Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Ask God -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Thomas C. White who wrote (30870)	7/8/2000 6:39:09 PM
From: Chris land	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 39621

Thomas, I'll agree with you on that point. Many of those in seminaries do dispute the virgin birth. If it was not your purpose of undermining the credibility of the virgin birth then I apologize for my misunderstanding. Chris

To: Thomas C. White who wrote (30870)	7/8/2000 7:26:04 PM
From: PROLIFE	Respond to of 39621

they can argue all they wish, I do not think I will argue with Isaiah 7. Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. And the good account in Luke of course. I am no scholar, but from what I have read in the past, Luke should have been a very credible author and writer because of his status and training as a doctor, right?

To: Thomas C. White who wrote (30870)	7/9/2000 12:01:50 PM
From: Rambi	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 39621

Part of this dispute seems to have again originated with possible misinterpretations of a Hebrew word in translation. The Hebrew word bethulah (1330) is most often used for virgin. The only meaning listed for this word in Strong's is "virgin", and it is the one which appears most frequently in Scripture. The word used in Is. 7:14 is almah (5959) and seems to be offer a much broader definition: 1) virgin, young woman 1a) of marriageable age 1b) maid or newly married When they were translating the Hebrew writings into the Greek Septuagint and similar translations, the translators converted the Hebrew word "almah" as the Greek equivalent of our English word for virgin. "Almah" appears 9 other times in the Hebrew Scriptures; in each case it means "young woman". When the scriptures referred to a virgin (and they do over 50 times) they always used the Hebrew word "betulah". I was surprised when you mentioned that Lutherans are the strongest believers in the Virgin Birth, having been one for many years after I left the Catholic Church, and having never heard it discussed much, but sure enough, I found this: A poll of 7,441 Protestant clergy showed a wide variation in belief. The following ministers do not believe in the virgin birth: American Lutherans 19% American Baptists 34% Episcopalians 44% Presbyterians 49% Methodists 60% There is a massive gap between the beliefs of mainline and liberal clergy and their congregations. A Harris poll of a randomly selected group of 1,011 adults found that 91% of U.S. Christians believe in the Virgin Birth. I wonder if this is because people tend to accept what they are taught with little questioning and at face value- (it says "virgin", so it is) where the clergy have had to study Greek and Hebrew and probably have more exposure to the linguistic alternatives. One of the reasons for the successful acceptance and spread of Chirstianity was its clever incorporation of the existing pagan holidays and celebrations into the Church year, making it a much easier transition for people. It's possible that the Virgin Birth mimics the alleged virgin births of prior deities and religious figures. This was one of those attributes that important figures had to have in those days- Alexander the Great was even said to be of virgin birth! ANd weren't Buddha and Krishna? And definitely a lot of the Roman Pantheon were said to be. I don't bring this up to "discredit the Virgin Birth", although I'm sure some will think so, only because it's interesting and it's historically accurate-- what one chooses to believe should be based on all available information, not blind acceptance. Am enjoying your posts, as usual.