Boaz,

The concept of The Son of God refers to the Righteous [to Man] and the Pious [to God] (Barbara Thering). The Apocalyptic texts of Revelation and Daniel are highly symbolic and relate to Jesus' [House of David] mission to establish an eternal Kingdom of Heaven, presumably under Davanic rule over all nations. Herod's crew were Ideamaens, Arab, not Jewish. Jesus [son of Joseph, son Heli] was very much of the House of David. [I don't believe in the churches' ship on Mary's virgin, suspecting she fell prenant to Joseph, when engaged.]

In the first century CE, as mentioned in another thread, 2/3 [two days work] of tithes were to be devoted to the poor, very much against the idea of God creating wealth for his followers.

Philo,

The idea of God communicating directly with humans is different to the Greek concept of epiphany, were generally gods --with some exceptions-- stayed aloof in Olympus. Perhaps the Romans might liken Christian angels to Hermes?

Moses and Mohammed may have needed to make claim direct communication to meld religion with group unity. Moses needed to stop the Hebrews straying away from a Yehwah [war/tribal god]to agricultural gods [e.g., calf] when the People settled. Mohammed needed to unite the Arabs against the Perians and Christianity.

I agree with you and be concerned with anyone claiming to communicate with God, Christian or otherwise.

Fractelle.. I'm not on a 'scare campaign'..I'm on an 'information' campaign.

This dill Aquiboloy is just one of a number of dangerous cults around.

The similarity between his claimed experience and that of Mohammad (along with Joseph Smith) is stark.

EVOLUTION makes a good point, but he misses one also. YES..this Cult IS about making money and having power... but no, not 'ALL' religions are like that and Christ-ianity is DEFinitely not about that. This bloke is not preaching Christ, he is preaching himSELF.. as all heretics ultimately have done.

Philo has pointed us to the fact that this man is influencing Philipino people in Australia, and that concerns me.

EVOLUTION..the ONE major distinguishing feature of false messiahs and false religions is the one you alluded to.'

IT'S ABOUT MONEY/POWER (clear already in the case of Aquiboloy)
and/or
IT'S ABOUT SEX. (yet to be known/seen/revealed....but watch)

You can know the truth or falsehood by those indicators generally.
Buddha is an exception.. but instead of finding the truth, he came up with a bit of dodgy psychology and some 'warm fuzzy' words....then died. At least he was not in it for the money, but then, Buddhism is not actually a religion.

EVO..I challenge you to find 'its about the money' in the writings of Jesus, Paul, or any of the new testament writers. Come back when you find the relevant verses ok ? :)

For those of us who don't have our intellects paralysed by religious belief, this guy and his disciples look like just another Christian cult, with some obvious similarities to others like Hillsong, Exclusive Brethren and all the other financially oriented happyclapper sects.

Of course, I've been saying for some time that we need to watch out for these religious cults, if not as hysterically as Boazy. Unlike Boazy, I think that these sects are at least as problematic for society as are the equivalently deranged fringe groups that derive from Islam.

The problem is that they all attract credulous adherents who need to believe in something, and can be easily brainwashed into handing over their money or worse in order to score brownie points in whatever ideology it is to which they are captive.

Like Fractelle, I won't be losing any sleep over this particular variant, any more than I would over any other of Boazy's 'Henny Penny' scare campaigns. Further, I have to comment on the irony of a thread started by Boazy of all people, with the title "You can believe it".

Truly a P.T. Barnum moment.

CJ

Right there with you, particularly on the doubly ironic title for this thread.

That Boaz can't/won't see he is as brainwashed about his own version of christianity as the followers of any religious cult, is more sad than it is funny.

Again Boaz demonstrates the innate "control by fear" that underscores most religions.

I veer from feeling sorry for him on threads like this and angered by him where he vilifies and defames other people. If he serves any purpose at all, it is to beware of the dangers of religious addiction.

Welll....of course I smile at Secular Bishop CJ and Deaconess Fractelles wink wink nudge nudge to each other...*Pssst Boazy this and that*....

FEAR? :) check this out..and 'be afraid....very afraid'....

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=SmLhyPjHVes

I can't say it'll be like this, but if it is, I pray you mob who blather on about how brain damaged we Christians are will have found the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

To be perfectly honest with you BOZO; I wish ALL of you religious fundamentalists would duel at dawn;-and ALL of you be aim perfect!