Re: Evidences of God

On Wed, 8 Oct 2003 00:13:16 +0200, "Chain Smoker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:

>"stoney" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
>news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
snip
>> The teachings didn't originate with Christianity.
>
>Where did they originate?  This issue has come up in other discussions I've
>read and participated in on Usenet, but I've never seen specifics.  I've
>seen claims that Mithraism and (I think) Zoroastrianism are the sources of
>Christian beliefs such as virgin birth, water baptism, salvation by proxy,
>resurrection.  But none of these are specifically taught by Christ except
>water baptism.  The rest are said about Christ, but that's another thing
>entirely.
>
>Christ's teachings include, among other things, that we should love even our
>enemies, 

Judaism and Buddhism to name two.

>that we should not judge one another (often misinterpreted to mean
>that we should not try and point out one another's mistakes for correction),
>and that we should not pray or fast in a manner that broadcasts our piety
>for recognition and reward by our fellows.  This last item, you included in
>part of the text I snipped, and is among my favorite passages in the
>Gospels.  I have not seen specifics about where Christ supposedly derived
>these teachings if he did not come up with them independently.  If you know
>where, please, do tell.

All are found in "wisdom books" popular in the region at the time and
not exclusive to the Jews.




>
>> I don't consider the glorification of lies, deceptions, discourtesy,
>> pride, and malevolence as things to be 'appreciated.'
>
>Please ask yourself if these are really the teachings of Christ.  Likely,
>you will realise they are inventions of men who twist Christ's words to suit
>their own positions (and I know I may be accused of doing the same).  I you
>feel Christ himself actually glorified lies, decpetions, discourtesy, pride,
>and malevolence, please cite chapter and verse and how you see the cited
>passage as being one of the above.
>
 
Thomas P.

"That there are manes, a subterranean kingdom, a ferryman with a long pole, and black 
frogs in the whirlpools 
of the Styx; that so many thousand men could cross the waves in a single boat, today 
even children refuse to believe."

Juvenal