Yeah, Brier Rose, that just what the world needs, another Christian perspective. The world is drowning in conflicting religious perspectives and, all over the world, people are being killed because they hold different views (Christians versus Muslims, etc).

Religious belief induces a kind of mental derangement, a dangerous kind of derangement. The believer holds views that have no scientific basis. He or she cling to myths like life after death and living forever. I know what religion does because once I too was a believer.

But I started to ask questions and there were no answers. One of the questions I asked was: why does this God of love create children with cancer or severe physical or mental handicaps? Another was: how come there are so many gods all claiming they are the way, the truth and the light?

I escaped from religious derangement. Others, it seems, aren't so lucky.

Oly.. refer sources b4 speaking :)

"Herod..Tetrarch of Galilee"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod

# Herod the Great (c. 74-4 BC), King of the Israel who reconstructed the Second Temple (Herod's Temple) in Jerusalem.
# Herod Archelaus (23 BC-c. AD 18), ethnarch of Samaria, Judea, and Idumea
# Herod Antipas (20 BC-c. AD 40), tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea, who was described in the New Testament as ordering John the Baptist's death and as mocking Jesus
# Herod Agrippa I (c. 10 BC-AD 44), king of Judea, called "Herod" in the Acts of the Apostles
# Herod II, sometimes called Herod Philip I, father of Salome

Nothing wrong with Luke's account old son..but I would not say the same about Barbara Thingymejig.

That's not a "corollary", Boaz.

>>The corollary of your conclusion is that when there IS an intersection between the Bible and History.. for crying out loud.. "let" it speak...and don't condemn it for the sake of bias or argument.<<

That is just special pleading.

While it may be historically "accurate" to state that there is a high likelihood that Jesus actually existed, there is no support - other than the books that supply your religious foundations - for the suggestion that he walked on water.

That isn't an "intersection". They are parallel paths.

As Sells pointed out in his article, there is actually no need whatsoever, for Christians to require proof that Jesus walked on the Sea of Galilee.

In precisely the same way that it is utterly pointless for a scientist to explain that the surface tension would be insufficiently strong for this to occur.

The two travel down parallel paths. They do not, and should not, intersect.

It doesn't matter to me that you believe that the feeding of 5,000 people with five loaves and two fishes was an actual event. If it is important for you to believe that it is, that's great.

The friction only occurs when you try to pass it off as having some kind of basis in historical reality. No matter how you cut it, science has absolutely no place in that story. Whatsoever.

Parallel paths, do you see?

No intersection.

Sells

I take issue with your pronouncement I should "drop (my) guard and think deeper about the tradition that has been central to making (my) lovely life possible."

How do you know I don't?

No, I don't follow any formal religion, but that does not mean I do not engage in deep introspection, meditation or profound appreciation for my life and the wondrous universe which surrounds and sustains me. Thus I have no conflict with each new discovery my by the scientific community. (Who were, in your belief system, created by your god).

As Briar Rose said:

>>> How do you explain the capacity for human happiness BC?

This is a very simple question, very simply posed. Perhaps it is too simple for you to bother with. I've noticed that when I've asked this question of other Christians, it has been ignored. I am still seeking an answer. <<<

This question holds much truth for me and others. Including before Moses, before Abraham, there were people (not just in the Middle East) but populations of people all around the world living in as much peace and conflict as humans do.

There has been no significant change in human behaviour as a result of JC with regard to levels of peace and conflict, rather we have begun to reach towards a higher level of understanding and sophistication through learning about the natural world. Realising that other animals have a great deal more intelligence than previously thought, knowing that the probability of other earth-like planets increase with every advance of astronomy.

Knowing that women were never created from a male rib, that the only parthenogenesis (virgin birth) is by creatures other than humans and result in females not males. So even if a female human had had a virgin birth the progeny would've been a girl.

Such does science reveal. The question that requires asking is can Christian dogma keep up?

At present, my answer would be a resounding "NO".

funny enough it is pseudo science that has had to write and rewrite their textbooks. No shame or embarrassment ever shown for past failed dogma. Past attempts to explain origins are nearly as embarrassing as their current attempts. The Word of God however does not change and is is still far superior than anything else ever written. God had to first laugh and will have the last laugh at corrupt men's pathetic attempts to deny/ignore/hate Him.

runner, the word of God has changed from the Olde Testament to the New (with many Christians now virtually disowning the OT), and it changed again when He dictated to Mohammed.