I spend a lot of time having discussions with the two pastors and some of the others about theology and life in general. I used to believe in a young-earth and I don’t think the pastors are convinced of the earth being young. The Bible is such an interesting thing to discuss… there are many parts that have opposing views. My sisters believe in things like the prosperity gospel, miraculous healings (Benny Hinn), speaking in tongues, being slain in the spirit, etc. There’s so many controversial things. Just last night I was talking about the history of circumcision in the Bible, etc. (first there’s none, then it is for every male in God’s people, then it says you don’t need to do it, etc)
I like discussing things with people where I think they’ve got the weak end of the debate. Well I do if it is a spoken debate. The debates I sometimes have here get too long-winded.
This thread is about question and answer sessions at a particular church. What matters is what their pastors believe and based on that I’ll try and make them look bad.
So is the Virgin birth, Jesus’s death and resurrection, etc, also an embellishment? If so, what kind of Christian are you?
BTW do you think Genesis 5 was handed down accurately?
Wouldn’t someone have noticed if many of the names and numbers had changed?
Isaiah 40:22
“It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.”
This suggests that the earth is flat… if it was a sphere it would be hard to pitch up a tent around it or see everyone at once (many would be hidden on the other side)
“He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.”
The earth actually spins on its axis, orbits the Sun and moves around the galaxy at huge speeds so it actually is moving! (I can’t remember their response)
Whether the ages in Genesis (900+ years) were literal (they said yes)
And in the example of a really bad dog, it would just be put down yet in a similar position God might torture it for ever and ever and ever.
He apparently did care about the Native Americans. Look up ‘Mormon’ with regard to Nephites and Lamanites. Ask why the Mormons are wrong and then ask if they are wrong why are Christians anymore right as they have about as much evidence to support their views.
I’m merely explaining the Plan of Salvation to you, and the traditional actors therein.
I can also explain what zombies are. Explaining doesn’t necessarily mean believing.
For Christians, even for most liberals, would you say that is definitely a minority view that Jesus’ death and resurrection was just an embellishment? For Paul, and many others, they are all in with the, if the resurrection didn’t happen, their faith is in vain.
There is this. No matter what question is put forth, someone usually comes up and says, “That question is invalid because Christians really don’t believe that”, and by “Christians” it is meant “The church I follow” or “The Christians I get along with.”
I had a bet with myself that you were going to bring that up. Even most YEC types recognize what they call “micro-evolution”, so that doesn’t get you anywhere. Evolutionary theory is the basis of modern biology, but you don’t really need it to address “public health” issues.
The main issue the YECs have with evolution is that it denigrates humans to the status of other animals. After all, did god not create humans as special beings, in his own image? How could we be related to apes and nematodes and archaea when he made that extra effort to make us a specialty item?
Somewhere, I saw a graphic that I cannot seem to locate now that shows numerous roots of evolutionary ladders leading to the diversity of current species. The roots are founded in the ark of noah, whence those creatures came. Hence, YECs can allow for evolution where they need to yet still keep mankind out of the realm of baser animals. The idea that we are descended from stromatolites or parameciums or whatever is just unthinkable. We cannot even be related to those things, because we were made apart from them.
I guess my point wasn’t clearly made. I was referring to the events being handed down through Oral Tradition. I.E., not written by those who directly observed the events. Interestingly enough, even the banned gospels are consistent with resurrection and divinity of Christ. But yes, you are correct.