The Bible
The Old Testament V The new testament
The Old testament contains the actions and deeds of god. It is in effect the Hebrew bible
The terms "Bible" and "Old Testament" are used by non-Jews to describe Judaism's scriptures, the correct term is "Tanach," which is derived as an acronym from the Hebrew letters of its three components: Torah, Nevi'im and Ketuvim.
The New testament contains the actions and deeds of Jesus.The New Testament
This was the birth of Christianity the writings started approximately 70 to 100 years after the birth of Christ NOT at the time of his so called actual birth. Christians used the Hebrew bible, altered and added parts and wrote the New Testament.
"No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says; he is always convinced that it says what he means." :- George Bernard Shaw
If you do ever decide to read the bible, I mean really read it, and I strongly urge you to do so, you will very quickly realise that the old and new testaments are very different animals indeed. The bible is held in reverence, believed by many to be the actual word of god. It is so often quoted and promoted as a moral and exemplary example of how to live your life.
The portrayal of Jesus (new testament) is of a warm caring forgiving individual who heals the sick, helps the less fortunate and teaches everyone to live in peace with one another, let bygones be bygones, to turn the other cheek and to love thyne enemy. He is the messiah, the truth, the light and the way. The faithful hold Jesus up as a shining example of their faith and what they as Christians believe in.
The Christian God is revered, loved and given immense adulation he is portrayed as a loving kind merciful omnipotent god who looks after the devout, guides them and will answer their prayers. However upon reading the old testament it reveals a very awkward truth that for many Christians is a huge headache. God is not the warm loving merciful turn the other cheek, love thyne enemies kinda guy that Jesus is portrayed as in the new testament. The 2 books of the bible are totally opposite. When services are held in the cathedrals and churches of the world the actions and deeds of the almighty are not given the same exposure to the assembled flock in the same way as Jesus's actions and deeds are
The god of the bible is nothing like the message that Christianity spreads.
The bible has been translated into just about every language on the planet and has sold more copies than any other book in history. I find this fact very interesting, because on talking with these committed devout Christians in various countries about their good book if they are pressed an astounding fact has emerged to me personally. Very few Christians can actually tell you what the bible contains.
So many have admitted that they have not read the bible in it's entirety. That this is the job of the priest to guide them and explain the bible to them. They claim to be a follower, that Christianity is the corner stone of their life, that god is in their heart and soul and that it is the code with which they live by. It is the only source for their religion, the only account in writing in the whole world and yet most Christians have never read the bible.
After hearing a news article on T.V and doing more research I found that here in the UK, the USA and Australia researchers have found that Atheists know more about the bible that Christians.
Atheist know more that religious about the bible.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/09/28/130191248/atheists-and-agnostics-know-more-about-bible-than-religious
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2010/0928/In-US-atheists-know-religion-better-than-believers.-Is-that-bad
So, why is a committed atheist promoting the reading of the bible? There are 4 reasons.
1. Knowledge. Without knowledge how can anyone have any understanding on the subject. How can a person reach a conclusion or have an opinion?
2. It is the cornerstone of the Catholic faith, if you are truly christian then surely is it not required to read and understand the word of god?
3. Wouldn't you want to know for yourself and not be swayed by others interpretations, analysis, explanations and meanings. Find out for yourself!
4. One statement i have heard and read time and time again is :- After reading the bible I became an atheist. or, The reason I am an atheist is that I read the bible.
You can Read the bible online here. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&version=KJV
A Persons perspective depends on many things, one can read or see something and view it only from their perspective. This happens so often when 2 people are having an argument and both think the other is wrong and that they are right, it isn't often that you put yourself in the others position and think again about what has happened.
I contend that people of faith start off with two premise's. Firstly whatever they are told with regards to the bible by their ministers or priests is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. It cannot be wrong and that it must not be questioned in any shape or form. The second that the interpretation of the bible given is the ONLY interpretation. Interpretation is a very over used word when it comes to religion as facts are both irrelevant and non existent.
I was an army brat, meaning My Father served in the British armed forces and our family toured the world as he was posted from country to country. My schooling was mostly on Army bases or local British schools located in the countries we resided in. I was 11 when we finally came back to Blighty during the 1970's and I joined the British mainstream school system.
Here in the UK the law dictates that religious education be taught in ALL schools. As of 2019 this is still the case. ( Although parents can opt their children out by writing to the school and telling them to find an alternative for that particular period.) Over the course of a few months with R.E lessons twice a week the class was taken through genesis and then later we were taught about Jesus and the Resurrection.
I always had a great interest in science and as such was totally confused when I was being told that this religious stuff was all true. It all really happened along with the teachers reminding us of an all knowing all seeing god and his wrath if not obeyed, loved and worshiped. I studied hard and learnt the story off by heart to the delight of my teachers.
However religion always bothered me. I remember writing notes in the margin of my R.E notebook. Many many questions for myself to ponder. The story of the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve, a talking snake and a bit missing in the storytelling from the teachers!....... Click here---> The Old Testament
1. Knowledge. Without knowledge how can anyone have any understanding on the subject. How can a person reach a conclusion or have an opinion?
2. It is the cornerstone of the Catholic faith, if you are truly christian then surely is it not required to read and understand the word of god?
3. Wouldn't you want to know for yourself and not be swayed by others interpretations, analysis, explanations and meanings. Find out for yourself!
4. One statement i have heard and read time and time again is :- After reading the bible I became an atheist. or, The reason I am an atheist is that I read the bible.
You can Read the bible online here. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1&version=KJV
A Persons perspective depends on many things, one can read or see something and view it only from their perspective. This happens so often when 2 people are having an argument and both think the other is wrong and that they are right, it isn't often that you put yourself in the others position and think again about what has happened.
I contend that people of faith start off with two premise's. Firstly whatever they are told with regards to the bible by their ministers or priests is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. It cannot be wrong and that it must not be questioned in any shape or form. The second that the interpretation of the bible given is the ONLY interpretation. Interpretation is a very over used word when it comes to religion as facts are both irrelevant and non existent.
I was an army brat, meaning My Father served in the British armed forces and our family toured the world as he was posted from country to country. My schooling was mostly on Army bases or local British schools located in the countries we resided in. I was 11 when we finally came back to Blighty during the 1970's and I joined the British mainstream school system.
Here in the UK the law dictates that religious education be taught in ALL schools. As of 2019 this is still the case. ( Although parents can opt their children out by writing to the school and telling them to find an alternative for that particular period.) Over the course of a few months with R.E lessons twice a week the class was taken through genesis and then later we were taught about Jesus and the Resurrection.
I always had a great interest in science and as such was totally confused when I was being told that this religious stuff was all true. It all really happened along with the teachers reminding us of an all knowing all seeing god and his wrath if not obeyed, loved and worshiped. I studied hard and learnt the story off by heart to the delight of my teachers.
However religion always bothered me. I remember writing notes in the margin of my R.E notebook. Many many questions for myself to ponder. The story of the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve, a talking snake and a bit missing in the storytelling from the teachers!....... Click here---> The Old Testament