The Sword of Christ

[Charlie24]

No contradictions, huh.

So tell me.  Was your godboy born before 4 BC when Herod the Great was King of Judaea - or after 6 AD when Publius Sulpicius Quirinius was named Imperial Legate of Syria?

Be sure to document your answer.

Have you not read in Scripture that Joseph and Mary received a vision from God to take Jesus and flee to Egypt because Herod was about to put to death all the Jewish children who were of that age?

[Minimalist]

Let's be clear about something, pal.  I do not give a flying fuck about your "scriptures."  I don't care how many "holies" you stick in front of them they are nothing but the (much) later bleatings of believers and have no basis in fact.

I prefer history and archaeology to your superstition.

NOW.  Do we understand each other?

[Charlie24]

Let's be clear about something, pal.  I do not give a flying fuck about your "scriptures."  I don't care how many "holies" you stick in front of them they are nothing but the (much) later bleatings of believers and have no basis in fact.

I prefer history and archaeology to your superstition.

NOW.  Do we understand each other?

Yes, we certainly do!

[Charlie24]

Minimalist, If you don't like my Scriptures, and I'm sure you don't, I would suggest you put me on ignore.

AS long as I'm here, don't know how long, I will use the Scriptures as my base for discussion!

You can use your "history and archaeology" that's fine with me.

[no one]

The pot has issues with the kettle's old wives tales. How very rich.

This one is fresh out of the irony bath.

[no one]

Still waiting for those examples.

[Charlie24]

Still waiting for those examples.

I've been kinda busy, don't remember what examples you're speaking of.

Refresh my memory.

[Astreja]

No contradictions, huh.

So tell me.  Was your godboy born before 4 BC when Herod the Great was King of Judaea - or after 6 AD when Publius Sulpicius Quirinius was named Imperial Legate of Syria?

Be sure to document your answer.

Have you not read in Scripture that Joseph and Mary received a vision from God to take Jesus and flee to Egypt because Herod was about to put to death all the Jewish children who were of that age?

Funny thing, Charlie - I don't see the answer to Minimalist's question in your response.

And there are no non-Biblical records of this alleged massacre of children, either.

[Charlie24]

No contradictions, huh.

So tell me.  Was your godboy born before 4 BC when Herod the Great was King of Judaea - or after 6 AD when Publius Sulpicius Quirinius was named Imperial Legate of Syria?

Be sure to document your answer.

Have you not read in Scripture that Joseph and Mary received a vision from God to take Jesus and flee to Egypt because Herod was about to put to death all the Jewish children who were of that age?

Funny thing, Charlie - I don't see the answer to Minimalist's question in your response.

And there are no non-Biblical records of this alleged massacre of children, either.

Well, I can see why you're not aware of it.

[Minimalist]

How about an old testament contadiction?

[Charlie24]

How about an old testament contadiction?

If you like, start a new thread on "Bible Contradictions."

I'll catch up with you!

[Minimalist]

You will never catch up..... or on.

[Astreja]

Funny thing, Charlie - I don't see the answer to Minimalist's question in your response.

And there are no non-Biblical records of this alleged massacre of children, either.

Well, I can see why you're not aware of it.

Oh, I assure you that I'm aware of the story that Herod allegedly ordered those children killed.  I was aware of it sixty years ago, when I read the Bible for the first time.  (Spoiler alert:  Reading the Bible guaranteed that I would never take Christianity seriously.)

As a student of Classics, however, I am aware of no credible contemporaneous evidence that such a massacre ever occurred.

[Charlie24]

Anybody,
at what number of negative points do I get the axe, I'm really getting up there.

Is that what those point are for? In all my years of being on forums never seen the likes of negative points.

[Charlie24]

Funny thing, Charlie - I don't see the answer to Minimalist's question in your response.

And there are no non-Biblical records of this alleged massacre of children, either.

Well, I can see why you're not aware of it.

Oh, I assure you that I'm aware of the story that Herod allegedly ordered those children killed.  I was aware of it sixty years ago, when I read the Bible for the first time.  (Spoiler alert:  Reading the Bible guaranteed that I would never take Christianity seriously.)

As a student of Classics, however, I am aware of no credible contemporaneous evidence that such a massacre ever occurred.

Thank you for clarifying that. Just another example of the OP, the walk of faith or sight-- The Sword.

[Astreja]

Just another example of the OP, the walk of faith or sight-- The Sword.

Charlie, I have an interesting story to recount.  I just turned 66 a couple of weeks ago.  In all those years I have never experienced anything that could be construed as religious faith, because the assertions of Christianity (and various other religions) generate an automatic "Yeah, riiiiiight..." response in my brain.  Apparently I was born with a BS detector power-up, and also had the spectacular good fortune to have religiously indifferent parents who never preached at me.  As a result, any religious "sword" swung in my direction just bounces (with  an occasional shower of somewhat impolite verbal sparks as I voice my annoyance). 

If you're worried about your negative rep points, perhaps you should read the raters' comments and take them to heart.  We're generally a pretty laid-back group here, but we don't like being preached at.  We've heard it all before, and rejected it all before.  Don't go down that path - it's a dead end.

[pattylt]

I like the contradiction in the two genealogies of Jesus. No, one isn’t Mary’s. They both say Joseph is the father (a problem in itself).

So which is right and which is wrong…or, most likely they both are wrong.

[epronovost]

That's not what the Scripture says! It's always amazed me how some will believe old wives tales and completely ignore what's written in the Word.

That's not old wives tale anymore than the rest of scripture. We do know who wrote the Book of Revelation. It was John the Elder from the island of Patmos which was known for it's psychotropic mushrooms and their use for prophetic visions and soothsaying. Yeah, according to those information and the very content of the Book of Revelation, it's the description of a shroom trip. I'm surprised you, who pride yourself in knowing the Scriptures in and out, didn't knew about this information. 

Yes, and some of these so-called churches are a mockery before God. Whose end is also predicted in Scripture.

Or it you so-called church that is a mockery before God for denying the prophetic visions brought on and bestowed upon his chosen... You know they don't agree with you and that their traditions have a strong basis in early Christendom. Jesus himself went into the desert where he had hallucinations brought on by exposure meant to test his faith and his nature. Hallucinations, visions and dreams are common themes and means of divine communication in Scriptures.

[epronovost]

Anybody,
at what number of negative points do I get the axe, I'm really getting up there.

Is that what those point are for? In all my years of being on forums never seen the likes of negative points.

Oh there is no limits to negative points. You can't get banned for being disliked. You can only be banned for spamming threads, proselytizing (this is your most likely account if you refuse to engage with people unless it's on your term or participate in non-religious conversations), bullying other members or for creating multiple accounts (the most common ban offense). In general, moderation is going to warn you at least once to change your behavior before banning you. I think the record of dislike was around -14 or something like that. The negative rep prevents you from rating other people and shows to other your standing within the community. If you click on the number, you can read the comment as to why you have been given a bad, neutral or positive point.

[Minimalist]

As a student of Classics, however, I am aware of no credible contemporaneous evidence that such a massacre ever occurred.

And you did not miss it, Astreja.  Josephus, who seemingly recounted every calumny he could against Herod somehow managed to miss that one.  In fact, the only place that story appears is in the so-called gospel of matthew...and we know what value those gospels have when it comes historical reality.  Matthew is also the place where a "star" supposedly bounced along the ground leading the "wise me" to Bethlehem.  Somehow even the other gospel writers managed not to hear about those two things.

Takes a real moron to believe that kind of bullshit.

[Astreja]

Matthew is also the place where a "star" supposedly bounced along the ground leading the "wise me" to Bethlehem.  Somehow even the other gospel writers managed not to hear about those two things.

And Matthew 27:52-53 has the Passover Zombie Parade!  What was that guy smoking?

[Dom]

Anybody,
at what number of negative points do I get the axe, I'm really getting up there.

Is that what those point are for? In all my years of being on forums never seen the likes of negative points.

It doesn't get you banned. It does prevent you from rating others. That's all.

[Charlie24]

Just another example of the OP, the walk of faith or sight-- The Sword.

Charlie, I have an interesting story to recount.  I just turned 66 a couple of weeks ago.  In all those years I have never experienced anything that could be construed as religious faith, because the assertions of Christianity (and various other religions) generate an automatic "Yeah, riiiiiight..." response in my brain.  Apparently I was born with a BS detector power-up, and also had the spectacular good fortune to have religiously indifferent parents who never preached at me.  As a result, any religious "sword" swung in my direction just bounces (with  an occasional shower of somewhat impolite verbal sparks as I voice my annoyance). 

If you're worried about your negative rep points, perhaps you should read the raters' comments and take them to heart.  We're generally a pretty laid-back group here, but we don't like being preached at.  We've heard it all before, and rejected it all before.  Don't go down that path - it's a dead end.

This is far from preaching, it's just answering questions and fighting off the nay-sayers. You would really be upset if I started preaching. But I promised I wouldn't do that, and I'm not.

Who knows, is there just one or maybe more that want to hear what I'm saying. I'm here for that one, I can show him the way. I can show him what this Christian life is all about, if he wants to know.

So, if you can just put up with me, or ignore me for a while, I would greatly appreciate that. I won't be here long as I know my kind is the agitator for most.

[Charlie24]

Anybody,
at what number of negative points do I get the axe, I'm really getting up there.

Is that what those point are for? In all my years of being on forums never seen the likes of negative points.

It doesn't get you banned. It does prevent you from rating others. That's all.

Ok, thank you for that information.

[Dom]

Funny thing, Charlie - I don't see the answer to Minimalist's question in your response.

And there are no non-Biblical records of this alleged massacre of children, either.

Well, I can see why you're not aware of it.

What about all those people born in an area of the world that raises them in the scriptures of another god, and they follow that scripture? Are they going to burn in hell? What religion you are raised in depends on where you are born, and you have no power to control that.