Conflicting Bible teaching of the week:

August 27, 2010 by theBEattitude

Did Jesus always speak openly to the world, or did he teach things in secret?

Yes. He always spoke openly to the world. Nothing was said in secret.

“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. –John 18:20

No. Jesus frequently taught in secret.

Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. –Matthew 16:20

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. –Luke 9:20-21, Mark 8:29-30

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” –Luke 5:14

They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. –Mark 9:30-31

He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, ” ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’“ –Mark 4:11, Luke 8:10

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Posted in Bible Teaching of the Week, Why be a Christian? | 30 Comments »

America can rest easy. President Obama prays to an imaginary person every day.

August 20, 2010 by theBEattitude

The latest religious scandal in New York has really gotten under my skin. Christians are outraged at the request to build a mosque near ground zero of 9/11. Christians in America want to use their religious freedom and political power to discriminate against another religion. Hypocrisy rules our country.

Now the president has been pulled into the fear campaign:

MSNBC — The White House said on Thursday that President Barack Obama is a Christian who prays daily as it looked to tamp down growing doubts among Americans about the president’s religion.

White House spokesman Bill Burton made the remarks hours after a poll showed that nearly one in five people, or 18 percent, said they think Obama is Muslim. That was up from 11 percent who said so in March 2009. The survey also showed that just 34 percent said Obama is Christian, down from 48 percent who said so last year. The largest share of people, 43 percent, said they don’t know his religion.

As Obama left for a vacation, Burton told reporters aboard Air Force One that most Americans care more about the economy and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and “they are not reading a lot of news about what religion the president is.”

Burton added, “The president is obviously a Christian. He prays every day.”

The survey, conducted by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center and its affiliated Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, is based on interviews conducted before the controversy over whether Muslims should be permitted to construct a mosque near the World Trade Center site. Obama has said he believes Muslims have the right to build an Islamic center there, though he’s also said he won’t take a position on whether they should actually build it.

I don’t know about you, but I find great comfort knowing Obama prays daily to the most popular version of deity in America. Forget the economy and healthcare reform, let’s focus on the political importance of irrational superstition.

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Posted in Bizarre Behavior, Christian Love, Politics, Why be a Christian? | 51 Comments »

Jesus is coming back on May 21, 2011.

August 4, 2010 by theBEattitude

The wise Forest Gump once said, “Stupid is as stupid does”.

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Posted in Bizarre Behavior, Funny Stuff, Why be a Christian? | 28 Comments »

According to the Bible, Jesus was a false prophet.

July 30, 2010 by theBEattitude

This is the twentieth chapter in the series My List: Believe the Bible? Read why I started this list in About Me.

The Bible gives very clear direction on how to recognize a false prophet of God:

“You may say to yourselves, ‘How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?’ If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken.”

–Deuteronomy 18:21-22

The repeated false promises of Jesus.

Mt.16:28
“Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.”

Mt.23:36
“Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.”

Mt.24:34
“Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

Mt.26:64
“You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand[a] and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Matt 10:23
“When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes.”

See also: Mk.9:1, Mk.13:30, Mk.14:62, Lk.9:27, Lk.21:32

Jesus then appeared  to the Apostle Paul inspiring him to preach and document his imminent prophetic return.

1 Cor.1:7-8
“Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ”

1 Cor.7:29
 “The appointed time has grown very short; from now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none.”

Phil.4:5
“The Lord is at hand.”

1 Th.4:17
“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

Heb.1:2
“in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…”

Heb.9:26
“But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

Heb.10:37
“For in just a very little while, ”He who is coming will come and will not delay.”

And for extra emphasis, more New Testament authors write of how “near” the return of Jesus is in their time.

James.5:8
“You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”

1 Pet.4:7
“The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.”

1 Jn.2:18
“Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.”

1 Jn.4:3
“But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”

Rev.1:1
“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John”

Rev.1:3
“The time is at hand.”

Rev.3:11, 22:7, 22:12
“Behold, I come quickly.”

Rev.22:20
“Surely I come quickly.”

That is an impressive list of failed prophesies. As the Bible teaches, failed prophesy = false prophet. Christian apologists and theologians fervently attempt to explain away these verses…and fail miserably. Even if a person ignores the absurd folklore, barbaric genocide, and conflicting teachings of the Bible, it’s hard to deny the blatant failure of the Son of God’s prophetic promises.

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Posted in A Confusing God., The List: Believe the Bible?, Thought & Questions, Why be a Christian? | 47 Comments »

Conflicting Bible teaching of the week:

July 25, 2010 by theBEattitude

Does God repent for his mistakes?

No.

God is not a man that he should lie; neither the son of a man that he should repent.
–Numbers 3:19

The Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.
–1 Samuel 15:29

I the LORD have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent.
–Ezekiel 24:14

Yes.

And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
–Genesis 6:6

And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
–Exodus 32:14

For the Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants.
–Deuteronomy 32:36

The Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
–1 Samuel 15:35

The Lord repented of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, it is enough: stay now thine hand.
–2 Samuel 24:16

The Lord beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand.
–1 Chronicles 21:15

I [God] will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
–Jeremiah 18:8

The Lord will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.
–Jeremiah 26:13

The Lord repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them.
–Jeremiah 26:19

For I [God] repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.
–Jeremiah 42:10

The Lord repented for this.
–Amos 7:6

God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them.
–Jonah 3:10

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Posted in Bible Teaching of the Week, Why be a Christian? | 27 Comments »

“Knowledge is preferable to ignorance.” —Carl Sagan

July 8, 2010 by theBEattitude

Religion gives comfort to many and helps explain that which we do not fully understand. Humans want to believe the universe was created for them. To believe we are God’s special creation formed in his own image. That we are infinitely precious, and all other creatures are merely here for us to use as we see fit.

This human desire to have divine meaning to our lives continues to propagate religion from generation to generation. When you remove emotion from the equation, it’s not difficult to see religion for the ancient superstition that it is.

Wisdom from Carl Sagan:

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Posted in Rational Thoughts from a Skeptic, Science & Medicine, The List: Believe the Bible?, Thought & Questions | 59 Comments »

Conflicting Bible teaching of the week:

July 5, 2010 by theBEattitude

Was Jesus the first person to rise from the dead?

Yes.

“That the Christ must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.”
–Acts 26:23

No.

“When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
–John 11:43-44

Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him.

While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher any more?” Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” ). Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.
–Mark 5:22-24; 35-43

As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
–Luke 7:12-15

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Posted in Bible Teaching of the Week | 106 Comments »

Conflicting Bible teaching of the week:

June 20, 2010 by theBEattitude

Are the followers of Jesus his slaves?

Yes.

“He who was free when called is a slave of Christ.”
–1 Corinthians 7:22

No.

“Through God you are no longer a slave but a son.”
–Galatians 4:7

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Posted in Bible Teaching of the Week, Why be a Christian? | 76 Comments »

A perfect God created a perfect heaven. Why then create an imperfect universe?

June 13, 2010 by theBEattitude

Christians love to talk about the perfect heaven that awaits them after death; a place with no evil, no temptation, no disease, no suffering, and no death. A perfect god created this perfect place for glorified beings to live for eternity.

Why would this omnipotent god also intentionally create a highly flawed universe filled with imperfect beings? And after creating this imperfect place, repeatedly blame his imperfect beings for his own design shortcomings? This same god also create angels who were not required to prove their faith, did not have to endure life in a broken world and freely received paradise at the moment of their creation. Does God love angels more than humans? Why not create us all to live in heaven and skip the shitty part?

Either God is sadistic or imaginary … I don’t see another option. Under the biblical model, we are little more than pawns living within a cruel game. When you take an honest look at Christian theology beyond the smiley Jesus paintings, it’s hard to deny how ludicrous and truly sad the belief system is.

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Posted in The List: Believe the Bible?, Weekly Wisdom from Martin Luther, Why be a Christian? | 67 Comments »

Conflicting Bible teaching of the week:

June 1, 2010 by theBEattitude

Old Testament scripture misquotes:

Jesus said, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
– John 7:38

No such statement has ever been located in Old Testament scripture.

“Thus it is written and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day.”
– Luke 24:46

“He rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
– 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

No prophesy of  rising on the third day exists in Old Testament scripture.

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Posted in Bible Teaching of the Week, Why be a Christian? | 116 Comments »

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