Is christianity one big game of chinese whispers (telephone)?

Question

I don't believe there is a 'god', nor therefore do I believe that there was ever a 'son of god'.

I do reckon though that there once was a man (an ordinary, mortal man) called Jesus, who taught his friends and followers many good, strong moral lessons, and encouraged them to pass them on.

After hundreds (then thousands) of years of being told and retold, these lessons (as well as information relating to the man himself and his life) have been warped, exaggerated and embellished beyond recognition, to the point where he's become some kind of supernatural superbeing.

If I'm right then christianity itself is a bit like a giant game of chinese whispers (or 'telephone' in the US), spread out over two thousand years.

What do we think, answers community? Anyone agree, or care to comment?

lil: I remember something about that too. Basically this guy allows the guest to rape his wife (or it could have been his daughter) rather than perform a sinful (yet consenting!) sexual act with another man. Apparently this is a good thing! The bible is crammed with tales of horrific, evil acts committed by, or in the name of, god. The appalling treatment of women is one of the most regular ones.

Answer 1

Although the stories of Jesus have been told and retold. The story has not changed.

We have second and third century manuscripts that were used for modern translations.

Here are some responsible Biblical scholars who can explain it better than I can:

Are the Biblical Documents Reliable? http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/bib-docu.html
New Testament Manuscripts: The Basic Facts: http://www.americanthinker.com/2007/02/new_testament_manuscripts_the.html
Josh McDowell Answers Questions about the New Testament: http://www.leaderu.com/theology/mcdowell_davinci.html
How many copes of the original New Testament documents are there? http://www.facingthechallenge.org/copies.php
Is the New Testament Text Reliable? http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=6068

The Old Testament is even older.

The Dead Sea Scroll contain:
- All of the books of the Old Testament (Hebrew scriptures) except Esther
- Several books that never became part of the Hebrew Scriptures
- Numerous commentaries on the Scriptures
- Books having to do with
.....- Community life
.....- Rules for living
.....- Temple worship
.....- Other matters

There are many duplicates. Fourteen copies of Deuteronomy have been found and two of Isaiah.

The scrolls are important because they:
- Testify to the accuracy of the people who copied and recopied the Scriptures over the centuries. Despite minor errors, they show us that the Old Testament has not changed since it was compiled.
- Throw light on beliefs and customs in Palestine during times between the Old and New Testamants. There was far more diversity among the Jews than had been thought.

For more information, see:
http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/SFS/an0500.asp

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

History is a game of Chinese whispers, the history of religion being more susceptible to change than most.

And people pick and choose which of God's words will 'always be' (like do not kill) and which will be swiftly swept under the carpet (a random example: i seem to remember a story about something like the woman who was offered for a guest to sleep with instead of a male, so that the vile act of homosexual sex did not have to occur, but the morally upstanding act of having sex with a female who has not been asked either way does, purely for the entertainment of a guest. My memory of it is bad as it is not repeated like the others so many times... good job on the sweeping)

So let's not use words like 'always be' as if we actually beleive the words of early versions of the bible, which condone many acts which are now illegal in this country for moral reasons. Oops.

Answer 3

I think you are absolutely right,
Having studied and researched in history and religion, and found so many truths that have been deleted from both history and religion, I can assure you that neither can be trusted.
Rescent example is the fact that few people know that the Russians fought with the Germans at the begining of the wwii, and that all of Europe was involved in the extermination of the jews and gypsies, and not only Germany, although the Germans did the dirty work.
Point made?

Answer 4

I am a Christian, who has walked with Jesus every day of my life for twenty-three years so far! I was thirty-four when Jesus Burst into my life, since then He has Turned my life upside-down, inside-out and back-to-front! BUT I wouldn't have it any other way!!!

At five years of age, I learned that I mustn't argue with anyone - especially NOT men! So I thought that if I had no opinion of my own, kept my head down, I would have an easy life... WRONG!!!

At the time that I cried out to Jesus, a lot of things were going on in my life because I'd lived as a cameleon, with no opinion of my own! I could be in a room with lots and lots of people and agree with all and offend none! However, the end result was that I was terrified, because I didn't like what was happening but didn't have the guts to say "No!"

Since then, Jesus has been Steadfastly Working to turn me into an 'Overcomer' Through His Grace! To rise above and overcome the challenges that come into my life and the world in which we live!

He Enables me to live with integrity and dignity and to be able to now have the courage to state my OWN opinion - even on the internet - and NOT care whether people like it or not!!!

He Enables me to make the right decisions for me, before Him, while in complete control of my faculties (I mention this only because so many accuse Christians of needing Jesus as a 'prop' - well let's look at the 'acceptable props' offered by the world: drink/drugs/etc... they of course enable people to be in full control of their faculties - don't they?)!

Jesus is WONDERFUL, so please don't disrespect Someone that you clearly know nothing about!

BEING A CHRISTIAN IS ABOUT HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LIVING GOD AND HIS WORD!

If you choose not to believe, then that is between you and God - whether you believe in Him or not!

Being a Christian is about having Faith, even though there is no physical proof! However, I suppose that I have in fact got all the 'physical' proof I need - I KNOW what a coward I am in myself BUT I ALSO KNOW WHO I AM NOW BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND THROUGH THE LOVE OF JESUS!!!

May God Bless you all in ways that each of you will know cannot have come from any human!

Love in Jesus,

Margi

Answer 5

I think all religions have their pros and cons. It is a hard idea to understand as it is the unknown and individuals have different opinions.
I respect all religions and see good in all religions but try to not take on board the bad bits of religion. I for one believe there is a God somewhere.

Answer 6

I think it started out as an April fool and now because of political correctness and a lack of free speech most people are frightened to say what a load of rubbish it is ! Also Islam is a load of cr4p and an excuse to do bad things but you cannot say that because then you are a racist !

Answer 7

No its a game of guess what door God is behind, door#1,2 or 3!

Answer 8

Not at all. Look in the bible. God's word was, is, will always be.

Answer 9

Christianity is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.

And no, its not what you claim.