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Exodus 22:18-20 is about an 'execution' for the sake of justice for the righteous or upright people.Exodus 22:18, for example.
Religious syncretism does water down Christianity.Syncretism was responsible for watering down Christianity in the first place. The dominant belief sinks to the level of whatever it decides to amalgamate.
I find the world (Not the Bible) created the mess as described in Matthew chapter 24 and Luke chapter 21.well first of all I stick with what I feel, which is the world is in a mess with the teaching of the bible
Seems to me the amalgamation in belief systems is the continually evolving philosophies of mankind with its rise and fall in popularity by the changing and shifting whims of 'man' and Not the standards of Scripture.Syncretism was responsible for watering down Christianity in the first place. The dominant belief sinks to the level of whatever it decides to amalgamate.
the world can't do anything but exists,people are the only things that create the mess this world is into, and most of the world claim to be Christians who believe in the bible. and you were saying................I find the world (Not the Bible) created the mess as described in Matthew chapter 24 and Luke chapter 21.
It is the world who set the doom-and-gloom Doom's Day Clock with its hands set close to striking the dark midnight hour.
This is because the world ignores the Golden Rule and Jesus' New commandment found at John 13:34-35.
If everyone on earth lived by the Golden Rule and by Jesus' New commandment to have the same self-sacrificing love for others as Jesus has, then the world would Not be in the mess that it is in today.
...and I am saying we are forewarned that "MANY" would come in Jesus' name but prove false - Matthew 7:21-23the world can't do anything but exists,people are the only things that create the mess this world is into, and most of the world claim to be Christians who believe in the bible. and you were saying................
Yes, I understand. Before becoming a Christian, I was the same. I would also add that I was a cynic to the highest degree, cynicism still plagues me at times.
I finally came to the conclusion, after exposure to general philosophy, that there are absolutes, ultimate truths and for our own good we should search them out.
From my work I know that evidence can be a tricky thing, subject to things like quality, truth, and rules.
Yet, once admitted, the jury decides the value of it.
I think part of my problem was that I did not want to be a juror in that trial, but finally I realized I had to.
So, for me the trial is over, the verdict is in, and I believe what I believe.
The gret Christian philosopher, Blaise Pascal put it very clearly when addressing the non believer, ¨ if I am wrong, I lose nothing, if you are wrong, you lose everything"
Religious syncretism does water down Christianity.
As foretold at Acts of the Apostles 20:29-30 false clergy would be responsible for the start of the decline.
That does Not mean genuine ' wheat ' Christians would Not remain.
It is the fake ' weed/tares ' Christians that will come to a final end - Matthew 7:21-23
Actually, "analytical" and "cynical" are not even in the same
part of towm. It does not translate well, but we have a saying
to the effect that cynicism is just the seamy side of
innocence or naivete. I have never been plagued with
cyncism beyond a reflexive distrust of men.
"Analytical" does involve dealing withh evidence, but in
a completely opposite way to the facile / emotive
autoresponse of the cynic. The cynic does certainty,
the analyst does doubt.
So, no, you probably do not understand
where I am coming from. "Before (you)
became a Christian." is probably the
context of a Christian society, likely
family background too. I grew up where
that religion is exotic and withal rather
weird.
Philosophy can and does lead many down
strange paths, and logic can readily prove things
that do not happen to be true.
The existence of any absolute cannot be
demonstrated to anthing faintly
resembling proof beyond where it may
exist, if it does anywhere, in math.
So no, I dont think you understand, or at least,
your approach to life and understanding life
are radically different, incompatible with mine.
If I may, what is your work that involves evidence?
Finally on Pascal, I find that too to be facile; black and
white, either / or, in an assumed, unevidenced context.
This tiny device does not do cut and paste well, but look
up "Islamic hell", google images. You will find the "prophet"
mohammed viewing women hanging by their hair in eternal
fire, for the sin of exposing their hair in public.
My hair is mid back length, and I generally have it in
a ponytail. Flaunting, by some standards, the will
of "allah" and condemning myself to a bad future.
How does Pascal's idea work for in this situation?
My work was in law enforcement, years as a criminal investigator, ultimately Director of Public Safety.Actually, "analytical" and "cynical" are not even in the same
part of towm. It does not translate well, but we have a saying
to the effect that cynicism is just the seamy side of
innocence or naivete. I have never been plagued with
cyncism beyond a reflexive distrust of men.
"Analytical" does involve dealing withh evidence, but in
a completely opposite way to the facile / emotive
autoresponse of the cynic. The cynic does certainty,
the analyst does doubt.
So, no, you probably do not understand
where I am coming from. "Before (you)
became a Christian." is probably the
context of a Christian society, likely
family background too. I grew up where
that religion is exotic and withal rather
weird.
Philosophy can and does lead many down
strange paths, and logic can readily prove things
that do not happen to be true.
The existence of any absolute cannot be
demonstrated to anthing faintly
resembling proof beyond where it may
exist, if it does anywhere, in math.
So no, I dont think you understand, or at least,
your approach to life and understanding life
are radically different, incompatible with mine.
If I may, what is your work that involves evidence?
Finally on Pascal, I find that too to be facile; black and
white, either / or, in an assumed, unevidenced context.
This tiny device does not do cut and paste well, but look
up "Islamic hell", google images. You will find the "prophet"
mohammed viewing women hanging by their hair in eternal
fire, for the sin of exposing their hair in public.
My hair is mid back length, and I generally have it in
a ponytail. Flaunting, by some standards, the will
of "allah" and condemning myself to a bad future.
How does Pascal's idea work for in this situation?
No. The gospels aren't witness statements .My work was in law enforcement, years as a criminal investigator, ultimately Director of Public Safety.
You are citing irrelevant gnats re allah and your hair. Pascal was talking about the biggest camel there is.
The choice we are all free to make is binary, black and white, either or.
No choice, is a choice, every human chooses.
Pascal was addressing life and death, the only choices there are. He was not discussing minutiae like hair length, from some false prophet.
I suggest that using the techniques of a criminal investigator, one can verify evidence of and for Christ.
The Gospels are witness statements, and can be critically examined as such.
The other books of the NT give valuable evidence re the relationship of the young Church to those witness statements, and how they reflect back on to the witness statements.
Your view of cynicism and mine are different. To me a cynic views anything as not what it appears to be, with either an observed or unobserved negative that is given more value than warranted.
Say my wife is a cynic, and I realize my dream of owning a Ferrari, I point out the awesome quality of everything about the car, I tell her of the performance it has.
We get in to take it home from the dealer, and she looks around and says, ¨ I know you love this car, but I will never be able to, it only has two cup holders, in the wrong places.¨
Really ? Obviously, since you are an alleged Christian who believes nothing of Christianity, you adhere to the idea that they were written by later others .No. The gospels aren't witness statements .
Really ? Obviously, since you are an alleged Christian who believes nothing of Christianity, you adhere to the idea that they were written by later others .
Yet, for one who spent a career analyzing witness statements, they contain most of the tells that one finds in statements of true witnesses.
So then, PROVE they were written after the Apostolic period by others.
I note you value highly the opinions, I said opinions, of secular writers. You seem hypnotized by their degrees and scholarly language.
You can dress a pig up in a gown with eye makeup and lipstick, topped by a tiara, but it is still a pig.
An opinion is still an opinion., regardless of who the opinionator is.
Yes, the Gospels were written some years after the events, but certainly within the lifetimes of the writers.The gospels were written 25 to 50 years after the crucifixion.
Can you believe in the message of the Christ without the miracles? Do you need walking on water and raising people from the dead or casting out "demons" to get the message?
My work was in law enforcement, years as a criminal investigator, ultimately Director of Public Safety.
You are citing irrelevant gnats re allah and your hair. Pascal was talking about the biggest camel there is.
The choice we are all free to make is binary, black and white, either or.
No choice, is a choice, every human chooses.
Pascal was addressing life and death, the only choices there are. He was not discussing minutiae like hair length, from some false prophet.
I suggest that using the techniques of a criminal investigator, one can verify evidence of and for Christ.
The Gospels are witness statements, and can be critically examined as such.
The other books of the NT give valuable evidence re the relationship of the young Church to those witness statements, and how they reflect back on to the witness statements.
Your view of cynicism and mine are different. To me a cynic views anything as not what it appears to be, with either an observed or unobserved negative that is given more value than warranted.
Say my wife is a cynic, and I realize my dream of owning a Ferrari, I point out the awesome quality of everything about the car, I tell her of the performance it has.
We get in to take it home from the dealer, and she looks around and says, ¨ I know you love this car, but I will never be able to, it only has two cup holders, in the wrong places.¨
You don´t know the story of screening out the gnats, but swallowing the camels ? It simply means wrong priorities. It wasn´t dismissive, it was illustrative.I was hoping for a bit more thoughtful reply.
As for your dismissive "irrelevant / gnats" comment, if
that is conversation with you we can quit now while
we have some mutual respect left.
You don´t know the story of screening out the gnats, but swallowing the camels ? It simply means wrong priorities. It wasn´t dismissive, it was illustrative.
You and I had a long conversation about frustration and anger. I certainly was not trying to provoke you, sorry.
Since the earliest Christians would have gotten their beliefs from Jesus they would Not be diverse.Weren't the earliest Christians diverse in their beliefs?
Since I find John and Matthew are witnesses then why say their accounts aren't witness statements ___________No. The gospels aren't witness statements .