Christianity is not defined solely by the Bible

[AmbiguousGuy]

you started out backing it and argueing about it, without having a clue what I was talking about.

Hi again, outhouse. Something else has occurred to me which might help explain some of our confusion, so I wanted to run it past you.

I assume you're aware that 'zeitgeist' is an English word, not just a movie title? So when you were writing things like "zitgiest is not up for debate...." I was thinking that you were talking about the concept of zeitgeist. It didn't occur to me for some time that you were using it as a proper noun.

I think it's important in a place like this -- where we have only the written word -- to focus on the form of our writing more than we might do in casual life. Proper nouns are capitalized. For me, the capitalization carries just as much meaning as do the words themselves. "zeitgeist" and"Zeitgeist" are two entirely different words, at least to my sensibilities.

So I did indeed start out discussing zeitgeist with you, but I never discussed "Zeitgeist" with you.

 

[AmbiguousGuy]

Hey, Wombat. It's a mess, ain't it?

In case anyone's interested -- which I can't imagine they'd be -- here's a link to a 5th- or 6th-power rebuttal of earlier buts and rebuts. This writer, who was an expert consultant behind the 'Zeitgeist' godman material, says this of the particular critic whom she's counter-gutting in this article:

His "comments continually reveal that he is not an Egyptologist and possesses cursory knowledge of Egyptian mythology. In fact, it appears he merely skimmed Wikipedia before making his responses."

HeeHee... Truth? Truth? Who's got the truth!

Rebuttal to Dr. Chris Forbes concerning 'Zeitgeist, Part 1'


I haven't read this rebuttal myself. This kind of anger and opposing claims reminds me of a debate between fundamentalist Jews and Muslims on the legitimacy of Israel.

 

[outhouse]

This kind of anger and opposing claims reminds me of a debate between fundamentalist Jews and Muslims on the legitimacy of Israel.

thats because the zitgiest vid ticks everyone off but the ignorant.

ticks the educated atheist off, ticks all of the theist off, and its what the dude gets for publishing his junk.

and it ticks the OP off cause now its derailed his thread LOL

 

[AmbiguousGuy]

thats because the zitgiest vid ticks everyone off but the ignorant.

ticks the educated atheist off, ticks all of the theist off, and its what the dude gets for publishing his junk.

and it ticks the OP off cause now its derailed his thread LOL

Yeah, it kinda ticks me off, too. I really don't know why we ever started talking about it. So far as I can figure it, the short clip posted by Wombat was produced by the same guy who made the "Zeitgeist" movie? And that's how the subject came up?

But I understand the emotion. I feel the same way every time I think of that piece of tripe made by Ben Stein. "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed." As dishonest propaganda goes, that one excelled -- in my humble opinion, of course.

 

[outhouse]

Ben Stein. "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed." As dishonest propaganda goes

i agree about that.

used to like ben, now id pass him up if he ran out of gas on the side of the road lol

 

[Arina Ulman]

The ultimate judge is a man, and his name is Jesus. HE is Christianity. Th Bible is a collection of Holy Spirit-written works by men who wrote ABOUT JESUS. So necessarily, the Bible is not the only authority on Christ, but all Holy Spirit inspired works are part of the definition of CHristianity. And of course, Jesus is not a theology, but a person, and he is the basis of Christianity.

Christianity is not only theology, but also individual works of the Spirit, apart from the Bible.

Christianity is also JESUS HIMSELF, which is beyond the Bible.

It's not "the Bible says that..." but rather "Jesus's Way is that..." of which a Bible is a part.

This is the first time I've tackled such a question, and it might not make sense, but it's an important question, and I'm glad to just give it a try.

 

[idea]

The Bible does not tell us to use the Bible...

it tells us to find truth by:

(New Testament | John 14:26)
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The Holy Spirit reveals truth. The Bible is just one stepping stone in finding our way into the presence of the Spirit.

 

[outhouse]

Th Bible is a collection of Holy Spirit-written works by men who wrote ABOUT JESUS

how do you think the ghost talked to these hebrew scribes? whisper in their ear maybe? 100% magic?

just how did these ancient men get 100% holy spirit words? and why did the spirit have to copy or repeat the same exact scripture to 3 different scribes????

 

[outhouse]

but also individual works of the Spirit

what has the spirit done?

 

[Just Another]

My argument is that Christianity is not defined solely by the Bible. That in fact, a Christian never even has to have read the Bible in order to be a Christian. That a Christian can still be a Christian even though they may pick and choose what they believe in the Bible, because it is not a demand that they follow the Bible to the T.

My evidence: When Christianity first began, there was not a such thing as a Bible. When Paul was preaching his message, the New Testament had just began loosely forming in the aspect that he was writing letters (which were not scripture). Even the OT canon was not closed until after Paul was dead. And during the time of Paul, different groups subscribed to different works of Hebrew scripture.

The Christian canon was not even fully closed until many centuries later. The canon had not even started to be put together until around a century later. This means the the first Christians did not have a Bible. They may have had works that they believed to be scripture, but various groups subscribed to different scripture. Even today, we see various scripture being held above others.

So obviously something else defined individuals who claimed to be Christians. And the same is true for today. A Bible does not define who a Christian is or what they believe. Just because it is in the Bible, does not mean that a Christian must follow it, or has to be defined by it. I think this has to be understood.

Too many people criticize Christians because they "pick and choose" what they want to believe. However, they have every right to do so as they are not defined by the Bible. Christianity evolved without the Bible. It began without the Bible. And for centuries, it existed without the Bible. In fact, for the vast majority of the history of Christianity, the vast majority of Christians have not had the chance to even read the Bible.

And a person just grows up to be a doctor, or a lawyer, or a car salesman.

One has to have an influence, the information, and mindest to do any of the above. Or become a "christian".

People dont just wake up one morning and say "Hey, I wanna be a christian" having never heard the name jesus.