Posts by ixthis

50

Why the stunning lack of accurate, historical evidence for Jesus Christ?

by nicolaou in

by no means a new topic for discussion but always worth a fresh airing .

i'd suggest that the 1st century was quite a well documented time.

we have lots of historical evidence for important people who actually existed.

ixthis

Emperor Trajan (AD 53 - 117)*

"The method you have used, my dear Pliny, in investigating the cases of those who are accused of being Christians is extremely proper. No search should be made for these people; when they are accused and found to be guilty they must be punished; with the restriction, however, that when the individual denies he is a Christian, and gives proof that he is not (that is, by adoring our gods) he shall be pardoned on the ground of repentance, even though he may have formerly incurred suspicion. Documents without the accuser's signature must not be admitted in evidence against anyone, since this introduces a very dangerous precedent, and is by no means consistent with the spirit of the age."

Source: Pliny letters X, 97.

* Imperator Caesar Divi Nervae Filius Nerva Traianus, was one of the most famous Roman emperors of all time. His reputation as a successful military strategist is demonstrated by his military exploits, which expanded the Roman boundaries to the Persian Gulf. The quote above is a reply to Pliny, who had asked for directions in how to treat the Christians

50

Why the stunning lack of accurate, historical evidence for Jesus Christ?

by nicolaou in

by no means a new topic for discussion but always worth a fresh airing .

i'd suggest that the 1st century was quite a well documented time.

we have lots of historical evidence for important people who actually existed.

ixthis

The following quote comes from a letter sent to Minucius Fundanus, proconsul of Asia, by Hadrian, Imperator Caesar Trainus*, about how to treat Christians:

Written A. D. 76 - 136 -

"I do not wish, therefore, that the matter should be ignored without examination, so that these men may not be harassed, nor an opportunity given for malicious proceedings to be offered to informers. If, therefore, the provincials can clearly show their charges against these Christians, so as to answer before the tribunal, let them pursue this course only, but not just petitions, and mere outcries against Christians. For it is more fitting, if any one brings an accusation, that you should examine it."

* Hadrian, Imperator Caesar Trainus, (AD 76-138), was considered a man of culture and the arts. It appears he preferred peace rather than war.

50

Why the stunning lack of accurate, historical evidence for Jesus Christ?

by nicolaou in

by no means a new topic for discussion but always worth a fresh airing .

i'd suggest that the 1st century was quite a well documented time.

we have lots of historical evidence for important people who actually existed.

ixthis

"Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man. For he was a doer of surprising feats - a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct to this day."

Source: Antiquities of the Jews 18.3.3 (Flavius Josephus)

" Historians say Flavius Josephus (37-97) born into a priestly Jewish family and was not a Christian.

97

Everything In The Universe Was Created By Absolutely Nothing.

by Philadelphia Ponos in

jw
friends

this is the purest example of an oxymoron.

repeat this sentence over and over again and you will realize why it's impossible for some people to accept the big bang model.

.

ixthis

Anonymous, et al.

Creating the Universe from The Source is not to create something from nothing but is to create something from Something; the "Something" is The Source.

Also, laws and principles of physics apply to created matter. The Source is not created and thus the principles of His essence can not be explained through physics and its laws ... uncreated "matter" - that being the Source which is God whose essence can not be confined to science.

There is nothing incompatible between science and the bible.

97

Everything In The Universe Was Created By Absolutely Nothing.

by Philadelphia Ponos in

jw
friends

this is the purest example of an oxymoron.

repeat this sentence over and over again and you will realize why it's impossible for some people to accept the big bang model.

.

ixthis

Back from my meeting,

Tuesday,

I think the point of the bible is that EVERYTHING came from SOMETHING - That something IS God.

Hint of Lime,

If not for science, religious people would literally miss-out on seeing the universe. Our primitive vision forbids us from seeing so many things.

This is not true. There are many Saints who, through a purified life and abundant love for God and man, were given the gift of seeing things that would be virtually impossible for others.

One such Saint was Elder Porfyrios

Elder Porfyrios

97

Everything In The Universe Was Created By Absolutely Nothing.

by Philadelphia Ponos in

jw
friends

this is the purest example of an oxymoron.

repeat this sentence over and over again and you will realize why it's impossible for some people to accept the big bang model.

.

ixthis

Hi Tuesday, I am not speaking as a "Creationist", I wanted to point that out.

97

Everything In The Universe Was Created By Absolutely Nothing.

by Philadelphia Ponos in

jw
friends

this is the purest example of an oxymoron.

repeat this sentence over and over again and you will realize why it's impossible for some people to accept the big bang model.

.

ixthis

John i. 3.All things became by Him and without Him came nothing into being.

Whether a person agrees in the belief system contained within the Old and New Testaments ... it IS fascinating to stop and to think that every argument you can think of has been answered in this small book.

How can anyone get a creation independent of the Father out of that statement?

Such are the notions which men put forward in regard to the making of the universe and of creation of all things, various opinions, and each propounded by a theory that best suits the taste of that person:

1. Epicureanism

2. Platonism

3. Gnosticism

But the impiety of this talk is declared plainly by "A book" written long before them ... it declares that there IS a Mind behind the universe, and it did not originate itself; it declares that this finite matter was not made from pre-existant matter but out of nothing and out of non-existence absolute and utter God brought into being through The Word.

That fascinates me ... science can only reveal what is finite but it can never reveal the mechanisations of the infinite.

Book review: Christ the Eternal Tao

by ixthis in

christ the eternal tao is a book which teaches that the precepts of taoism (which pre-dates jesus' birth) foreshadow the coming of christ, the messiah, who is jesus.

it is not a book which sets out to say that a christian can learn about "the truth" from taoism (the author would not be happy with this sort of conclusion).

what the book sets out to do is to show those who are taoists, or who dabble in eastern mysticism, that the truth they seek in these religions is more fully revealed in christianity, and in christ himself.. it is specifically a missionary tool for those westerners who had left behind mainly protestant or evangelical churches to pursue eastern religions (the author grew up in california, where such cults are popular), pointing out that the truth they seek is in jesus christ - just not perhaps the jesus christ they were taught about in their previous churches.. .

ixthis

Christ the Eternal Tao is a book which teaches that the precepts of Taoism (which pre-dates Jesus' birth) foreshadow the coming of Christ, the Messiah, Who is Jesus. It is not a book which sets out to say that a Christian can learn about "the Truth" from Taoism (the author would not be happy with this sort of conclusion). What the book sets out to do is to show those who are Taoists, or who dabble in Eastern Mysticism, that the truth they seek in these religions is more fully revealed in Christianity, and in Christ Himself.

It is specifically a missionary tool for those Westerners who had left behind mainly Protestant or Evangelical churches to pursue Eastern religions (the author grew up in California, where such cults are popular), pointing out that the Truth they seek is in Jesus Christ - just not perhaps the Jesus Christ they were taught about in their previous churches.

God in His mercy would not abandon the millions of people who lived without the Law (Torah); the author of Christ the Eternal Tao shows that what is foreshadowed in the Torah, for the Jews, is also foreshadowed in Taoism for the Gentiles of the East. Obviously, now that Jesus Christ came and trampled down death through His own death it is time for those in these "old" religions to enter into the fullness of the Truth. That is what the book tries to do. In that respect its methods are no different to the Apostle Paul's when he preached to the Gentile pagans (i.e. acknowledging the truth in their own religion, and using it to point towards the fulfillment of their truth-seeking: Jesus Christ).

Christ being "the Way".

Tao in Chinese, simply means "the Way", and Taoism is the ancient religion of devotion to "the Way". The book simply seeks to point out to Taoists that "the Way" they seek to worship is Jesus Christ, a living Person, and that therefore they must now seek to worship Him in truth and love.

I hope that those who wish to read this book come back with their own review.

144

1st Cen. Christianity - One Organization

by StandFirm in

here is the promised debate.

the subject is whether or not god has an organization.

i'll start things simply:.

ixthis

TTWSYF - are you sincere with your posts?

64

Devotional to the Bridegroom - Christ

by ixthis in

scripture.

awake!

ixthis

Brendan the Navigator is one of the best loved of all the Celtic saints.

Saint Brendan

The story of his sea voyages has held a special fascination for every generation.Tim Severin's Brendan Voyage makes interesting reading. The voyages of adventure is an appropriate analogy of the spiritual journey that each of us is challenged to undertake. Brendan's companions notice that his heart has been stirred. He is caught by a vision. A place beyond his present shores is calling to his yearning spirit. Does he know with a certainty that he must go? 'We will go with you,' they say, 'We will journey where you journey. Your God is our God - for life or death, we follow.' Brendan climbs the mountain alone and searches his heart to test the truth of what he feels. And this was Brendan's mountain prayer:

Shall I abandon the comforts and benefits of my home,
seeking the island of promise our fathers knew long ago,
sail on the face of the deep where no riches or fame
or weapons protect you, and nobody honors your name?
Shall I take leave of my friends
and my beautiful native land,
tears in my eyes
as my knees mark my final prayer in the sand?
King of the mysteries, can I trust You on the sea?

Christ of the heavens,
and Christ of the ravenous ocean wave,
I will hold fast to my course
through the dangers I must brave.
King of the mysteries, angels will watch over me,
Christ of the mysteries, when I trust You on the sea.

Brendon's example speaks to us each:

Have I the courage to leave the familiar and journey into the unknown?

To journey beyond the way I have prayed.

The life I have lived, the sensible and the secure?

To trust God to take me beyond these familiar shores?

Lord I pray that in You,
I'll break ground both fresh and new.
As a student let me stand.
Break the hardness of the land
with your forgiving hand.

Source: Celtic Daily Prayer