->  J> -
->  ->>>> There's been more than one fundy that has waltzed
through here
->  J>>> claiming -> it was only their bible that prevented them from
->  J>>> performing acts of -> violence.
-> 
->  J>>> So...you deny that and impute that to all who revere their holy
->  J>>> book(s)...
-> 
->  ->> Revere? Or worship?
-> 
->  J> Good question. I find it easy to revere and know nothing about
->  J> worship. I don't know anybody who worships. I don't even know what
->  J> that means...
 
-> 
-> A good example of worship of the book is how fundamentalist Christians
-> who believe the Bible is written by God, and totally without error
-> operate...
Their belief is total but there interpretation weighs three tons:-)
All 376,465 of 'em. What I believe they believe :-) is that they believe in
it's being fee from error sufficient to their wants (and assumed need).
Millions have led happy and successful lives this way for hundreds of
years.  Pretty much my choice, as well, although I egoistically think my
enwrapment (If that is a word)is a wider one. :-|
. I have no problem with a chariot-maker 800 years ago believing that pi
was three. :-)   
-> They simply can't handle mistakes or contradictions...
They don't want or see the need to be bothered by details that detract from
the main points (Variously: Be good. Live well and morally. This is how to
get to heaven. WE ARE ALL DOOMED! 


, or the concept that
-> some parts of the Bible may be simply fabrications...
Many are, and even some of the purposes of the fabrication has been lost.
In addition I am personally convinced that that poor guy 'John' who wrote
Revelations was on something....(Not on to, but on :-)
 

->  J> understanding of Jesus is along the lines of that he certainly
didn't
->  J> want to be worshiped, he wanted to be listened to. I've heard
Pastor's
->  J> speak on "What would Jesus do?" -- :-) I wonder...If
Jesus Returns,
->  J> and is handed a copy of, say, Time Magazine, and a list of classes
->  J> offered at Bob Jones University...would he laugh...or cry? (This, of
->  J> course, on the reasonable assumption that he actually existed.)
-> 
-> It's very possible Jesus did exist.
-> But his name was Yeshua, and he was simply one of many.
Some, but not many. Theusis was one. There are damn few good men in this
world. :-|

-> 
-> One of the most accurate movies showing how conditions were in Israel at
-> the time of Jesus, is surprisingly a comedy, "Monty Python's Life Of
-> Brian."
Truth is contained best in humor and poetry.
-> 
 
-> Christianity didn't die out mostly due to it's agressive evangelizing.
Being aggressive is a survival mechanism. No sign of it's lessening in
human nature or history. Despite what Jesus advocated.:-)
 
-> And when the Roman emperor converted, it was a political move that
-> enshrined Christianity as a religion.
 Constantine mixed religion with power. Worked. 
-> 
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5