What does being a Christian mean

[WebCTRL]

Then tell me about the writings of any of His Apostles. For that matter, any man who ever met Him.

One of the more overstated words regarding the Bible is "scripture".

Look, you can believe in anything you want, but we don't need you putting down our Bible and the writings of the Apostles. You can discuss and we can debate but let's not go downhill now.

If you want to know about the writings of the Apostles, then ask the question that you want answered but let's keep this as a respectable discussion.

[WebCTRL]

Those would be 'word of mouth or hearsay' today

That's enough Ace, if your only goal is to knock those of us who believe and our Bible, then just keep your hands off the keyboard. I take offense to your comment, and I know it's just your attempt to get reactions, but you're over the top now. Please stop.

[chaard]

Those would be 'word of mouth or hearsay' today

Why then read, watch or listen to the news. We weren't there but we still believe what is being reported by 3rd parties. Why even read books at all. You have no idea what is being written is true or not.

We believe that Obama exists, yet in his book "Dreams of My Father" he made up stories of past girlfriends. So does that mean he's always lying. Or that he doesn't exist cause his writings are false. I ask cause you seem to be claiming that if the writings are inventions then the man is an invention. By those standards Obama is an invention of our minds.

[scrogdog]

Why then read, watch or listen to the news. We weren't there but we still believe what is being reported by 3rd parties. Why even read books at all. You have no idea what is being written is true or not.

We believe that Obama exists, yet in his book "Dreams of My Father" he made up stories of past girlfriends. So does that mean he's always lying. Or that he doesn't exist cause his writings are false. I ask cause you seem to be claiming that if the writings are inventions then the man is an invention. By those standards Obama is an invention of our minds.

Well, as we've been discussing, there are ways that we judge whether or not something holds to an academic standard.

In science, that's what peer review is for. It's not simply that you repeated an experiment, there must also be wide agreement on the interpretation of what happened. And it keeps folks from imagining an interpretation that they find personally pleasing, or rejecting one out of hand that they don't like.

In history, you can only judge it against what else is out there. It's kind of funny too, a lot of people use the term "revisionist history" when it appears that someone modified something for some other reason than historical accuracy. However, there is also "real" revisionist history when something valuable that does add to the historical picture is discovered.

If someone writes a supposed historical work that says the US lost WWII, well that's a bold claim that doesn't meet academic standards.

Even news agencies are held to certain standards. You know, watch out for CNN because it's the "Clinton News Network" or how many believe that the NY Times is no longer a venerable institution that reports news but rather a platform for unabashed editorialism. In fact, that's why I generally view three main sources, AP, Fox News and CNN. Generally, whatever is not said by all is "spin". Whatever all 3 say is "news".

[Brian GC]

Look, you can believe in anything you want, but we don't need you putting down our Bible and the writings of the Apostles. You can discuss and we can debate but let's not go downhill now.

If you want to know about the writings of the Apostles, then ask the question that you want answered but let's keep this as a respectable discussion.

Pardon me if I offended someone but my point was that there are no "writings of the Apostles". To my knowledge the Apsotles could not write. Paul is the only one that wrote. But two points about him is that he is not a real Apostle becasue he did not walk with Jesus, and, that makes him unqualified to quote Jesus or recall His life as he did.

[corny]

That's enough Ace, if your only goal is to knock those of us who believe and our Bible, then just keep your hands off the keyboard. I take offense to your comment, and I know it's just your attempt to get reactions, but you're over the top now. Please stop.

Are you for real........... Are you an adult ???

Paragraph or two of text deleted because I believe webctrl here would get offended by it and whine to the mods.

[RoBoTeq]

Now tell me about Jesus' writings

No one ever stated that Jesus ever wrote anything. You are the one who started that little spitting contest when you didn't understand what you were doing.

The man Jesus was spiritually God the Father incarnate. God the Father inspired mortals to write what God the Father wanted to teach. Since the man Jesus and God the Father were One and the same, it is more proof that Jesus was God the Father in that Jesus did not write anything.

I don't know why Socrates refused to write anything or who wrote the things that are written in second person that are attributed to Plato. Maybe the Greeks just didn't have as good PR as the Jews did after the Macabee revolt.

[Brian GC]

Look, you can believe in anything you want, but we don't need you putting down our Bible and the writings of the Apostles. You can discuss and we can debate but let's not go downhill now.

If you want to know about the writings of the Apostles, then ask the question that you want answered but let's keep this as a respectable discussion.

I’m curious. Do you stand corrected when you used the term “writings of the Apostles”, as though the Apostles wrote anything (less the adopted Apostle Paul)?

It’s curious that I make such a strong statement to you about “your Bible” and you have no reaction.

Is this news to you, or do you dispute it?

[chaard]

I’m curious. Do you stand corrected when you used the term “writings of the Apostles”, as though the Apostles wrote anything (less the adopted Apostle Paul)?

It’s curious that I make such a strong statement to you about “your Bible” and you have no reaction.

Is this news to you, or do you dispute it?

I'll dispute it.

http://bible.org/seriespage/did-some...80%99-ministry

[Brian GC]

I'll dispute it.

http://bible.org/seriespage/did-some...80%99-ministry

That article is highly speculative and does not provide evidence of notes that were taken. As far as I know The Bible does not even state that notes were taken during Jesus’ life to bolster its accuracy.

The most likely explanation for the similarities between Matthew, Mark and Luke is plagiarism, not notes.

PS - I’d like to see how an author like that could stand up to a well-versed opposing viewpoint. In other words, a debate.

[acmanko]

Reading the Bible does not make someone a Christian, in fact I doubt most early Christians could read at all

[RoBoTeq]

Reading the Bible does not make someone a Christian, in fact I doubt most early Christians could read at all

With the Bible being required to be written in Latin as well as recited in Latin, it was centuries that the Bible was obscurred from Christians or anyone else. Those centuries of the Bible being kept from the masses is exactly why we have so much difficulty understanding the original intent from scripture today.

[acmanko]

The bible was not required to be in Latin. Latin just happened to be the English of its day