To me it is an enigma, wrapped in a mystery, shrouded by history. I do not believe in a literal translation of the Bible. There are too many large gaps in time, too many people recording things that they had heard. As you pointed out I am a Cherry Picker. I do believe that there is beauty, hope and wisdom recorded there.
Love your neighbor Though I walk through the Valley of Death I shall fear no evil... what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! Bill (not Bill!) Find what makes your heart sing…and do it! ________________________________ From: mike brown <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Mon, August 6, 2012 1:21:56 PM Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: Chan and zen Bill, Going by that description, sounds like it doesn't have much going for it either as a record of historical accuracy or the word of god. Does the Bible, to you, have a relevancy outside of just being a piece of interesting ancient literature? Is it's message universally coherent or is it all just subjective? Mike ________________________________ From: William Rintala <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, 6 August 2012, 19:01 Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: Chan and zen Mike: As I say in response to another post No One who wrote anything in the Bible was physically present when Jesus said anything. Everything that is recorded was passed by word of mouth for generations. It is recorded that as a 12 year old Yeshua ben David argued scripture with the Rabbis. An intriguing idea is that the name Jesus comes from the name Yahzeus or Son of Zeus or a combination of YHWH and Zeus. Bringing together Judeo and Greco mythologies. Which goes back to the idea that much of the New Testament was written by Greeks. Bill Find what makes your heart sing…and do it! ________________________________ From: mike brown <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Mon, August 6, 2012 4:41:56 AM Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: Chan and zen Bill and Bill!, I hear this claim that Jesus came to change the Old Testament all the time. Doesn't seem to ring true at all. Below are Jesus' quotes from the New Testament: “For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 5:18-19 “It is easier for Heaven and Earth to pass away than for the smallest part of the letter of the law to become invalid.” (Luke 16:17) “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest part or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.” (Matthew 5:17) “Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law” (John7:19) > >And what are these laws from the Old Testament?: > >Blasphemy is Punishable by Death >One who blasphemes the name of the LORD shall be put to death; the whole >congregation shall stone the blasphemer. Aliens as well as citizens, when they >blaspheme the Name, shall be put to death. (NRSV) — Leviticus 24:16 Cheaters Must Die If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death. (NIV) — Leviticus 20:10 Dishonoring Your Mother or Father is Punishable by Death Anyone who dishonors father or mother must be put to death. Such a person is guilty of a capital offense. (NLT) — Leviticus 20:9 People Who Work on Sunday Should be Killed You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the LORD. Anyone who works on that day must be put to death. (NLT) — Exodus 35:2 If a Woman is Not a Virgin When She Gets Married, She Has to Die “If any man takes a wife, and goes in to her, and detests her, and charges her with shameful conduct, and brings a bad name on her, and says, ‘I took this woman, and when I came to her I found she was not a virgin,’ … and evidences of virginity are not found for the young woman, then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones … (NKJV) — Deuteronomy 22:13-14,20-21 There’s Nothing Wrong With Slavery Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. (NIV) — Leviticus 25:44 Gays Should be Put to Death If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them. (NRSV) — Leviticus 20:13 Women Should Shut the Hell Up and Do as They’re Told A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. (NIV) — Timothy 2:11-12
