The Bible And Christianity- The Historical Origins

[tannah]

In this very informative essay Scott Bidstrup provides "A rational, secular, historical perspective on the history of Christianity and its scripture".




Origins of the Earliest Scripture

Prehistory to 1850 B.C.E.

Scholars have traced the roots of many of the Old Testament stories to the ancient, pagan myths of the ancient Mesopotamian cultures. In the Fertile Crescent, the waters of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in present-day Iraq, gave birth to some of the worlds first civilizations.

In this early flowering of civilization, many religious myths abounded, seeking to explain what was then unexplainable. From this context comes the oldest complete literary work we have, the age of which we are certain, dating back at least 7,000 years. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a lengthy narrative of heroic mythology that incorporates many of the religious myths of Mesopotamia, and it is the earliest complete literary work that has survived.

Many of the stories in that epic were eventually incorporated into the book of Genesis. Borrowed from the Epic of Gilgamesh are stories of the creation of man in a wondrous garden, the introduction of evil into a naive world, and the story of a great flood brought on by the wickedness of man, that flooded the whole world.

http://www.bidstrup.com/bible.htm

[bendoon]

Many of the stories in that epic were eventually incorporated into the book of Genesis.

How does the person who wrote that know that both the book of Genesis and the epic of Gilgamesh aren't both based on the same events that did actually happen ?

He doesn't, but likes to portray it that way to suit his own agenda.

It is normal for historians to find different accounts of past events, the practice is to then try and figure out the correct account based on the two differing accounts, not to simply write both accounts off as myths.

Very amateurish.

[tannah]

How does the person who wrote that know that both the book of Genesis and the epic of Gilgamesh aren't both based on the same events that did actually happen ?

He doesn't, but likes to portray it that way to suit his own agenda.

It is normal for historians to find different accounts of past events, the practice is to then try and figure out the correct account based on the two differing accounts, not to simply write both accounts off as myths.

Very amateurish.

What's amateurish is that you didn't read the essay. At this point he's stating that Sumarian myths got incorporated into Genesis.

[motleyhoo]

The majority of the events portrayed in the Bible happened centuries before they were ever recorded onto paper, and back in those days 99% of the people were illiterate. History was recorded by way of story telling from person to person and generation to generation. We all know what happens to stories as they get passed along - embellishments are added, some things get dropped, metaphors created, etc.

Then you have to take into account that much of the scrolls, scriptures, etc. used to create the Bible were in different languages and dialects, some of them dead by the time the Bible was written. At the same time, the meanings of words, how words are used, metaphors, and slang would have changed dramatically over the time periods involved. The translators were really guessing about a lot of things and taking liberties that would have changed many things.

Then we have to take into account that it's quite possible that the total sum of religious texts that actually should have defined in totality what we call Christianity was vast compared to what was actually used, and that a lot was lost over the centuries before the Bible was put together or has yet to be found or was intentionally hidden.

Then we have to take into account the fact that the people who put the Bible together were nothing more really than political bureaucrats. Emperor Constantine was nothing more than the Obama of his day, only his strings were being controlled by a ruling theocratic elite rather than corporations and globalists. It should be obvious how that affected the decision making process as to what was to be included in the Bible and what was to be excluded. Much of what was excluded was burned and lost forever, the same way the elites still partake in revisionist history today to promote their agenda and hide their activities.

It's a good book of stories, but it cannot in any way be called the whole truth because most of the truth was manipulated, burned, or thrown in the trash in the 14th century because it did not fit the agenda of the time, and very little of it can even be substantiated. In fact, before the Bible was written the world was experiencing a technological renaissance. The post-Bible Crusades, whereby millions were killed as the PTB tried to ram their new Bible and dogma down the peoples' throats put an end to that and practically threw mankind back into the stone age again, which is what religious zealots are still trying to do today.

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[bendoon]

What's amateurish is that you didn't read the essay. At this point he's stating that Sumarian myths got incorporated into Genesis.

How do you know they are myths ?

Oh thats right because you know there is no God and therefore there couldn't have been a flood in Sumeria.

the same way the elites still partake in revisionist history today to promote their agenda and hide their activities.

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I had to laugh at this part, it seems to me that it is you that is parroting the revisionist history of the elite.

which is what religious zealots are still trying to do today.

More like the what the Atheist Zealots are doing today.

[tannah]

How do you know they are myths ?

Oh thats right because you know there is no God and therefore there couldn't have been a flood in Sumeria.

You're no more than another deceitful liar if you say stuff like that. Believing in God doesn't begin and end with the bible. And it's quite apparent how far away from God those that lose their bearings in the bible actually are.

Myths normally hide truths. No doubt there had been serious flooding in Sumaria, and no doubt Genesis simple refurbished a similar tale.

And the bit I quoted from the essay was just the start. For example, there were no miracles performed by Jesus until the gospel of Mark came about, mid second century. Look at the history surrounding these events.
The essay provides an adequate historical backdrop to show the contrived nature of the books that created the Soap Opera that is the bible.

The contention that the bible is the Word of God is a seriously flawed and dilluded one.

[bendoon]

No doubt there had been serious flooding in Sumaria, and no doubt Genesis simple refurbished a similar tale.

How do you know they refurbished it ? How do you know thats not what happened ?

You don't you just choose to believe that it didn't happen.

Believing in God doesn't begin and end with the bible

Maybe not, but by automatically assuming that God does not have the ability to affect the weather on Earth and thereby cause a flood, you are in fact denying the ability of God to create life.

All I am saying is that you choose to believe that the Bible is not the word of God because it makes life easier for you. You grasp onto articles like the one you posted to convince yourself that you are right.

[orlibonurb]

2 Corinthians {4:4} In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.


As blinded as it gets.


The contention that the bible is the Word of God is a seriously flawed and dilluded one.

Can you say Bible prophecy (~25% of the Word of God is prophetic) is "seriously flawed", and if so - why.

[tannah]

How do you know they refurbished it ? How do you know thats not what happened ?

You don't you just choose to believe that it didn't happen.



Maybe not, but by automatically assuming that God does not have the ability to affect the weather on Earth and thereby cause a flood, you are in fact denying the ability of God to create life.

All I am saying is that you choose to believe that the Bible is not the word of God because it makes life easier for you. You grasp onto articles like the one you posted to convince yourself that you are right.

No good pretending I have the problem you suffer from. As always you make no attempt to read something before getting into judgment mode.


It has nothing to with making life easier. Its the fact that it is seriously dillude to believe the bible is God's Word.

You people worry me. You come accros as having no interest in truth. All that seems to matter is to protect your bible, when it's clear to the non-dilluded that it's mainly contrived. And the funniest thing is to be accused of Babylon worship by those that worship it in their very book.

So we have a contrived flood story and creation of man. If Genesis is Gods Word then why isn't the Epic of Gilgamesh? Why did God wait until the second century before deciding Jesus performed miracles?

The born-agains are being cheeky fockers as always, using a soap opera to judge themselves saved and others banished. Its a kiddie game for kiddie spirits.

[bendoon]

So we have a contrived flood story and creation of man.

Thats just your opinion, your opinion and something you read on the internet does not equal fact. There are at least 1 million times more lies on the net than in the Bible.

You come accros as having no interest in truth

Far from it, the more you look into it the more the Bible is the only thing that comes close to explaining the why's and what for's of the world we live in. You on the other hand prefer to listen to other men who may or may not have a hidden agenda.

[tannah]

2 Corinthians {4:4} In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.


As blinded as it gets.




Can you say Bible prophecy (~25% of the Word of God is prophetic) is "seriously flawed", and if so - why.

Until you go back and attempt to answer the dozens of questions asked you, you can consider yourself way down the list of those worthy of an answer. Because you show your blindness when you run away from the solid reasoning made against your position. Not that I expect you to realize that.

This thread is about the essay I posted showing the timelines of scriptures and how christianity evolved. If you can't refer to the essay when commenting, please bog off.:D

[tannah]

[QUOTE]Thats just your opinion, your opinion and something you read on the internet does not equal fact. There are at least 1 million times more lies on the net than in the Bible.


The story comes from the epic of gilgamesh, so why don't you consider it God's Word? Are you saying God wrote it in Genesis first and the Sumarians copied it?


Far from it, the more you look into it the more the Bible is the only thing that comes close to explaining the why's and what for's of the world we live in. You on the other hand prefer to listen to other men who may or may not have a hidden agenda.

What a thoroughly stupid comment. So basically you're saying you listen to God because you listen to the bible? Well thats BS Bendoon. You listen to Constantine and the victors of the many conflicting beliefs of the time.
You're the guy strapped down with the beliefs of other men.

There's more chance that God has sex with camels than for God to have sanctioned the bible. You people are a mass of contradiction. You call other beliefs satanic and go and practice the same ones contrived just for you in yet another book.

And what prophecies have really been fulfilled? Agendas maybe.

[bendoon]

The story comes from the epic of gilgamesh,

For the 10th time, you don't know that.

Just because it is similar doesn't mean it is copied from it, it could mean they are both different versions of the same event.

You listen to Constantine

Constantine is irrelevant really, Christianity was widespread in Europe long before he was born and the Septuagint dates to 350BC.

[orlibonurb]

Constantine has much to do with true Biblical Christianity has Muhammad does ........ in other words; nothing.


Until you go back and attempt to answer the dozens of questions asked you, you can consider yourself way down the list of those worthy of an answer. Because you show your blindness when you run away from the solid reasoning made against your position. Not that I expect you to realize that.

This thread is about the essay I posted showing the timelines of scriptures and how christianity evolved. If you can't refer to the essay when commenting, please bog off.:D

Can't answer Bible Prophecy. It's normal.

Afterall, it declares the end from the beggining.

[motleyhoo]

2 Corinthians {4:4} In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.


As blinded as it gets.




Can you say Bible prophecy (~25% of the Word of God is prophetic) is "seriously flawed", and if so - why.

LOL! Seriously, do you believe everything you read in old books?

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[motleyhoo]

Constantine has much to do with true Biblical Christianity has Muhammad does ........ in other words; nothing.


That is totally false, and it is the one big thorn in the entire authenticity of The Bible. The Bible was indeed written in the 14th century under the direction of Emperor Constantine who was nothing more than a bureaucrat working under a govt that was run by what then was called The Church. The Church's goal was to find some way to unite all of the people under one theocratic rule of law so that they could more easily be controlled, ruled over, and taxed. This is historical fact.

Under this fascist theocratic govt's direction, Constantine cherry-picked what was to be included in The Bible and what was to be burned or destroyed. The sad TRUTH about the whole thing is that you have no idea just how great Christianity could have been because the best stuff, the stuff relating to spiritual self-empowerment, was the very thing they got rid of because it was dangerous to their agenda of control. A good fascist govt can't have people walking around feeling spiritually self-empowered. No, what a govt like that needs is for the people to believe that they can only access God thru the new Bible under the govt's morally bankrupt and deluded Priests. In other words, Christians went from being independent, self-empowered spiritual beings, with all the tools they needed to communicate with those of the thereafter, with knowledge of gnosticism and mysticism that would blow peoples' minds today, to being slaves of a contrived doctrine filled with a little bit of truth and a lot of fiction and dogma.

These same people claiming to have "The Divine" working through them then went out and killed millions of people in the name of their God and their Holy Bible. Yeah that's right, the people who put your Bible together are mass-murderers on a scale that is almost unbelievable. It would be like an army today going out and committing genocide against 100 million people.

It truly is sad what these thugs did to such a truly incredible religion, and even sadder that this bastardized dogma lives on today enslaving millions and millions who have never been told the truth.

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