Re: Dissecting the Biblical teachings

On Apr 11, 9:34 pm, "prospero33" <conrad.gel...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Apr 10, 8:15 pm, "Angel - Inner Quest" <l...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:



Dissecting the Biblical teachings

In the study of the Bible, every statement there should be open to
question. In our evaluations, we should be guided by some certain
considerations:

1. Who actually uttered the questioned statement? Was it Jesus himself
in his own words or merely one of his students or followers? Or
perhaps the statement is merely an expression of the belief and
opinion of a particular Biblical writer or editor? They are different
and each utterance should be accorded different degrees of authority
and credibility.

2. The Bible books have been told, retold, translated and re-
translated over a few thousand years already. Try telling someone,
anyone, something and instruct him to tell others exactly what you
told him. Assume that all the people told sequentially in this manner
would reach something like 1 for every year. That would make them some
5000 individuals since Abraham, 2000 since Jesus. Do you really
believe that the message can retain its exactness? Therefore, we
should allow for all the distortions and the loss that resulted from
the faulty transmission and misinterpretations.

3. An experienced and wise teacher knows just how much his students
can understand and how best to get his message across. We don't speak
to children the same way that we speak to older people. We don't teach
complex ideas without first grounding the student in the basics. We
instruct our students step by slow step, the prerequisites first, the
more advanced after. Everytime, we readjust, reorient, confirm and
clarify depending on the feedback and response.

Moreover, instruction is progressive. And before any teaching or
theory can be fully understood and accepted, it must be proven from
personal experience.

4. During Biblical times and especially when Jesus was with us, he
knew very well that the people were not yet ready to receive higher
instruction. He told us:

"I have used proverbs to tell you these things, but the time is coming
when the truth shall not be so veiled and I will speak to you plainly
about the Father." (JN 16)

"If you adhere to my teaching, you will really be my disciples; and
you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free." (JN 8)

"Oh, there is so much more I want to tell you, but you cannot
understand it now. When the Spirit of Holiness and Truth comes, he
will guide you into all truth." (JN 16)

Those who desire to discover the deeper meanings must begin to study
again, from the beginning.

http://message-made-plain.blogspot.com/

Just a comment on your point #2: Oral tradition turns out to be much
more reliable than most people think. Important material (epics,
sacred texts) are not passed on as in the game "Telephone." Acolytes
are carefully trained and constantly tested by elders, so any error or
change is noted and eliminated. In fact, this method is more reliable
than copying by solitary scribes, who may doze off, skip a page, or
make "helpful" changes.


Good point. This is the stock answer of the churches and Scripture
writers in defense of their Scriptures. However, other accounts tell
us different.

Just 3 centuries after Jesus in the year 325, the basic tenets of the
faith were hotly debated. By one estimate, there existed over 50
conflicting gospel versions. In a bid to unify the fractured church,
Emperor Constantine instigated and exerted his great influence over
the formulation of the Nicene Creed and the authorizing of the 4
Gospel Accounts to the exclusion of all others. It is here that
Reincarnation, a basic principle taught by Christ was disauthorized by
majority consensus. All references to it in Scripture were expunged.
And all who believed in the principle were branded as heretics.

One source that describes the related circumstances to this event is
Dogma Bites Man - the circumstances surrounding the formulation and
adoption of the Nicene Creed: http://www.childpastlives.org/library_articles/dogma.htm


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Lying is wrong, deception not always wrong
    ... I am "guilty" of speaking the Truth. ... pose and bombasted around--but you haven't explained away how Paul ... I have no doubt that all scripture (and many written things that are ... whether one could really by a Christian and have a foreskin. ...
    (soc.religion.quaker)
  • Re: Original Sin
    ... I don't measure truth by what's written in Scripture. ... I certainly agree with you that the only source of truth is God. ... By my God-given reason and the guidance of the Holy Spirit of course. ...
    (uk.religion.christian)
  • DN Learning Truth 10/27/2005
    ... "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, ... Scripture is a manual of divine truth. ... Now He said to Moses, "Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab ...
    (alt.religion.christian)
  • W Post: Truth: Can You Handle It? Better Yet: Do You Know It When You See It?
    ... Truth: Can You Handle It? ... Librarians for Truth ... Stark is the sweater vest-wearing, ... describes the progression when he makes his students do ...
    (alt.politics.bush)
  • To 2007 generation, lets join hands, students and people, to bring out
    ... October 13, 2007 Generation Students' Union ... The truth is that the people are constantly hearing profuse grumbles about ... struggles by previous successive elder generations. ... We 2007 Generation would completely smash the evil regime by consciously ...
    (soc.culture.burma)
Loading