Random Politics & Religion #00

sweeping generalizations? I spoke about a couple specific things that don't line up. Do you just pull a random dismissal card out of a hat every time you disagree with someone?

I won't say mine is the best, too violent by far.

It is, however, the orignal.

Paged!

First of all, it would be really hard to find an account of the crucifixion of Jesus from such meticulous record keepers when the only physical, archaeological evidence of even Pontius Pilate is some random stone they found in 1961. I'm sure it was more important for them to preserve a record of the death of some meddling Jew that Pilate supposedly didn't even want to kill in the first place.

The biblical account does not line up with the Roman's records of how crucifixion was done

the soldiers out of rage and hatred, nailed those they caught, one after one way, and another after another, to the crosses, by way of jest."[15] Objects used in the crucifixion of criminals, such as nails, were sought as amulets with perceived medicinal qualities

The victim was first affixed to the crossbeam (patibulum) with ropes and/or nails through the wrists or forearms. Then the crossbeam was fitted on the vertical beam and the victim was lifted up and set on a peg or "seat" on the vertical beam and perhaps also on a footrest. The idea was to prolong the agony, not to make the victim more comfortable. -John R. Donahue, Daniel J. Harrington

The biblical account does not line up with the Roman's records of how crucifixion was done. Archaeological evidence is basically non sequitur, there wouldn't be relics in the earth that could be attributed to any singular crucifixion. There are other pretty silly inconsistencies like the shroud of turin being from the 13th century.

Even things like being nailed through his hands and feet when the Romans used rope (very rarely nails and only through the heels) because nails through the hands wouldn't support a body and nails through the wrist would kill too quickly, crucified people died of asphyxiation, the cross depicted being of a later era than when Jesus was crucified and too large for the native wood and wouldn't have been carried by Jesus, being stabbed by a spear would not have happened and most likely was made up to address people saying Jesus probably was just in a coma or shock and didn't really die, etc.

I'm not saying the inconsistencies prove or disprove anything in particular, I'm saying that there are pretty clear inconsistencies in the biblical accounts of many historic events yet it's constantly regarded by Christians as a historically accurate account of the time. Most of the gospels were almost certainly not written by people who knew Jesus or witnessed any of the events they claim to chronicle. Just because the more rational members of the faith concede those things doesn't mean the vast majority don't wax on poetic about Jesus this and Bible that without really knowing a thing about it.

And, according to the records analyses I've seen and read about, the Romans didn't regard Jesus as anyone special. He was just one of dozens of people executed for blasphemy and sedition in that region in that time frame.

Eh, even if the gospels have questionable origin, most of the Pauline Epistles are seen as authentic to the author.

"Claimed author"

negative; They saved crucifixion usually for treason and high treason.

I don't doubt that most if not all of the people depicted surrounding Jesus were real people, more than likely with a little artistic license.

Well, given the bible's history, I wouldn't doubt it. Even though we're approaching the same thing from different angles, it would be crazy of me to assume that it was a 100% authentic text. That also leads into why I don't highly regard a vast majority of Christian churches. Most of them hold the Bible as the ultimate authority, but if it's been broken from the get go, what does that say about your church? Only a view have doctrines that supersede Biblical authority.

blasphemy was not a heinous enough crime to ever warrant something this extreme though, it was reserved for only the most troublesome, i.e. thousands of their followers turning against the government, treasonous

Either way, I generally don't have a problem with religion, I just can't believe so many people overlook the inconsistencies and hold the book as justification for all manner of terrible things. They base their life on it without bothering to even understand it's origins or meanings.

Either way, I generally don't have a problem with religion, I just can't believe so many people overlook the inconsistencies and hold the book as justification for all manner of terrible things. They base their life on it without bothering to even understand it's origins or meanings.

The country was improving its nuclear weapons "in quality and quantity", state-run news agency KCNA reported.

Yongbyon's reactor was shut down in 2007 but Pyongyang vowed to restart it in 2013, following its third nuclear test and amid high regional tensions.

The reactor has been the source of plutonium for North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.

Experts believe that if re-started, the reactor could potentially make one bomb's worth of plutonium per year.

The announcement about Yongbyon is the first official confirmation from North Korea that it has restarted operations there.

A US think-tank said earlier this year that satellite images suggested that work had commenced at the plant.

Analysis: Stephen Evans, BBC News, Seoul

North Korea holds a big celebration in just under a month - the 70th anniversary of the foundation of its Workers Party. It is building up to that with two significant announcements.

There is the revelation that the country's main nuclear reactor, which could be used for producing material for atomic weapons, is operating again. But North Korea also says it is ready to launch a rocket with a satellite. Other countries fear this is code for testing the kind of long-range missile that could potentially reach the United States with a nuclear warhead.

This does not mean that North Korea has the ability to do that but it does indicate that there is no let-up in its nuclear ambitions, and that it is intent on making progress towards a viable long-range nuclear missile.
Rocket launch plans

KCNA also said on Tuesday that the North was ready to face US hostility with "nuclear weapons any time".

However, the full scope of North Korea's nuclear capabilities is unclear.

Pyongyang claims it has made a device small enough to fit a nuclear warhead on to a missile, which it could launch at its enemies.

However, US officials have cast doubt on this claim and experts say it is difficult to *** the progress North Korea has made on miniaturisation.

North Korea has made threats against its neighbours and the US before, often to coincide with annual joint military exercises held by South Korea and US forces.

The two Koreas remain technically at war, because the 1950-1953 war ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

China, which is North Korea's main ally and trading partner, said on Tuesday that it hoped "relevant parties" would respond with "caution and refrain from taking actions that may elevate tension".

Heyns Lecture Series at Cubberley Auditorium, Stanford University Campus, Wednesday, April 25, 2007. Lecture on "Misquoting Jesus" a textual criticism of Biblical manuscript tampering. From the book "Misquoting Jesus: Scribes Who Altered Scripture and Readers Who May Never Know."

Bart D. Ehrman is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He came to UNC in 1988, after four years of teaching at Rutgers University. At UNC he has served as both the Director of Graduate Studies and the Chair of the Department of Religious Studies. A graduate of Wheaton College (Illinois), Professor Ehrman received both his Masters of Divinity and Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary, where his 1985 doctoral dissertation was awarded magna *** laude.

Inconsistencies with the details or mistranslation errors?
There are many bibles that can be cross referenced and checked to make sense of any mistranslations.
Other from that though there are no inconsistencies with the actual information at core.

North Korea says its main nuclear facility, the Yongbyon complex, has resumed normal operations.

I'm saying that there are pretty clear inconsistencies in the biblical accounts of many historic events yet it's constantly regarded by Christians as a historically accurate account of the time

The cynical side of me hopes they try to nuke someone with a long-range missile (except maybe South Korea, because they might actually hit them). Given their track record (and maybe our technology) it would likely fail, and any excuse to obliterate their leadership and get help for their starving citizens is good in my book.

Even I am going to stop you there. With the exception of a few of the old school priests I knew in my youth (and yes, one of them was, in fact, rumored to be one of 'those' priests), of the frocked and otherwise ordained friends I have, not one of them thinks the Bible, either book, is to be taken 100% literally.

It is simply not the position any reasonable, thinking human being in the 21st century can take, even if you largely believe in the divinity of Christ and the like.

You should meet some of the people I work with here in SC. I've seen arguments erupt over the specific meaning of bible passages.

It is simply not the position any reasonable, thinking human being in the 21st century can take