[pritchke]

Originally posted by Yorick: Without a source work how do you measure your beliefs against those that allegedly predate the bible? How in fact, do you prove that those beliefs even existed. Prelitterate society left no written record. Considering people dispute the authenticity of the most verified human work, how am I to simply accept oral records as truth, let alone displaying any sort of similarity or connection with times before, or since? Without a source work, how do you allow for a measurement of your own actions against an independent barometer? How can you claim to any similarity with religions of the past if no works exist?

It is called Faith, you as a Christian should understand that more than anyone. Just because something is written does not mean it is true just has 100% of the bible can not be proven with 'hard concrete fact'. Buildings, landscapes, are the most easily proven. Even today's authors use actual buildings in novels it doesn't make the characters real. While there is evidence to suggest Noah's ark existed and I believe it did. How was he going to get two of every living thing in the world on the boat. Look how large the world is, quite an impossible task for one man. Did the entire world flood or just a small portion. Maybe God had an undocumented plan for animals in North America? I also believe Dinosaurs existed on the planet before man, although there is no documentation or written works for this. It does not say God wiped them out and started over so what did he do. Do you have the right to judge another man's beliefs and faith? I thought only God was allowed to do that. The bible ask us as many questions as provides answers to them, and with helping people with everyday life it does a very good job at that as man as changed very little, they are still barbarians except now they wear suits and carry briefcases instead of a staff. I don't think God would want to give us answers to everything some things we have to discover on our own. I have seen a laying on hands ceremony before and only 1 in 10 actually worked. Do you know why God did not heal the other 9? I don't but I would not question their faith, as that is Gods place to judge not mine. Maybe he did heal them but decided there hearts needed healing more. It is not my place or yours to judge Chewies faith, you can state what you believe and not judge or say that Chewie is wrong, you came off a little self righteous to me when you stated "Unlike the consistency of your neo-pagan amalgams these writings provide a measure of constancy and measurability." This type of thing turns people away from Jesus and God, and many evangelical Christians use harsh in your face tactics that turn people further away than convert. The message that Jesus wanted to give was one of comfort and love. Not you are wrong and will be damned to hell. That message was that "he love's us", despite our short comings, or the black hole that we have stumbled in. The message is not that we are wrong or we are holding the wrong ideas or beliefs because those things are not for us mortals to decide. Even someone who has never picked up the bible could have recieved this message from God as he speaks through our hearts not through texts, scriptures, or rituals.

[ 10-28-2003, 11:16 AM: Message edited by: pritchke ]