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Post by Tamrin on Jul 5, 2008 19:36:07 GMT 10
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Post by Tamrin on Jul 5, 2008 19:39:09 GMT 10
The question remains as to whether or not the Bible is the direct work of God or of man. There are layers upon layers of creative interpretation, in which the hand of man is apparent: There is the biblical exegesis of modern translations; There are the earlier translations into Greek, Latin and vernacular tongues, (which influenced subsequent understandings of the text); There was the redaction by Ezra (?) and others, in compiling the Torah; And there was the selective tradition of writings and earlier storytelling upon which the Redactor/s drew, all deriving from folk histories, Just-so stories , myths and both long redundant and then contemporary geo-political propaganda, together with a smattering of religious insights (both superficial and profound), derived from different traditions and seen through differing historical and cultural perspectives. |
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Post by Tamrin on Jul 5, 2008 19:58:48 GMT 10
In my own case, if asked today, "Do you believe in God?"
I would be inclined to answer as William Smith said in 1857,
"I believe in nothing but God!"
Yet my present idea of "God" is vastly different
to the anthropomorphic vision I was instructed in at Sunday School. |
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Post by Tamrin on Jul 6, 2008 1:31:25 GMT 10
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Post by Tamrin on Jul 6, 2008 12:25:57 GMT 10
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Post by devoutfreemason on Jul 24, 2008 4:14:42 GMT 10
This is one of the very best websites/books/community avalible on the web today. John Armstrong has done a remarkable job disbunking the eternal lie that is the Bible. Highly reccomended. |
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Post by Tamrin on Jul 24, 2008 8:15:18 GMT 10
Accusations of homosexuality have ever been tediously, typical add-ons to accusations of heresy, possibly lest finer points of theological objections were lost on the wider public and so as to sway them with salacious moral panics. Such was the case with the priesthood of Asherah, and with the early church, the Albigensians (from whom we trace the term "bugger"), to the Knights Templar and even Freemasons have been suspected of such because of our homosocial exclusion of women. One finds the priests and priestesses of Asherah were designated respectively as the "Kadosh" and the "Kadoshah", meaning "holy," although these have been translated as "sodomites" and "prostitutes". The Masonic group designated as "Kadosh," in the ne plus ultra degree, prefer the former meaning ("Holy") in reference to themselves. II Kings 23:7And he brake down the houses of the sodomites [kadoshim = "holy ones'], that were by the house of the Lord, where the women wove hangings for the grove [ashera].  The Women Wove Hangings for the Grove |
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Post by Tamrin on Apr 26, 2009 12:51:30 GMT 10
James Randi Speaks
Questioning the Bible [/i][/color] [/center] |
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Post by Tamrin on Aug 9, 2009 17:15:35 GMT 10
As well as many seemingly deliberate Biblical mistranslations, we find many tendentious assumptions: E.G.:- |
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Post by lanoo on Oct 22, 2009 5:37:12 GMT 10
Email received:-
On her radio show, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:
Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination... End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9.. The problem is, my neighbours. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle- room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Your adoring fan.
James M. Kauffman, Ed.D. Professor Emeritus Dept. of Curriculum,
Instruction, and Special Education University of Virginia
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