It is time to put the Bible into proper perspective and look at it what it is - a book written by men who had only idea about a little strip of land in the Middle East in the Bronze age and not too much outside. The New Testament "brought by Jesus" was molded to fit the old prophesies and it is clear it was "artificially selected" to "fulfill" Old Testament. Visit the links below from "Skeptics Annotated Bible" web site - a most comprehensive site going over the Bible line by line and picking it apart to show what it really is - nothing but a book and work of literature. Basing your life on the Bible is like basing your life on a Harry Potter book in our opinion, but hey, everyone goes crazy in their own "mysterious ways".
| When reading New Testament use your logic, common sense, reality based thinking and pay attention to conflicting statements. While doing your research, you'll come across a whole movement called "Christian Apologetics." Its whole goal is, you guessed it, to find "apologies" to justify inconsistencies. It is understandable. From the standpoint of critical based thinking, an "organism" like religion will need to fight for its survival and be part of "natural selection." Good luck on your evolution. | ||
 Absurdity Injustice Cruelty
and Violence Intolerance Contradictions Science
and History Interpretation |
 Family
Values Women Good
Stuff Prophecy Sex Language Homosexuality |
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"Misquoting Jesus" author Bart Ehrman
on |
"The Infidel Guy" - Debate: Is Jesus The Risen
Lord? (2 hour long) |
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The proof for god is there, but
you won't believe it
Quoted from http://skepticsannotatedbible.com
Matthew:
"A virgin shall be with child"
The prophecy given in Is.7:14
referred not to a virgin but to a young woman, living at the time of the
prophecy. And Jesus, of course, was called Jesus -- and is not called Emmanuel
in any other verse in the New Testament.
| Before 4 BCE. | After 6 CE. |
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(2:5-6) "In Bethlehem of Judaea"
Matthew claims that Jesus' birth in Bethlehem fulfils the prophecy in Micah
5:2. But this is unlikely for two reasons.
- "Bethlehem Ephratah" in Micah 5:2 refers not to a town, but to a clan: the clan of Bethlehem, who was the son of Caleb's second wife, Ephrathah (1 Chr.2:18, 2:50-52, 4:4).
- The prophecy (if that is what it is) does not refer to the Messiah, but rather to a military leader, as can be seen from Micah 5:6. This leader is supposed to defeat the Assyrians, which, of course, Jesus never did.
It should also be noted that Matthew altered the text of Micah 5:2 by saying: "And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda" rather than "Bethlehem Ephratah" as is said in Micah 5:2. He did this, intentionally no doubt, to make the verse appear to refer to the town of Bethlehem rather than the family clan.
(2:16) Herod kills all boys in and around Bethlehem that are two years old and under. Such a massacre would certainly have been noted by contemporary historians. Yet not even Josephus, who documented Herod's life in detail, mentioned this event.
(2:17-18)
Matthew quotes Jeremiah
31:15, claiming that it was a prophecy of King Herod's alleged slaughter of
the children in and around Bethlehem after the birth of Jesus. But this verse
refers to the Babylonian captivity, as is clear by reading the next two verses
(16 and 17), and, thus, has nothing to do with Herod's massacre.
"He shall be called a Nazarene."
Matthew claims this was a fulfillment of prophecy, yet such a prophecy is not
found anywhere in the Old Testament.
"This is my beloved son"
In Matthew's gospel, God addresses those witnessing Jesus' baptism saying,
"This is my beloved son ...." But Mark (1:11)
and Luke (3:22)
have God speak to Jesus directly" "Thou art my beloved son
...." But whatever the exact wording, it seems strange that after
witnessing this event, John the Baptist is still unsure about Jesus (see Mt.11:2-3).
(4:1) "Tempted of the devil"
Jesus is led by the Spirit of God to be tempted by the devil. Which, at least
according to James
1:13 ("God cannot be tempted with evil."), means that Jesus is not
God.
(4:6-10) "For it is written"
The devil correctly quotes scripture (Ps.91:11-12),
while Jesus misquotes Deuteronomy by adding "only" to Dt.6:13.
(4:8) "An exceeding hight mountain"
The devil kidnaps Jesus and takes him up to the top of the temple, and then to
the top of "an exceeding high mountain," high enough to see "all
the kingdoms of the world." I guess the earth was flat in those days.
| Yes, we should. | No, we shouldn't. |
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(5:17) "Think not that I am come to destroy the law."
Jesus strongly approves of the law and the prophets. He hasn't the slightest
objection to the cruelties of the Old Testament.
- Matthew 5:18-19
- Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall nowise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.
- Luke 16:17
- It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
- "Whosoever shall say, Thou fool"
Jesus says that "Whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." Yet he often calls his critics and disciples fools. Paul is also in danger of going to hell since he liked to call people fools.
"Saving for the cause of [her] fornication"
In Mark (10:11)
and Luke (16:18),
Jesus condemns all divorces without exception. But in this verse, Jesus says
that divorce is permissible when the wife is guilty of fornication. But
what if the husband is unfaithful? Jesus doesn't seem to care about that.
(5:34-37) "Swear not at all."
Jesus forbids the taking of any kind of oath. Yet Christians in courtrooms
throughout the United States place their right hand on the Bible swear to tell
the truth.
(5:40) "If any man will sue thee at the law ..."
Don't defend yourself in court.
(5:44) "Love your enemies."
Well, it's a nice thought. But it seems strange coming from someone who damns
his enemies to hell.
(6:5-6)
"Enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray."
Jesus tells his disciples not to pray in public. Those who favor school prayer,
National Day of Prayer, etc. should take his advice. But Paul (1
Tim.2:8) disagrees with Jesus, telling his followers to "pray
everywhere, lifting up holy hands."
Matthew 6:24
'No one can serve two masters. He will hate the one and love the other. You
cannot serve both God and money.'
Matthew 6:19, Luke 12:15
'Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth. A man's life does not
consist in the abundance of his possessions.'
Mark 6:21
'Sell everything you have.'
(6:31-34)
"Take therefore no thought for the morrow"
Jesus says that we should not concern ourselves with material things, But Paul (1
Tim.5:8) says that anyone who behaves that way has "denied the faith,
and is worse than an infidel."
"Judge not, that ye be not judged."
But in John (7:24)
Jesus says we should "judge righteous judgment." And Paul (1
Cor.2:15, 5:12-13,
6:2-3) tells
Christians to judge everyone -- believers, non-believers, even the angels are to
be judged by "the saints."
(7:7-8) Ask, and it shall be given you."
Mark Twain said there are
"upwards of a thousand lies" in the Bible. But this is probably the
biggest. How many desperate, frightened, broken-hearted parents have watched
their children die while begging God to help?
(7:7-8) "Seek, and ye shall find."
Jesus says that "he who seeketh findeth." But in Luke (13:24)
he says that "many ... will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."
And Proverbs (1:28)
quotes God as saying that they "shall call upon me, but I will not answer;
they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me."
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father"
According to Jesus, calling on his name is not enough to get you into heaven.
Both Peter and Paul disagree saying, "Whosoever shall call on the name of
the Lord shall be saved." (Acts
2:21, Rom.10:13).
Which version is "hearsay" and which one "is divinely
inspired by God?"
"My servant lieth at home sick."
Jesus is approached by a centurion who asks him to heal his servant. But when
the same story is told in Luke (7:1-7),
the centurion doesn't come himself but sends some "elders of the
Jews."
"There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Jesus says "the children of the kingdom [the Jews] shall be cast out into
outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." But Paul (Romans
11:26) says that "all Israel shall be saved."
"Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?"
In the Bible, people think with their hearts not their heads.
"Thy faith hath made thee whole."
If you have enough faith, you will never get sick.
(Illness is caused by sin and lack of faith. Medical science is unnecessary.)
What the Bible says about Medical Science
First of all, if you get sick, its your own damn fault.
If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee. -- Exodus 15:26
When you are sick, rely on faith-based medicine. Prayer and faith alone will cure you.
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up. --James 5:14-15
For as it says in the Psalms,
The Lord ... healeth all thy diseases. -- Psalm 103:2-3
And as Jesus said to the woman who touched his garment,
Thy faith hath made thee whole. -- Matthew 9:22, Mark 5:34, Luke 8:48Or just touch your religious leader's handkerchief or something.
So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. -- Acts 19:12
But whatever you do, don't go to a doctor. God is insulted if you trust science more than faith.
And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians. -- 2 Chronicles 16:12(10:23)
"Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come."
Jesus tells his disciples that he will return before they can "go over the cities of Israel." Later (24:14) he says he will not come until the gospel is preached throughout the world. Well, his disciples went over the cities of Israel and then died waiting for the "return of the Lord." Now, nearly 2000 years later, and long after the gospel had been preached throughout the world, his followers still wait.(10:37) "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."
Jesus warns us not to love our parents or children too much. We have to make sure that we always love him (who we don't even know existed) more than our family.