Michael, the Bible is not a science book nor is it a history book. It is a selection of religious texts penned and collected by people. Those authors and the canon were pre science people. As you know people are fallible. They sometimes err, exaggerate, lie, are subject to confirmation biases, especially when they are trying to impress. You can either blindly believe everything they say or you can examine the evidence (there's that telling word again).
To Hedshaker,
I hope we can remain good friends whether we don't agree about everything. I'm for it if you are and hope you are! I feel the Bible to be definitely a History Book and also a partial science book. They may have been prescience people and possibly fallible persons also, but we have the exact people doing that here today. And we do have people here who err, exaggerate or lie purposefully. We must examine the evidence as time progresses and the future becomes the present and past.
And the evidence tells a different story. No one comes back to life after clinical death as occurred. No female can give birth without a male of the species being involved. Walking on water defies gravity unless trickery is involved. So a little open minded scepticism is called for regarding the extraordinary claims. We know there are some factual entries in the Bible that are more mundane but they do not in any way validate the extraordinary claims.
The History written in the Bible says that those things actually did occur and I definitely agree with it. Who would think similar things if we told those people we had walked on the Moon, have landed on Mars, have cloned animals, they would not believe half of what we've done. Don't forget that Jesus also made a few fish and loaves of bread becomes enough for 5,000 people. That's really a hard one to believe, but it's in our History book, us Christians, and whoever would like to believe also. The history book says that Abraham Lincoln was shot and assassinated, and my history book says they killed Jesus, and innocent man and a 'prophet' and more, in the same way as they killed a thief; on a Cross.
There is no factual evidence of anyone ever coming back to life after clinical death. None at all. If a patient "flat lines" doctors have a number of options they can do to try and revive the patient. Sometimes they work, sometimes not. If a patient regains heart beat after being shocked eg. then clearly that patient was not brain dead. Once a patient is brain-dead then the evidence suggests the person is gone forever and there is no empirical evidence to suggest other wise. The Bible is not evidence. It is a faith belief.
Dearest Hedshaker, my History book says it happened to a young girl, a man, and a 'prophet/son of God'. They rose back to life after being clinically dead. Let's all write to the Enquirer. It says in my History book that it even happened one more time to a young girl after Jesus had been gone already; by Peter, one of His disciples. The young woman's name was Tabitha. See my History Bible Book chapter Acts 9:36, 37. That's four counts right there. No more functioning nervous system, yet brought back to life again. That's by God putting the spirit of Life back into a person just as it came out of them when they died; the same spirit of Life or energy that made the image on the Shroud of Turin. Since I have made a mistake before, just wait until this comes to be known as truth. The same way your Science book says let's wait and we will find out what
black holes are.
My History book has real people who are not liars and they lived, and experienced what is written. Just like you have a Science book which has real people who are not liars and they lived, and experienced what was written. Time has not proven some of them out yet either. That doesn't mean to scoff at them, but to just wait and see. My History book mentions of tons of history, 'manna' being provided by God so that the Hebrews had something to eat and even a freak quail storm to give them meat to eat. And if God has a messenger in spirit form/an angel tell someone in human form/myself to share their information with my people, then you bet your sweet butt that I certainly will. And I shall not keep quiet about it, for that would not go over well for me or others at all!
You will have to forgive me Michael but I see no rational point in relying to preaching. Evidence is good. Preaching not so much.
There certainly are many things hidden to us. Fortunately, for us who are alive now, there has developed a rational method for probing into the unknown. Science is the most reliable endeavour in our history for gaining knowledge, not perfect, but tried and tested and it ain't going away any time soon. It is designed to overcome confirmation bias and it works well for the most part. Theology, religion, mysticism and the like have been an epic fail for thousands of years. Its day is done. If there really is to be a "new age" then let it be based on rationality, logic. reason and evidence.
Regards :up:
But, Hedshaker, that's what 'history man' or 'science man' does. They both use words to express themselves/preach, to others around them. It starts usually as one or two men discovering something (like how to build an ark; how to speak to others about Jesus and his prophecy and works). "Science is the most reliable endeavor in our history (no it's not); and it ain't going away anytime soon (yes, it is). People will be too busy operating rototillers, many using the older version ('till the land': plow with beasts of burden). Science is going to take a back burner while this world heals from balm put on it by the Lord Jesus and I would not see too much of science going on at all for a while. We will also not be undertaking any space missions, etc. We will be trying to grow fruits, vegetables, etc. to stay alive. The meek shall inherit the earth. There shall not be a lot of scientists or technical personnel hanging around. People who make gasoline out of oil shall be in short or no supply. No one will know how it was done. Gas will run out. Cars shall become useless fast. You really don't understand what's going to happen. Almost all of our luxuries shall be gone. It shall take awhile before even electricity is back, if at all. No A/Cs, no heaters, no electric refrigerators or stoves, fans or ovens. No Bic Lighters sooner or later. No cigs. No beer or spirits for a long while. All of the people who do these things with their knowledge shall have gone off of the earth. The meek remain. No bullets soon enough. Hopefully we'll still have matchsticks. If one of the meek knows what chemicals to put on the end of a piece of wood, there shall be little wooden matchsticks. And now who is going to make those little tiny sticks out of tall trees?? It's going to be harder than you think. Better you had gone to heaven this time around. Who's going to work at the nuclear stations so that we have electricity and bombs?? And what about palatable water and toilets, or sewer systems?? Much disease and more death. It's going to be a mess down here, without any mechanical equipment to get around because of the earthquakes, and downed trees, disappearing roads from those quakes, gas soon running out in certain areas, so you can't run your machines. Who knows if anyone will be around to figure out how to operate an oil rig and make gasoline out of oil?? And forget about going to Starbucks for coffee. You will have to brew it over a fireplace. How are they going to run their deep fryers at McDonald's and Burger King, or Jack in the Box?? I'm not trying to be a naysayer here, but when I found all of this out, I was in mourning for years. When I first heard Jesus was coming soon, I was on Cloud 9. When I then found out about the aftermath of Armageddon, I was in sackcloth and great mourning for years, deeply troubled. But now it's okay because I know God's Plan, and it will work quite NICELY in the end. It will be wonderful then.
Okay, this too lengthy, Hedshaker. Don't be bummed at me. The new History Books in High School and College don't mention all this, eh?? Well, I would suggest you toss them and start reading the book that matters. You know what I mean?? You're going to wish you were going to Heaven, believe me. What happens on earth will be easy compared to hell, or the lake of fire (which is tons hotter).
Try to still be a close friend of mine. You will learn things from me that matter to you very much.
Let A Glimpse Of The Future Bring You Solace!!
Michael
:cloud9: :singer: :up: