I wanted to write you and address some concerns you had about the validity of the Bible. I know this is a sticking point when it comes to your decision to "subscribe to Christianity," as you put it, so hopefully this will clear up your objections. The Bible is the central focus for our study of God because it is the only written piece of literature available to us that reveals who He is and what He wants for us. I understand your objections to this book, but I implore you to read this letter and consider my arguments. As I have told you before, I am less concerned with the rewards of being right, but more concerned with the consequences of being wrong. Your salvations means a lot to me, so please know that I am writing you this letter out of …show more content…
More specifically, the Bible can't be trusted because of this fact alone. As Christians, we believe that God wrote the Bible though men, they did not write it on their own. That assertion aside, to make a claim that the Bible can't be trusted because it was written by man would mean that we could not trust anything that was ever written. You also have pointed out to me that man is prone to make errors and these errors are proof that the Bible is fallible. While it is true that people make errors, it is not true that people always make errors. If we did, we couldn't trust anyone ever, including ourselves! Moreover, even if there were minor errors in the Bible, that wouldn't mean the central facts are wrong. A book can have typos or errors in some details, but still tell significant …show more content…
We normally refer to these as the Gnostic gospels. The major claim is that the Gnostic gospels were once a part of Christianity and that church councils threw them because they did not fit their narrow view of Christianity, but this simply isn't true. The Gnostic gospels (The gospels of Peter, Judas, Thomas, etc.) were forgeries written 100+ years after the events. They most certainly not written by the people whose names are associated with them (this was a common act of plagiarism in those days). And they were certainly not written by anyone that witnessed the events either. Here is a good way of explaining this. In 2012, two movies about Abraham Lincoln were released: one a historical look at the life of the president (Lincoln), and the other a fast-action paranormal hack-n-slash (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter). While one was attempting to be true to the history, the other was obviously using a historical character in a fictional context hundreds of years after the age of eyewitnesses. The Gnostic gospels are more like "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter"…borrowing the name of Jesus but not being true to His actual
Our understanding of Jewish and Christian history has changed dramatically with the publication of Caesar's Messiah by Joseph Atwill (Ulysses Press), which had previously been privately published under the title The Roman Origins of Christianity. According to Atwill, the Gospels are not accounts of the ministry of a historical Jewish Jesus compiled by his followers sixty years after his death. They are texts deliberately created to trick Messianic Jews into worshipping the Roman Emperor 'in disguise'. The essence of Atwill's discovery is that the majority of the key events in the life of Jesus are in fact satirical: each is an elegant literary play on a military battle in which the Jewish armies had been defeated by the Romans. This is an extraordinary claim-but supported by all the necessary evidence.
The issue surrounding these Gospels refers to a special event called the Nicene Council. This council was the deciding authority of which ancient documents would be included in the authorized Catholic Bible. Some historians, however, believe that the Canonical Gospels were not closed (or completed) by the time of the council and that the council itself began a conspiracy by falsely describing Jesus' public life and ministry which is widely accepted today. Most orthodox Christians, theologians, and historians believe that indeed the Canons were completed well before the council sat (some 200 years later) to authorise them.
It is stated in the New Jerusalem Bible that “the Gospels don’t reflect the biography or the life of Jesus but are the four versions of the preaching from Jesus and are full of wonders and mysteries regarding the life of Jesus.” (New J Bible 1147). All the stories in gospels share similar outcomes and main ideas. They are very similar mainly that of Gospels of Mathew, Mark and Luke while Gospel of John is a little different from the rest three. The stories from Matthew, Mark and Luke are known as the synoptic. It is because they have the same synopsis and are simil...
Moral conviction is something that everyone should have, it is inherent, or at least that is the assumption. In the book, "A Case for Christianity", by C. S. Lewis, Lewis argues that it is part of the "Moral Law". Not the part that will make you forget about yourself and help someone else even though it might put you in danger, but rather the part that makes you feel bad when you have wronged another person or broken your own moral code. That is just it though, you set your own moral code, not anyone else. Sure it can be influenced by teachers, parents, friends, movies, media, and numerous other entities of our society, but the end result is your own choice, your own moral standard that you have set for yourself.
Questions of the Holy Bible’s authenticity has been interrogated since the beginning. Non-believers dispute parts or the entirety of the Bible’s actuality. Yet some believers question parts of the Bible, particularly the Gospels. Individuals are skeptic if the Gospels are historically reliable. Can we Trust the Gospels? by Mark D. Roberts was able to provide reliable evidence and reasons on why people can trust the Gospels. His book gives an overview on the subject of the gospel reliability.
Even though humans wrote the text, translating it and passing it down from generations to generations, God’s truth is unchanging. Debates of the inerrancy of the bible cannot usurp God as the King of grace. Instead of focusing on the inerrancy of the Bible, individuals who wish to seek a life of faith should focus on the inspiration God is showing them in his word. These revelations should move them into applicable, daily life changing implications from what they have learned. God shows revelations of himself through the Bible, and his character is revealed time and time again throughout scripture. Any faulty facts or discrepancies in grammar or data, should not take away from the value that scripture holds. When we read scripture we bring new meaning of interpretations of the truths God shows us, since new eras and environmental factors will be influential on how we process information. The bible is not just a fact book, telling humans stories of the past, but instead the bible is inspired instructions for how we can deal with spiritual and ethical encounters we
As I read your email, I could not help but be struck with the irony of the situation. Who would have thought that years ago in our dorm room one day I would be defending Christianity against your objections of contradictions to the faith! That sentence may put you on guard, but please understand that the following response is purely meant to explain my perspective. Also, please do not worry about the length of your email, as I need to apologize in advance to the length of this one. Actually, I take that back. Some things are worth taking the time to say. So, please, with patience, read on.
These Gospels are what shaped not only the Old Testament, but the New Testament as well. The New Testament contains twenty-seven Gospels while the Old Testament contains thirty-nine Gospels. Gospels that were left out of the New Testament are referred to as noncanonical gospels. Some of the Gospels that were omitted from the New Testament were added into some of the Gospels that were included. The Gospels most known for this would be the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. (Lowe). Some of the earlier Gospels were simply lost, and unable to be transcribed into the New Testament. Gospels that were persevered are referred to as sources for the New Testament. (Schorn). “Scholars have determined that there were at least three main sources. These three sources were believed to be some of the first Gospels in the Old Testament” (Northcott). The original names are unknown, but have received the modern names of the Lost Q Source, the Pre-Markan passion Narrative, and the Signs Gospel. Gospels could have been omitted from the New Testament due to wars, conquests, persecutions, and few copies being made. (Eherman). Also, there are accusations that leaders of the early church intentionally destroyed these Gospels to cover up facts of the origin of Christianity. (Taussig
Christian faith and Ethos is the class I am taking this term. The professor 's name is Reverend Leroy Leach Jr. The class is about God, the creation, and how to read the Holy Bible.
The rise of Christianity in western civilization is arguably among the most important memories in history. There is no denying what the spread of Christianity has done for the world, for better or worse. Its impact on western civilizations is unrivaled and unprecedented. Christianity slowly became something for many individuals to turn to; in times of hurt its provided comfort, in times of pleasure it has given thanks. The will and belief for salvation has driven individuals to be better, and to have a reference while in need. The rise of Christianity more than 2000 years ago provided necessary building blocks for the future. Without Christianity there would be no cathedrals, no monasteries, no music from one Johann Sebastian Bach, no paintings from Michelangelo, nor no philosophy from Saint Augustine (Backman 205). There are countless times in history, whether good or bad, that can be credited to
There are many people who aim to properly define themselves in this world indulging in soul-searching, curious about who was before them and genealogy is a powerful tool to use to find the answers to questions many people across the world are asking. According to “What is genealogy” (2014), “genealogy is the study of your unique family history. It is a personal record of your ancestors -- when they were born and where they lived, who their children were and who they married, and where you belong in your extended family tree. Learning about your family history usually starts at home by talking with relatives and friends, and recording information about your ancestors.” It can be frustrating to one who knows he has a story but is not able to account for the beginning chapters. Everyone is different and each person’s story is unique so it is imperative to be knowledgeable of yours. Trying to track an ancestor may prove to be a tedious task for some but maybe a little less hassling for others. Once a person has the desired drive and attitude to fill the missing pieces of the puzzle then positive results are possible. One may think of going to a genealogy centre or a facility that provides genealogical services in order to get results which is recommended and commendable but work can be done before leaving the home. It is important to first talk to family members, ask questions and make jottings. Search through family documents carefully for birth certificates, marriage certificates or any document that will outline critical information about the members of the family tree. Each person who indulges in genealogical research may not have the same needs and objectives. Some people may just do it for the fun of it, wh...
What is Christianity all about? What are the basic beliefs of Christianity and how did it begin? According to (AllAboutReligion, 2010),” Christianity began about 2000 years ago in Judea, [presently known today as Israel] with Jesus Christ and His faithful group of disciples”. This paper will address the viewpoint of the Christian faith and its outcome. The central message of Christianity is based upon the teachings of Jesus and his promises. Christianity teaches that there is merely one God in all existence and that God created the universe. It also teaches that Jesus is the only way to be set free from the coming judgment of God and that Jesus desires his values and his standards to abound. Moreover, Christianity is the only religion that offers a savior. Religion has been in every culture since the beginning of human society and there are many religions competing for the heart of humanity throughout the world at large.The following characterizations are based on the Christian faith: redemption, covenant and grace. Although Christianity is a matter of choice for the human race, what type of influence did it have on the China, Africa, and Rome inhabitants?
Christianity is one of the world’s most widely practiced religions and has a long history spanning back over two-thousand years. Some might say that its history might go back even farther to include the history of Judaism because there are prophets in Hebrew scripture who foretold the coming of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe to be the Messiah that God promised the Jewish people. This paper discusses how Christianity influences our society today, some of its history along with some of our beliefs. However, it is impossible to tell the complete history of Christianity in just one essay because for all two thousand years it has been in existence, there are literally thousands of things to talk about. The construction of our religious buildings, the Crusades, how the Protestant Reformation branched it out into what it is today, any of these things can and have been made into essays, books, and even movies on their own. That being said, it will touch on each of the questions which were asked in the assignment and will add a bit more depth on a few other things which are considered very important to the history of Christianity.
As a student at the University of Portland, who has now spent a semester living amidst the Catholic culture, I have started to think about religion fundamentally different than prior to this year. Theology class has been enlightening. In class, a new external lens of how one can view faith while learning to think critically in the search of truth has been presented. The inquisitiveness in me has led me to ask hard questions regarding myself, my perceptions, my misconceptions, and even some heartfelt convictions while contemplating my faith. I have experienced legitimate struggles. I acknowledge I have ignorant barriers keeping me from totally living a life with God and for God due to the confusion of exactly what that means. “All truths are
As I sit and reflect over my life, I ask myself where have I come from, where might I currently be, and what does the future hold for me according to my faith formation. This was a time for me to weigh the progress of my formation that happened over the years and to see the influential players who made it possible. Within this essay I will use two of James Fowler’s stages of faith to evaluate my own life and be able to see that through these stages I can be able to help develop others faith as well. It is through these stages that have shaped my life into becoming the faithful person that I am today.