Biblical Literalism: Jesus Hasn’t Left the Galaxy
Posted by admin in Finance Friday, 22 April 2011 19:42 25 Comments
Complete video at: fora.tv Bishop John Shelby Spong rebukes the literal interpretation of the Bible’s three-tiered, Earth-centered universe. Spong cites numerous biblical references that position an all-seeing God just above the sky, and then recalls a witty remark by late astrophysicist Carl Sagan about the ascension of Jesus into Heaven. —– Bishop John Shelby Spong leads the 2:00 pm audiences through a week-long conversation based on his newest book: Eternal Life: A New Vision — Beyond Religion, Beyond Theism, Beyond Heaven and Hell. This week having been inspired by the Eileen and Warren Martin Lectureship Fund for Emerging Studies in Bible and Theology, Jack Spong in his unique style makes accessible to the ordinary layperson emerging understandings within contemporary theology, and offers new ways in which to engage with traditional concepts. – Chautauqua Institution John Shelby Spong was bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark for 24 years before his retirement in 2001. Acclaimed as a teaching bishop who makes contemporary theology accessible to the ordinary layperson, he is considered the champion of an inclusive faith, both inside and outside the Christian church. A visiting lecturer at Harvard and at universities and churches worldwide, Bishop Spong delivers more than 200 public lectures each year to standing-room-only crowds. His extensive media appearances include a profile segment on “60 Minutes” as well as appearances on “Good Morning America,” “Fox …
I love you FSM, you are my god!
It is the truth… like it or not. You can lie to yourself if you like…
“so open minded their brains fall out.”
Someone thinks by stealing jokes from Archie Bunker that they’re being clever.
@prismbeats1
Open mindedness is not automatically a good thing as demonstrated by theists who are often so open minded their brains fall out.
@jpc08109
Your existence may be the only proof.
If the bible was a true book written by an all powerful ever living god, there certainly would be only one interpetation, and a little more proof of his existance that a silly book
@prismbeats1 So you are saying you underwent an experience you attributed to a higher intelligence, because you could not explain it otherwise?
And to undergo such same experiences you need to have an open mind? How can you tell when your mind is open? Maybe my mind is open but find logical explanations for the things I witness?
You are too vague! I still don’t understand what it is that you decide there IS a higher power behind the creation of our universe!
Are you a creationist? ID-er?
@Smirnoff71
Yes!
I know this higher intelligence. It has nothing to do with what others have experienced. There are no valid “peer reviewed articles” on this subject.
All I have are my experiences. I have seen unbelievable, humanly impossible things with my OWN eyes.
I scrutinized everything. I only believe what I have witnessed.
Like I said earlier, it cannot be articulated. You must draw from your own experiences, but you experience very little without an open mind.
@prismbeats1 This confuses me. You KNOW of a higher intelligence governing all existence based on what? Where and how did you gain the KNOWLEDGE of this higher intelligence?
Is it because that others have experienced this higher knowledge, you also know of this and how does this experience manifests itself. Does it come gradually or does it hit you like a sledgehammer?
My life governing believes are non-existent, so I’m not preoccupied and open to receive all knowledge!
@Smirnoff71
This higher intelligence has many names. I call it GOD, or “I AM”. Someone else calls it something else. Ultimately, the name doesn’t matter.
The point is that I know something higher than myself governs all existence. It allows us to learn from each other through our experiences.
I know this is hard for some people to comprehend. It is not for everyone. The same as what you may believe is not for everyone.
I appreciate this exchange. It reaffirms my faith.
@prismbeats1 Please tell me, who or what is this “higher intelligence” you speak off. You already told me we can not comprehend it, yet we can see the result of His/Her/Its work all around in the universe, correct?
Do you call this “higher intelligence” God and is this the deity people wrote about in the Bible, Koran, Talmud, Bagavagita, what?
Please bare with me, because our discussion tends to go in circles inhibiting me to learn about your believes and convictions! Thank you!
@Smirnoff71
Madness?!
The point I am trying to make is that there is an intelligence working all around us that cannot be articulated. If it could, then you would be able to answer the question I posed. No one can.
If I were to witness something happen, but I lack the evidence to prove it to you, does it mean that it didn’t happen?
I wonder how many GUILTY criminals go free every year because of a lack of evidence?
Lets be a little more open minded.
@prismbeats1 I’m still dancing around your question because you refuse to supply evidence of your God. Since your religion started claiming this madness ages ago, it’s on you to show unequivocal evidence that you’re right. After this, we really can debate if He really did create us all or not. Jeez, we could even ask him personally.
BTW what is the use of keep asking the question over and over again while its so obvious you already have the answer… or are you doubting “God did it”?
@Smirnoff71
Your still dancing around my question.
No one can answer the question of how existence came to exist, but yet we exist. How can you research something that cannot be studied. You’re only fooling yourself. Many brilliant scholars have literally went insane trying to answer this question.
In all honesty, your insults mean nothing. While you seek the closure I have found, we will both die some day and this conversation will still carry on. How’s that for research, Mr. Science?
@prismbeats1 BTW I’m not hostile at all, but reading some of your other comments this “why so hostile/aggressive/angry”-charade is just pathetic.
You desperately seem to try convincing us to a honest stand-up guy, but you can’t even be honest to yourself by keep rejecting scientific achievements that “unintentionally” disproves your God.
Religion is a prison, but you’re blinded, refusing to walk through the door science has just opened for you, inviting you to join the quest for knowledge!
@prismbeats1 Ask yourself where did you get the idea there’s a higher intelligence at work?
By saying that “God Did It” and we’re to stupid to understand it, you do not see the need for any further research into the subject. This is because greater knowledge equals smaller Gods, until they all vanish. For you, the necessity of science becomes problematic as soon as your religion seem to have been wrong! You are indoctrinated by a the bible that gave you that stupid idea of higher intelligence!
@Cashan0va
So very nieve.
Where did the first star come from? We only know what we can comprehend. Even with knowledge of the life and death of star systems, humans cannot comprehend how the very first star came into being. Your so-called facts are nothing more than foolish contradictions.
There is a higher intelligence at work. To think that we have reached such an epitomy is to be expected of you egotistical atheist. This fact will not go away simply because you refuse to see it.
@Smirnoff71
Why so hostile?
There is no factual evidence that justifies the beginning of all things.
The answer to that question cannot be articulated with finite intelligence or human intelligence. Only infinite intelligence can fathom infinite matters. I didn’t make that up, it is common since.
Again, no one is disputing the necessity of science. But to rely on only what you can see and measure is as nieve as percieving the world is flat because it simply appears that way.
@prismbeats1 There is no need for beliefs if there’s factual evidence to support a claim. And how we were created is fornication and you can see the results of this being born in any hospital round the world.
Because we lack knowledge, say the creation of all, then you start filling in the gaps with your non-existent God and this logic failed ages ago.
And please do some research. Thoroughly research every claim I make or anybody.. even your precious bible. You’ll find the truth soon enough!
@Viracocha711
Yet, can science prove how we were created? What about the Big Bang? How is it that you claim to have facts when science fails to solve the fundamental paradox, the origin of existence? It cannot. There is no tangible fact that can expain how something just appeared out of nothing. Yet you claim that Christians are the irrational ones.
True Christians understand this. We know that there is an intelligence at work that cannot be rationally explained. Were is your evidence?
@Smirnoff71
You wanna talk doctrine?
You claim your beliefs are based on fact. How were we created? Big Bang? How can anything come from nothing? True Christians realize that no humanly comprehendable fact can explain the origin of things. There HAS to be a higher intelligence at work. Yet, you athiest say we are unreasonable.
POPPYCOCK!
No one is disputing the nessecity of science. But which of you are giving billions of dollars to the poor? I would like to research that for myself
@prismbeats1 Our doctrine is not helping? Our “doctrine” has resulted in a population growth of 650% in the last 200 years, because science brought us petrol to put in yet another great scientific invention, the car, giving millions a job, to pay for homes, clothes and food, build, made and grown by yet more millions of people. We give billions and billions of dollars to the poor every year to fight famine, disasters and diseases.. but you still think our doctrine is not helping? What a JOKE!
@MrAtheist1984
Someone didn’t read my other post where I explain I was parodying someone elses post.
@ivlfounder : say the one who thinks atheists are commiting crimes and i´m the kid. And what crimes are atheists commiting?
Morality is doing what is right no matter what you are told. Religion is doing what you are told no matter what is right.”
@MrAtheist1984
You don’t even know what my beliefs are kid.