaningful, IMHO. Humans find this difficult because most value the mask of personality and ego above the soul. When people believe that the mask is WHO they are, it is frightening to imagine otherwise which leaves few to tread this path.
One-dimentional? I see it as the opposite, multi-dimentional to the extent of ten billion human souls, which makes it difficult to fathom. : )
I didn't mean to try and diminish the excellence of your post with my humor.
This is impressive. Profound and wise.
"For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth, to know the worst, and to provide for it. ~ Patrick Henry
"The Malleus Maleficarum asserts that three elements are necessary for witchcraft: the evil-intentioned witch, the help of the Devil, and the Permission of God."
It's evident from your question that two of the three elements are present! ;)
Now chris, it was questions like this that inspired The Church to heave up a blanket response to free thinking wimmen.
Malleus Maleficarum
Uh, sorry. No.
They weren't True Christians
True christians are an elusive breed, rarer than bigfoot. In order to even hope to see one, a christian must look in the mirror to find one, and then realize that every other christian is deluded and DOOMED TO HELL.
There is only one True Christian, and he/she is special.
So, therefore I have just proven that christians are not responsible for burning people alive (or burning them dead if they were feeling merciful that day), or for torturing those that were a little too anti-authoritarian.
ETA: This is Very Important: Satan is the bad guy. Don't forget that. /s
wud, you silver-tongued romantic devil you! I don't know how any woman could resist smooth talk like that!
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Lord Acton
The human herd stampedes on the fields of facts and the valleys of truth to get to the desert of ignorance. Saman Mohammadi
The only difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits. Albert Einstein
"...if the military is going to defend our freedoms, then we need freedoms to defend. Our freedoms must be restored before the military can defend them..." Lawrence M. Vance
Você me trata desse jeito só porque eu sou preto. Junior (my youngest son)
(contd) conceded even by early writings of protestant leaders). Luther may have had some legit beefs, but the when Jesus told Peter he is the rock upon which I will build my church, the 1st Papacy was established.EVERY priest can be traced directly to him
Jesus also told Peter, "Get thee behind me, Satan."
Is Jesus schizoid, or was he referring to the rock which is the TRUTH that Jesus is the Son of God, and upon THAT rock He would build His church.
BTW, by 1953, at least 20 popes were Jewish...[all traced to Peter?] See also Babylon the Great, Catholic or Jewish? at watch.pair.com
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"... "I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." -Isaiah 42:8
.... "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:" -Exodus 20:4.....
"Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them..." -Exodus 20:5
..........
......
Satanism in the Catholic religion!
Notice the upside down cross!
"Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Mark 7:7
"For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect." Mark 13:22
[excerpts from Bowing to Mary is a sin at jesus-is-savior.com ]
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see also Pope Affirms [Satanic] Noahide Law at realzionistnews.com
"...as long as there..remain active enemies of the Christian church, we may hope to become Master of the World...the future Jewish King will never reign in the world before Christianity is overthrown - B'nai B'rith speechhttp://www.biblebelievers.org.au/luther.htm / http://bible.cc/psalms/83-4.htm
"...as long as there..remain active enemies of the Christian church, we may hope to become Master of the World...the future Jewish King will never reign in the world before Christianity is overthrown - B'nai B'rith speechhttp://www.biblebelievers.org.au/luther.htm / http://bible.cc/psalms/83-4.htm
#149. To: Eric Stratton, Christine, Artisan, Wud (#148)
Very unoriginal.
Yeah, pine cones are more original, so let's peer into that......
The pressing question is what is the fascination with the Pine Cone? Largest Pine Cone sculpture in the world is in the Court of the Pine Cone at the Vatican....
And the Pope has a pine cone on his staff........
" If you cannot govern yourself, you will be governed by assholes. " Randge, Poet de Forum, 1/11/11
"Life's tough, and even tougher if you're stupid." --John Wayne
#152. To: Eric Stratton, christine, psusa, james deffenbach, abraxas, wudidiz (#146)
eegads. You were raised Catholic?? That's very interesting, and I never would have guessed that, (which you're probably happy about).
.. that cannot possibly be true since to be a Roman Catholic one must not even necessarily possess faith in Christ. All one has to do is go through the motions, accept the sacriments, pledge devotion to a man-made/created/corrupted institution to one extent or another, etc.
Of course that is ridiculous and untrue. Catholics, like protestants, even with our differences, all profess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and we both believe in the Trinity. Ive never even heard the most ardent fundie claim that Catholics are not Christian. Of course we are Christian.
If you think that SacrAments are simply 'going through motions', it sounds like you were not instructed at all in the actual teachings Catholic faith as a youngster. Many people teach their kids nothing about the faith. , although actually, if a parent is Catholic, they have an obligation to actual bring up their kids teaching them the faith, or else the result is the kids being fallen- aways.
One example of the differences between beliefs of protestants vs Catholics, Catholics believe that the body of Christ is the actual body and blood of Christ, not a representation. Jesus said that those who do not eat my flesh and drink my blood will not have life in them. That's not a confusing verse. Protestants believe it is a mere representation. So be it. Early protestants and Catholics had this arguement. But even the earliest founding protestants never dared say something as absurd as 'Catholics are not Christian'. Just absurd, and bearing false witness, to boot.
Many Italian mob figures in history were devout Roman Catholics for example. Many people that have overtly perpetuated anti-christian and evil behavior both today and in former times were "devout" RCs, including popes. Otherwise, the teachings and practices of the RCC actually counter those taught by Christ.
As far as the corrupt popes, and 'sinners' who dare to be Catholics have fallen human nature. All humans do. This doesnt negate the legitimacy of the church.
Universal. meaning, it is not different in every city with 'Pastor Bob' who may have got his preecher degree out of a cracker jack box, By the way, did you know that PSUSA is an actual minister?? Yes. nuff said about 'ministers'. No offense to PSUSA, just making a point,. lol.
So as far as universal, I can go to Catholic Mass in Canada, Mexico, U.S., Italy, Frace, (all of which I have) and anywhere else and it is universal. meaning exactly the same. Liturgy of the Word and the Eucharist. in other words, the Mass.
I had a feeling that my protestant comments would raise the ire of some,. but that's OK. Hopefully I can set an example to others who will see that I try to be a good Christian and will respect my beliefs. Like james deffenbach, who is a protestant and very nice Christian, I do not like to bicker about religion here, it is not why I come here. just not interested in it. Can't stand it. I'm not gonna change anyones mind, nor they mine.(which begs the question, why am i posting in this thread? lol)..
At the very least, we can all agree on the patriot act, 9/11, and we are united against the jackboots. ;-) God will sort the rest out on judgement day. Only God can judge someones heart.
"Even to the death fight for truth, and the LORD your God will battle for you".Sirach 4:28