The Bible......

[Spinoza]

And another: http://www.tecmalta.org/tft153.htm

Let me know what you think...if you have time.

I have taken the time......
To read all of your hyper-links.

And I "think" that while they all proffer various arguments for incorporating the Old Testament into the Christian Bible...... They all share serious flaws for anyone not predisposed to ignoring their assumptions, and their literal leaps of fervant faith.

Perhaps there are one or two particular paragraphs/sections within all the material you have cited, that you find to be special significance for the topic at hand?

If so......
Please cite them, and I promise to reply in kind.

Cheers.

[Guisslapp]

Sounds complex until you consider what a human being is.... body, soul, and spirit...

What is "soul" and what is "spirit"?

[johnnylightnin]

I have taken the time......
To read all of your hyper-links.

And I "think" that while they all proffer various arguments for incorporating the Old Testament into the Christian Bible...... They all share serious flaws for anyone not predisposed to ignoring their assumptions, and their literal leaps of fervant faith.

Perhaps there are one or two particular paragraphs/sections within all the material you have cited, that you find to be special significance for the topic at hand?

If so......
Please cite them, and I promise to reply in kind.

Cheers.

The links that I've posted are large. If you would specify the serious flaws (or even just one serious flaw), I'd be happy to address it.

[Spinoza]

I've intentionally stayed away from this forum in recent months, but with a thread title like this I had to read it.

I'll keep this simple because I not real sure you are really interested in the answer but rather to start a debate against Christianity.

Why do historians study America before the Constitution? Or Lincoln before he was president? Why do people care about athletes before they go pro?

It's all one account, one story, one message from God.

It's the foundation of Christianity.

It's the prophesy and who Jesus would be and how we would know him.

It's the validation that man, no matter how much we try, would NEVER be able to EARN righteousness.

It's the story, time and time again of how imperfect we are an how perfect our God is.

It's the story of God's love for us and his desire to forgive us even when we don't deserve it.

It's the account of WHY Christ had to come and why he had to die on the cross. Because we can't restore the relationship with God ourselves. It took a perfect sacrifice, given willingly and freely.

And it is SO much more than can be summed up in a post on a message board.

Chris

How is it possible that anyone may be certain of anything......
Much less on some message board populated mostly by anonymous strangers?

However, and for what little "my word" might be worth to you or anyone else on this site......
I here state that this thread topic carries as much genuine interest as my philosophical subjectivity is capable of mustering......
AND......
That my intent here has nothing whatsoever to do with initiating "a debate against Christianity".

I personally consider the reported teachings of Christ to be above any rational reproach.

It is not any historical Christ that I question......
Only ALL who have somehow tumbled through Christian history in his namesake wake......
And how and why.

[johnnylightnin]

It is not any historical Christ that I question......
Only ALL who have somehow tumbled through Christian history in his namesake wake......
And how and why.

That's interesting. It must be remembered that many actions were done "In Jesus Name" that were far from Christ-like. I'll be the very first to admit that. From the Crusades to the selling of the "Free Gift of Salvation" for a small donation.

In attempting to understand the "transition" from Judaism to Christianity, a subject that would be perfect to study is the Apostle Paul. Paul was a Pharisee who persecuted the Christian Church until a conversion experience. The Book of Matthew is particularly meant for Jewish readers.

[Spinoza]

I've intentionally stayed away from this forum in recent months, but with a thread title like this I had to read it.

I'll keep this simple because I not real sure you are really interested in the answer but rather to start a debate against Christianity.

Why do historians study America before the Constitution? Or Lincoln before he was president? Why do people care about athletes before they go pro?

It's all one account, one story, one message from God.

It's the foundation of Christianity.

It's the prophesy and who Jesus would be and how we would know him.

It's the validation that man, no matter how much we try, would NEVER be able to EARN righteousness.

It's the story, time and time again of how imperfect we are an how perfect our God is.

It's the story of God's love for us and his desire to forgive us even when we don't deserve it.

It's the account of WHY Christ had to come and why he had to die on the cross. Because we can't restore the relationship with God ourselves. It took a perfect sacrifice, given willingly and freely.

And it is SO much more than can be summed up in a post on a message board.

Chris

Why do honest and rational historians......
Mark clear lines in the sands of the hourglasses that have preceeded and followed the unique political Constitution that America once indirectly offered to every human creature?

In how many ways was the leadership of Lincoln either better or worse than any American president, before his election or after his death?

I'll pass...... On why anyone over the age of 21 should seriously waste as much as 1 little grey cell on the fate or fortune of ANY man who has nothing to offer the herd but pointless athletic ability.

Now perhaps you would care to explain......
How ANY of the mundane man-stuff you have mentioned......
Somehow RANKS with any God or any Infinity?

More later.
Good night.

[johnnylightnin]

Now perhaps you would care to explain......
How ANY of the mundane man-stuff you have mentioned......
Somehow RANKS with any God or any Infinity?

I don't understand what you mean with the word "RANKS", but man is involved with God because that's what God chooses. God certainly doesn't need men, they don't add anything to him. Men exist because God chose to create them to be in fellowship with Him. It's really quite an honor.

[T_Won]

What is "soul" and what is "spirit"?

Webster's...

Soul: the immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life.
Spirit: the activating or essential principle influencing a person

[Guisslapp]

Webster's...

Soul: the immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life.
Spirit: the activating or essential principle influencing a person

even though the wording appears a little different, those words appear to describe the same thing to me. Can you explain the difference?

[T_Won]

even though the wording appears a little different, those words appear to describe the same thing to me. Can you explain the difference?

I can only try. That's kind of like asking me to explain the essence of God to you... some things won't be known until they are revealed. Or asking someone to describe air.

The Bible tells us that God breathed a soul into us. I know that's a metaphor for something the author couldn't expound on. I think Webster's had a good definition by saying, "the essence of life."

To me, a spirit is your conscience.... the little voice inside your head that speaks things that aren't on your mind. The voice that is yours, but argues with your mind. I like Webster's definition of "the influencing principle of your life."

[randerizer]

I can only try. That's kind of like asking me to explain the essence of God to you... some things won't be known until they are revealed. Or asking someone to describe air.

The Bible tells us that God breathed a soul into us. I know that's a metaphor for something the author couldn't expound on. I think Webster's had a good definition by saying, "the essence of life."

To me, a spirit is your conscience.... the little voice inside your head that speaks things that aren't on your mind. The voice that is yours, but argues with your mind. I like Webster's definition of "the influencing principle of your life."

I can describe air.

[johnnylightnin]

Many theologians believe that humans are dichotomous(body and soul or spirt) as opposed to trichotomous(body, soul, AND spirit). Personally, I don't have an opinion and don't particular see how it matters much.

[Guisslapp]

Many theologians believe that humans are dichotomous(body and soul or spirt) as opposed to trichotomous(body, soul, AND spirit). Personally, I don't have an opinion and don't particular see how it matters much.

Yeah, I am familiar with the dichotomy - but had never heard the trichotomy presented as such.

[Spinoza]

I think I know what you're trying to say. Jews don't believe in Jesus because, according to the Old Testament, that would be idol worship. Correct?

That's why Christians believe YHVH has 3 distinct personalities that exist within 1 godhead. Sounds complex until you consider what a human being is.... body, soul, and spirit... 3 in 1, yet still 1. I'll reference the word "echad" in the shema. Echad, at its core definition, means a unity of 1. Adonai is echad (a unity of 1). I wouldn't know that without the Old Testament.

"Correct"?......

Not correct......
What Jews may or not "believe in" is virtually irrelevant in the context of this thread.
My purpose in authoring this thread was to discuss what Christians "believe in" (and why) with a Bible that includes the Old Testament as their written guide to their Christian God.

BTW......
Regarding your statement "That's why Christians believe YHVH has 3 distinct personalities" and so forth.
This interests me because I have never before heard ANY Christian (you are a Christian I assume) refer to Christ/The Christian Trinity as YHVH.

Perhaps you would care to elaborate.

May I ask your Christian sect of choice?

[Spinoza]

Another glimpse into the Holy Trinity can be found in Genesis, when God states, "Let us make man in our own image."

And we would have to know the definition of "Elohim."

"When God states"......
Becomes even more meaningless with Elohim in any Judaic equation......
Unless the petty efforts of ancient Jewish factions to create a god in their preferred political/geograghic likeness somehow confuses YOUR Christianity even less than ONLY ONE Old Testament.

May I suggest that you do a bit of research on Elohist Judaism.
It is somewhat more complicated than any dictionary dichotomy you may care to digest.

AND ONCE AGAIN......
Has virtually no significance regarding the topic of this thread.