if you don't hate it, why are you ignorant of it? or should people conclude that you have your own version of history to suit your hate propaganda?
you don't even know where the Bible came from, how it was preserved, you don't even know where you've inherited your beliefs from, you don't even know how you started, you are even very far from really knowing what the Scripture is saying, name it, what is it that you know, really? basically, your beliefs are just reactionary to the things that don't suit your personal agendas. it is also doubtful that you even know what you're talking about; what you are preaching, and what you are spreading.
2007-10-16 19:30:58 · 12 answers · asked by Ťango 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well, history is an interesting thing. It's always the other guy who seems to be completely ignorant of the history that favors your position. Basically, everything you said about "Bible-fundies" is at least equally applicable to those who reject traditional Christianity because they are completely unschooled in the history of the transmission of both the Biblical text and the body of developing theological understanding that has accompanied it down through the stream of time. Typically, those who raise the most vitriolic charges are those who have been most successfully indoctrinated by second or third tier academics trying to push their own anti-religious agenda. Armed with a handful of tiny, disconnected factoids and an armload of anti-religious passion, these folks barge uninvited into the quiet halls of serious study demanding the world conform to their lack of knowledge.
In fact, it takes substantial knowledge even to enter the arena of this contest. Do you know the several original languages of the Bible, what external textual evidence applies the literary corpus, what myriad historical contexts and beliefs shaped the dynamics of textual transmission, how lexical analysis is conducted, how semantic ambiguities are resolved, how internal and external evidence combines to make a case for textual authorship, etc.? In fact, the Bible is one of those rare gems of history where more is known about the (high) quality of extant manuscripts relative to the original than perhaps any other document of equivalent antiquity. Most of those ranting against it are simply aping a particular brand of anti-religious scholarship devoted to earning a living by selling snake oil to the unsuspecting public as the latest “shocking discovery” about the Bible. In terms of scholarship, I would be surprised if many of these imitation scholars could even navigate the critical apparatus of the various important Biblical manuscripts, let alone offer a cogent analysis based on a broad synthesis of the relevant data. Propaganda is so much easier than the sweat of genuine labor.
No, which side history takes on this debate is not so simple as you would like it to be. It requires, first of all, a sincere desire to know truth, without which there will not be the energy to search the resources in depth, nor the willingness to be wrong, that is so necessary to learning, and so characteristic of genuine scholarship. May their tribe increase.
2007-10-16 20:20:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You directed your question at "Bible-fundies". Not being one, maybe I shouldn't be answering this question. But I will. It would be shame if all you got was a bunch of knee-jerk Bible quotes.
As a Christian, I feel a responsibility to point out that there is a vast difference between a "Bible-fundy" and a Christian. All Bible-fundies are Christians, but not all Christians are Bible-fundies. Most of us, in fact, are not "Bible-fundies" and we like to distance ourselves from their flawed theology and oversimplifications of the Word of God. Both of these things have brought the Christian community into disrepute with non-faith and other-faith persons.
A Bible-fundy is a Bible-fundy, and I am who I am. Never the twain shall meet, I promise you.
By the way, I know where the Bible came from, I know how it was preserved, I know whence I inherited my beliefs, I don't know what you mean by saying I don't know how I started, I am far away from understanding scripture but I am humble enough to know it yet aware that I may know it better than you do.
What is it that I know? It takes too long to detail that, so here it is in brief. I know that I am a weak and foolish person, I know that Jesus loves me, I know that I have a responsibility to try to be His worthy servant, I know I must persuade others to follow Him--not by Bible-punching and lecturing and acting smart and superior but by the example of the standards I have set for myself, and I know that thus far I have failed miserably in my mission.
I know that others see God in a way that is very different from the way I do--even other Christians. Bible-fundies and I don't see eye-to-eye at all.
In other words, I might know what I'm talking about, but I don't preach and whatever I am spreading I spread by deed and example and not by empty words.
2007-10-16 19:51:29 · answer #2 · answered by Pagan Dan 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I love History. His Story
\It tells what happened and shows that the bible is accurate in all it says and can be trusted and depended upon. I know where it come from and who wrote it
2007-10-16 22:55:04 · answer #3 · answered by Wally 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The Christian community continues to exist because the conclusions of the critical study of the Bible are largely withheld from them. --Hans Conzelmann
"Christianity...[has become] the most perverted system that ever shone on man....Rogueries, absurdities and untruths were perpetrated upon the teachings of Jesus by a large band of dupes and imposters led by Paul, the first great corrupter of the teaching of Jesus." --- Thomas Jefferson
“The son-ship of Jesus Christ is the greatest fiction of human history.” (Lord Bishop of Canterbury Commission, the Spiritual Head of England, 1910.)
“The son-ship of Jesus Christ, the Trinity, the blood sacrifice of the lamb of God, atonement are not the teachings of Jesus. These are all inventions of Saint Paul who never really met Jesus.” (Hastings Rashdall, The Theory of Good and Evil)
"Initially there were 34 gospels that were compiled by word of mouth. Four were chosen for unclear reasons and 30 were left behind [burned]. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
“There is strong reason to believe that St. Paul fabricated the belief system of Christianity from Zoroastrian mythology. In order to hide Paul’s plaigerism… Christians burned the library of Alexandria in 390 A.D. Books in that library kept Mithra’s original story of what Pauline Doctrine is an almost exact copy. (George Sarton , Introduction to History of Sciences) ,
2007-10-16 19:33:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
Hey- don't attack the questioner.
Sure he doesn't have the best approach, but he's likely reacting to what the media portrays as those folks from "Inherit the Wind".
It does leave one gobsmacked to see anyone who is overtly ill informed
2007-10-16 19:42:04 · answer #5 · answered by B C 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
LOL .how ironic that you would ask this type of a question against Christians. lol it's time for you to do some research of your own other than time magazine or porno mags.It's only because Christians have researched history that we know so much about it. It gets me how anti's like to accuse Christians of pushing our beliefs and culture ,imposing ourselves on others.CHRISTIANITY DID NOT ORIGINATE IN AMERICA IN 1800!!! Do some research and you might just find that the Assyrian church predates all the western church's,.,IS STILL IN THE MIDDLE EAST . {and other countries} and yes they are CHRISTIAN
2007-10-16 19:35:28 · answer #6 · answered by Mr Toooo Sexy 6 · 2⤊ 6⤋
I happen to know a great deal about history...Probably vastly more than you...
As I am an amateur genealogist...I have to know history in order to pursue my hobby....
2007-10-16 19:34:10 · answer #7 · answered by Adyghe Ha'Yapheh-Phiyah 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I know plenty about why I believe. I know where the Bible came from. IT's doubtful that YOU know what you are talking about.
2007-10-16 19:35:29 · answer #8 · answered by BERT 6 · 3⤊ 4⤋
Is this a self-confession? If so you are forgiven.
2007-10-16 19:41:16 · answer #9 · answered by cheir 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
ahh... they hate everything that contradicts their decided beliefs. there's no cure for that.
2007-10-16 19:34:10 · answer #10 · answered by Perceptive 5 · 1⤊ 4⤋