An ecclesiastical meltdown
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http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-jacoby7may07,0,130327.story?coll=la-news-comment-opinions
- 'If I were the pope, my response to "The Da Vinci Code" would have been regal silence — or at most, a release from the Vatican press office along the lines of "we are not amused." As for the Gospel of Judas, I would have issued a bland analysis proclaiming that the early church was right to have rejected Gnosticism as heresy. And then I would have offered a prayer of thanks, as thousands of editors throughout the world deleted my press release from their e-mail, saying "no news here." '
-'As a nonbeliever, I am nevertheless certain that neither a new movie nor an old gospel will shake the faith of believing Christians in the biblical account of Jesus' life and death. The real story of the disproportionate official Christian outrage is that religious leaders do not like it when anyone — whether a Hollywood filmmaker or an anonymous voice from Christianity's own past — challenges their particular narrative of salvation, and by doing so raises the uncomfortable question of whether any religious narrative can reasonably be classified as nonfiction. '
I think it is very true
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That Jesus was not a divine being but a great human prophet is a view already held by millions of non-Christians around the world. Indeed, Jesus' divinity was not taken for granted in the early Christian era and was first proclaimed at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD.
What?! This guy can't be serious?! -
To some people, He is just a teacher, to others, He is just another prophet, yet to some others, He is nothing more than a good man.Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:What?! This guy can't be serious?!
The important question here is, who do you think He is? -
He is the One who is,and who was,and who is to come lo.Originally posted by vince69:To some people, He is just a teacher, to others, He is just another prophet, yet to some others, He is nothing more than a good man.
The important question here is, who do you think He is? -
No no, I'm merely raising doubts on whether His Divinity needed to be proclaimed at some council.Originally posted by vince69:To some people, He is just a teacher, to others, He is just another prophet, yet to some others, He is nothing more than a good man.
The important question here is, who do you think He is? -
the more hyped up a thing is, may also mean the lower its credibility might be. whether it is really true, or not, may also be another different thing altogether.
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Sorry....think i miss that one b4 I post the link to the website....haha....Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:No no, I'm merely raising doubts on whether His Divinity needed to be proclaimed at some council.
I think the author is a non-christian so he doesn't know Jesus' Divinity was not proclaimed at the council of Nicea, but is already accepted b4 the council. The council of Nicea is to dispute whether he was co-eternal with the father, not to argue whether he was god or not.
Sorry for the misunderstanding.... -
And I am just raising the point that each have to make this decision a personal one.Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:No no, I'm merely raising doubts on whether His Divinity needed to be proclaimed at some council.
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He is god, the divine one, or just another prophet, whatever
Point is, he lay down some moral guidelines, anyone paying attention in the first place?
I dont know -
got follow....but nobody is perfectOriginally posted by laurence82:He is god, the divine one, or just another prophet, whatever
Point is, he lay down some moral guidelines, anyone paying attention in the first place?
I dont know -
actually you are rightOriginally posted by laoda99:got follow....but nobody is perfect
i should say, has anyone put in his greatest effort?
This forum, like the Islam and Buddhism forums, differ from others like Speakers Corner in the sense they deal with spirituality, whatever forms. Theoretically, I should see Christians, in this context, behaving more morally and ethically than non believers.
Two three years here, I must say, evidence proves to the contrary. Sadly, my observations are that there are not much disparity between a believer or a non believer. i mean, of course, there are some chaps here and there proclaim the lord's name, crying god bless you god bless you kind of thing, but what disturb me is that their overall behaviour sought to bring out the human nature in them, than to bring out the godliness in them - resorting to cunning acts, lying, politicking..
Well, for a non believer like me, perhaps i should be happy to see some Christians act immorally, but then, no matter what, its disturbing...really
Whats your opinion? -
Well....we won't know if he/she put in his bad efforts liaoOriginally posted by laurence82:actually you are right
i should say, has anyone put in his greatest effort?
This forum, like the Islam and Buddhism forums, differ from others like Speakers Corner in the sense they deal with spirituality, whatever forms. Theoretically, I should see Christians, in this context, behaving more morally and ethically than non believers.
Two three years here, I must say, evidence proves to the contrary. Sadly, my observations are that there are not much disparity between a believer or a non believer. i mean, of course, there are some chaps here and there proclaim the lord's name, crying god bless you god bless you kind of thing, but what disturb me is that their overall behaviour sought to bring out the human nature in them, than to bring out the godliness in them - resorting to cunning acts, lying, politicking..
Well, for a non believer like me, perhaps i should be happy to see some Christians act immorally, but then, no matter what, its disturbing...really
Whats your opinion?
The problem is: Christians are often put on higher pedestal than the others, expecting more morally and ethically than non-believers. I agree to a certain extent.
The church (my church) has also stressed that Christians should be a good example to others so that others too may follow Christ. But in my opinion, we are still human. Like non-believers, we have our ups and downs, and often we are not excluded from feeling angry when we see non-believers put the faith down. And bear in mind, when Christ came, he never come for the righteous, but the sinners, who are not perfect like u and me.
I have been here for 1 yr plus now and I feel that the best way for us here is to not to look at things too seriously. Like MCSQUARE has taught me, it is just forum. At the end of the day, we are here to make friends, not enemies. If you do not agree with me, we are still friends and can still have a drink at the end of the day. -
True and true, thats why I dont prescribe much to any religion. The expectations are there, unfortunately, in many ways I believe if someone subscribe to any faith strongly, he is expected to follow it strongly (note: not perfectly), in this case, the Ten Commandments or the Seven Fruits of the Spirit etc.Originally posted by laoda99:Well....we won't know if he/she put in his bad efforts liao
The problem is: Christians are often put on higher pedestal than the others, expecting more morally and ethically than non-believers. I agree to a certain extent.
The church (my church) has also stressed that Christians should be a good example to others so that others too may follow Christ. But in my opinion, we are still human. Like non-believers, we have our ups and downs, and often we are not excluded from feeling angry when we see non-believers put the faith down. And bear in mind, when Christ came, he never come for the righteous, but the sinners, who are not perfect like u and me.
I have been here for 1 yr plus now and I feel that the best way for us here is to not to look at things too seriously. Like MCSQUARE has taught me, it is just forum. At the end of the day, we are here to make friends, not enemies. If you do not agree with me, we are still friends and can still have a drink at the end of the day.
Yeah, we are not perfect, I am not perfect either, but I dont agree that that imperfectness should be a ready excuse. And nah, I made many more friends than I had enemies here, so I am not so quite bothered by friendships issues, and thats why despite the odds sometimes, you will prolly wonder why i am so bend on picking on the issues as they cropped up. Idont mind, its a good experience too. -
Always seems to me that as terrible a thing a smelly Christian can be... it is a sadder thing if these flaws block out a view of the truth. But of course, truth claims cannot be rejected or accepted simply on the effect it has on those who believe in it. That in itself is not any indication of it's wantingness, if anybody stopped to think for a while.
I remember one great Catholic apologist said that the Christian idea has not been tried and found wanting, it has been tried and found too difficult. Indeed one of the key notions of the Christian life is that it is humanly impossible. I suspect all too often we forget this reality before we go about our work. -
Chesterton said that!Originally posted by SingaporeTyrannosaur:I remember one great Catholic apologist said that the Christian idea has not been tried and found wanting, it has been tried and found too difficult. Indeed one of the key notions of the Christian life is that it is humanly impossible. I suspect all too often we forget this reality before we go about our work.
It was in my signature the other time... -
Ah yes that's him, I got the quote off your sig too.Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:Chesterston said that!
It was in my signature the other time...
Do you have any idea where I can get his works? The completion of C.S. Lewis only enlarges my interest in those intellectual giants of our faith.