There is no proof. Well how on earth are you guys gonna hang on to the many historical proofs in the Bible when you guys can't even agree on whether or not the Jews were slaves in Egypt? This is a crucial bit of Jewish history that speaks volumes on the not so mysterious, God.
2007-12-28 21:42:33 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Mike W,
My Pastor doesn't charge for those things, he even GAVE me money after he married me 26 years ago. As far as funerals go you have to take that up with the people who prepare the body and caskettes for burial.
2007-12-28 21:52:54 · update #1
SorchaD,
There are many official records of the Jews stay in Egypt and that is important because their exodus and survival was nothing less than miraculous. That is at least a starting point in examining the foot prints of God. We Christians experience God's intervention in our lives all the time we "know" He's real. We just cite things like the Jews exodus from Egypt as a frame of reference for you.
2007-12-28 22:05:51 · update #2
Bajingo,
Others don't seem to have a problem finding the question. Maybe it's just....you?
2007-12-28 22:10:11 · update #3
Blesphemer Bill,
You and I have been through this but you must not read the edits. God can give life, take life and then give it back again. Nobody but God can make that claim and so He is in position to do what He sees fit. Your problem is that you can not see past the physical world to appreciate the wonders that can be experienced through the soul by the supernatual God.
2007-12-28 22:15:46 · update #4
The historical records from the Biblical era only prove the existence of some Biblical figures. There is no historical evidence, however, of a God. Just because these people existed, doesn't mean that their practices held any verity. The "proofs" you refer to are only documented in religious texts, and therefore are not to be taken as history.
In response to your edit:
I am aware that there is historical documentation of the Jews' stay in Egypt. I never questioned the credibility of their exile. But although these events are indeed extraordinary (had they taken place), they do not prove the existence of a god for several reasons. Firstly, it is highly possible that the Jews survived the desert on their own merit without divine intervention. It would have been difficult, but it's possible. Secondly, the texts which document these events are open to interpretation in that the Jews may have used the term "God" to describe the different forces which contributed to their survival. Lets not forget that wandering the desert for forty years is going to leave you delirious, and liable to talk nonsense.
2007-12-28 21:51:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
In regards to the validity of the Bible, I don't know or care if the Jews were enslaved in Egypt. If they were..so it was.
I feel for them as a Humanist and strong advocate for freedom of course. But, whether or not they were enslaved in Egypt makes no difference as to whether or not I can try to trick my brain into believing that a man magically parted a sea. Or that an all-loving god would harden someones heart (he was going to let the slaves go) so that he might unleash more plagues upon the people of Egypt, many of whom, like the children and animals, were completely innocent.
Or that after Yahweh performed all these miracles, including supplying manna to these people for 40 years, that many of these same people later decided to worship a golden calf instead of Yahweh.
The Bible is not a reliable historical document. This is the same book remember, that says that a man lived in a whale's stomach for 3 days and that an all-loving god sent 2 she bears to murder 42 children for calling prophet a baldhead (2 Kings 2:23-24)
Drive the fear out of your mind and read the Bible like you would any other book, and see if you could possibly believe that that book was inspired by an all-loving god.
Response to details:
So might makes right huh? There is nothing your god could possibly do that you wouldn't defend. How many innocent people can an all-loving god murder before you would say he isn't all-loving? I would say 1, but I have this thing called compassion and a sense of justice that you are obviously completely lacking in.
2007-12-29 06:09:07 · answer #2 · answered by AiW 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
the Jews weren't slaves in Egypt - the Egyptians never ha da a record of it - and they liked keeping records
and they certainly weren't wandering about in the desert for 40 odd years (no evidence of that either)
The jews follow the same old testament as you don't they?
Even if the jews were slaves in Egypt how is that proof that a god exists? Or even if there were more historical accuracies in the bible? It was written by men after all and after these things happened. It wouldn't be surprising if some things were right. Unfortunately for you the archaelogical evidence just doesn't back up your stories.
2007-12-29 09:54:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Agnostics don't say that God does not exist. Neither side denies the birth of Christ or certain historical events. It is whether or not christ was the son of God. Just like Muslims think that Jesus existed, but was not as important as Mohammad. No one has to argue history necessarily.
To play Devil's advocate:
I don't believe that the fossil record supports a global flood and I am not sure if there is proof of the tower of Babel either.And what about evolution?
This is a rather cocky question and I'm a christian! I 'd be super angry if I was an atheist. It is a question of faith. Both sides have a great deal of support and both deserve to be equally respected.
2007-12-29 06:03:29 · answer #4 · answered by Kelsey 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Before you throw us all in a boat, why don't look to your fellow brethern who follow your religion. Can they all agree on the many holes in the bible? Some churches believe gay is a sin, others do not. Some say you should be able to have more than one wife, others do not.
Us atheists and agnostics are just as guilty as any other religion in the world. We can't all agree, as we are all unique in our beliefs.
With that being said, lets not talk about facts and proof. The bible is a creation made by human hands and interpreted by human minds. Knowing this, we know that us humans are not perfect. Your "God" supposingly is... but he left it to humans to hand down his word?
Most importantly, realize that there is no proof that the jews were ever taken as slaves. Realize that Jesus was also not the only mesiah during the times mentioned in the bible. Realize that there are commandments that are commonly not celebrated because they are "sinful" yet they are a commandment. Such as stoning adultresses... if your god is so infallable, why do we not follow his every word even if that word is illegal to do so in our society?
Before you get upset about us having our own beliefs, realize that you have yours and not all of it can be explained in a way that everyone can agree on.
Best of luck to you.
2007-12-29 05:50:28 · answer #5 · answered by untamed_soul 4 · 6⤊ 2⤋
There are no historical proofs of God in the bible. There are merely stories that believers take to be truth and accept as historical fact, even if it isn't. The enslavement (or not) of the Jews has nothing to do with that.
Leave them alone. Everyone has a right to believe what they want to believe.
2007-12-29 05:51:59 · answer #6 · answered by hiddenstar 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
What a strange claim. You are saying that 'you guys' (atheists and agnostics) "can't even agree on whether or not the Jews were slaves in Egypt"?
Wow. You've got those agnostics and atheists PINNED DOWN! (sarcasm)
PS where is your question? This is a strawman...
...look it up...
2007-12-29 06:01:06 · answer #7 · answered by Bajingo 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Why would atheists and/or agnostics have any interest in what the Bible says? If they don't believe, then they're already not interested in the history of the Bible, one would presume. So, forgive me, but your question makes very little sense; it's hard to tell at whom you have directed it.
2007-12-29 05:48:49 · answer #8 · answered by crazeecatlady 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
well im not agnostic or atheist, but how can you say there is a god, or jesus is the son of god if you only have a book to tell you so. you know how many religions there are in the world? its not like all of them are correct. people want you to believe what they say, its called POWER. if you believe in christianity for example, what physical proof do you have to show other than a book which you state, it was written by god himself
2007-12-29 05:48:57 · answer #9 · answered by Eric 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Miles,
I hate telling Christians that there is no magical Jesus...it's like telling kindergardeners there's no Santa Claus; it breaks my heart....
...but go to youtube and watch "zeitgest the movie", if you want an education on how laughably made up the bible and its stories are.
please cease speaking until after you watch part 1 of "zeitgest; the movie"...it will wake you up, unless you like denial.
2007-12-29 05:49:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋