Donald,
A pleasure as always. :-) I tried using "Faith" instead of "religion" since you didn't like religion. I thought Faith might more accurately describe your relationship with the Bible.
Another subtlety was pointed out to me, but I haven't incorporated it, yet. I'll try to convey it as clearly as I can. It may be said that you have Faith in your beliefs in the Bible as opposed to just the Bible, itself. I'm not sure if this is splitting hairs or not. What do you think?
What Faith is not built on direct, personal experience? Some of the things that most interests me are the real events that bring about Faith. Just because it can't (currently?) be addressed in a scientific manner does not diminish it at all. Not everything is measurable; not even in math... ha ha... But seriously... Can God, Freedom, or the Immortality of the Soul be measured? In any case, I have asked several people (yourself included) about the real events that led them to their Faith. Can all the epiphanies of all the converts be analyzed scientifically? Do we want to? Should we? Personally, I just find them extraordinarily interesting as stories. What can I say?... I love interesting stories. :-)
I'll see if I can find "Evidence That Demands A Verdict" by Josh McDowell. Does he address the apparent inconsistency between Jesus saying some already alive would see his second coming and Revelation? Of course I may be interpreting Matt. 16:28, &c. incorrectly. I am certainly not a biblical scholar. I suspect, however, that biblical scholars are like economist; there are as many theories as them.
Hmmm... the inerrant Word of the Living God... That statement covers a lot of territory. And I don't think that is what I implied; I think I was trying to imply that the Bible is not the only religious text that claims to be TRVTH and that if a reader of that particular text would only look carefully enough, then he/she would see it to be so. But I'll continue with your statement of what you believe the Bible is claiming. Would you consider Zeus or Jupiter a living god? Perhaps at their zenith? What about Ra? I'll give some quotes at the very end of the post to support my view that Christianity might not be as unique as you would like it to be. Of course, it is unique for you... and I am not trying to diminish this. It is, however, interesting that God is referred to as the god of Abraham. And this household god is a jealous god... e.g., Exod. 20:3. Are there other gods? Were there other gods? Why doesn't YHWH say, "there are no other gods but me." A la: la ilaha illallah, Muhammadun rasulullah - There is no god but God and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.
In any case, the Bible is not just any other religious text to either of us... but for different (yet linked) reasons. Oh... tell me if I haven't sufficiently addressed your request.
Ha ha... if the sun didn't rise... perhaps... an eclipse? a bizarre storm or cloud? my clocks are wrong? I'd most certainly check the TV or radio first. If they don't provide an answer, especially if they're not working... then I'd try telephoning people. If that didn't work... time to visit the grocery store... settle in... will the world end with a bang or a whimper?
I don't know if anything I have Faith in is particularly interesting... except to myself, of course, and greatly so. I don't think I've any extraordinary beliefs. I'm more than happy to answer any questions you might have. I will answer as truthfully as I can, and, if I can neither confirm nor deny something... then I will be truthful about that. Please feel free to ask away.
Inasmuch as scientific evidence or logical theory... I try to understand and ask questions more than to project an agenda. It is not uncommon for me to just throw out a statement just to see if it'll float, so to speak. Some statements I'll back up... others I'll just let die on the vine. At the very least, I hope my statements act as food (or fertilizer) for thought... hoping to find insights that other people have and share. Statements and questions... statements and questions.
Of course, I often try to present clear analysis or arguments that, in some sense, stand alone. Or more precisely, stand on the common ground shared by the reader and myself. But I welcome any comments and questions (even on my clarity, spelling, grammar, and writing style) from anyone. More so that I can learn and understand.
An hodgepodge of conversation. :-)
Oh... I find Emile interesting because his opinion of himself is so at odds with the opinions (regarding him) of others. That is not to say anyone is intrinsically wrong or right. I do find many of his opinions distasteful... but who am I to say, eh? Speaking of which... I still have to respond to Bob regarding his eschatological beliefs.
Greg
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Here's a bunch of quotes from "The Joy of Sects" by Peter Occhiogrosso, from which came the earlier Muhammad quote (p. 402).
p. xiv: The direct knowledge of the one Absolute and Its projection of the universe is an actual experience common to all seers of all times. - Swami Abhayananda (Stan Trout) "History of Mysticism"
p. 51: ...bhaktism - devotion to God, specifically a personal god or avatar, such as Krishna...
p. 73: Because it [Zoroastrianism] developed in the Middle East during the era when Judaism and Christianity were taking shape, it is not surprising that similarities about, but the question of who influenced whom is difficult for scholars to answer.
From the "Tao Teh Ching" by Lao Tzu translated by John C. H. Wu:
ch. 9: Here is the Way of Heaven: When you have done your work, retire!
ch. 54: How do I know about the world? By what is within me.
Check out all of "The Gifts of the Jews" by Thomas Cahill. It's a pretty popular book right now, so it should be easy to find at Borders or Barnes & Noble or Costco. |
