YB, thank you!
Particularly for realizing I was replying to a particular assertion, rather than the underlying belief.
As a scientist (with a more than passing layperson's interest in quantum physics!), I too am excited about the leaps in technology that are allowing us to begin to answer basic questions about life and the universe we live in (much less the origins of life and the afterlife) that have fascinated humans for millennia. The search continues!
Nonetheless, I also find wisdom and rich beauty in the Bible as well as other religions texts. There are both truths that resonate with the contemporary to me and completely archaic ideas in them that have no place in my beliefs.
YB, I think we are very much in accord, and I found your comments to be fascinating and thought-provoking.
Sosa78: As to your second question about which proven parts of the Bible create faith, each person's decision is very individualized and therefore I cannot compose an answer that encompasses all of them. And you would need a more substantive background in the historical and scientific record of the time period we're referencing (and something more indicative of an open mind) to participate in that dialogue. So no cake for you.
![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")
YB and I both answered your first question. I will add that archeological excavation is still yielding additional historical accounts (i.e., the Dead Sea Scrolls) and other tangible artifacts from the era of the New Testament.
Besides, I'm not sure any amount of proof would satisfy you. As you likely know, the handful of known photographs of Jesus Christ- doing carpentry, preaching at the Sermon on the Mount, and at the Last Supper- were too blurry for clear-cut identification (someone forgot their tripod!). Even worse, the chip in the digital camera containing the highlights of his life was damaged by a looter. Coincidence?!? You decide!
Gnostic: Actually I did. You're wrong. I have a number of other passages to prove it, but my posts are already too long, as nuance and brevity are enemies.
And as for your logic train, anthropomorphize much? Just because we are made in God's image, we are flawed. You are attributing human motives that might not be applicable to an omnipotent and omniscient being. I certainly have no insight into the divine, but perhaps people who chose to sin grievously and inflict cruelty in this life, seemingly unpunished, deserve to go to hell. Think of it as the ultimate karma, perhaps justice. Perhaps there is no equivalent in our limited understanding to the motives of God. God bestowed his love on humanity and sent his only begotten son to die a horrible death for our sins. Doesn't sound like hate to me.
And by giving us free will, we are empowered to save ourselves if we wish.
Derailed. Twice.
Oh, it's interesting that Jesus Christ is referred to as the Son of God, as both human and divine, as dying a human death after living amongst humans, whereas God is the creator of the universe and existed prior to everything, even light.
And if they are the same, why does the Bible refer to them a using different names, as opposed to something like a slash?
I'd assume the values of Jesus (or at least fantasize about following them somewhat) without the religious, belief aspect.