All Comments (93)

Why is it that we always argue about existance of god and his creation agaist the evolution, but we never talk about how did god came to be? was he evoulved or created by another god?

Why is it that we always argue about existance of god and his creation agaist the evolution, but we never talk about how did god came to be? was he evoulved or created by another god?

Adam's disobediance resulted in spiritual death and seperation from God. It is that image of the father that is gained from being baptised into Christ's death. He that dwelleth in the secret places of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the almighty. It is the spirit of God that comes to a person .

Adam's disobediance resulted in spiritual death and seperation from God. It is that image of the father that is gained from being baptised into Christ's death. He that dwelleth in the secret places of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the almighty. It is the spirit of God that comes to a person .

Crossan says: I propose a single stream of tradition for the passion-resurrection traditions from the Cross Gospel into Mark, from both of them into both Matthew and Luke, and from all of them into John. But although, in general, all later versions accepted the Cross Gospel's passion sequence, none of them was willing to accept its resurrection account. Mark would not do so because his theology was based on a dyad of passion and parousia. The resurrection was simply the departure of Jesus pending a now imminent return in glory. [Historical Jesus, 396]

Not so, for if you look at all of the resurrection narratives closely, you see divergencies that suggest that even if Matthew and Luke did know Mark's account for example, they also had separate, independent sources for the empty tomb story. For the differences between the empty tomb narratives themselves suggest that we have multiple, independent attestation of the empty tomb story. So with these multiple and independent accounts, no historian would disregard this evidence just because of secondary discrepances.
The gist of the matter is that the Jews, and not the Romans or the "crowd" killed the holy one of Israel. He died and was buried and rose the third day as the multiple, independent gospel sources clearly attest. I choose faith in the living Christ because of the ancient witness of the Jews and Romans themselves as none of them claimed that the tomb still contained Jesus' body.

Have faith, HE IS NOT HERE, FOR HE IS RISEN.

"Harmonization" of the resurrection accounts???

Not according to many contemporary NT scholars like Professor Crossan and Professor Borg of the On Faith panel.

See their many books to include Crossan's The Historical Jesus, Who is Jesus? and Excavating Jesus.

A synopsis is presented at http://www.faithfutures.org/JDB/jdb017.html

"

Thanks, GaryD

As has been said by so many people in so many words, the core of the Resurrection account is historical and complete in every retelling; Joseph takes the body down from the cross, places it in a tomb, its guarded by Romans and Sunday morning found empty by Christ's female followers. And then he appears in many forms because he can to many people. The gospel accounts are harmonious in the primary accounts and can never be harmonized in their secondary accounts much the same as 5 witnesses witnessing the same event. You will hear five different retellings of the minutiae. That's why sports have instant replay and we know how many times we have to review it in slow motion to confirm what we thought we had seen!
As for Christ eating after his resurrection, angels ate with Abraham in Genesis 18:8. Christ wanted to show people that he was truly arisen from the dead and not a ghost or apparation!
So secondary accounts aside as no one quite knows what the new bodies after the resurrection will be exacly like, we can be sure that the resurrection of Christ was not a faith without evidence. On the contrary it was the most heavily attested event in history for the Jews would have produced a dead body if they could have. And the disciples wouldn't have followed Mad Mel's broken body if he had survived the crucifixion. No,it was a real body that Christ had after His resurrection because the Gospel and Acts evidence are of the most thoroughily attested event in ancient history. And that is that the tomb was found empty for "He is not here for He has risen."

Dr.Paula Fredriksen is certainly entitled to her opinion in raising the faith issue without having to stake a position. God knows her heart and she does well with what she has and that's a brilliant mind open for proof. Look at the disciples who walked and talked with Christ and had a hard time believing, how can anyone imply anything negative towards Dr.Paula then.

The tomb is still empty. Selah.

E.favorite.

This was the view of Reformed Theological Seminary in the 60's. This is the position stil I believe of Legonier ministrys.

Dr. Fredriksen claims that Christian faith derives not from primary personal experience but from a secondary "belief that initiated and sustained the Christian mission," a belief in the witness of the primary experiences of what the witnesses called Jesus' resurrection, a belief independent of "the status of Jesus' physical remains." Bad scholarship: she discards all the Empty Tomb materials in the Gospels' accounts.
But does belief in belief qualify as belief--or only as opinion? Further, she is giving us her opinion: is it also her belief--or does she believe in some other religion? Hiding behind the value of objectivity, academics like her trivilize religion by talking about it only secondarily while making no profession of it personally. (Or, worse, specializing in one religion while practicing another.)
So many of the comments on her blog deal more broadly with the faith / no faith question. One in particular does so in a way that illumines what Paula is doing in her blog: "Most would rather live a fake life of control than a genuine life of Faith....'Faith' and 'No Faith' are the only facts. Both are observable and repeatable; and it is our choice."

Att: T.O.N.I.O, GARYD, VICTORIA, MOMADONNA et al:

On your accepting Dr. Fredriksens “Metaphysical & Metaphorical” middle approach on Natural Science as seen by a Belief of a “Body Seperation from the Spirit going the other way approach.:

Or In other words; Rabbi JESUS's experienced a Separation out of the his own un-Holy Ghost body AND, from Jesus's Un-Holy “Carbon Based” & Microbial & dehydrating decomposing corpse.

My RESPONSE: On:
“MYTHOLOGICAL Resurrections” Of “Self Proclaimed “G-D(s) PLAYERS”:

Tonio here is what happened to Mr. Rabbi Jesus. (Note: Between “Rabbi” Moses & “Bedouin” Mohammad, I admit that HE (not G-d) had the least blood on his fossilized & PHOTOFINITE Essence of a LIGHT which there is in FACT LIFE in IT (g-d).

Or YOU, or Me and this “COSMIC Stuff” or thing or Phenomenon, or Happening, or Movement, MIRACLE etc,,, is in ALL. Animate things & in the not Animate stuff of PHOTON LIFE form here and Beyond.. . Ya Mon, Ya Mom. Ya.

HARK: All HUMATES Today & Beyond:

((((( G.-D.--C.O.N.S.E.N.T.S --BUT--- ONLY --FOR --A--- TIME )))))

BEHOLD Brothers and Sisters of Space-Ship Momma/Poppa Earth & Beyond:

We are Born in MIRACLE and there is zero SIN about that, which is indeed a “COSMIC HOLY FACT.

And Our modern Great Prophet & our Father of RELATIVITY , Mr. Albert Einstein, et al, who himself had predicted and originally told this world that the “Cosmic Feeling Belief or Faith” System is coming or will be coming to you or us.

They saw G-d at work via their Physics or Sciences. And those who saw it and experienced IT (That “SPOOKY STUFF”) can understand the ECLATi-On reality.

WHERFORE: I repeat, We come FROM: The “MAGMA”-TRICULATION via the “Plasmatical Interface of OUR “ENTROPY”-ized” presence , which occurred and took place, billions of years ago (Not thousands biblically) in the “HOT/COLD WOMB SEA SYSTEM” of THE salty OCEAN” huggingly close-by “The “VENTS” of LIFE CREATION” or EVOLUTION of Its “Cosmic Holy Garden.”

And Which is the “umbilical” “ZICONIAN SHAFT [ via the Light Spectral Cords] ” that started the first PHOTON (Spark for LIFE in the Animate created by the Inanimate of the ECLATi thing as the UTERO processes therein and of the belly of Momma/Poppa Earth being in IT (G-d) NATURE. Hence WE never Die! SO:

((((((((( “Bio-Finite-Death Is Not-TRANSFINITE-DEATH.” )))))))))

THERFORE; Neither will you and IT (g-d in you or ECLATi ) is and will be no different than how Mr. Jesus & Mrs. Marry, et al HUMATES, nothing God, went to the %th Dimension.

When Our very own (like JESUS Ya no different in Spirit either) synchronized physical & Spiritual Holy Cosmic Heart Beats Expires, WE head away from the Space-Ship Earth towards the Photonic Light Spectrum of where SOURCE ONE is omnipresent and your “MIST of Reality here” is “Instantaneously Absorbed” or Evaporate toward one direction straight through via the “Harmonic FREQUENCY RANGE” that is between the “Visible Light Spectrum” & the other streams or rays of GENUINE-LOVE-PEACE & TRUTH.

So Eventually WE ALL GO POOF-TIME! Note: Death, Like Life are the Same Miracles! We originated from the DUE-TO-BE (5th Dimension) We came From the Due to Be, and We GO forward, NOT BACKWARDS Towards the DUE TO BE.

Reality: Earth, Sister Moon, Brother Mars, Grand-ma SUN, Grandpa Galaxy et al, will also have their TRAFINITY MOMENTS. We are a creature created out of the MAGAM stuff & of their ATOMIC & CHEMICAL reality's.

So we are born via the “Cosmic Holy Miracle” and ZERO Yawah, Jehovah, Father, Mother and other superstitious eponymousing and Symbolic offers you are falsely, labeling, making and waisting your money on (paying tithes to G-d Players just to have Company or advice) , TIME (Temperature not clock time) is your REALITY in the ECLATi, in YOU, ME, and ALL reality: PAST, CURRUNT & FUTURE reality(s). Ya Ya Mam, Ya Mon. Ya .

Life is Beautiful (zero Sin Born & immaculate) & I am Saved by the Knowledge of ECLATI our Cosmic Holy Transfinity & Beyond. SHOLOM! Note: I've had two Near Death Experiences.

And I say; To Each His or her Own when one is looking in retrospect of what one has done or occomplished here. WE GO TO THE N.O.N.E. GRAVITY Place. = )/ Ummm Umm , get Hight-off-Life! Ya Lordy you! Ya Mon Ya Mam blessed you...

NOTE: To Pray to Eclati is to SPEAK, And To listen to Eclati is to HEAR.

SECRET: Your molecular Chemical & Carbon self & along with your microbial companions, actually have each a “FREQUENCY” or Channel so to speak that interfaces with the Plasmatic light frequency of your own Holy ECLATI. So Eclat is about ETERNITY AVOIDING LONLINESS through us, Jesus, Mohammad, Moses, Mazda, Krishna, etc.

So we and they never died. We Only dehydrate & feed others on this soil. Which Space-Ship Earth is not the only soil in the cosmic miracle, when in this modern age one can imagine the permutations or the outcome of ones “After Life.”

Hence: There exist for each and every HUMATE, on Earth (5th Dimension) of ALL KINDS OF OUR “Eschatology Possibility's” that can happen to each of us, for the or a Resurrection of “Our OWN Unique Selves” via the ECLATi-an and zero G-d jesus, Mohammad, Moses, Mazda, Krishna, Buddha et al.

W.E.R.E.F.O.R.E.:

The “MELCHIZEDIK PEACE BLESSING” [No more WAR-Blessing] IS UPON ALL NOW. [Historic or mythological Pre-Apocalyptic BELIEF-SYSTEM, as if there really be such a G-d in Man form: Belief, or Faith or religion, to the Contrary of an ordinary human being in PHOTOFINITY]. Ya Mom Ya Mon.

If one can HEAR the Harmonic Eclati-an language that is being spoken back to you via your vibrating wave like Cosmic Holy Heart Beat rhythm, the one will finally find (Within and thereof) and thus Believe in the E.C.L.A.T.i that is vibrant in all of us in our things as a phenomenon of Nature and Its Laws are just doing what IT does Best, Constantly moving, Creating, Destroying, & Re-Creating, Eternally.

Praise the Fearless Almighty Holy-NO-MAN, OUR Source One the G-d, ECLATi! Yes!.

“Metaphysical” is NO Transfinity [a/k/a Reality]!

And on your “Metaphorical” people are now, more & more, are thinking via each of their Eclati-given HEURISTICS (a sort of Common Sense but is exclusive for open minded “Intelligent Eclati-an Only thinkers).

In Metaphoric Words to describe or to compare the Likeness or make an analogy of YOUR fate and (JESUS, ME, your Mom or Dad or Sister, Brother, Dog, pet, rock etc) is O.K.

But ONE must be Realistic with todays SPACE Forth thinking visionary s and Future Bound Minds and Humates, that posses them and must have ZERO G-d (s), as if be a Man (He) or WOMAN (She).

And thus: One must rid or shed your real heuristics from the religious traps of your own kind and others. All YOU or ONE needs, is to “See & feel ECALti”.

But ONE is simply required, in their innate MORALITY Heuristics and Harmony, is to Just Be good in this LIFE. That Is ALL folks! Very simple.

Note: its Best to pay me, for a good or better philosophy and Song, then to pay other astray creatures for the same Old song in lieu of the NEW SONG as a Manna from Heaven like.

Yet, I am a for Profit Man. But i do lots of free things that cost me money too. Ya Mon Ya Mam. OPEN YOUR MIND and stop being in your JESUS, as if G-d DENIALs syndromes!

It is a big business & Kills unjustifiably and your tithes are helping other people to Violate and or Wrong HUMATE RIGHTS & Snuff out Humanity one Photofinite essence at a TIME.

Pre-Apocalyptic Religions on Space-Ship planet Earth Today has become a sickness and will surely go POOF-TIME. And ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT UNDER GRIDARIAN DEMOCRACY IS A coming round the Holy Cosmic Mountain .

GaryD, Interesting about the Bible written to be brief. I hadn't heard that before.

If "A pressea is the briefest of legal briefs listing what each author thought was the absolute minimum necessary to get his point across" as you say, then I wonder why 4 distinct but similar versions of the Jesus story appear in the Bible. Five if you count Paul's letters, in addition to the 4 gospels.

Do you have any information about this?

The notion of many atheists as to what constitutes a contradiction is laughably absurd.

The fact that every gospel does not list every appearance of Christ is scracely a contradiction and is in fact to be expected.

The Bible especially the New Testament is written in a Pressea format that believers might have a book they could carry without resorting to a wheel barrow. A pressea is the briefest of legal briefs listing what each author thought was the absolute minimum necessary to get his point across.

I find much merit in Fredriksen's "metaphysically more modest" third option. She has an excellent point that the status of Jesus' physical remains is irrelevant. In my view, belief only requires proof when the belief is used as the basis of other claims about the natural world. It's one thing to tell others that Jesus rose from the dead. It's quite another thing to tell others that they're doomed to hell unless they accept Jesus as their savior.

I would like to see a metaphorical "separation of church and state" between the natural and supernatural as far as religions are concerned. Either the various religions would give up any claims about the supernatural, focusing strictly on ethical values and purposes for life, or they would focus completely on the supernatural and cease offering spiritual guidance. If the religions were really interested in helping people spiritually, they would not have doctrines such as eternal damnation.

Att: " O " & Sister P. A. U. L. A.: EFAVORITE, Ba'AL, Willem,

Hello and Hell No:

Paula is Beautifully Correcto! Ya Momma Mon!

.."you wrote is to have a bunch of idiots discuss the ancient past, the myths and point of views. In the meantime, these myths cause the death of millions of humans. As I write this, one is killing another, millions are hating one another in the name of their Zeus..."

Note: ALL, Each & Every "ABRAHAMIC" Religion (Moses, Jesus, Mohammad & Zoroastrian, some Hindu & Buddah, have the ZEUZ offerings in their unholy INFIXUS BOOKS.

And they all have (including Native American & abarigamies). the "GILGAMESH" (Flood story) and fresh start storys.

Made made from Dust,

Mad Made from Blood Clot

Mad Made from Wood or clay or seas, mountains etcc.

I.e., The forest Bear is the King of the Forest.

Praise Eclati for more PEACE, LOVE, HAPPYNESS & LonG LIVES. Ya Ya. :+)/

O -- Good going.

Keep it up - maybe you can convince Biblical scholars to stay relevant by re-focusing their energies to a truly worthy cause.

Paula,

All that education and all you managed with what you wrote is to have a bunch of idiots discuss the ancient past, the myths and point of views. In the meantime, these myths cause the death of millions of humans. As I write this, one is killing another, millions are hating one another in the name of their Zeus.

To believe or not to believe that - although we are in this world we are not of this world - does not make a difference for this world. To devote a life to the study of it because a conversation was started by humans who believed the world was flat, is stupid at best.

To carry on this 2000 year old conversation and find ways and means to keep it alive, solves something for those who buy it. Until one comes to grips to what believing in such a myth solves for ones life, one has not discovered the power and opportunity of being alive and will die never having discovered what is possible in this life.

Million years from now, one of two things will be here: A planet destroyed in the name of Zeus with no humans on it, or a planet that has evolved over religion.

By the way if you were thrown in to this planet in Afghanistan you would have had a different Zeus, and would be writing about Ramadan.

Dr. Fredericksen writes "It is that belief – not the status of Jesus’ physical remains – that initiated and sustained the Christian mission."

Well for some early Christians. But there were certainly others, such as the communities that gave rise to the Q and Thomas gospels, who found meaning in the life of Jesus rather than his death -- indeed, based on the writings that they have left behind, they seem oblivious to any of the circumstances of his death.

oh dear readers pleezee all this jesus/god bs is a farce, she just doesnt exist its a total scam. most of these churches are run by moneygrabbing homophobic preachers that like to keep you in check and mostly they like to know whom you are sleeping with and ofcourse they want you to keep on writing checks to them!
its all hokus pokus spent your hard earned extra money on the poor/homeless/homeless veterans/people with aids and you will get the instant gratification if thats what you require.
religion is the problem and not the answer! nobody but the easter bunny did rise on easterday!!

I like the old ZOROASTRIAN Religious days (Especially in old Persia/Iran) where you would be prepared (Your spirit took three days to go away) and EATEN BY VILTURES, as a burial ritual, not just the FIRE & the EQUONOX or Solstice of Spring (their New Years even calibrated Today). Note: Like HINDUISM “Cremation” of reincarnation is also good too.

Note: Our Great PROPHET: Father Albert Einstein did not go for any of the story coming out of the so called “ABRAHAMIC” Faiths, Beliefs or religious SYSTEMS. He did prefer Hindu/Buddhism & enjoyed Spinoza ism, et al thinking (Believing in Cosmic feeling or Harmony & thus BELONGING as ONE, not Dual belif like Devil (good-Bad) & Angel (Good Bad) * G-d. Thus Abrahamic, including mono Zoroastrian faith is really and actually, on the hidden faces of their Bibles or Holy Books. A DUALISTIC Religions SYSTEMS. Ands they are NOT MONO in any way you try to deny IT (g-D). to your own TRUE Loving ECLATI & your MeME in your DNA/RNA Photonics, as ONE-YOU in ALL THINGS, animate & in Inanimate. Ya Ya Mon.

I believe Burring is a waste of Land, Money, Time, & an Melancholy eye soar of a reminder. I guess to each his/her own. NOTE: The Three WISE Zoroastrian MEN or Priests who followed the star and went To Jesus Bethlehem, had seen Jesus as an infant in Stable.

Of course when Born in Stable or Barn does not make anyone a Cow. Even a HOLY cow or Horse at that... Ya Mon.

Important: When WE or our ECLATi goes, our Carbon Based & Microbial matter DECOMPOSES via DEHYDRATION & our MeMe or Me Me in our own ECLATi continues, Undisturbed, in the Transfinity of your PHOTO FINITE ESSENCE via the PLASMATIC Interface where WE go forwards, not backwards, to the 5th Dimension that has IT (G-d) place between the Frequency's of the VISIBLE LIGHT SPECTRUM and of the dark silver lines or string therein and thereof.

Praise the Lord, Fearless, un Jealous HOLY-NO-MAN!
Thank You Lord SOURCE ONE for MY MIRACLE in your TRANSFINITY (Reality living & Dieing Eternally and Moving in Constant Harmony Forever & Ever, again and again).

So, ARE YOU READY for another EXOFINITY & RETROFINITY Transfinity? I am! so how about IT (g-d) ME BROTHERS & SISTERS, a/k/a HUMATES on Space-Ship Momma/Poppa Earth & Beyond. Ya Mon :=)/ Ummm Umm

LORDI LORDI come help me in my Glory in ECLATi.

Why should finding the body of Jesus make any difference at all?

Isn't this the religion with the traditional belief (actually rooted in Plato) that there's an immortal or immaterial soul at the core of every person's being?

So what if Jesus' earthly body was found? If his tomb really was empty, there could be any number of reasons for it (i.e. someone moved the body to where it has *allegedly* been found now).

The point is not Jesus's physical body... why should believers cling to the very thing they believe Jesus sacrificed for their sake?

If you choose to believe in God, why not just say that Jesus was either a great prophet or the incarnation in human flesh of a God who is an entirely different sort of reality, something non-physical, and conclude (either way) that the death of his physical body is no real obstacle to his disciples' experience of him as risen?

As far as the issue of Jesus having a wife and children... it might call his Divine nature into question for some, but it shouldn't affect his status as at least a divine messenger.

Why quibble over the physical remains of a man who preached adherence to ideals higher than the pleasure and safety of the physical body (which can, I acknowledge, be twisted into things like suicide bombing)?

-Dan

Marco, SHAWN et al:

Read DIANETICS By: G-d appointed & Plagiarizing Novelist of the:

L Ron Hubbard "D.I.A.N.E.T.I.C.S." (Egoistic, self centered & Money hungry minded natured)

Note: The Freudian Slips of Genuine Prophecy's runs insultingly ramped in those Psychology or Psychiatric-Science as in disguise and as being another money Capitalizing fake religious venture that preys on “Confused Suckers of the Multitudes in the minute of their moment or exposure to any of their Dianetic Deciples not team Leaders or players at that. Oh No You Don't. Not Us!

Important: That “T.I.M.E. T.R.A.C.K”. theory (not Reality nor historic Fact) is terribly FLAWED!
VERY W.E.A.K. & Dangerous to ones health. Just like and is equally poisoning of minds like all the other ancient Pre-Apocalyptic belief systems of their Lores & Epochs..

Ha, Going all the way back to Momma & even Dada's UTERO or Back sliding at “Sperm & Egg” embrace, is INSANE works of unbelievable proportions!

Better TOM CRUISE & Other Pay me [I am for profit yet I do things for FREE) but for a Better PHILOSOPHY in Reality. a/k/a TRANSFINITY in the and with the ECLATi in ALL. . NO? Ya? Anyone out there?! Ya Mon. :=)/

“Reality is Truly Good Faith. Like the LOVE via our Warmth as being in our Photofinite TEMPERATUREs (TIME here is not your ordinary clock time)) of the ECLATi Miracle”

Paula Fredriksen,

You write:

"It is that belief – not the status of Jesus’ physical remains – that initiated and sustained the Christian mission."

So if I believe that that The Grand High (Green) Turtle is the Salvator Mundi and, at the End Time, will vanquish that Ancient Enemy of Mankind, The Grand High (Black) Turtle, and set the Universe right again, then my belief has equal status with Christianity?

Facts please, only facts.

Hello Friends in Cyber World & in The Real World:

(((( AMERICA HOLDS -- ALADIN'S LAMP ))))

You said:

"That's what Islamofascists do not understand."

Note: keep in mind, how in Germany The “Magnificent 19” a/k/a/ WTC Bomber(s) Mohamed ATTA, et al., spied, conspired, & went through with their un Holy Alliance with backing & blessings from the “R.E.L.I.G.I.O.S. M.A.F.I.O.S.O'S” that was HATCHED via their Under-Ground Black market Economy's with Capitalist Mafia types in World wide presence of all types of business Fronts. And not just on the Internet either.!

These Islamic thinking and willing to kill & die "..F.a.s.c.i.s.t.(s)." are raised from diapers how to think JIHAD & do, in the course of you submission to ALLAH/Mohammad via KORAN un-Holy Stories lores & Epochs of their ancient times [Before Electro-Magnetism of the Real G-d around us and not Biblical so called, and not worth dieing for such un G-dly story's), that they must TAKE OVER THE WORLD!

ISLOMO-Fascists think they do not have to be RICH in order to take-over the Rich peoples Land, Wives, kids & Lives under ISLAMO-PHOBIA! Note: You can take someone out of the Desert, Mountain, Jungle or Islands, but you cannot take the Mountain, desert, Island or Jungle MENTALITY out of them.

Remember: ALL the PRE-APOCALPTIC Religion on Space-Ship Earth Today [Paganism, Buddha, Hindu, Jew, Christ, Zoroastrian, Islam, Scientology etc... Is NOT in your DNA nor your RNA nor in your MeMe or ME ME. [Your unique & very own ECLATi-an PHOTOFINITE ESSENCE that NEVER DIES or even knows death. Only LIVE in your Eternal LIFE IN LIGHT mist]. Ya Mon!

So their "Psychological" War (un FAIR) Game [deadly charades] ,is, as we have witnessed internationally, is in doing bad terroristic Acts al around the world, in weak [naive Honest like ] Peace Loving Society's.

So WE here in the West, which they want to get us to “Submit or Bow down “X” amount of days & give Money or your Life when needed by theocratic Mafioso G-d Player Figures, as if in “The GOd Father,”

And their un holy Agents of their martyred & ready death squads” , are not dealing with people who have “Fork tongues” WE are dealing with Satanic Lovers having two tongues of thought. “Submission & Jihad”!

And NOW they are audaciously Jihad-ding” us around with their forced non Islamic ( outdated Religious Doctrines, that need modern modification: And eventually their religion will see a big correction Correction of their own evil SIN making and this behavior is causing their faith, BY WAR, for good people, as far as America too (Not Just “Deutsch Land” a ), to become Muslim!?.

Their Pipe-Dreaming in Nostalgia [ Their young, love smoking HASHISH a/k/a ”Gonja” stuff whick is 5 times stronger, et al ] to “take back” their ancient conquests of Spain. Europe et al, similar to the Islam Turk Satanical Empire buildup in Europe, did back then after 600 A.D.), may "Know the fear of Islam" again [by The Islamic Brown Coats] via their "SECRET" Religious "MAFIA" International thugs.

So the SATANIC VERSE LOVING Religious Ventriloquist(s) of their horse blinders followers, are as usual, in shadow hiding themselves & living in their preoccupied Evil thoughts via their UNDER GROUNG ECONOMY(s), wherever they may be [North KOREA, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan Syria, and Turkey etc or those agitators behind the IRANIAN Nation itself et al, via transparency, and are blended into their own Citizens & Sub classes of their own or from other nations therein and thereof.

Their tactics and CONSPIRACY is alive and not so well anymore, and "WE Got Hip" to their strategy
and we are both now mentally & Militarily & Clandestinely ready & doing something about it.

Remember: If one moves in reaction swift enough then one will WIN. If not, then one loses the War Games.

I have GOOD NEWS! The Islam Religion in USA of America, will start seeing a decline in Islam participation. Some will assimilate & some will petter-out. And the main reason is, is parents in USA are prevented from using CORPORAL PUNISHMENT on their kids to Enforce their Islamic belief on to their kids.

Note: I see this trend in America with the "Jewish ORTHODOX" Community with their Teens & young Adults. Ya Ya. So If we do not let the Islamic People come to America, then they will just become closeted even more and most probably will have their day of the POOF-TIME Apocalypse of their own fanatic religious shedding into Future Bounded or thinking SECULAR MINDS. Like US.

We can rub ALADINS LAMP and that reality allows US to make ANY realistic Wish that will come TRUE! And WE also have the Almighty “TORCH” of Liberty for ALL HUMATES on Planet Momma/Poppa Earth. Ya.

So W.A.T.C.H. O.U.T. YOU:, “Sneaky Anti-Humanity Doctrine believing creatures, International & beyond.” Note: Fanatic Psycho Killers of Islamic SATAN worshipers or representatives or Un-Holy soldiers of the evil Hezbullah, Hamas, Aqsa Brigade, et al & their copy cat and imagined & psychotic none ALLAH teachings.

Hence they know not what they read. And NOT what they are doing to their own dieing & un Godly cause. History is our JURY. “Sectarian Violence & Arab/Persian Rivalry's” is written all over their populations GENETIC & historic make-up and via wrongful & to the contrary by deliberately acting out their psychoses or behaviors of some prophecy of a 5th kind, so to speak.

And, R.E.V.E.R.S.E. P.S.Y.C.H.O.L.O.G.Y. WINS instead! Even if WE have to use LOVE and BOMBS AWAY forces. And then the dust of their own Satan will die down in good TIME!
Ya Mon Ya! :=)/

WHERFORE: Enjoy The "Religious Peace Pipe while it lasts , YOU Rag-Brains & YOU too much smoking “Dope-Heads”, et al." Ummm Ummm Goouddaa Yamma Jamma!. Ya Ya , Hee Hee, WE SEE YOU Satan & Friends, Behold: You DO NOT & Can NEVER see US, ECLATi-ANs.

SHOLOM & AVI-DA-ZANE! : =)/

The accuracy of the DSS?

From http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/ConservativeTorah.htm

"New Torah For Modern Minds

Abraham, the Jewish patriarch, probably never existed. Nor did Moses. The entire Exodus story as recounted in the Bible probably never occurred. The same is true of the tumbling of the walls of Jericho. And David, far from being the fearless king who built Jerusalem into a mighty capital, was more likely a provincial leader whose reputation was later magnified to provide a rallying point for a fledgling nation.

Such startling propositions -- the product of findings by archaeologists digging in Israel and its environs over the last 25 years -- have gained wide acceptance among non-Orthodox rabbis. But there has been no attempt to disseminate these ideas or to discuss them with the laity -- until now.

The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, which represents the 1.5 million Conservative Jews in the United States, has just issued a new Torah and commentary, the first for Conservatives in more than 60 years. Called ''Etz Hayim'' (''Tree of Life'' in Hebrew), it offers an interpretation that incorporates the latest findings from archaeology, philology, anthropology and the study of ancient cultures. To the editors who worked on the book, it represents one of the boldest efforts ever to introduce into the religious mainstream a view of the Bible as a human rather than divine document. "

Another important consideration: as per Father Edward Schillebeeckx, the famous contemporary Christian theologian,

God does not know the Future. From his book, Church: The Human Story of God,

"Therefore the historical future is not known even to God; otherwise we and our history would be merely a puppet show in which God holds the strings. For God, too, history is an adventure, an open history for and of men and women."

And if God does not know the future, Mohammed, Jesus and Isaiah surely did not.

In two sentences of profound common sense, Schillibeeckx has reduced the OT, NT and Koran to good but wishful thinking of many ancient scribes.

This falls correctly in line with two of God's greatest dependent gifts, i.e. Free Will and Future.

Bgone wrote:
"Shawn B, the age of the Dead Sea Scrolls are disputed and prove nothing except there were people copying something (human printing press) they didn't really understand. Are you sure they're older than Jesus? Carbon dated?...Now I can wait for the ignorant ones to say Cleopatra was Pharaoh. Cleo wasn't Egyptian. She was Greek. Pharonic Egypt had ceased to exist at least 600 years earlier than her."

You seem to be confident of dates when they suit your purpose...

The age of Dead Sea Scrolls is disputed. But, there are reputable scholars that date them before Christ and Josephus.

Also, they prove an incredible thing. That the OT writings we have today are very accurate. Only one book in our OT, Esther, is not found among the DSS.

"So. This god is helpless, or simply refuses, to fix his system. Not much of a god then, is it."

Clay,

He actually has set his plan to fix it in motion. Although, we would like to see it fixed right now, he has his own timing.

Paula Fredriksen:

I think you forgot to define what you mean by 'proof'.

If there were only 1 human being in the world, and he forgot something, and never again rememebers or finds that which he or she has forgotten, would that mean that such something does not exist?

If we assumed that Jesus actually resurrected physically and spiritually, but only those with faith may somehow believe by his grace that he is alive, how can they prove it?

If he actually is alive, then what would that say about the limits and value of 'proof'?

Att: BGONE, Anonymous, GRID, Mr, Mark, Concerned the ChrisT.., et al:

Greetings Sisters & Brothers and Hello Worlds:

Subject: How a Rabbi can be a like a spiritual flash Light for lost or sorry sheep..

IT (G-d) is amazing that, how in a form of a PHOTON one can experiences how a flash light, turned on in a dark place, can ENLIGHTEN Places, And yes, Religion, Faith or belief "System" can Enlighten people superstitiously not to mention "Symbolically".!

THIS: Is my CRUXOLOGY OF THE CASE involving un G-Dly like Men, but only made G-oDly by some smart religious & backwards thinking Cookies in those times of their lores & Epoch's! Ya Ya.

When comparing, not just the Works of the BIBLE(s), but also the Characters and personality's, if any, of these "G-d Like Mediators" being in a HUMATE form during their Times back then here on Space-Ship Momma/Daddy Earth. Yet They did not go to the toilet any different than us today on April.2007.

Fact: Our 5 major necessity's of Modern life, and not dependent on ANY Religions, is:

1)Shelter, 2) Food, 3) Clothes, 4) Education, 5) LOVE

Note: Eclati is LOVE/TRUTH/JUSTICE/WARMTH/PHOTON/LIFE/ and Our HUERISTICS, as eternity avoiding loneliness through us ALL . Ya Ya. And in ALL things too. Animate and Inanimate creations of reality now.

And, out of ALL the Abrahamic Types, I would say that, RABBI JESUS directly has the least BLOOD ON HIS HANDS when you think about his competitors as being of the Biblical "People" of Their Books" or a/k/a/ the "ABEAHAMIC" Belief S.Y.S.T.E.M.(S).

And I know there arose, After Jesus Crucification (via other Rabbi's and not Rome direct), some so called "DICIPLES" [see KNIGHTS of The HOSPITALE even today via VATICAN STATEHOOD] who would spread the Christian Story around on many lands and in many places.

I know in particular about Three distinct Characters know as the "man made creators" of the "HOLY BIBLE" or "NEW TESTAMENT. & OLD"

1) JOHN: Mass Murderer turned pious.

2) Josephus et al: Created or INVENTED "Christ"ianity

3)PAUL: Created or ESTABLISHED THEIR CHURCH

NOTE: After Jesus, There occurred “ SEVERAL or Many-H.O.L.O.C.A.U.S.T.S. Since & Via their progressions in time, resulting in unnecessary, and untold & tallied, millions of HUMATE SUFFERING, not to mention all those HUMAN-WRONGS against ALL those precious HUMAN-RIGHTS.

Note: Not Moses, Not Jesus, nor even Mohammad's G-D or YAWAH JEHOVA nor ALLAH gave us any self realizing, fair chances of seeing, into seeing our natural and esteemed MIRACLE BIRTH AWARENES via our NATURAL individual selves.

Hence: We are now masters of not just our own body's but also masters of our minds in this un Sinful Miracle Birth Aware World. Note: Forget about Adam/Eve, Cosmic Scalpel “C” cesarean Section ,birth story [He gives birth to She??]. Or Wood created story. Or Blood Clot created, et al.

Important HUMATES: We was born from the MAGMA-TRICULATION. And via the Warmth/Cold Womb Salt Waters in the Oceans UTERO! All this after Granma-Sun, Sister moon, Brother Mars etc..., came from the NEBULA & Grandpa Galaxy (From the FLASH via WAVEs by SOURCE ONE). Note: Yes, they will go poof-Time too in their own Cosmic Holy miracle of a Heart beat. Believe Mam et al. Come One Come & Go ALL.

Not Morality nor TAUTOLOGY teaching in that Self awareness means to be guilty in the Sexual? Or their forcing us, knowing or not knowing the guild poison story's upon man kind. And ALL is been Contrary to Nature (G-d ECLAT) and not just ancient Bibles!

Or EVIL & SEXUALLY GUILT LADEN ridiculous HARRY POTTER Like Story for kids.
Yet Adults acts them out for them so symbolically foolishness via in their systematic Belief SYSTEM(s) of their respective “Holy NOVELISTs Writers. Be they Ghost or not.. I have pity on All those PRE-APOCALYPTIC Believers.!

Note: The HINDU & BUDHAS people are no exception either when comparing and seeing their “HOLY GITA” & VEDIC BOOKS. Like Christianity & Islam was borrowed via Mosses et al writings, HINDI & Buddhism spliced from them or matriculated to a higher level of PHOLOSOPHY of some kind. .

So my writing is about the FIVE-MAJOR-RELIGIONS on Space-Ship Momma/Pappa Earth.

MY GIFT TO aLL HUMATES:

WHEREFORE; First, Just Be Good and then Believe in the ECLATi in, you Me, any thing ever where and that we never die. So there is LIFE IN LIGHT and The ECLATi of IT (a/k/a Source One)! Ya Mon :=)/ Umm Ummm Goooddaaa! SHOLOM!

139-. Jesus Tempted Thrice (by Satan/Devil/ the "ugly wingy thingies" if you believe in the literal Bible): (1a) 3Q: Matt 4:2b-11 = Luke 4:2b-13, (1b) Gos. Naz. 3; rated as non-historical Jesus but a later embellishment.

See http://www.faithfutures.org/JDB/jdb139.html for added commentary.

sorry, but you just made no sense with all this:

QUOTE: You can clear up a great deal by understanding the ancient meaning of the word 'evil.' Spirits come in two varieties, evil and holy. Evil spirits have bodies, are made out of matter while holy ones are bodiless, the wind for example of holy spirit.
Now apply that definition to "an evil spirit entered the body of Saul.." That says a spirit made our of matter. We need only look at available spirits to realize Saul was an alcoholic.

- a spirit that is 'evil' therefor CANT enter Saul, if the ancient meaning meant that 'evil' spirits are made out of matter.. therfor a physical man would have to get inside the body of Saul (ahahaha - i wasn't thinking like *that*), and thatd be impossible, UNLESS you mean that the matter itself is a 'polluted' substance like alcohol.. still, this would also mean that when one drinks Christ's symbolic blood at communion, that THATS evil.. since it is made of matter. so all this all does not make any sense AT ALL.

ahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!
Those 'ugly wingy thingies' again!!!!
PMSL!!!

are you sure he didn't mean mosquitos? :P

2. Jesus, the illiterate Jewish peasant/carpenter possibly suffering from hallucinations i.e. talking to "ugly wingy thingies" (if you take the literal word of the NT)

where did he do this? what is the Bible talkign about? In a different thread it mentioned the wingy things & i just thought they were talking about angels or demons lol

GARYD, how did it get there, written on your heart? That's actually two questions. How technically is writing done on the heart and what is the source of the information written on the heart?

Then there's a third, seldom asked question, why? Did the person that told you about 'it' have a motive? Have you give that person(s) anything of value in return?

Mr Mark mentioned the eyewittness and forensic evidence. There's a third variety, expert witness. Is a person who has studied the sacred scriptures (all varieties) and received a doctor's or other high degree from a sacred scriptures institution an expert? Are they reliable witnesses to what happened several thousand years ago? Have the learned truths or lies to make them experts?

What you have written on your heart about anything comes from expert witnesses. Part of that, perhaps the most compelling part of expert religious testimony is the threat of either condemnation to hell or being shut out of heaven or both. Why are people threatened by experts? Any idea at all?

The only difference between an expert and a not-expert is what is written on the individual's memory. The difference between an expert witness and a not-expert witness is recognizing the validity of what is written on the individual's memory.

The Bible is a proved hoax. Perhaps a better class of experts is in order? One could become one's own expert, independent of experts?

The evidence was written in and upon my heart in ways that go beyond mere physical evidence it has nothing to do with the teachings of my parents which I in the wisdom of my youth readily abandoned.

mary wrote:
"I believe because I have not seen. To those who must see to believe, I ask you this question:

"If someone you love tells you a story about something that happened to them and you weren't there to witness it, would you belive them? If you don't, you are calling them a liar. If you do believe them, then you do possess faith."

Let me answer you by relaying a true story of something that happened to me about two weeks ago.

I was watching AMC (American Movie Classics) the other day. The movie was "Run Slient, Run Deep" from 1958. The two main stars are Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster. I've seen this movie a number of times, so as TV host Robert Osborne gave his introductory spiel to the movie, I didn't really pay close attention. I heard him mention the two stars along with an appearance by "Don Knotts." I didn't remember Don Knotts being in this movie, so I waited through the opening credit roll, and sure enough, I saw the name Don Knotts in the credits.

Imagine my surprise when the actor who was actually in the movie turned out to be Don RICKLES. I went back and checked the cast list at IMDB, and sure enough, no Don Knotts to be found. Yet, my not-too-attentive ear had "definitely" heard Mr Osborne say that Don Knotts was in the film. Worse, my brain was so sure that Osborne had mentioned Knotts that my eyes read the name "Don Rickles" as "Don Knotts" when the credits ran.

Senility at age 52?...or just another glaring case of the unreliability of eyewitness accounts?

So the answer to your question about one's reaction to a story told by a loved one: eyewitness accounts are extremely subjective and, therefore, unreliable. That's why forensic evidence usually trumps eyewitness accounts in a courtroom.

In the case of making extraordinary claims, ie: that a godman walked the earth, was executed and rose from the dead three days later. Well, I wouldn't believe such an extraordinary claim without extraordinary evidence...and by extraordinary, I don't mean a visit to my home by either Jeffrey Hunter or Max von Sydow, let alone the "eyewitness" accounts of disciples whose encounters with the risen Jesus were NOT written by the disciples themselves but by third-party, second-hand sources...and decades after the supposed fact, to boot.

CS TUPLE:

You are the only person that exists and nothing else exists. What you think you see is 'virtual' reality. Only you are subject to the things you mention, events that shape your life that are outside your control. I don't exist so those events don't bother me at all.

Try http://www.hoax-buster.org It might help you cope.

Mark H. you do a fairly good job of showing how myth, demons, witches, children faiths like Santa Claus is actually the base of the three great faiths. All those things have rules including gender based naming and positioning.

You can clear up a great deal by understanding the ancient meaning of the word 'evil.' Spirits come in two varieties, evil and holy. Evil spirits have bodies, are made out of matter while holy ones are bodiless, the wind for example of holy spirit.

Now apply that definition to "an evil spirit entered the body of Saul.." That says a spirit made our of matter. We need only look at available spirits to realize Saul was an alcoholic.

Cocaine is an 'evil' spirit while communion with Jesus is a holy spirit. From that we can conclude that spirits are a class things that work on the mind, effect changes to the mind.

Once one achieves a good understanding of the ancient meaning of words those old documents read a lot easier. It's perfectly clear that ancient holy samolies (holy - worked on people's minds) played to an audience of superstitious folk. n Thank God there is no superstition hereabouts.

The Egyptian protocol forbid a woman Pharaoh. Good news for women, all were allowed into the kingdom of God. A4 and her wife and mother were exceptions to that rule, condemned to hell via death on the cross Egyptian style, the condemned became the vertical part of the cross. Took 3 hours for the condemned to die, give or take a minute or two.

Faith or No Faith: The Only Choice

Choice. Do we have actually have choice? The ability to decide. If we can decide, do we control our own destiny? The basis of existentialism is that every human being is absolutely responsible for what they make of themselves. But how many times do events happen in our lives, which are outside of our scope of responsibility, that shape and define who we are? Why do two different people, each faced with an equally tragic event, react in different ways? How is one inspired to respond with strength and courage while the other sinks to depression and battles bitterness? These are big questions to be sure. Like most everyone has, I have wondered about the big questions in life. Why am I here? How was the universe created? Is there a GOD? If so, is he the GOD of the Old Testament? Did Jesus really exist? Was Jesus resurrected on the third day?

Why am I driven to know why?

Why does it appear that, when faced with the most tragic of circumstances, so many people pray to “GOD”: even when they just previously did not have a belief in GOD? I’ve been taught that things in life happen because I put focus and energy into accomplishing objectives. But is that really why? What about those things that happen exactly when they need to; that are inexplicable. How many coincidences need to occur before it is statistically impossible to call them coincidences?

No matter how I evaluate this conundrum, I can only deduce that the only choice that is meaningful, and therefore real, is: The choice to “have Faith” or the choice to “not have Faith.” All things in life come from this conscious choice. It is my objective to share one man’s perspective through the lens of this context.

Let’s start with a premise: Is there a GOD? If so, is GOD the GOD of the Old Testament, the New Testament, both, or neither?

I grew up “assuming” there was a GOD but did not seek a relationship with him as if he really did exist. I rationalized every clue or piece of evidence of divine intervention as a coincidence or, worse yet, ignored the gravity of the evidence laid before me as if he didn’t exist. Is it possible that the answers to the big questions are actually obvious and right in front of me? Is it possible that so many physicists, scientists and theorists alike in the collective body of advanced study have overlooked the answers that are in plain sight? I like to have explanations for how things work and why. I have observed, in my albeit limited study of history, that often throughout the course of history people have embraced a given “explanation” as a fact even if it didn’t make much sense and/or there were personal experiences to the contrary. From adolescence I fell into this category. Despite being well-read, and considered observant by those who know me, I have used certain “facts” to support a particular view and omitted other “facts” or made empty excuses in my own mind if they didn’t support the desired perspective.

In large regard, I believe most people, in all professions, are generally honest and forthright. However, those in business, and out, understand the general concept of “Spin”. Although I may not even recognize it, I put some spin on just about everything I communicate. Spin is merely highlighting some bits of information and/or considerations while de-emphasizing others. I communicate this way. I have lived in a life of Spin. I have been a card-carrying member of the Spin club and as such I have participated in the daily ritual of Spin to make life and the events comprised therein justify how I want things to work. Do you? Could it be that it somehow gives us a sense of control?

So why do we so desperately try to control outcomes? Survival? Greed? Ego? Fear? Or is it control itself. I suspect it is fundamentally control. We are schooled we must control our lives because of the many possible negative things that could happen to us. If we do not have control of our own life, someone else does. But is there even one person you can always truly and absolutely trust no matter what? We’d like to think so: Our spouses, family, friends and/or ourselves. But nobody is perfect and therefore even when we trust those who love us the most, outside influences and events will occur and we will be hurt. So we continue participate in the “control or be controlled game.” But there are always challenges. It appears to me that nobody I’ve learned about in the history of mankind has had real control of his or her life. There may be those who think they do, but they cannot see the futility of their own control tactics. If we cannot achieve control, what choice do we have? Faith. In fact, you cannot live a life of Faith if you attempt or even think about trying to exercise control. Living a life of Faith is based upon the premise that: Our lives are not an accident, we in “fact” have a purpose. That purpose is to be part of GOD’s plan. GOD loves us and he will provide for us what we need for the purpose we serve. The plan is GOD’s it is not ours. It is not a worldly plan. Many people get confused and think that because we all do not have worldly opportunities that are perceived equal that this is somehow evidence that there is not a purpose nor there is a GOD. Worldly opportunities for wealth, fame, or power do not serve a worldly purpose but a divine one. One’s intelligence, beauty, race, creed, heritage or any other type of perceived opportunity or disadvantage, when looked through the lens of a divine purpose, are not really advantages or disadvantages at all. They are all circumstances that support the objective of GOD’s plan. We are all here to serve that plan. To serve the plan, all we need is Faith. Faith we are not an accident of chemistry and physics. Faith indeed that chemistry and physics are neither an accident nor the creation of man’s will.

Cause and Effect

It seems to me that Faith is generally associated with religion, yet belief in how anything works that is observed or experienced that is not measurable and verifiably repeatable, religious in nature or not, is Faith. Clearly when we observe something such as a person shutting a door it would seem sensible to observe as a fact; “if a person of the same general size and strength pushes on the back of the door as the person witnessed just did, that indeed the door would shut.” However, what if the door did not shut when anyone else tried? Or what if some people could shut the door but others could not. It would then also seem sensible to determine that what had previously been considered a fact was not really a fact at all. The same cause-effect experience could not be repeated. This may seem like a silly example but I encourage you to observe how many “facts” in life do not meet this basic criteria. Further, observe how many times some portions of an experience are omitted while others are highlighted. In our door shutting analogy, if the observer told others that they had witnessed proof that a person of adult size and strength could shut the door and therefore it should be considered a fact. However, the observer omitted they had also witnessed adult size and strength people who could not shut the door. The observer might explain away that the people who could not shut the door were not really trying, or that they were weaker than normal adults. But could there be another explanation? Of course there can be another cause although it is not observed. This is a rudimentary example how through the spin of those with a vested interest in a particular outcome, Faiths in many subjects are packaged and sold as facts. Facts are the result of cause and effect observations. If you do X the outcome will be Y. Yet every day people experience outcomes they do not understand. If they are rewarding experiences, people routinely attempt to understand the cause(s) that created the desired effect so they may create the desired outcome again and again as they choose. People also attempt to understand the cause(s) of destructive or threatening outcomes so they can, through their own choice, avoid repeating the undesirable outcome.

Many people regard the Big Bang Theory as a fact despite the obvious reference in its title to the contrary. Truth is for the Big Bang Theory to be verified as a fact it must be observed and documented to a level of detail that allows it to be repeated in whole. Clearly it has not, yet much of what I have studied in science is based upon the premise that the Big Bang Theory is not a theory but an undeniable fact. Evolution has long been taught in schools as a fact, yet it is clearly a theory. If the actual definition of determining a fact or actual cause are applied to all things experienced and observed, there aren’t many things described in a cause-effect manner that are truly based upon fact. One of my favorite quotes is from Ayn Rand, the renowned novelist/theorist who interestingly was a self-proclaimed atheist, “Beware of those who smuggle a false premise [fact] into the mind of careless listener.” The very nature of Rand’s observation is that those who smuggle, or spin, a supposed fact, are doing something not in your best interest, but rather theirs. I agree with Rand on this point. Mind you “their best interest” may not be malicious in nature but it is indeed in their own best interest with typically with little regard to yours. Who are they? They are us. I do it as a practice and everyone I’ve ever known does it.

Choice

What I have most recently found interesting and disturbing is that the methods we use to determine fact or what is characterized as evidence are generally not used or are ignored when we do not want to accept the outcome. Investigators, lawyers and judges condemn men and women; or exonerate them based upon “best evidence.” Yet when we apply the same methods of investigation and research to fundamental questions about our nature, such as; is there actually a spiritual aspect to our existence?,” we throw away the validity of the very same methods employed to judge worldly crimes or deeds. It is absolutely arbitrary and intellectually inconsistent how humankind has done this repeatedly throughout history.

Is this behavior explained with the worldly excuse that people act this way “just in case” there is a GOD; but in the end they do not know in their heart and minds there is something else going on other than just the cycle of biological life? Or could it be that in those quiet moments in which we can be totally honest with ourselves that we know there is an Omnipresent GOD. That we know that in our hearts that the universe is truly complex and could only exist if someone designed it? Yet we don’t freely interact and socialize it as if it were a truth. Clinical psychology would call this a dysfunctional behavior. But I know many people who represent they have never had even one personal instance of an unexplainable spiritual experience. Another observation I have made is that most interpretations start with the premise that there is no spiritual aspect to our existence. Reports of news will, or individually we will, tell about an experience that has a non-tangible component, and yet either in the reference to it, or in our body language, we somehow communicate the recognition of a possible spiritual source being there while hinting that there is probably a practical reason for it. It is as if we know there is spirituality in our lives, every day, but no one wants to admit it. Even religious leaders act this way. I’ve had personal experiences with life-long Christians whom, despite their stated beliefs do not actually practice Faith in their day-to-day lives. If you actually believe Christ was resurrected, why would anyone actually have any worries whatsoever? Yet one moment a forthright Christian will speak of the power of a life of Faith, and just a moment later they will exhibit stress and anxiety about a personal decision or circumstance.

I think choice has something to do with this. We all make choices, 1,000’s of times per day at many levels of consciousness. For most of these decisions we train ourselves or let outside influences train our minds how to make choices. Although we may spend little conscious time deliberating, they are choices nonetheless. It appears to me that if we can choose to do something, we can also choose to not do something. This applies to physical actions of course but also thoughts. We can indeed make choices about what fundamental beliefs we then base other choices upon.

I believe this is the choice Jesus spoke of when he said, “I am the way to the Father.” Jesus gave us a fundamental belief system and it really does work, by all worldly measures. This fact - that is correct, a fact - remember our rule; observable, documented and repeatable, seems unbelievable because upon understanding what Jesus taught us, you might think we would all make the choice to live as he said. Yet we do not; despite when we for even a small amount of time choose to live virtuously, we see results. If you do X, Y will occur. I’ve heard it said, even if you do not believe in Christianity; it’s a great way to live! If life with rewarding and loving relationships, freedom from stress and anxiety and a general feeling of peace is appealing, then yes it is a great way to live. Duh! Of course these characteristics are not truly attainable without a sincere belief that Jesus Christ is indeed the son of GOD. In the end, life DOES make sense IF you believe in Jesus Christ. However, IF your fundamental choice is to NOT believe, many things in life do not make sense. Indeed many inexplicable occurrences and experiences become confusing and we deal with them through the most curious of ways. We make excuses, spin details in ways that provide us intellectual fodder to feed explanations that do not hold water. So why do we make this choice? I think it is very basic; we want to have control, even if it is merely an illusion we’re creating for ourselves. In short, most would rather live a fake life of control than a genuine life of Faith.

Another Possibility

Think about your life as a blueprint, each event and experience, designed for a purpose. Sometimes the purpose is for you, sometimes it is for others – through you. It’s all part of a bigger plan for which you are playing an integral role. Christians often speak of living a life of Faith. What is that? It is total acceptance that Jesus is indeed the son of GOD and that the way he lived his life and how he taught us to live our lives, is the most rewarding Earthly way to live. His life was a human living example of how to attain a glimpse of heaven on Earth. By taking the path of Faith, life’s troubles, issues and tragedy’s become bearable. In fact, by living a life of Faith, one can become so strong in spirit, mind and body that one starts to believe there is no Earthly challenge they cannot endure.

I once listened to a man who talked about a tragedy he faced as a parent. It may be the type of tragedy that is the most unthinkable and unbearable of all; losing your child to suicide. His boy was only eight years old and he described how he could not imagine what drove his child to this heartbreaking action. The man described that in the year following his son’s death, he was too distraught to imagine; and he even contemplated taking his own life. He testified that the only thing that prevented him from doing so was his Faith in GOD. Looking at this man’s circumstance through a worldly lens would likely produce commentary such as: “He relied upon his Faith for support through a troubled time that allowed him to bring closure to his mourning and loss of his child.” This type of observation is typical of a worldly view. It really says nothing but the collection of words that are used to explain-away a situation that without Faith, makes no sense. To make reference to the loss of a child in which a parent has the deepest and most profound love for, as merely an emotional state that needs closure, the man would dare say to those who have never had such a loss; is insane. In fact, going insane is how this man described his state of mind in the months after his son’s death. How can one endure such pain? His answer was: by Faith only. Only through the Faith that there is a bigger non-worldly plan can one continue to live in the face of such tragedy. Why is that? Simply, because there is a purpose. Living in Faith is a belief that there is a divine plan and therefore a purpose. Our challenge as believers is to have Faith despite not knowing what the specific purpose is, but knowing there is a purpose nonetheless. This is the essence of Faith. Humankind has struggled with this since the very beginning of time or as described in the Bible, since the fall of man’s innocence in the Garden of Eden. The Bible is a documentary of GOD’s attempt to convince us that all we needed was Faith. Throughout the centuries, the Bible tells story after story regarding examples of GOD’s repeated attempts inspire humankind to make the choice of Faith. The coming of Jesus gave us a living example of Faith. Only through Faith, could the man who lost his beloved son to suicide continue to live. Faith, that despite his tremendous anguish, there was a reason for his son’s existence and death. He does not know what that reason is today other than his Faith that it is part of a non-worldly plan. The Bible tells a story of another Father who faced the death of his beloved son. Abraham was a man of great Faith. All who knew him observed his tremendous Faith. GOD used Abraham to teach others what a life of Faith could do for them. But GOD instructed Abraham to kill his own son. Abraham truly loved his son. He would rather kill himself than his son. But that was Abraham’s choice, not GOD’s. Abraham knew he faced a choice: To have Faith or to not have Faith. Mourning his decision would not offer any solution, nor bring “closure” to this insane situation. Neither did mourning offer a solution to the aforementioned man who lost his son to suicide. Only Faith offers a basis in which to live, make a decision, and not literally destroy ourselves with the unthinkable thoughts of trying to find a worldly purpose for tragedy. Abraham chose Faith and GOD spared his son. It appears to me that the man, who lost his son, was spared by GOD as well because he had Faith.

What is Faith Like?

On the occasions of driving my car for long distances, for many hours without stopping, I’ve noticed something interesting. The longer I am driving, and the more tired I become, I proactively concentrate more and more on the road in front of me for fear that if I do not, my car will veer into the other lanes or off the road. What is interesting to me is that by doing so I focus my eyes nearer and nearer to the road right in front of the car instead of focusing my eyes on the road well ahead of me. I remember when I was taking driver-education classes that the instructors encouraged us to look where we were going instead of where we were. On a long straightaway I found that if you look several hundred yards in front of the vehicle, the car moved smoothly and remained centered in the lane in an effortless manner. When driving this way, I am at ease and am enjoying the ride. On the other hand, when I looked at the road only a few yards in front of the car, I find my path is jerky and requires great effort to keep it centered in my lane. When I drive this way, I have feelings of fear and anxiousness. My daughter is an equestrian and her coach has taught her to always look ahead to the path she wants the horse to go. The same phenomenon I experience in the car occurs for her on the horse.

Living a life of Faith is similar to this. When I am focused on living in Faith as taught by Jesus, my life moves forward smoothly and effortlessly. I am at peace and am enjoying the ride. However, when I am not living a life of Faith but rather attempting to control outcomes and make sense of unexpected results, disappointments and tragedies, I am anxious