Bible
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74: Does God care what we wear?
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In a recent post (#71) I examined the food regulations in Judaism, Christianity and the Qur’an. Muhammad mostly agrees with the Jews about food,…
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72: The Bible Menagerie
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If you recently attended a Christmas pageant or saw a depiction of the Christmas story on TV or in a movie you probably saw…
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71: Does God care what you eat?
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For Christmas I received as a gift an assortment of meat jerky made from some exotic animals, including wild boar, ostrich, alligator and camel.…
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70: Does God Love the Whole World?
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♪ “He’s got the whole world – in His hands! He’s got the whole wide world – in His hands!” ♪ Perhaps you recognize…
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69: Christmas: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
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I enjoy the Christmas season. I like the Christmas story, even though if you read my posts about it (25-29, 67, 68) you know…
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68: Christmas quiz!
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How well do you know the Christmas story as told in the Bible? 1. How did Joseph and Mary make the journey to Bethlehem? a)…
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67: The Slaughter of the Innocents: What does it say about God and children?
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‘The Slaughter of the Innocents’ refers to the story in the Gospel of Matthew in which King Herod sends troops to Bethlehem to kill…
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66: When is the Son of Man coming?
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In the previous post I discussed whether Jesus was talking about himself or someone else when he spoke of the “Son of Man” coming…
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65: Jesus and The Jimmy
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For those of you who may not be fans of the television series Seinfeld, there is an episode which introduces a character named Jimmy.…
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64: They’re No Angels!
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Angels have become part of our culture. There are movies about angels, whether comedies like Angels In The Outfield (1951 and remade in 1994),…
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63: Where did Satan come from?
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The common belief about Satan is that he was an angel of God who rebelled and therefore was cast out of Heaven, and so…
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62: Is there a loophole for salvation?
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In the previous two posts I considered the problems with using belief (in God or Jesus) as the basis for salvation, and suggested an…
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61: Is there a better basis for salvation?
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In the previous post I argued that belief – whether it be in Jesus, God, or anything else – is a lousy basis for…
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59: Was Joseph a Communist? Is God?
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You may know the story of Joseph and his brothers; it is one of the best known in the Bible, and I think one…
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58: Was Jesus Poor?
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Most people would answer this question quickly: Of course he was! It has become an integral part of the Jesus story: he was born…
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57: Jesus and Political Violence
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‘Political violence’ is in the news this week, for obvious reasons. Judging from the media’s reaction one ‘political’ shooting is of more significance than…
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56: Jonah: Parody of Prophets?
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Jonah might be the most satirical book in the Bible. Jonah is said to be a prophet in Israel around the time of King…
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55: Is God Omniscient?
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Is God omniscient? Does He know all things: past, present and future? Well, of course! He’s “God” after all! I suggest that the Biblical…
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54: We Need Better Miracles
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I knew a woman who told me that God had healed her of carcinoid cancer. Upon further discussion she had been diagnosed by doctors…
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52: Was Jesus A Superstar?
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I remember when the musical Jesus Christ Superstar first came out (yes, I’m that old!).[1] It was a bit controversial among conservative Christians. I…
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51: The Council of Nicea: A Big Deal Or Not?
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In the year 325 CE (AD) the Roman emperor Constantine (the Great) called for an empire-wide council to clarify certain matters of Christian doctrine. …
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50: Was Balaam a Bad Boy?
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There is a curious story in the book of Numbers about a prophet named Balaam. It is curious for several reasons, including a talking…
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48: Are the Teachings of Jesus Realistic?
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A doctor has made a thorough examination of an elderly man, and he sends him out to the waiting room so he can talk…
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47: Jesus, the Buddha, Socrates, Confucius and Muhammad Shared Something In Common
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Jesus is well-known as the founder of Christianity, the largest religion in the world, and therefore some consider him one of the most influential…
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46: Did Paul Have A Brain Disorder? (And did it help him?!)
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(Note: regarding the previous post about discontinuing the blog: I am adding spam protection and will continue for now. I’m also thinking of adding posts…
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45: Did The Twelve Become Only Three?
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Early Christianity had many stories about the adventures of the Twelve Apostles after the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Thomas is tricked into…
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44: The Swoon Theory Revisited
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In Post #36 I discussed whether Jesus may have suffered a Near-Death Experience (NDE), either on the cross or perhaps earlier in his life. …
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43: Sorry, Indiana Jones
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During the Easter season you may have heard the story once again of the Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples, and the cup…
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42: Did God Commit Suicide On The Cross?
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Some of you may have had loved ones or friends who committed suicide, so it may be a sensitive subject for you. Feel free…
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41: Easter Quiz!
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How well do you know the details of the Easter story? Questions first then the answers after. 1. One of Jesus’ most impressive miracles was…
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40: Do We Have the Lord’s Supper All Wrong?
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Scholars debate whether the apostle Paul invented the Lord’s Supper (aka the Eucharist or Communion) or merely inherited it from earlier disciples. Here is what…
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39: Baptism and the Macbeth Effect
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From Macbeth, Act V Scene I by William Shakespeare: Doctor: How came she by that light? Gentlewoman: Why, it stood by her: she has light…
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38: Fishing and Theology
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I grew up in Florida and loved the water sports there, including fishing. A fishing excursion did not just mean catching fish, but usually…
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37: Heaven and the Hedonic Treadmill
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My favorite TV series is the old Twilight Zone by Rod Serling. There is an episode in which a small-time crook named Rocky Valentine…
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36: Did Jesus Have a Near-Death Experience?
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There have been books written and at least one movie I know of that are based on the idea of near-death experiences. An NDE is…
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35: Jesus the Healer, Part 5: What if Jesus was a heel, not a healer?
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One of the best-known and best-loved Christian writers of the 20th Century was C. S. Lewis. One of his better-known sayings is that based…
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33: Jesus the Healer, Part 3: Repossessed?
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Jesus’ ministry kept the disciples on the move, from town to town. In two cases we looked at in previous posts Jesus specifically sent the…
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32: Jesus the Healer, Part 2: The Analysis of Paralysis
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In the previous post I discussed exorcisms as a form of healing and how we can account for Jesus having some apparent success in…
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31: Jesus the Healer, Part 1: Those Darn Demons
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Some years ago I participated in a retreat for Christian medical students in Kursk, Russia, arranged by a church pastor I had met in…
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29 The Star of Bethlehem and Other Silly Pursuits
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Around Christmas there are (naturally) various TV shows about Jesus, especially his birth story. I have seen several shows in which (supposedly) serious scholars…
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28: The War on Christmas
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A popular topic in recent years, at least for some conservative Christians, is the “War on Christmas.” The idea is that the term “Christmas”…
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26: Christmas Conundrum, Part 2
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In the previous post we left the Magi at Jesus’ house. Eventually Herod realizes the Magi aren’t coming back. God warns Joseph, once more…