Quote from jzlucas:
(If God can't predict the future 20 chapters ahead in his own book, how can people believe anything in this book is relevant to today's current events?)
Quote from ShoeshineBoy:
Noone that I know of believes that Acts was written by Paul. Everyone believes it was written by Luke.
Quote from ShoeshineBoy:
why not get into prayer and the stuff where you can really make a difference instead of nitpicking the Old Testament and then summarily dismissing everything?
Quote from jzlucas:
Im not nitpicking. Christians claim the bible as the "divinely inspired word of God". It wouldnt be filled w/ so many absurdities, contradictions and prophecy's that didn't come true if it was actually inspired by a supreme being.
It get's worse in the New Testament, actually.
Quote from jzlucas:
THE RESURRECTION:
When did everyone get to the tomb?
Mark 16:2 - When the sun was rising in the day
John 20:1 - When it was yet dark
Who came?
John 20:1 - Mary Magdalene alone
Matt 28:1 - Mary Magdalene and the "other" Mary
Mark16:1 - Mary Magdalene, Mary Mother of James & Salome
Luke 24:10 - Joanna, Mary Mother of James & other women
Tomb open or closed?
Luke - open
Matt - closed
Who did (whoever was there) see?
Matt - An Angel
Mark - A young man
Luke - 2 men
John - 2 Angels
Inside or Outside the tomb?
Matt - outside
Mark, Luke, John - inside
Matthew is the only one who notices a great earthquake as well. I guess the others didn't take note.
Christianity is based on this supposed event. If this took place, how could there be so many contradictions? This is catastrophic for the religion itself, would you not agree?
One last prophecy that I do not believe was fulfilled:
Matt 16:28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Quote from ShoeshineBoy:
Hey! So you're still lurking around here, eh?
Hereâs the part that I donât understand about what youâre saying. Yes, I agree with you that thereâs a lot of disagreement even among Christians. But hereâs, I think anyway, the point that I canât get you to see: it doesnât matter.
Suppose just for a minute that I, and others like me are correct. In other words, letâs say that the gospel is really as simple as believing in Jesus and that then itâs up to Him â again supposing there is a Christian God â to give rebirth and the Holy Spirit. If that is really the case, then whether or not you sprinkle at baptism, emphasize works a little more, etc, etc. really isnât that critical to rebirth.
In fact, the likely cause for all confusion is the fact that the gospel is so simple and counterintuitive that men muck it up.
I know you know this is true: I can go to a conference with a bunch of evangelicals (and even mainstream Protestants) and feel very comfortable there. Thereâs probably not one of them that I would agree across the board with. But I know that the great majority of them are probably really born again anyway and so they're my bro's.
This is how evangelicals think about it: simple faith leads to a born again experience.
So while all the difference among Christians is fun debate material, it has little practical value or interest to the typical evangelicalâ¦