Christian Mythology

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Why is it that Christianity is one of the few religions that requires its adherents to believe its myhtology is reality?

The Jews understand that Genesis is an amalgamation of different creation stories; one showing God as an omnipotent outsider and one showing God as a personal deity. They do not believe that that was the literal way it happened. Why do so many sects of Christianity insist that the Creation actually took place in the exact manner the Bible reports?

Why is it important that the events relayed in the Bible actually happened just as it says? Is the message not strong enough to stand on its own?

These are questions I find myself asking, but I have yet to hear a satisfactory answer. I am not an anti-Christian or trying to make an attack on anyone's faith. I am curious as to why Christianity holds this belief, but few other religions do.

-- J Biscuits (thefilthohgodthefilth@yahoo.com), February 10, 2004

Answers

I wonder if you are going under the assumption that all men believe the same things in the same ways. I think that man believes things according to their time and experience. The Bible teaches man the same thing in different ways. One mans Genisis is another's Fantasy, but the message is universal. God is the Creator of all that is. Free Will is the pivitol point that may bring us closer or farther to God. Every man has his way of believing because every man is different.

...............

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), February 10, 2004.


Thank you for your reply, rod. I understand that all humans do not believe the same. I understand that there are over 250 sects of Christianity. The mythology that I am most concerned with is not the stories of the ancient Hebrews (I was using the Genesis story as a less contraversial example); rather, I am curious as to the necesity to believe that Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus. Many religions have myths about their savior being conceived without the seed of a human male (Hinduism even has Manu sire a daughter with the ocean!), but it seems that only (most) Christians require a belief that this event was fact. Why is this belief so pivotal to many people's faiths?

-- J Biscuits (thefilthohgodthefilth@yahoo.com), February 11, 2004.

If Jesus was purely human, very vew would believe anything in Scriptures. Jesus walked on water? Impossible. Humans don't do that. Jesus cured the blind, without a medical bag and operating room? Impossible. No human can do that. Jesus died and resurrected? Impossible. No human can do that. Well, Jesus must actually be God. Only God can do those things. But, to say that Jesus was born of the joining of two humans--Mary and Joseph--would mean that they were not only human, but they were divine. So, why not worship Mary and Joseph, too? Because, they were not divine. But, then how do we explain Jesus' birth? Well, God had all to do with His birth. So, Mary would have had to be a virgin. If it is easy to believe that Jesus did all that He did, which was humanly impossible, then we can believe that God provided the Salvation plan. To believe anything different would provide the evidence for disbelief.

.......................

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), February 11, 2004.


I suppose that if we don't believe in Mary's Immaculate Conception, we open the door to the entire Christian belief into disbelief. We can begin to view Jesus as a political figure and not as Our Saviour. We can begin to view the Bible as a book based on a social contract rather than a Salvation plan. We can then question every miracle as to their validity and as simple parables. We can even conclude that Christ did resurrect on the third day, but not in flesh, only in spirit or and idea. Hey, the Gnostics kind of got that idea started way back when.

It is a difficult thing to believe that Mary was what they say she was. Miracles are difficult to believe, too. The whole Christian thing is really a trip into "la la land". Many people consider it a hoax. Many consider the reality of nothing-ness as our final resting place. But, when we gaze into the heavens and experience our lives along those who we love and those who bring us hardships, doesn't it give us a little inkling into the possibilities that eternal life does exist? The mere mystery of our existence is too much for our minds to comprehend. To think that our fate is an arrival into nothing-ness is rather limited and meaningless. Those other religions and phylosophies you mentioned don't have such a positive resolve to our human condition. Christianity is filled with good, hope, and life.

..................

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), February 11, 2004.


It is also written that Siddhartha Gautama was born from a sexless conception. There are Buddhist scriptures that document monks walking on water. There are several Ch'an sayings that make reference to this. ("Walking on water is not the miracle; walking on this Earth is a miracle"; "Can you walk on water? You have done no better than a straw. Mastering your own mind is true victory") Resurrection of the dead is an underlying theme in many religions (Egyptian, Hindu, Buddhism, etc.). In these religions, however, the stories are not usulally taken for face value. Few Buddhists actually believe that Siddhartha was born to his mother after a dream.

Is it possible for a Christian to believe that the stories have been embellished over the years and still accept Jesus as Messiah? The Greek school of thought did have a sizeable impact on any philosophy it got its hands on. Would doubting the authenticity of some of the events related in the New Testament cause one to be damned in the eyes of YHWH?

-- J Biscuits (thefilthohgodthefilth@yahoo.com), February 11, 2004.



dear J. Biscuits,

I also had many questions, some the same as yours, yet now they are fully answered and I would so like to be able to answer yours if I am able. I am just wondering if anyone has clearly explained the Gospel to you, about the 'why's' of belief in Christ as opposed to any other belief, for I have found that some know 'what' they believe but not 'why' they believe it, if that makes sense.

God Bless you...

-- Gillian Dickenson (Gilliantwin@msn.com), February 11, 2004.


I am with on this, J. Biscuits.

The virgin birth never happened.

I know my friend Rod, like many others clings to it because Jesus did miracles.

Yet so did Moses, so did Elijah, so did Elisha, so did Peter, so did Paul. They resurrected dead people. They created miracles of bread, parting the waters, and so for.

Are they all Gods? No.

What makes Jesus unique is the mission.

His mission was to call and offer to people to God's offer of salvation.

And by the way, Isaiah 7:14 says Almah meaning young woman. Bethulah is virgin. That woman of Isaiah lived over 700 years before Jesus Christ. She was Hezekiah's mom, not Jesus. That is the context of the true story.

I am familiar with Budha's birth story.

When Jesus was born even the Roman Emperor was worshipped as a God. That is why Jesus was also worshipped as a god.

The people who made the Gospel of john and Mark forgot to delete Jesus words that he was ascending to his God. That is good to know. Because Jesus called God his God.

Mark even shows Jesus asking God why he has abandoned him.

Mar 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Jhn 8:54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:

Jhn 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and [to] my God, and your God.

Genesis 1-6 is fake. It was added later during the Babylonian exile.

The Christian Yahwist

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonval@yahoo.com), February 11, 2004.


"Almah meaning young woman. Bethulah is virgin."

Mary WAS a young woman. When the angel Gabriel came to her with the news she asked, "How will this be since I am a virgin." Another translation is "How will this be since I know no man."

Mary was pleged to Joseph. Why would she say, " I know no man" if her husband was already choosen? She isn't referring to lack of acquaintance, but her virginity.

In the KJV, the way the sexual relations are described between Adam and Eve are, "And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived..."

Wasn't Adam in the Garden with Eve? His "knowing her" isn't referring to familiarity, but to sexual relations. Thus with Mary, she knew no man, was a virgin.

-- Luke Juarez (hubertdorm@yahoo.com), February 11, 2004.


Yes, J. . I have a book in my collection about the many "Messiahs". It boggles the mind when we look at the history of man and his beliefs. Could it be that Jesus is just another addition to the multitude of religions in the world?

Faith is the necessary element.

I wonder if Mary's grave has ever been found. The Catholic Church did teach of Mary's ascendsion into Heaven. The real question has nothing to do with Mary's ascent into Heaven, but that she is in Heaven.

What is so unbelievable about the Gospels that would cause us not to believe? When we have doubts we make interpretations of Scriptures in order to settle our faiths. Or, we put our faith in an established faith system, be it Protestant, non-Christian, non-Catholic, or Catholic. Christianity.

It can be dangerous waiting for signs and miracles. We may not recognize either one, yet depend on them for a solid faith.

..........................

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), February 11, 2004.


Luke,

I am not debating that Mary was a virgin when she was engaged to Joseph.

Even Rod knows that.

What I debate is the confusion of the writer (Who wrote Matthew) in applying Isaiah 7:14 to Jesus. Almah refers not to a virgin but one who is young.

Isaiah 7:14 refers to Ahaz wife, the mother of future king Hezekiah. Many of the prophecies of Isaiah don't refer to Jesus, but Hezekiah.

Hezekiah was one of Judah's most righteous kings.

Read Isaiah ch. 7 in context. It says that before Immanuel reaches a certain age, the son of Romaliah and the Syrian king who were attacking Ahaz would be no more.

Thus, Immanuel was a sign for king Ahaz, not for Jesus generation in 4 BC, 700 years later.

The day Protestants , Orthodox Catholics,and Roman Catholics understand that, then their eyes will be opened.

My eyes began to open up when in 1982 I tried to piece the 4 gospel to make a play about Jesus. I used the Greek text. I was 19. The pieces did not match.

The Christian Yahwist The Man of Yahweh

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonval@yahoo.com), February 11, 2004.



Almah is used more than once for 'virgin' in the Old testament. Having four verses that translate Almah as virgin, one could safely conclude that it can and does mean virgin.

Gen 24:43, Is.7:14, Song of Sol. 1:3, 6:8 - 'Almah' " a damsel, maid or virgin" It is from the root 'alam' which means something concealed, secret or kept out of sight. Hence 'almah' having the meaning of 'veiled' or 'private'.

"Let God be true and every man a liar"

-- Gillian Dickenson (Gilliantwin@msn.com), February 12, 2004.


Elpidio,

You said: "I am not debating that Mary was a virgin when she was engaged to Joseph."

Well good, for that is exactly when she conceived. Therefore I am glad you finally agree with scripture on the virgin birth.

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost."

-- Gillian Dickenson (Gilliantwin@msn.com), February 12, 2004.


Gillian,

You misunderstood me again.

I don't believe in the virgin birth the way you do. By that I mean, Mary was a virgin when she met Joseph. Joseph and Mary had sexual relations. God sent dream visions to Joseph and Mary that their son would be the one that would lead people into salvation. That son was Jesus.

At Jesus baptism, as mark points out, Jesus was anointed by God's power, his Holy Spirit.

Matthew's mistranslation and misapplication of Isaiah 7:14 has made many caholics and protestants believe , Even Jehovah's witnesses, Arrians, and Nestorians, that Mary remained always a virgin. The Holy Spirit somehow created Jesus.

They ignore also that Ruach ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit in Hebrew ) is a feminine word.

The Christian Yahwist

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonval@yahoo.com), February 12, 2004.


"Holy Spirit" seems to take on a man-made design. Is this the meaning of spirit?

.................

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), February 12, 2004.


Rod, On commentateries by Jerome on scripture and other writers, he says concerning the Holy Spirit:

Origen on John, ii. 12. And if any accept the Gospel according to the Hebrews, where the Saviour himself saith, 'Even now did my mother the Holy Spirit take me by one of mine hairs, and carried me away unto the great mountain Thabor', he will be perplexed, &c. . . .

On Jeremiah, homily xv.4. And if anyone receive that saying, 'Even now my mother the Holy Spirit took me and carried me up unto the great mountain Thabor', and the rest. . . .

The description of the Holy Spirit as 'my mother' is due to the fact that the Hebrew word for spirit is of the feminine gender. The saying, it is generally thought, refers to the Temptation.

This is taken from the Gospel to the Hebrews. Whatever is left of it. Here is the site: Comparative religions.

The Christian yahwist/The man of Yahweh

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonval@yahoo.com), February 12, 2004.



I can hear the same overtones in The Book of Wisdom.

........................

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), February 12, 2004.


Mañana cumplo años, cuarenta y cuatro. Pero no digas nada. ¿ Tienes consejos para mi? Ya se pasaron muchas cosa que queria hacer con mi vida. Mas antes vivîa para el futuro, ahora vivo con el pasado. Vamos a ver como se pasa mañana, ojala que lo aguanto tranquilo.

.........................

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), February 12, 2004.


Rodrigo,

me ganas con tres.

Mas del 50% de las cosas que quise hacer en la vida, nunca mas las podre hacer, como por ejemplo ser jugador profesional de fubol(not USA football). Solo fueron metas que no podre lograr jamas.

Sin embargo, hay otras metas que me he trazado en la vida. -Tener una iglesia universal avbierta a todo mundo.(Despues del sueno que tuve) -Tener mis propios negocios: bancos, companias de aseguranza, hospitales,...y despues dejarlos a mis hijos para que ellos se encarguen. -Escribir -Tener mi propio rancho con animales. Cultivar la tierra. (Naci en un rancho, Rod. Jamas pense que la ciudad terminaria siendo un iman que no me suelta.) -Viajar por el mundo.

La vida es corta. Mi padre murio a los 60. No quiero morir sin por lo menos haber logrado algunas de ellas.

Esa es mi sugerencia, Rodrigo. Trata de buscar otras cosas que te hagan sentirte feliz sin ofender mucho a Dios.

El Hombre de Yahveh.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonval@yahoo.com), February 12, 2004.


Feliz cumpleanos, Rodrigo.

Si tuvieras por lo menos otros 30 mas, que harias?

El cristiano yavista.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonval@yahoo.com), February 12, 2004.


Gracias, Elpidio.

Cuando yo estaba joven yo querîa ser un padrecito de una iglesia. Pero me dicen que para ser pastor es una cosa dificil y que Dios nos llama. Mi sueño, o fantasîa, es que cuando me retiro de la escuela yo podre tener mi iglesia, igual como tu. Si, pero una iglesia pequeña. Los Catolicos me van a creer loco.

...............

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), February 12, 2004.


Decia Pablo el apostol que la muerte en la cruz de Jesus y su resurreccion eran un escandalo y locura para los judios y los griegos.

Si la sinagoga judia no hubiera sido tan dura con Jesus, Jesus todavia hubiera sido clasificado como judio piadoso por su gente en vez de un apostata.

Aun Jesus, Rodrigo, tubo que separse de su gente y fundar una iglesia.

El Cristiano Yavista/El hombre de Yahveh

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonval@yahoo.com), February 12, 2004.


ahh Elpidio, do forgive me, I thought you said, "I am not debating that Mary was a virgin when she was engaged to Joseph."

Please excuse my misinterpretation of that. *smile*

Could you therefore enlighten us all on exactly when her virginity ended? For the scriptures tell us that it was during her engagement to Joseph, before they came together, that she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

-- Gillian Dickenson (Gilliantwin@msn.com), February 13, 2004.


Gillian,

do you mean that Mary and Joseph ate the apple before? as we would say now, they had sexual relations before being married? Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Coming together means living in the same house, not necessarily having sex.

Later on in Matthew the scriptures use the words to know meaning to have sex. That is the case at the end of Matthew. And [2532] kai knew [1097] ginosko her [846] autos not [3756] ou till [2193] heos (with Strongs #) [3757] hou she had brought forth [5088] tikto her [846] autos firstborn [4416] prototokos son: [5207] huios

An engaged person was already assumed to be married in Hebrew eyes. An israelite could not have sex with her partner during her menstrual period or during her pregnancy.

Matthew says Joseph did that.

Once Jesus was born, Joseph had sex again with his wife.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Lev 12:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.

Lev 12:3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

Lev 12:4 And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.

Lev 12:5 But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days.

Lev 15:18 The woman also with whom man shall lie [with] seed of copulation, they shall [both] bathe [themselves] in water, and be unclean until the even.

Lev 15:24 And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.

Lev 15:31 Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that [is] among them

Somehow Matthew's text has been adulterated since Mark doesn't have it (Matthew copied from Mark 95% of his gospel), neither does Luke who copied Mathew (They share about 50% material), neither does John. Neither does the Gospel of Thomas on which Mark is based.

Everything is the result of a bad traslation and misapplication of Isaiah 7:14.

It is time the Christian world wakes up and sees this text how it should actually be.

Jesus came in the flesh. He was the product of human interaction through the work of the holy spirit.

Jesus was preordained in time. He had to come. That is no problem for me.

What bothers me is falsying and misapplying scriptures to do so.

The Christian Yahwist/The Man of Yahweh

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonval@yahoo.com), February 13, 2004.


Elpidio,

I have to just reply to your very first paragraph, then I shall read the rest.

Apple??... If you are referring to Adam and Eve then a) there was no 'apple' and b) the eating of that fruit never referred to sex.

Now I shall carry on reading.

-- Gillian Dickenson (Gilliantwin@msn.com), February 14, 2004.


Elpidio,

I am wondering why you have such a problem with the virgin birth?

God Bless...

p.s ...the phrase 'knew her' occurs three times in the Old testament and all three have the meaning of sexual intercourse. Plus 'come together/came together' in scripture never means dwelling in the same house. In fact Ezk 37:7 shows that 'came together' is a close uniting of something physical.

-- Gillian Dickenson (Gilliantwin@msn.com), February 14, 2004.


The "fruit" dealt with wisdom and all those things that make men arrogant, which distance him from God. The sin.

.....................................

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), February 14, 2004.


the 'fruit' was the 'fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil'. Until then, Adam and Eve were innocent, not knowing good or evil, therefore not having sin or righteousness imputed unto them until after they ate.

-- Gillian Dickenson (Gilliantwin@msn.com), February 14, 2004.

I know a lot has alreayd been answered, but I shall answer for the top. My answers in {} brackets.

--------------------------------------------------

Why is it that Christianity is one of the few religions that requires its adherents to believe its myhtology is reality?

{Is it?}-Zarove The Jews understand that Genesis is an amalgamation of different creation stories; one showing God as an omnipotent outsider and one showing God as a personal deity.

{Do they? For strters you make a false dicvision. Chrisyains univerally beleive it to be a literal acoint, and Jews Universlaly see it as two accouns and a mythology. Many Jews beelive as you claim all Christians do, and manY chrisains vewi the wole of thefirst few chaoters of Genesis as mythical.

Nonetheless, I gave up on the "Two creation acocuts" Long ago. Its relaly just oen creation acocunt, capter 2 snt relaly a seperate acount.I will exlain if asked.}-Zarove

They do not believe that that was the literal way it happened.

{See above. many jews do. Liekwise, many Chrisyains don't.}-Zarove

Why do so many sects of Christianity insist that the Creation actually took place in the exact manner the Bible reports?

{why not? It's a written account, and it is not really difficult to see why piple woudl beleive it, since th Bibel is accurat ein other regards when it comes ot history. Also, please don't use the word "Sect", its used by many who are antagnonistic towards the faiht as a slur.}-Zarove

Why is it important that the events relayed in the Bible actually happened just as it says?

{Depends on what part of the Bible. Mainly because the Bibel prports ot be a hisotrical document an the religion isnt based on Myhtology. if the events didnt happen, then the moral lessons woudl be nice and all, but ikt woudl have no real authority otherise.}-Zarove

Is the message not strong enough to stand on its own?

{That was never the point. if it was all abo hte mesage then the entire Bibel woudl be liek the wisdom liturature and the letter sof Paul. The Historical books record events for the lesosns as well as to rpesent hisorrical record. The Bible is not merely a book of moral rules, but also an account of hisory that verifies God's interaction with men.}-Zarove

These are questions I find myself asking, but I have yet to hear a satisfactory answer.

{I will give one in my next post if you are still here and interested.}-Zarove

I am not an anti-Christian or trying to make an attack on anyone's faith. I am curious as to why Christianity holds this belief, but few other religions do.

{Actually most rleigions do. especially ancient ones. Likewise, Chrisyainity holds that soem events where literlaly true not so much becaue they present the mesage, btu because they are offeed as true. The Bible in th sectiosn tou are askign about are presented as a Hisotry, not as a mytholgy sdesigned to each a mroal lesson.}-Zarove

Thank you for your reply, rod. I understand that all humans do not believe the same.

{Good.}-Zarove

I understand that there are over 250 sects of Christianity.

{Theirs that word again lol. Just a comment.}-Zarove

The mythology that I am most concerned with is not the stories of the ancient Hebrews (I was using the Genesis story as a less contraversial example); rather, I am curious as to the necesity to believe that Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus.

{Because the virgin Birth is recorded as a Hisotry, as well as a sign of the divinity of Christ. Chrisainity isnt all abut the moral code it teaches, btu also about a loving God and the deeper reality of the Universe. Jesus's life was not purely myhtological in constriction, nor was it designed ony to illustrate a point.}-Zarove

Many religions have myths about their savior being conceived without the seed of a human male (Hinduism even has Manu sire a daughter with the ocean!),

{Manu was a man, thus it had male seed, and he had sex withthe ocean spirit or goddess, therefoe this relaly sint similar.}-Zarove

but it seems that only (most) Christians require a belief that this event was fact. Why is this belief so pivotal to many people's faiths?

{Because, it is rpesented as hisotrical fact, NOT as an illiustration of anything. The Gospels arent prsented as mytholpgy to illiustrate a point, btu as a record of God keepig his promise to mankind. The Hebrews wheren't like most cultures in that they didnt have a strong myhtology designed to expalin the Universe,a n that which they did have was neve considered Holy. The accounts of david and solomon where ket just as we keep hisptry books of the Kinggs and presedents.

The putpose of recordign the Virgin Birht is to illsutrate an event in hisotry and show God's power, if the Cvirgin Birht is a myth, what woudl prevent us form thinkign likewise the miracles where, or maybe God hismelf?

also, why shoudl we doubt the virgin Birht? The Gsopels stand up to hisotrical scrutiyy as far as how history boosk where written back then, and dont rese,ble myhtological works, such as Ovid's, at all.

Again, they are given to us as Hisotry, not as myhtology, thats why we beelive.}-Zarove

It is also written that Siddhartha Gautama was born from a sexless conception.

{Not in the oldest sources. I knwo that many sceptics propogate hte Borrowing theory that everyhtignint he Bibel is taken form elsewhere, hwoever, Buddha's Virgin Birth post-Dates christainity by 600 years, and is likely to be an interpolition in the opposite dirction. rather than beign the case where Christaisnt took a Buddhist myth and interwove it into their own, it seems the opposite occured.}-Zarove

There are Buddhist scriptures that document monks walking on water.

{Miracles aboutn in all s croptires. Likewise, miracles still happen today. Shoudl i beleive all Miracles ar emyth? Plus, this again post- dates Chrisyainity.}-Zarove

There are several Ch'an sayings that make reference to this. ("Walking on water is not the miracle; walking on this Earth is a miracle"; "Can you walk on water? You have done no better than a straw. Mastering your own mind is true victory")

{Again, whats the date of the sayings?}-Zarove

Resurrection of the dead is an underlying theme in many religions (Egyptian, Hindu, Buddhism, etc.).

{Yes and no. The theme may be the same, but the ressuectiosn are diffeent and mean differen tthings. The egyptians for instance never thoght of a god ressuretign himself.}-Zarove

In these religions, however, the stories are not usulally taken for face value.

{Actually, they where. Many buddhists still consider Buddha to have been a Miracle worker, likewise, the egyptians did beleive that their myths where true. It is false to think they just hadthem a allegory, as any book on egyptoolgy will tell you.}-Zarove

Few Buddhists actually believe that Siddhartha was born to his mother after a dream.

{Especially those who use the Peli Cannon, where the stroy is not found. This story wa sinterpoluted centreis after Christ.}-Zarove Is it possible for a Christian to believe that the stories have been embellished over the years and still accept Jesus as Messiah?

{The term "Jesus Seminar" coems to mind...}-Zarove

The Greek school of thought did have a sizeable impact on any philosophy it got its hands on.

{Look at the hisotry, you will see where this theory falls to ash when it coems to Chrisyainiy an the Jews.}-Zarove

Would doubting the authenticity of some of the events related in the New Testament cause one to be damned in the eyes of YHWH?

{Its mroe abotu who you are than anyhtign else. However, Beleiving is wser since they are presented as fact, and hteir is no reaosn to doubt.}-Zarove

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), May 07, 2004.


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