Not a chance, brother, this is the argument forum. But the whole idea of three Gods destroys monotheism. Almost everyone understands the God/Son-O-God relationship (which does not really contradict monotheism), but almost nobody understands the Holy Ghost business. What is the source of this character? Why is he necessary at all? Why complicate the matter? We have no commandments or quotes from this deity nor any bible stories that come immediately to mind. I applaud this clear-thinking assessment. Priests, in order to serve the needs of The People, addressed historical events by cloaking them in religious tradition to explain and contend with the practices, beliefs, and phenomenon of their time. Myth (noun) -- A traditional allegorical narrative of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon.Now, take it a bit further and a bit further back. Did this practice of creating religious tenets to conform with the times start in Roman times? Surely not. Perhaps the entire Old and New Testaments are a collection of such oral traditions, modified frequently to fit with the times of the people, and to address their origins, deities, history, ancestors, and heroes. Mythology (noun) -- A body or collection of myths belonging to a people and addressing their origin, history, deities, ancestors, and heroes.
You're right it is also the balance created by the fact (?) that so much of the bible, old & new testament has historical documentation. Not the magic & miracles but the people and many events. The fact we have real physical evidence of David and Soloman and Herrod etc and their works give an argument to those who believe. Even the story of the beginning in Genesis has a truth that is beautiful if you take into account that it was told to a primative people who knew nothing of physics. How else would you describe the big bang other than "let there be light"? What does billions of years mean to a people whose life expectancy is 40 or so? Of all the creation myths I know it is closest to modern theory IMO. It is this mix that causes wonder that the bible wasn't inspired by god. Look at the way the synoptic gospels depict the apostles. They were christ's chosen leaders and in their own words were alternately cowards and fools before the resurrection. The only ones who stayed by his side during his trial and crucifiction were the Mary's. Even Jesus is not the conquering hero of myth but a reluctant hero who asks god to take the burden from his shoulders.
Well, the geography of the bible is amazingly accurate which is circumstantial evidence that much of the accompanying history may be accurate as well. But in fact we have little in the way of archaeological evidence and almost nothing in the way of ancient documents independent of the Bible to corroborate the specific tales and personalities of the Bible. Certainly there is much evidence of the great civilizations of the time --Egypt, Babylon, Rome, Greece -- and the great people of the time -- Hittites, Assyrians, Philistines, etc. But the nomadic Hebrew and Bedoin tribes left little in the way of documents and artifacts, certainly no great cities until much later. Perhaps this is why their oral tradition is so strong. Physical evidence of Old Testament personalities is entirely lacking. Amzing documentation for much of the New Testament is lacking which is surprising since the Romans were meticulus record-keepers and so much has survived from that era. I know of no such evidence of David and Solomon that has withstood archaeological scrutiny. Evidence? Truth? Well, it is evocative and has a style that is beautiful. All good oral tradition must be so to be memorable from teller to teller. And they get better as time goes on. But I think it is more allegorical than truthful. But I follow your logic. If God exists how else would he explain origins to a primitive illiterate people but through allegory, fable, parable, and "miracle"? It's not like he could jump straight to quantum mechanics, evolution, and relativity. The bible is amazing and memorable literature that teaches many lessons. No other ancient text can approach it in this fashion. The old testament is almost certainly an accurate legend of the history of the Hebrew people in broad generalities. It just isn't corroborated by a hell of a lot of physical archaeology and documents as to specific persons and events. And like all ancient religions, it has borrowed the best parts of other religions it encountered along the way. The only older ancient document is the mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh and parts of the Bible (Garden of Eden, Noah's Flood, Nebuchadnezzar's madness) are clearly adapted from Gilgamesh. The Commandments of Moses have clear parallels in the older mesopotamian Code of Hammurabi. Bible scholars note that these and other concepts (like Hell) did not enter the Hebrew literature until the mesopotamian exile. So it is not only ancient and engaging literature, it has evolved over time to retain its popularity and usefulness.
For Pete's sake, fellas...Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 2...... "Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 2:3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. 2:4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak"
Fair enough but its first appearance was at Jesus' baptism. The synoptic gospel predates Acts historically as does the baptism of christ predate the pentecost. The whole point was that the HG is a new evolution of man's view of god and to tie it together in the trinity was an effort that was only settled theologically 400 years after christ.
Yeah, I have seen Swaggart do that. But what makes this "spirit" that comes upon them an actual deity?
Prove it isn't! I have met jimmy swag art. I am always so curious to know if he believes anything he says ever. If he is an atheist then I have begrudging respect for him.
He used to come into the restaurant where I worked in college. Also I lived near his empire and I would skate there, and later I joined his gym, which was sweet, with an indoor track. He was old looking without makeup, but nice. Such an odd character, if he wrote a book and it was about his lies and how he wanted money, that would be a amazing book.
