You don't have to be a Christian, or a Jew, or a Moslem 'to be saved'.
The Hebrews stole the ancient Egyptian idea that there was one supreme God.
The ancient Egyptian God, called Aten, blessed everyone in the world, not just the people of one tribe or religion.
Any sensible person, of course, will see the good and useful bits in all of the great religions and belief systems, whether Taoist, Buddhist or whatever."
It was the people of ancient Iraq who first came up with the stories of Noah and the flood, the creation of man out of clay, Cain and Abel, the gardens of Eden, the tree of knowledge, the creation of Eve from Adams rib, the throwing of Moses into the river.
Dr. Ashraf Ezzat has explained how the Hebrew Bible plagiarized mythology:
"In his famous book, Moses and monotheism, Sigmund Freud concluded that monotheism was not a Jewish but an Egyptian invention, descending from the cult of the Egyptian sun god Aten.
"The Hebrew scribes, as they wrote down the scripture of their Bible, plagiarized the ancient Near Eastern wisdom and claimed it as theirs...
"They have moulded it into a tribal thing.
" The universal nature of ... Aten, had been twisted and refashioned to function only as the Hebrews’ own exclusive god, and hence the Hebrews as his own chosen people.
"And in a way this dominating concept of favoritism/nepotism has, and for the first time in the history of mankind, introduced/nurtured the idea of religious extremism...
" Moreover, upon applying his psychoanalysis to the myths/stories of the Hebrew bible, Freud not only argued that Moses was an Egyptian priest but he was also perplexed by how the whole story of Moses/Exodus, according to the oedipal pattern of analysis, was inverted and didn’t make sense the way it had been told. In other words the Hebrew myths/stories didn’t seem original...
"What good is this kind of monotheism when its adherents, be it Jews, Christians or Muslims, are soaked to the arm pits in their fundamental belief/illusion that their god is the only true god and hence they are the true sons/believers ...
"The Aten, contrary to the tribal version of Yahew, was a universal god, a sun disk that released and stretched out its rays all over the earth and blessed everybody, not just the Egyptians."
"What good is this kind of monotheism when its adherents, be it Jews, Christians or Muslims, are soaked to the arm pits in their fundamental belief/illusion that their god is the only true god and hence they are the true sons/believers ...
"The Aten, contrary to the tribal version of Yahew, was a universal god, a sun disk that released and stretched out its rays all over the earth and blessed everybody, not just the Egyptians."
I am wondering if any conservative Christians would care to comment on the following:
According to Isaiah 13:15-16 God decrees the molesting and killing of unbelievers.
The Bible tells us that women must not become teachers, must obey their husbands and must cover their hair.
According to Deuteronomy 25:11-12, when two men are in dispute, a woman who defends her husband should have her head cut off.
According to Deuteronomy 22: 20-21, certain virgins are to be stoned to death.
The Bible tells us that women must not become teachers, must obey their husbands and must cover their hair.
According to Deuteronomy 25:11-12, when two men are in dispute, a woman who defends her husband should have her head cut off.
According to Deuteronomy 22: 20-21, certain virgins are to be stoned to death.
Many thanks to Greg Pearson for the links.
Mike Norden does not like quotes from the Bible taken out of context.
Jesus and humility
Think of Jesus on the cross saying, "My God, why have you forsaken me?" That seems to be Jesus admitting that he's not perfect.
JESUS AND JUNG
According to Carl Jung: "We all must do what Christ did. We must make our experiment.
CROSSAN ON JESUS
Who was Jesus? John Dominic Crossan, professor emeritus at De Paul University Chicago, is an Irish-American religious scholar.
THE REAL JESUS?
The Council of Nicaea, set up by the Roman emperor Constantine, decided that Jesus, like many Roman Emperors, was divine.
Mike Norden does not like quotes from the Bible taken out of context.
Jesus and humility
Think of Jesus on the cross saying, "My God, why have you forsaken me?" That seems to be Jesus admitting that he's not perfect.
JESUS AND JUNG
According to Carl Jung: "We all must do what Christ did. We must make our experiment.
CROSSAN ON JESUS
Who was Jesus? John Dominic Crossan, professor emeritus at De Paul University Chicago, is an Irish-American religious scholar.
THE REAL JESUS?
The Council of Nicaea, set up by the Roman emperor Constantine, decided that Jesus, like many Roman Emperors, was divine.
Most Christians know little or nothing about the sordid, bloody history of their religion. They should read Crimes of Christianity by G. W. Foote and J. M. Wheeler:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ftarchives.net/foote/crimes/contents.htm
On the lighter side: Comic Bible Sketches by G. W. Foote:
Excerpt:
We honestly admit that our purpose is to discredit the Bible as the infallible word of God. Believing as we do, with Voltaire, that despotism can never be abolished without destroying the dogmas on which it rests, and that the Bible is the grand source and sanction of them all, we are profoundly anxious to expose its pretentions...
http://www.ftarchives.net/foote/comic/comic.htm
It appears the gospels were Flavian dynasty propaganda to put down the messianic Essene cults. Joseph Atwill is worth a look on this subject.
ReplyDeleteJohn Bartram has made some interesting observations:
DeleteOrigins of Chrestianity
by John A. Bartram
Constantine I made extensive use of the Chi-Rho; it then appears across the empire on items associated with baptism and from the 4th century onwards, is associated with a new Roman Church, appearing on churches and in sacred texts. As there is no (contemporaneous and reliable) explicit evidence for Christ/Christianity in or before the time of Constantine I, and the Chi-Rho dates back to at least Ptolemey III (in Egypt), this new Church should be regarded as an extension of the faith associated with the Ptolemaic Chi-Rho.
Continues:
http://www.academia.edu/6473191/Origins_of_Chrestianity
John Bartram's Origins of Christianity site: [Note: To more easily read the articles on this site that have "Google+" in their header, click on their "Google+" icon to open them in a new tab.]
Introduction
Even a cursory view of history leads many today to the realisation that the Roman Empire never died, or even faded away, but became Christendom, with the imperial title of Pontifex Maximus transferring to the bishop of Rome (who became Pontiff). There is much evidence for this, which we present here. The logical consequence of this view is profound: Christianity is not concurrent with the Western Roman Empire.
The history you'll find here is evidence-based from a team of archaeologists studying how divine men were conjured into being in the period of Classical Antiquity. This includes textual artefacts across all media, such as coins/numismatics, inscriptions, mosaics and documents. Excluded are texts from later periods claiming, with no support, to be copies made from earlier.
...
Chrestians versus Messianic Judaism
...
Jewish resistance centred on Qumran, near where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found; its leaders were killed one by one - for example John the Baptiser and then James the Just (killed 62 CE).
One of the Herodian leaders against the Jewish insurgency was Saul, who after having led a gang attacking observant Jews, became an agent provocateur inside Qumran and the insurgency. His attack on James, which led to the extra-judicial killing of this leader, and his attempt to lead Greeks into the Jerusalem Temple, instigated the first of three Jewish Roman wars.
The Chrestian Church, whose archaeological remains are across the Levant, grew out of the endeavours of this Saul.
Further in this site, you will find how Chrestianity became Christianity and how the textual tradition was substituted for history.
https://sites.google.com/site/originsofchristianity/
Comment: the context. The times/situation. Read 'through' Jesus.
ReplyDeleteYour article covers a small portion of criticism that has been long ago been refuted by serious professional scholarship - whether believer or non believer. People like Freud are/were not experts in this field (and hardly in their own) and express opinions that are not research based, but are rather personal opinion or rehashed misinformation. Strange that today anybody with a computer and a connection to the internet is suddenly an expert. Rather look to academic work of professional historians and philosophers like Dr William Craig, Ravi Zacharias, Greg Koukle, DC Halverson, Lee Stobel, Robert Spencer, Josh McDowell, Michael Horton, to mention just a few out of hundreds of thousands.
ReplyDeleteWhat a Christianized society has given you is the freedom to express your opinion. You are allowed to dissent. But opinion does, however, need to be researched and reasoned, even if it leads you down a path you do not want to go.
More specifically, regarding your article: The Old Testament verses you quoted do come from the stone-iron-bronze age. People ran around in animal skins. And to quote verses without their context is the same as me walking through your house on a weekend, and by what I see, making judgement on your family relationships. Within the family relationship are the socks on the floor. The Bible is the same, and also requires contextual analysis.
The graphic of a man being thrown in the fire is very much what happens today. Just follow the real news. Mankind has always been like that, as it is today so it was in the middle ages. Contrary to popular myth, the 'church had a moderating effect on atrocities, reducing the effect of superstition. Burnings were driven by people like you and me. Compare that to populations where there was no Christian influence, even today (see middle East, North Africa rape, bombings, abductions, slavery, child brides, genital mutilations, burnings, stonings, amputations, beatings,gay hangings, pillaging, starvation and killings by the thousands etc )
The idea that 9 11 was an inside-job has been long ago been refuted by serious professional scholarship?
DeleteMike- In my opinion, your opinion could be more reasoned if you researched-
Delete1. a history of the Popes
2. The Crusades
3. Torquemada and the Inquisition
4. Forced conversion of New World residents.
5. ITCCS.org indictment of Ratzinger on child-murder and cannibalism.
6. BCCI bank scandal
7. Coucil of Nicea
8. Bhagadva Vita (I know that's wrong) and Hinduism in general
9. Child abuse by clergy in all branches of Judeo-Christianity
10. Bergoglio blerssing torture chambers in South America, and trafficking children
11. Only Catholic clergy can deliver a Black Mass.
12. Nag Hemmadi
13. The Library at Alexandria
14. Looting of antiquities at beginning of Iraq war.
15. Moroni
16. History of the Jesuits.
17. Book of Enoch.
and so forth. This is not meant to antagonise you. I firmly believe in the existence of a Creator. But as to the nature, intent, wishes, purpose, etc., of this Creator, I believe we all are being purposely misled. Just as our food today sickens, not nourishes; our medicine kills, not cures; our "law" protects and promotes crime, not justice; war is elective and predatory as opposed to shunned and only enacted by neccesity; this world seems beset by a force intent on subverting all reason, rationality, and all that is good and decent about humanity. What would be the greatest prize for this force? Why, your soul/spirit/essence/whatever- and mine- SOMEONE KNOWS THE TRUTH ABOUT THE CREATOR- AND THEY ARE WILLFULLY WITHOLDING IT, TELLING US LIES, INSTEAD- OUR RELIGIONS DO NOT ACT TO SAVE OUR SOULS!!! BUT TO DESTROY THEM! Just look at the "elite" in this world and tell me they do not wish it so- and I believe the answer can be found in the Vatican Library, and in oral tradition, where it can only be brought forth by Sodium Pentothal- souls hang in the balance. No stone should be left unturned. If there is one axiom across all religions - it is the primacy of the TRUTH... the TRUTH is to be revered, cherished, sought after- see much of it around anywhere?
The Flavian dynasty was AD 69 - AD 96. All the Gospels had been completed before the year 70, and major portions thereof within 10 years if the life of Jesus (30-40AD). The fall of Jerusalem was in 70AD and caused the dispersal and persecution of Jew and Christian. The Flavians could therefor not have contributed to the Gospels.
ReplyDeleteFirst centuary historian Josephus gave a detailed first hand account of the Essenes. He relates piety, celibacy, the absence of personal property and of money, the belief in communality and commitment to a strict observance of Sabbath. Essenes devoted themselves to charity and benevolence, forbade the expression of anger. They lived in caves along the Dead Sea and were a threat to no-one, least of all the Flavians
You blokes must really do your research and avoid the 'Dan Brown history'. Part of the problem is you WANT to believe something - even anything. Now that is blind faith!!
Speaking about context...
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK7P7uZFf5o&index=3&list=PL6D440558124742F5
Of course, one could disagree...
Keep Them Barefooted and Pregnant
ReplyDeleteby Farrell Till
A popular claim of Christianity is that the Bible has given women a dignity and status far superior to societies that are dominated by other religions. That the ranks of Christianity include so many women is evidence that there must be some truth to the axiom that says if a lie is told enough times, some will believe it, because only someone who is relatively ignorant of the Bible could believe that it is in any sense complimentary to women. From beginning to end, the Bible insults women and speaks of them with a disdain that one would think women in modern times would no longer tolerate. But tolerate it they do, for the membership rolls of churches probably include many more women than men.
Continues:
http://www.theskepticalreview.com/tsrmag/5front97.html
A Long Day's Journey Into Light
(Religious Biography Of J. Farrell Till)
Excerpt:
Over the years, I have spent many hours studying the Bible. My first efforts were directed at looking for solutions to the problem of textual inconsistencies and contradictions. I suppose my intention was to discover that there were no grounds for my skepticism, but the more I studied the Bible, the more I realized I would never resolve the problem of biblical discrepancies, because the truth is that the Bible is a collection of books written by uninspired, fallible men, and like all fallible men they made mistakes... The truth was a long time in coming, but finally I realized that God had had exactly nothing to do with the authorship of the Bible.
http://www.theskepticalreview.com/AuthorFarrellTill.html
The book of Genesis begins with two different and contradictory creation myths which were derived from Babylonian myths which were derived from Sumerian myths. Read The Pre-biblical Protagonists Behind Genesis' Eve: Shamhat and Inanna (Ishtar) of the Epic of Gilgamesh:
ReplyDeleteIn a Nutshell Summary:
I understand Eden's Eve is a fictional character, a fusion of at least six different characters appearing in earlier Mesopotamian myths: (1) Shamhat/Ukhat of the Epic of Gilgamesh; (2) Inanna/Ishtar of the Dumuzi Myths; (3) Nin-Ti of Dilmun; (4) Gishzida, (5) Dumuzi, and (6) Adapa of the Adapa and the Southwind Myth. The focus here is Shamhat and Inanna.
http://www.bibleorigins.net/EveasShamhatoftheEpicofGilgamesh.html
There was no walking talking Yahweh, no Adam, no Eve, no talking snake, no magical fruit trees, no fall of man, and therefor no need for Jesus to die for the remission of sins. Romans 5:12 (Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned) is false.
There are hundreds of contradictions in the Bible, as well as bogus prophecies, absurdities, and historical and scientific inaccuracies. The Bible is not the word of god, it is an anthology of falsehoods written to enrich and empower priests and rulers.
Judaism, Christianity and Islam are built on faulty premises.
Actually, most of the main concepts in today's religion come from older sources than Egyptian. Zoroastrian religion predates Egyptian, as too Harappan and before that; of the land of Mu. Lemuria the continent that joined Asia to Australia and sank beneath the waves, in Indian Ocean, as Earth warmed up from last Ice Age.
ReplyDeleteThe last part of that continent is Sri Lanka. But the people moved into Ceylon and India. probably founding the Indus valley civilization of Harappa and Mohenjo Daro? The west coast of india, had a chunk of land that is now beneath ocean. That likely produced a vibrant culture that moved into Mesopotamia and the Euphrates river delta. For there is a lot of evidence of trade between the two places. Egypt is a relatively new civilization. That developed from upper Nile and the former savannahs of Sudan and Ethiopia. That also likely saw trade from across Red Sea and Indian Ocean? The notion of a monotheistic deity is nothing new. Nor restricted to Hebrews.