Stem Cells
Out of context: Reply #172
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- TheBlueOne0
ants, i don't think anyone said the Gospels were made up - they are certainly historical documents from the early era of christianity - there is enough scholarship on that account. What was brought into the discussion (by moi) was a) the wealth of other material about early christianity (some of the Gnostic Gospels, Thomas in particular, Dead Sea Scrolls, etc.) that offer a glimpse into the "evolution" of early chritianity and b) the nature of Judaism at the time of Jesus - which was awash in tons of mysticism and politics (for me the historical Jesus makes far more sense when placed in the proper context.
I was raised a Catholic (hence a "fake christian" to all these born agains who think the Pope and the Vatican are either the antichrist or holding his place until the real antichrist arrives). I however don't hold the belief that Jesus was the Son of God, nor was he raised form the dead. I do think he presented mankind with one of the better ethical and moral outlooks we've had - the Sermon on the Mount is worth the pric eof admission. And yeah, I've read the Bible front to back, and read alot of the hstorical and archeaolgical work out there. I find the Bible a deep and sacred work reflecting most of humanities deeper truths. Do I tkae it literally? No.
As a biblical scholar once said to me: "Imagine a book that Plato wrote the forward to, and Stephen King wrote the last chapter, and in the intervening yaers you had about forty groups of editors who tried to change the meaning of things a few times, and you'll basically get the Bible. I laugh when people come up to me and say 'I don't believe in the Bible because it's full of contradictions'. Well OF COURSE IT IS, that's the point, and that's where it's spirituality lies - in that paradox"
One of the most insightful things I have heard...and also when I have to deal with people who take it you know, literally, it's like they miss the deeper spiritual tests of having to deal with the contradiction and paradox...