Why would God want to stop teaching us? Why would he allow a book so outdated that it describes earth as having 4 corners? Rational thinking(as far as I'm concerned) would allow for revisions.
2006-06-08 18:57:41 · 11 answers · asked by cutter1729 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
How delightful to meet a kindred spirit. I've been told that I am a Unitarian and that permits me to also be a Baha'i.
I like your question. I wonder if God is pouting or the cat got his tongue. Next time around, when he talks with a prophet, I hope he is a lot more clear in what is said. That vague poetic metaphor style drives me nuts.
2006-06-08 19:03:48 · answer #1 · answered by valcus43 6 · 18⤊ 8⤋
A prophet is often hated in his (or her) own time, so while we may have prophets. their existence or truth may be unknown to us.
As for those that will argue against your point with rationalizations from the Bible, it is inevitably a book made by humans, no matter how divinely inspired. It has undergone permutations throughout the centuries, and even when the words are untouched, interpretations change, for this is not the world of the past and it never will be.
As for God teaching us, I do not think that has ever stopped. The collection of books and texts known as the Bible should be regarded as a mix album of the Christian thought of the early period of the Church, with each denomination choosing a slightly different version of the same song. Some listen to the orchestral version, others the live version, and many, the major studio release. But others make their own mix entirely, sampling the beats for a rap song, or improvising a melody based on the themes of the original.
As for who is a prophet, I cannot identify them by name for you. However I know they are out there. they are the poets that open your mind, they are the singers that transport your soul to a different place, if only for a moment. They are the ones that rattle the cages of society and say, "Look at the folly of your hatred, your lack of compassion. You will kill yourself as surely as you are killing your brothers, who you call demons!"
Prophets confront us with present reality and our complacency as much as they tell of the future and what will happen. They are creative and sensitive souls with a message, if we would just listen.
As for esoteric prophecy, or religious prophets, look beyond the religions of the masses and you will find that there are a few people who have visions today. Native American prophecies are supposedly coming true even as we speak, and from what I know of their people, the medicine men of the tribes are going on vision quests and being granted pictures of the times to come.
Some even say doomsday is soon upon us.
As for me, I think that if we do not begin to see the world as brothers and sisters, we will all be facing great hardship. But if we do unite, we will still face great hardship and the end of an age, but the pain will be shared and the work will be divided. We can all help each other throughout the transition to the world to its next age, if we just occasionally shut up. listen and think-rather than trying to prove ourselves superior at all times.
2006-06-08 19:54:14 · answer #2 · answered by Machidiel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Throughout time God has chosen various prophets to lead and guide His children. Prophets were chosen to represent the voice of God. Unfortunately the prophets were never popular in the eyes of the people. Noah tried to save as many as he could from the great flood, but so very few actually listened. Moses was not only hated by the Egyptians, but even by his own people the Israelites despite the many miracles they had seen. Jesus was hated and killed because of what He taught. Many other prophets are named in the Bible, too, but most of the time their teachings were not practiced by the majority of the people. Did God eventually give up and stop calling prophets? Why would he speak to prophets in ancient times, but not today? I don't think it's because our society is so righteous that we have no need for prophets. I feel we have even greater need for prophets today, to help us steer clear of the many sins in the modern world.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that we do have prophets today. The Church of Jesus Christ, which had become corrupted and eventually lost over time after the death of Jesus and His Apostles, was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith in 1830. Since the time of Joseph Smith, God has continued to call prophets to lead His church. Today that prophet is Gordon B. Hinckley. God continues to reveal His word to man.
As far as the earth having four corners (as referred to in Isaiah 11:12), I don't think Isaiah was implying that the Earth is square and has four distinct corners. He also describes the Earth as a circle (Isaiah 40:22), which doesn't have any corners. The four corners of the earth is generally understood to be a metaphor representing the farthest reaches, or all parts of the earth.
2006-06-09 10:28:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In answer to your first question, yes there are many modern day prophets of God. I believe one is Ray Comfort of Living Waters. Another is my pastor Mark Estep (Spring Baptist Church). Prophets are those who declare the Word of God. Even when the world chooses not to listen. The Bible is not outdated. Everything applies to modern times. It is we, who view it as outdated.
As for revisions, the Bible declares "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled" Matthew 5:18. That means the Bible is complete as is.
2006-06-08 19:37:50 · answer #4 · answered by nom_de_plume30 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God says that he confounds the wise with the foolish, so there goes your rational thinking - and God says he has always been, is and always will be, so why would he change? We are told that in the end days there will be prophets. I'm sure there will be no doubt about who they are when they are God's prophets. And since they are not on the scene now it is because He has not deemed this to be the end times.
2006-06-08 19:02:19 · answer #5 · answered by dph_40 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christians/Jews/Muslims lock god up in books. The Saga continues in the Fifth Epochal Revelation...
http://www.urantia.org/papers/index.html
2006-06-08 19:19:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe there are modern day prophets but it is very hard for them to be heard. Most of us are tuned into modern popular culture and there isnt room for much listening in this society.
Good Luck and God Bless!!
2006-06-08 19:10:36 · answer #7 · answered by msqtech 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the last book, even being outdated as you say, is still collating with the scientific discoveries.
2006-06-08 19:10:06 · answer #8 · answered by byefareed 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure people today are having visions and dreaming dreams, but will anyone listen to them? Maybe a hundred or two hundred years from now, the people will write about someone who's alive today, someone they heard about from their parents or grandparents. That's how it happened the last time.
2006-06-08 19:00:36 · answer #9 · answered by lottyjoy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
everything he needed to say was said through Jesus Christ. its not outdated i think your outdated. the earth does have 4 corners.. N-S-E-W
2006-06-08 19:00:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes we have them they r the ones we think are nuts, open ur eyes we have them
2006-06-08 19:00:20 · answer #11 · answered by kylergsmom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋