A non-Christian understanding of the Christian Bible

[badger]

The church lost its way as soon as the twelve started debating about who would be greatest in the kingdom.

Fair enough. And I consider the disgraces of 'the churches' ever since those days.
I see the divisions as soon as I read a few verses from G-John. For me the gospel of Mark (less the Christian additions) is the true account and even the miracles in that story have temporal explanations.
Having said that I go to a couple of tea-n-chat meetings each week and most of the Christians there are very fine people.

 

[Longfellow]

There's a discussion going on in another thread, about the word "God" when it is applied to Jesus. It looks to me like that same word is applied in the scriptures not only to the God of Israel but also sometimes to other divine beings. There are some terms that are used only for the God of Israel and never to other divine beings, and none of those are ever applied to Jesus.

I see myself as being in agreement with one or more of the fathers in saying that we can't know anything about the essence of God, all we can know about is the energies. The only meaning that it can have for us to say that the Son is of the same essence as the Father, is in the energies.

 

[badger]

There's a discussion going on in another thread, about the word "God" when it is applied to Jesus. It looks to me like that same word is applied in the scriptures not only to the God of Israel but also sometimes to other divine beings. There are some terms that are used only for the God of Israel and never to other divine beings, and none of those are ever applied to Jesus.

I see myself as being in agreement with one or more of the fathers in saying that we can't know anything about the essence of God, all we can know about is the energies. The only meaning that it can have for us to say that the Son is of the same essence as the Father, is in the energies.

Interesting. I might look at that thread.

As a Non-theistical Deist I think of Jesus as a wise and good man who stood up for the working people of the Northern provinces where both Jews and pagans lived.

For me the title 'God' refers to the total sum of all matter, energy and all else that exists, and I do not believe that mankind has any special position or communication to this at all. How can we? .....we are so recent and such a tiny portion of all that is in this universe; what an amazing idea!

 

[wil]

Does that mean that the way of Jesus is no longer followed?

Mostly a bunch of CINOs? (Christians in name only)?

Present company excluded...

The cherry picking of the bible..sell your stuff and buy a sword...cuts in every direction imaginable hence thousands of denominations.

I think one way or another everyone strays from whatever as exemplified from the plethora of issues in the monasteries, schools, and revs and priests worldwide.

But while I claim not any route it surely aint sainthood I am not holier than a worm but will say it seems 99.9% of us should worry about the log and not the speck.

Personal growth means fertilizing the goo in ya and pulling out the weeds by the roots!

 

[badger]

Mostly a bunch of CINOs? (Christians in name only)?

Present company excluded...

I know many CINOs who are very decent, who have just followed the ways that they were taught and grown used to over many years.

And then there are those who just cannot help the hypocrisy.

I am not a Christian but I do have the greatest respect for the man Jesus who I have learned about over a long time.

I think one way or another everyone strays from whatever as exemplified from the plethora of issues in the monasteries, schools, and revs and priests worldwide.

For sure

But while I claim not any route it surely aint sainthood I am not holier than a worm but will say it seems 99.9% of us should worry about the log and not the speck.

Yes, but at the same time some specs just cannot be overlooked. Our authorities, such as police, need to concentrate on digging out other people's 'logs' during their duties, and then concentrate on their own failures in their spare time.

Personal growth means fertilizing the goo in ya and pulling out the weeds by the roots!

Oh no! And I was just getting to feel comfy this morning! Now you've reminded me of all that muck clearing that I need to do.

 

[Yahweh kid]

I've never found anyone online or offline, who seems to feel or think the way I do about Jesus.

The Bible tells us who Jesus is, it is not a feeling...... this is the only way we will not be deceived by the adversary, since he has a strong influence on our emotion, desires and thoughts. Jesus is the Word, the Rock, the reason for our existence.

 

[Yahweh kid]

I genuinely think that the Church lost its way during the first century

Why would you think that?