Christianity - What has happened, anything?

Ah, but that's part of the problem. *Which* bible?

Here's a fun experiment (Debunked, you might like this as well)- go to a site like bible.com...they have several bible translations online, with a search function. Run some of your favorite bible verses through different translations and see how many different interpretations you can come up with.

 

Reading the 2 translations you just mentioned - give an example of it meaning something different.

Are you one of those young kids who didn't know words change their meaning over time just in the English language (not to mention the others)?

Give you an example if you are that young. The word gay use to mean happy. Now it isn't even used that way by really, really old people - like the ones that are in their 80's and 90's - and you thought they were just dinosaurs.

Sorry about the sarcasm, but these lame attempts come around so often and the person who brings them up are usually so ignorant of what they repeat.

 

You should be able to see a number of translations - but interpretations? Did they add a spot for people to interpret what they read now?

 

Shouldn't everyone interpret what they read according to their own views? If you rely on someone else's interpretation are you not just a sheep? And if the translations and/or update of words does not change the meaning of the message, why are there literally thousands of denominations of Christianity?

 

Typical responses.

Why interpret what has already been translated into your language?

Thousands now? I bet you believe in the millions killed in Iraq number too.

Denominations in Christianity is a bad thing. If they are all reading the Bible, we should not be divided on the small things. Now if you are adding mormonism and jw's into that figure than you might as well as islam because how much they change to suite their created gods. Either take the Bible as correct or throw it out completely, trying to pick and choose the parts you like or don't like lets you make up a new religion every time.

 

If the Bible does not have to be taken in context (interpreted), then why is it that most "orthodox" Pastors have to get a master's degree in theology before they are allowed to start preaching? Why can't they just start reading random bits of the Bible that they like?

Here's a better question: Why does one part of the Bible say "An eye for an eye" and another say "Vengeance is mine"?

There are only two logical answers:

#1) The Bible is full of contradictions.
#2) Different parts of the Bible have different contexts and don't always mean what they sound like at first.

Which do you believe?

Another question: Would you trust a Bible that was translated from Latin to English by a professing Satanist? Why not?

 

If you think those two contradict after actually reading the context and too whom they are directed towards. Did you read what Jesus said about an eye for an eye?

 

I'm glad you agree with my main point I was trying to make that, yes, things have to be taken in context.

Care to answer the other question?

 

This is not directed personally at debunked in any way. I think he's a nice guy. It's just directed at anyone who is interested in my view of the thread topic.

Anyway, I think we're getting off topic. Translation and theology doesn't really matter at all if The Holy Spirit isn't opening someone's heart. They're not going to see the truth even if it's being shouted at them. (which is another reason not to shout at them that they're going to hell.)

My point though is that this doctrine of eternal damnation is damaging and if it doesn't turn someone atheist, it sometimes causes fear, panic, or even insanity.

I think everyone knows that fear mongering is a bad thing just by instinct and not a characteristic of Christ, but if you need a Bible verse to back it up, it's pretty clear in every version:

Matthew 7:15-16
15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

So I think it's fairly obvious that the doctrine of eternal hell is producing some very bad fruit, or do I need to pull up examples of insanity and suicide?

Add that to the fact that the Biblical evidence and context for universal salvation really outweighs the sparse evidence for eternal hell, and you have a good indicator of a false doctrine. One that could just be serious enough to have given Christianity the reputation it has today.

 

This is why just being a christian isnt enough, because if i just know the english version bible i would fall for people that claim that the bible is full of contradictions. Heck, anyone can read a sentence of the bible and make it out to be hypocritical without reading the whole verse of paragraph in a unified thought. To fully nitpick and understand the bible you need to go all the way through in bible history and way before that and actually read about the culture of the time that jesus grew up to fully understand his words.

there were many people that claimed jesus never claimed he was god and this is totally false. Jesus claimed many times he was also god but if you didnt understand the hebrew culture of those times you would never know what he meant by saying IAM.

Bring on those so called 1 sentence contradictions because if you fully understand the bible in all its forms and traditions these so called contradictions could be fully explained.

 

What is the purpose of a book that can be interpreted correctly ONLY of you know very well the language and culture of 2K years ago? What if our knowledge of ancient history is lost?

 

Instead of reading, understanding and practicing the essence of Christ's message and teachings, people relegate themselves to rote rituals and ceremonies, wishful thinking, miracle expecting, going through the motions, reading just the words but not understanding, clinging to outdated beliefs and words and concepts ...... well, i could go on. But many are doing it wrong.

Robert Schuller is a man that greatly impresses me. His books are an indication of what is the right thing to do.

 

That's a great point, I think. There is something called the Living Word. It would be the mystical side of Christianity (The Holy Spirit)... the apostles who wrote the New Testament depended on the inspiration of The Holy Spirit, and they weren't even really trying to write a book. Most of the books of the New Testament are actually letters that the apostles sent to different churches.

The mystical side is hard to believe though, but apparently seeing Jesus risen from the dead was convincing enough that the apostles proceeded to go and get themselves killed spreading the good news, partly so that people 2000 years later might have a better chance at believing in, and participating in the magic that they had witnessed.

John 20:29-31 (King James Version)
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.