When I think about the existence of God I just feel blank. Does this mean I'm an atheist? I like to consider myself at least Abrahamic since I like the mythology and I read the Bible and the Qur'an.
I'm only asking because I live with a bunch of ignorant people. Should I care? :shrug:
Are there any ancient writers (Christian, Jew, pagan, or otherwise) who believed that Jesus was a mythical figure? If so, could somebody present quotes of the relevant passages?
I know that the mythicist hypothesis has been beaten to death, but as far as I know it came about in the 18th...
May we all get drunk and full on this day of Independence.:beach:
On top of that, there's a two-day Twilight Zone marathon. What more could you ask for?
I recently picked up a copy of David Stern's Complete Jewish Bible. I've been reading his translation of the New Testament, and I like the way he uses Hebrew words and ideas, although somewhat random and awkward at times. But overall, it's a readable and enjoyable translation. I've yet to read...
You hear this claim from fundamentalist Christians alot. I've also heard it from Muslims and Mormons from time to time. Obviously, any institution can be called "historical", religious or secular, simply given the fact that they all exist. If one religion is "historical", that makes all other...
I'm aware of Ebionite Community -- Restoring the Way of the Ancient Evyonim, Yahwism, and Renewed Covenant
...but I'm curious if there are any actual attempts by anybody to actually set up Evyonim congregations. Some Jews don't regard Evyonim as real Jews, but they're certainly, in my view, the...
My roommate, who was like a member of the family, recently died from cirrhosis of the liver. The messed up thing is, the liquor store in my area sold the drug to him and indirectly killed him.
What do you think about this? Is it "God's" plan? Should the people who sold the liquor to him be...
I'm curious. Would they run to Jerry Jones for comfort, or would they bow down and submit?
The question is directed primarily toward fundamentalists who claim to posses the ultimate truth and degrade everybody who believes differently.
I'm curious. I looked around online for an answer and couldn't find one.
I know Muslims believe that Miriam gave birth to Jesus as a virgin, but what about later on. Do Muslims hold that Mary remained a virgin throughout her life, like Catholics, or do they accept that she was indeed married...
I've been thinking about this a bit lately and I'm of the opinion of that Christianity wouldn't be around at all today if it weren't for Paul and his evangelizing mission to the Pagans of the Roman world. I'm not simply talking about theology, although it has a lot to do with it as Paul's...
I love craft beer!
I live in Pennsylvania. I've had just about every micro-brew from this state. Tröegs, Victory, Lancaster, Yard's, Lionshead, Weyerbacher...
I've also had countless beers brewed in other states (too many to mention).
Many imports also...
Beer is one of the greatest...
The Bible presents David and his son Solomon as divinely appointed kings to his chosen nation. David is the famous hero, a man of faith but with many faults. His son Solomon is a wise king who rules over a vast, prosperous kingdom. He's the builder of the Great Temple of Yahweh and builder...
First off... I've never read the Gospel of Barnabas in its entirety:sad:...
But I've done a bit of research on the text. It contradicts the Qur'an and Islamic tradition on so many levels. On top of this, there are dozens of historical inaccuracies in the text. I'm curious why any orthodox...
I am an agnostic. I come from a (semi) religious Episcopalian English family. I am an agnostic, although I don't blatantly deny the existence of a deity. As an agnostic, I feel a connection to the Bible. I prefer the 'Old Testament' since I have Jewish sympathies, although I do have a great...
Alright! There are plenty of posts about the historicity of Jesus. This one's about the historicity of Mohammad, the Prophet of Islam. Some claim that the earliest biographies are unreliable because they're late and Islamic. Granted, they are; BUT... like the biographies of Jesus, they contain...
I've been bored lately so I'm currently trying to teach myself to read Hebrew. For those who can read and speak the language, in your opinion, what's the fastest and easiest way to learn? I have a bilingual JPS Tanach and I'm ordering this book : Amazon.com: Teach Yourself to Read Hebrew...
Which historical period or event would you like to see made into a movie? For me, I'd love to see a film set in the time of King Hammurabi of Babylon. The Near East in the 18th century BCE is such a fascinating period that the mainstream virtually ignores. The period is documented well enough...
I was watching a re-run of the Nostradamus Effect on the History Chanel today. In the episode, prophecy nuts were discussing the Kolbrin Bible as evidence for their wacky end-time theories. I had never heard of the Kolbrin Bible before and right away it caught my attention. Oddly, the first...
The Qur'an names the Sabians as a People of the Book. According to some interpretations, the term refers to the Mandaens. From what I've read, the Mandaens call themselves the "Sons of Seth" and reject most of the major Islamic prophets (Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, etc.), and their...