(September 23, 2015 at 4:01 am)robvalue Wrote: Oh yeah, I forgot! The bible is a load of nonsense. It's filled with stories that demonstrably did not happen, and it is exactly what you'd expect from primitive people trying to explain the world around them while ripping off other mythologies.
This is my favourite video to show people. If you have the time, this bible expert explains why he thinks the Jesus story is just the latest in a long line of similar myths.
http://youtu.be/79Lmmy2jfeo
Richard Carrier is not an expert by any stretch of the imagination. He is just as biased by his beliefs as YEC theologians are by theirs. He isn't respected among his own peers, and just watching the first two minutes of that Youtube video before he even begins he tells people his case (that Jesus didn't exist) is rock-solid, which it isn't.
"Rich, I’ve engaged your repeatedly stated views before. No one. No one in scholarly circles dealing with ancient Judaism and early Christianity, of any religious or non-religious persuasion holds the view that Jesus never existed. You’re entitled to your own opinion, but not to your own truth. Let’s move on." Larry Hurtado (a scholar who specialises in the origins of the New Testament and Christianity).
I have not read his book, but if you are interested in the origins of Christianity and how the Christian beliefs and doctrines formed then his book "One God One Lord" comes highly recommended from other scholars. The first edition was published in 1988. It caused quite a bit of discussion among Christian scholars since he shows, among other things, that the earliest Christians had no concept of a Trinity. The book is used by Bible Colleges as a textbook. The 3rd Edition is released this year. so if you want to inform yourself of early Christianity instead of listening to the ramblings of a non-respected scholar with fringe views then pick up his book and read it.
http://youtu.be/pLeXpSCLrD8
For Religion & Health see:[/b][/size] Williams & Sternthal. (2007). Spirituality, religion and health: Evidence and research directions. Med. J. Aust., 186(10), S47-S50. -LINK
The WIN/Gallup End of Year Survey 2013 found the US was perceived to be the greatest threat to world peace by a huge margin, with 24% of respondents fearful of the US followed by: 8% for Pakistan, and 6% for China. This was followed by 5% each for: Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, North Korea. -LINK
"That's disgusting. There were clean athletes out there that have had their whole careers ruined by people like Lance Armstrong who just bended thoughts to fit their circumstances. He didn't look up cheating because he wanted to stop, he wanted to justify what he was doing and to keep that continuing on." - Nicole Cooke
The WIN/Gallup End of Year Survey 2013 found the US was perceived to be the greatest threat to world peace by a huge margin, with 24% of respondents fearful of the US followed by: 8% for Pakistan, and 6% for China. This was followed by 5% each for: Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, North Korea. -LINK
"That's disgusting. There were clean athletes out there that have had their whole careers ruined by people like Lance Armstrong who just bended thoughts to fit their circumstances. He didn't look up cheating because he wanted to stop, he wanted to justify what he was doing and to keep that continuing on." - Nicole Cooke
