If I may add something, I think throughout history there have been few people in any given religion that earnestly seek "The Truth". Yes, those that give it years of study and prayer will understand things others do not. I also think specific truths will be revealed to those seeking specific truths.
I learned back in the eighties: something revealed to me may possibly be for me and not for others. Others may never understand what I partially now understand and must research even further through this "revelation" of sorts.
I may feel confused at first, and may see more truth to it twenty years later. Should I try and share it with others, it may get burned or scorned. I may be made fun of. One of my mentors explained it may have been for me alone.
When someone comes speaking truth, it is thus easily understood how people might reject what they see and what they hear. I will try to refrain from the spiritual words in your thread if possible.
I might also add another thing. Now correct me if I am wrong because I am not always right and there are so many sources, I cannot read them all. Wasn’t the Old Testament written in Hebrew and Aramaic? Now throughout the years it was translated from those original languages into Latin as Christianity became the predominant religion of the late Roman Empire. Then from their as we all know it was translated into English. Now forgive me for sounding rude but this sounds like a very large and drawn out version of the telephone game you play in grade school.
I can almost guarantee that through history at some point when being translated into a new language and when bits and pieces have been destroyed by other religious factions, over zealous leaders, etc… that the Bible has been tarnished, meaning it has not stayed exactly the same. Because some monk who was translating it from Latin to English or from Hebrew/Aramaic to Latin knew there is not always a perfect translation so he had to make a judgment call and go with what he or a council thought was the best translation of the text. Again, perception rears its ugly little head.
So the Bible as we know it today is not of God’s creation or words but of individuals perceptions of various teachings and ideals. I am sorry but I cannot look at it as any more than a book of philosophy because it is not untarnished, without fault, error or human bias and greed. Even if I believed in God I could not and would not follow the Bible because it is again just various individuals perception and understanding of what they experienced. It is not one absolute or resolute truth, essentially stating these are the laws of the Universe. It tries to but that is again an individual through their perception of the world dictating how others should live.
This whole argument is of course pointless as almost any debate about religion is but it is fun to discuss none the less. This is just my first issue with the Bible. The next is from my understanding that it was not Jesus who wrote the New Testament but instead followers who wrote their perception and understanding of Jesus’s teachings just as we are debating them now. The various churches of Christianity have ever since that point picked whatever writings matched their ideals best to make up their Bible.
Maybe it is just me but I am not the type that looks at each religion and thinks that they are wrong. I don’t look at them and think, “ohh that is stupid, I am right and only my belief, religion, faith, etc.. is right.” I look at them all and I think there is a bit of truth and understanding to be gained from them all. I do not see why an individual should have to identify with one religion to reach enlightenment, understanding or anything of the sorts because it seems rather short sighted to me to be that way. It would be like saying you hate Sushi without ever actually trying it or experiencing it or saying physics is wrong because you do not understand it.
Like I said, I did not start this discussion to say whether something is good or bad but instead merely to discern the difference between reality and perception and if there is a difference. There have been a lot of great responses and I will think on them all. Now if I never reach a greater understanding because I do not follow the Bible, then I can live with that. I think I will find plenty enough of understanding, wisdom and experience by studying anything and everything else I possibly can. Therefore you can contribute to the conversation however you wish, spiritual or not but just like I expected to be challenged for my statement, expect to be challenged in your beliefs.
