Poor little Josephus...His world crumbled when he realised he'd wasted all his years and achieved up knowing nothing. He has been reduced to snide remarks because his unknowingness was proven.

The Bible proves me correct continually Josephus and that is why you simply can't debate any longer. You have been caught out lying and you don't like it, now you are acting like a child.

BB I know there is a Catholic Bible and I refer to it often when checking my facts. It is not all that different from many of the Bibles but it has been altered in many ways.

I am not playing games...I am out to correct the lies perpetrated by religions.

I studied the Bible and that is why I know it so well. I doubt anyone can catch me out because I always quote chapter and verse to prove my points. No-one else does that.

That is why the believers are hog tied... They haven't got the knowledge to know what is in their Bibles. They haven't got the discipline to study correctly and they have never truly understood how their minds have been twisted by simple things like Baby Jesus stories and talking snakes.

If religion should be about anything it should be about the truth because it involves a persons spirituality.

The problem is it is the world's greatest money making scam and I can't help the likes of Josephus because he is too blinded to help.

Áll religious people have the chance to change if they put their thinking cap on but some prefer to sulk in the corner.

When I quote the Bible I check the original ancient texts before posting to make sure I am accurate. Those Catholics changed David's holocaust into a Sunday work adventure...lmao No-one else does but the Catholics do...lmao

Sad but true

Bush bunny,

Unfortunately for Christianity, the Old Testament can’t just be forgotten or thrown out.

Without the Old Testament, there is no original sin and, therefore, nothing to be saved from.

Without the Old Testament prophesies, you can’t have Jesus showing up to fulfil those prophesies.

You can’t have a New Testament without an Old Testament.

Furthermore, the New Testament continually refers back to the Old Testament. Heck, Moses is referred to in the New Testament more times than even Jesus is.

Jesus said that not a jot or tittle of the old law will be changed until everything has been accomplished. When Jesus said that he did not come to abolish the law but to fulfil it, what he meant was that although God still enjoys the smell of burning blood, we no longer need to sacrifice animals to appease Him - Jesus’ weekend of inconvenience replaces that.

But the biggest problem the Old Testament poses for Christianity is how a supposedly perfect and unchanging god appears to have taken anger management classes between Testaments.

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Josephus,

An unwarranted and snarky little jibe there. Sorry, but going by what I’ve read from you on OLO, I’m pretty sure my knowledge of Christian theology and the Bible is a little better than yours. That’s probably why you’re still a Christian, and I’m not.

Oh Bush Bunny. Some of what you've said reminds me of a friend I have at work. She believes in the power of karma rearing it's justice too and your views of magic remind me of her also. You seem like a kind woman, which is a breath of fresh air when one meets differing perspectives and different beliefs. If everyone was nice and pleasant during political seasons that would be something so much different and nicer then we have now.

But by what you've written you've shown how much your confidant about regarding Christianity and how much you are unsure about. I tell you if Christians don't teach others about Christianity no one else will do it for them. It sounds like regarding my beliefs I'm more sure then you give me credit for, and your less educated then you might know. There are answers to the questions you ask that make you wonder "who is right, and who is not." But beyond those questions is still God's hand in the matter. I don't think a focus on which denomination will save you is the right way to look at it. If you trust in God, believe in Jesus and strive to follow Him, then I think you would be in a good state for having God's grace and His salvation. Our understanding is in part, and no one's understanding is to the point that they are beyond learning more. But that said there are answers to the questions you gave within the bible.

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For instance, Jesus came for the Jews, and was a Jew Himself. But as it is pointed out in the book of Acts (with much controversy in the early church while this was happening) Christian hope and God's grace was not just for the Jews. In fact the same Holy Spirit that fell on the Apostles and early Jewish Christians also fell on at least one occasion of Gentiles (a term for non Jewish). What God has set in motion who could deny it? So indeed the message of Christianity is not just for the Jews, but for all who would turn to Jesus and therefore also turn to God. (That Jesus is the way to God is not the same as saying that Jesus is God, that question on divinity has bible answers too, that can be direct answers to your question. However that is a more in-depth study and the answers don't seem to be a straight yes or no until you have much more context to go on).

With me so far? I hope so. There is so much to teach and so much to know. But one of the things to ask is based on your suggestion to not teach those more educated (with the reasoning seeming to be based on logic to deny teaching anyone). So the question come to mind why teach at all? The answer is two part. One is that as Christians we are called to go and spread the message.

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In one of the Gospels Jesus sends His disciples out to the world in a great commission to teach repentance and forgiveness of sin to all nations (Luke 24:47). In another Jesus gives another commission, that all authority in Heaven and Earth has been given to Jesus, therefore to go make disciples of the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and to teach them to obey what Jesus commanded them (Mathew 28:18-20). In yet another gospel (John 17) Jesus prays for those He was sending out, but not just those disciples in that day, but also any future believer hearing the message the Apostles were about to send out starting the beginnings of Christian church (the people not the denominations) which took place in the beginning of the book of Acts. In Mark, the other gospel, Jesus gives His commission there too. (Mark 16:15-18). In this sending off Jesus not only gives the same sending to go and preach the gospel to all creation, but He also gives more information. Both controversial nowadays. That those who will believe will be saved, and those that don't will be condemned. He also said that those who believe will be accompanied with signs. Driving out demons, speaking in tongues, not be harmed by snakes or deadly poison, and heal people.

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The second reason to teach is for the benefit of those who would hear it. To save them, and let them share in the joy of having God and His love. This part though less controversial then miracles and signs, is one trying part on a Christian. I should teach because I love those that I love, and I should teach because Jesus love them. But do you try to teach a friend who is doesn't believe? Can you say you are a friend knowing that to say anything might lose the friendship, but to say nothing you let them perish. Teaching does not have to be harsh as it has been in history while people used forced conversions in part of conquering territories for domination. Instead to teach with patience, and if it is rejected, more on. Leave them be. In this way it's with patience instead of forcefulness. At least that's the way I understand as Jesus taught.

You might not like this but to be a Christian and to believe in it's message is to also believe the message to teach the nations. This is not necessarily that all Christians should teach, but that Christianity should still be taught. Those who are called to be teachers should teach. And teach all that they can. Education is no merit to hold back. After all how else will you know without being taught?