Virgin Mary, Ark of the Covenant

[Phatt Matt s]

There are some interesting similarities, but I actually don't buy that any one of the other ancient deities was THE precursor of Jesus. While the Egyptian saying "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life" was known to be copied (directly) from the Egyptian text, the Jesus that Paul invented was unique. (He did say he got his gospel "from no man" ... but from an hallucination.) It does have to do with Mithraism, (which was a form of Zoroastrianism) of which Tarsus (Paul's birthplace) *just happened* to be a center. It's a bit "obtuse" but it has to do with the concept "purification". In Hebrew culture, "purification" was an *external* (ritual-cleansing) concept. In Zorosastrian/Mithraism, it was internal (spiritual-cleanliness). They were very different. The Hebrews did not believe in immortality until it developed during the Apocalyptic period, after the Exile, when family units were disrupted, and the notion of "individualism" become important. Thus the Hebrew concept was CHANGED by Paul. It's some evidence he cooked up at least part of what came to be called "Christianity".

That is one reason I seek wisdom not just from Christianity. There is wisdom in all philosophers including unbleivers, Jews, Imams, wisdom from Buddha and other Buddhist Saints, Daoists, Confucianism, and wisdom/virtue from the Catholic Saints as well.

I have to have a strength and joy that is detached from and not shaken by material possessions and favorable external circumstances. Many of the Saints were able to die peacefully because their faith and hope was never shaken neither was their joy. I admire someone who has the balls to die for their beliefs.

I admire an atheist even more when they sacrifice, suffer, and die for what they believe to be true.

[Bucky Ball]

[Phatt Matt s]

[Bucky Ball]

[Phatt Matt s]

I think him being the most influential person in Human History is evidence that He was the Messiah. Also, he did meet some of the Old Testament Prophecies of the "Messiah". Especially in Isaiah. Paul was a very Educated Jew who knew His Scripture perhaps as good as any other Pharisee or Saducee.

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I mock the Bible and Christ all the time so am not quite sure why I'm zealously defending what I myself often feel is bullshit

Actually, I'll tell ya why. It's because of how arrogantly you state your views and the views of the authors you love so much as if it is a fact that is known with complete certainty and then you go so far as to talk like it's common knowledge.

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When it comes to seeing "visions," I just think people see and hear what they wish. And to create cheesy tourist attractions out of supposedly "sacred" events tells me all I need to know about their validity.

It is not unlike the paranormal or UFO "sightings." People might see something "else" or hear something "else" and because a place has been dubbed as "haunted," will assume what they saw was of the paranormal variety.

I know that Fatima story, and unfortunately, it is a story just like the Bible.

You glossed over my comment about research showing how it wasn't uncommon for people prior to Jesus' time, to think that gods were impregnating virgins.

It really wasn't anything new as Christianity would have us believe. (the idea of gods impregnating mortals)

I actually recently spoke of Krishna, Horus, Mithras, and the details of their similarities to Christ.

Fatima was nothing like UFO sightings or Bible stories. Thousands of Skeptics and anti-Religoius in a communist Government went there and wrote about the miracle.

The Children at Fatima were kidnapped, placed in an adult jail, and threatened with torture and death. They never denied it. They, prior to the miracle, were also persecuted by family and friends because everyone thought they were liars.

Unlike the Bible which was thousands of years ago, the miracle of Fatima took place in the 20th century and there was media and photographers at the event. We also have pictures and documents on the significant people linked to the Fatima incident including the anti-Catholic People who worked for the Government to try and put an end to it.

The resurgence of Faith in Portugal after the miracle lead to the fall of the Portugese Communist Government.
Mary also told the Children about future events including a light illuminated by an unknown light prior to the punishment of a second and greater war than the one that was taking place (WW1) during the apparitions.

I don't know that there was something Divine behind Fatima. What I do know is that it isn't just a "story".

[Bucky Ball]

[Phatt Matt s]

[truthBtold]

[Bucky Ball]

[Phatt Matt s]