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Historicity of Jesus - 2 - acharya - 08-20-2009
Ramana - x-posted
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Another section
<!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Christian history begins with the triumph of the Church. With Eusebius of Caesarea the apologetic pamphlets of the age of persecutions gave way to a calm review of three centuries of Christian progress. Eusebius biography of Constantine shows what distortion of fact the father of Church history permitted himself,</b> but the Ecclesiastical History was fortunately written for those who wanted to know what really happened, and remains to-day an invaluable repository of Christian antiquities. With the continuations of Socrates, Sozomen and Theodoret, and the Latin manual which Cassiodorus had woven from them (the Historic tripart ita) , it formed the body of Church history during all the middle ages. <b>An even greater influence, however, was exercised by Eusebius Chronica. Through Jeromes translation and additions, this scheme of this world~ chronology became the basis for all medieval world chronicles. It settled until our own day the succession of years from the Creation to the birth of Christ,fitting the Old Testament story into that of ancient history. Henceforth the Jewish past,that one path back to the beginning of the world,was marked out by the absolute laws of mathematics and revelation. Jerome had marked it out; Sulpicius Severus, the biographer of St Martin, in his Historia sacra, adorned it with the attractions of romance. Sulpicius was admirably fitted to interpret the miraculous Bible story to the middle ages. But there were few who could write like him, and Jeromes Chronicle itself, or rather portions of it, became, in the age which followed, a sort of universal preface for the monastic chronicler. For a time there were even attempts to continue imperial chronicles, but they were insignificant compared with the influence of Eusebius and Jerome.</b>
<b>From the first, Christianity had a philosophy of history. Its earliest apologists sought to show how the world had followed a divine plan in its long preparation for the life of Christ. From this central fact of all history, mankind should continue through war and suffering until the divine plan was completed at the judgment day. The fate of nations is in Gods hands; history is the revelation of His wisdom and power. Whether He intervenes directly by miracle, or merely sets His laws in operation, He is master of mens fate. This idea, which has underlain all Christian philosophy of history, from the first apologists who prophesied the fall of the Empire and the coming of the millennium, down to our own day, received its classic statement in St Augustines City of God. </b>The terrestrial city, whose eternity had been the theme of pagan history, had just fallen before Alari,~s Goths. Augustines explanation of its fall passes in review not only the calamities of Roman historycombined with a pathetic perception of its greatIiess,but carries the survey back to the origin of evil at the creation. Then over against this civi1a~ terrena he sets the divine city which is to be realized in Christendom. The Roman ~lmpire,the last general form of the earthly city,gives way slowly to the heavenly. This is the main thread of Augustines philosophy of history. The mathematica] demonstration of its truth was left by Augustine for his disciple, Paulus Orosius.
<b>Orosius Seven Books of Histories against the Pagans, writtes as a supplement to the City of God, is the first attempt at a Christian World History.</b> This manual for the middle ages arranged the rise and fall of empires with convincing exactness. <b>The history of antiquity, according to it, begins with Ninus. His realm was overthrown by the Medes in the same year in which the history of Rome began. From the first year of Ninus reign until the rebuilding of Babylon by Semiramis there were sixty-four years; the same between the first of Procas and the building of Rome. Eleven hundred and sixty-four years after each city was built, it was taken,Babylon by Cyrus, Rome by Alaric, and Cyrus conquest took place just when Rome began the Republic. But before Rome becomes a world empire, Macedon and Carthage intervene, guardians of Romes youth (tutor curatorque). This scheme of the four world-monarchies, which was to prevail through all the middle ages, was developed through seven books filled with the story of war and suffering. As it was Orosius aim to show that the world had improved since the coming of Christ, he used Trogus Pompeius war history, written to exalt Roman triumphs, to show the reverse of victory, disaster and ruin. Livy, Caesar, Tacitus and Suetonius were plundered for the story of horrors; until finally even the Goths in Spain shine by contrast with the pagan heroes; and through the confusion of the German invasions one may look forward to Christendom,and its peace.</b>
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So you can see how Islam got its Force of History. Its from the Roman Church. So now do we know why study history?
Even the Lefties who rewrite and reinterpret Indian history also have an agenda(No wonder Hiliare Belloc called Islam and Marxism heresies from outside) however their principal Marxist backers have collapsed and they are in the pocket of other dominant forces.
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Historicity of Jesus - 2 - acharya - 08-20-2009
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> Originally Posted by KingMÂ View Post<b>
From an Evangelical viewpoint, isn't America the most Christian nation on Earth?</b>
I would say that American is the most Christian nation on earth... but that doesn't mean without SIN... without temptation & wicked decisions.
Christian doesn't mean perfect. It means recognition of sin, recognition of repentance being needed.... and recognition of CHRIST as LORD & SAVIOR. (not shouting, just emphasis)
Why do so many think Christianity means no sin.... it just means that we recognize how rotten we can be & our only way to the presence of God is THROUGH Christ (dying sinless on the cross for the sins of humans and his resurrection).
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Historicity of Jesus - 2 - acharya - 08-20-2009
<b>yes --Cultural Christians.</b>
Actually I see America as becomming quite culturally Christian. People call themselves Christian, go to church, because that's what their family's tradition is, without having much idea what their church teaches or what Christianity really is. At least in the more mainline denominations. I've read before that Europe is more culturally or traditionally Christian than in actual belief/actions. When people are only call themselves Christian because that's what their culture is, and they're not knowledgeable about their faith, they end up accepting secular/popular ideas and mixing them all up together.
Historicity of Jesus - 2 - acharya - 08-20-2009
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Christ says " I am the WAY, the TRUTH & the LIGHT... NO ONE goes to the FATHER except through ME". (not good works, not many prayers, not kharma or reincarnations, not Allah, not Zeus, not the waters or earth, etc).
Now, you can try to say that means everyone but it is very specific in this wording. If a person claims to be a Christian but denies this verse (and many others of similar teaching), then I think they may have misunderstandings of the Christian faith.
To say all faiths lead to heaven is to be a universalist & not a believer in the teachings of Christ that are in the Bible. There are some denominations who still claim to be Christian but REJECT the scriptures (or pick & choose). Honestly, I don't think we can pick & chose scripture based on our desires or whims.... we must basically reject it all b/c selective reading discredits it all (and is a rejection). I am speaking on basic core Christian teachings (and not how wet you get in a baptism, etc)
To believe all relegions lead to heaven is also poorly informed/poorly read in Scripture or brings the concept of heaven/peace to a earthly (& pitiful) level. Remember, not all relegions teach to serve each other, love the enemies, help the helpless, save the weak, surrender what is Ceasers unless it conflicts with what is God's, etc. Some relegions teach revenge, spite, cannibalism, rape, murder/sacrifice, abuse, no forgiveness, kill or cast out the widows, etc. Religions are not equal in teachings & will offer different heaven definitions.
You can't have it all & make them all fit. But Americans sure try....
This is not meant to be offensive or argumentative - just defining & explaining a view point that wasn't already posted. As for answering the OP & this concept, the Hindus who have rejected Christ will not enter into God's kingdom/heaven.
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Historicity of Jesus - 2 - dhu - 08-21-2009
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->John Dayal
August 20, 2009 at 4:26 am
Please feel free to abuse me. That is your freedom
But my freedom is not a gift from Hindus.
It is my right as an Indian citizen
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See how 'freedom' and 'rights' discourse is used to dismiss native viewpoint. India is the secularized Bharat. India is the giver of rights, Bharat the oppressor.
Historicity of Jesus - 2 - dhu - 08-21-2009
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Â Â However, pursuing this line of thought was impossible for
  Whiston. To do so, he would have had to accept that both Jesus
  and Josephus were in error because they each "saw" something that
  could not have happened in 70 C.E. To Whiston, Jesus could not err,
  by definition, because he was God. Likewise, to Whiston, as to so
  many Christian scholars, Josephus could not be mistaken because
  his history records God's handiwork.
  This is a demonstration of the power of the combination of the
  two works. The belief that they came from two distinct sources creates
  the effect that they demonstrate the supernatural, which is to
  say, Jesus' power of prophecy. <b>The New Testament reveals the true
  "Son of God" because Christ's predictions come true. A "historian"
  records them. </b>Josephus' histories must be accurate because they
  record the works of God. Jesus predicts the events that Josephus sees.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Historicity of Jesus - 2 - ramana - 08-22-2009
While searching Internet Archive I came across this book:
Unknown life of Jesus Christ by Nicholas Notovitch. The editor/translator is Mr. Virchand Gandhi who published the book in 1894 in Chicago!
I have read only the translator's note but its very interesting. Also see the back end and what titles they planned to publish!
Wonder if he was the one who drew Swami Vivekananda to Chicago.
Historicity of Jesus - 2 - ramana - 08-22-2009
dhu, Read the above book. He says even Moses is fake. And he says that way before Freud.
Historicity of Jesus - 2 - dhu - 08-23-2009
Ramana,
Monotheism is a way to sterilize civilizational memory. We are looking only at the end result in the case of Canaan. Canaan's geo-significance is that it is the entry into Egypt. These false states/identities are set up at such crucial junctures - including Pakistan - and the consequences reverberate back to the master. The consequences are then mistaken for the initial attack.
We are looking at the end result. Canaan, Egypt (and Persia also) has as much relevance to Judaism as Sanskrit Bible has to Indian traditions. It is near impossible to find an English word in the Sanskrit Bible. There is no dearth of Praise of the Native Deity in Sanskrit Bible. But it is an illusory veneer.
Always look for phrases like Hope, Feel Good, Comical Tragedy, any incongruous juxtaposition of tragedy and comedy ie Charlie Wilson's War, Slumdog. That is the pure propaganda genre. This genre informs (and now forms the totality of) the western self-narrative.
Kubrick's 'Shining' is about the flashbacks, the memory which cannot be erased. We need extended discussion of that movie. In western reviews of that movie, you will see the immediacy of the movie dismissed by saying that it is about 'evil in general', about mankind's psychology, about man's inhumanity to man. Secularism and Enlightenment is such a discourse which generalizes away the incongruity or the persistence of the memory. The heathen is generalized away as quaint, "romantic", folky, festivals, etc.
Linearized interpretative history affords an illusionary organicity to the project.
Historicity of Jesus - 2 - acharya - 08-24-2009
<!--QuoteBegin-dhu+Aug 23 2009, 06:21 AM-->QUOTE(dhu @ Aug 23 2009, 06:21 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Ramana,
Monotheism is a way to sterilize civilizational memory. We are looking only at the end result in the case of Canaan. Canaan's geo-significance is that it is the entry into Egypt. These false states/identities are set up at such crucial junctures - including Pakistan - and the consequences reverberate back to the master. The consequences are then mistaken for the initial attack.
We are looking at the end result. Canaan, Egypt (and Persia also) has as much relevance to Judaism as Sanskrit Bible has to Indian traditions. It is near impossible to find an English word in the Sanskrit Bible. There is no dearth of Praise of the Native Deity in Sanskrit Bible. But it is an illusory veneer.
Always look for phrases like Hope, Feel Good, Comical Tragedy, any incongruous juxtaposition of tragedy and comedy ie Charlie Wilson's War, Slumdog. That is the pure propaganda genre. This genre informs (and now forms the totality of) the western self-narrative.
Kubrick's 'Shining' is about the flashbacks, the memory which cannot be erased. We need extended discussion of that movie. In western reviews of that movie, you will see the immediacy of the movie dismissed by saying that it is about 'evil in general', about mankind's psychology, about man's inhumanity to man. Secularism and Enlightenment is such a discourse which generalizes away the incongruity or the persistence of the memory. The heathen is generalized away as quaint, "romantic", folky, festivals, etc.
Linearized interpretative history affords an illusionary organicity to the project.
[right][snapback]100618[/snapback][/right]
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Fantastic.
By the way on of my friend who is trained journalism in the WEST talks about similar process of changing the perception of history.
Indian secularism is mass propaganda to change Hindu perception of their own reality and their own history.
Historicity of Jesus - 2 - Husky - 08-26-2009
<!--QuoteBegin-ramana+Aug 22 2009, 01:58 AM-->QUOTE(ramana @ Aug 22 2009, 01:58 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->While searching Internet Archive I came across this book:
Unknown life of Jesus Christ by <b>Nicholas Notovitch</b>. The editor/translator is Mr. Virchand Gandhi who published the book in 1894 in Chicago![right][snapback]100560[/snapback][/right]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This dude?
http://hamsa.org/interview.htm (from Ishwar Sharan interview)
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><i>13. There is a certain school of thought that says Jesus Christ came to India and that a lot of what he taught is based on Hindu and Buddhist ideas. Comments?</i>
The idea that Jesus came to India as a boy and studied in a Buddhist monastery or, alternatively, came to India after the crucifixion and married a princess of Kashmir, tickles the romantic imagination of Western travelers and quite a few Indiana too. The story originates in a clever <b>piece of fiction</b> by the <b>Russian forger Nicholas Notovich</b> that was published in Paris in 1894.
It cannot possibly be true, and if it is true it destroys completely the special claims made by Christian doctrine, of the sacrifice made on the cross and the resurrection, and the vicarious salvation of the Christian believer. The Buddhist monastery where Jesus is said to have studied did not exist until the 16th century, and the Srinagar tomb where he is allegedly buried is really the tomb of a Mogul ambassador to Egypt who converted to Christianity while on tour there. The key to unraveling the tale is to study the activities of the 10th century Nestorian Christian missionaries who passed through Kashmir on their way to China and left crosses on rocks and an abundance of children with biblical names in their wake.
The Hindu and Buddhist ideas found in the New Testament books, including the Sermon on the Mount, were picked up by the gospel writers in Alexandria from Indian pundits and monks who were teaching there. But it should be remembered that the New Testament books contain ideas quite the opposite of Hindu ideas of pluralism and tolerance. For example, there is the virulent anti-Semitism and religious bigotry of the gospels. Jesus was perhaps the first religious teacher in history to threaten his critics with eternal damnation.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Historicity of Jesus - 2 - ramana - 08-27-2009
The forgery if true was edited and published by Vir Raghav Gandhi who was a stalwart of the Jain community and the Hindu Dharma propogation in the US in early 1890s.
The Russian was an Orthodox Christian and what would he gain in bolstering the Catholics who would be the beneficiaries of the fraud.
Historicity of Jesus - 2 - acharya - 08-27-2009
<!--QuoteBegin-ramana+Aug 26 2009, 06:50 AM-->QUOTE(ramana @ Aug 26 2009, 06:50 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->The forgery if true was edited and published by Vir Raghav Gandhi who was a stalwart of the Jain community and the Hindu Dharma propogation in the US in early 1890s.
The Russian was an Orthodox Christian and what would he gain in bolstering the Catholics who would be the beneficiaries of the fraud.
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It is to put one group against the other in the asian continent.
One of the strategy of going after another religion is to invite them and welcome them to another areas.
Historicity of Jesus - 2 - dhu - 08-27-2009
We need to look up connection between the Christian Socialist movement originated by Carlyle and Ruskin, and Christian anarchists in Russia eg Tolstoy. This is the thread which runs into Gandhi. Gandhi and Tolstoy were influenced by this militant pacifist movement. Tolstoy nearly ended up renouncing his Orthodoxy.
Historicity of Jesus - 2 - dhu - 09-06-2009
Sepoy Communists as the vanguards of cultural nationalism!!!
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> Protests as Indian priests start at Nepal temple
KATMANDU: Hundreds of riot police were deployed to guard two newly appointed Indian priests after they were dragged from Nepal's most revered Hindu temple and beaten by protesters who say the job should be done by Nepalese.
<b>``We don't want foreigners!''</b> shouted hundreds of protesters who gathered Saturday behind a line of police, about 100 yards (meters) from the Pashupatinath temple.<b> ``Protect our culture!''</b>
The top priests at the temple in Katmandu traditionally have come from India, but Nepal has seen a movement since the centuries-old monarchy was abolished last year to change old ways of thinking, even in religion. In the past, the kings protected the country's temples.
Police dramatically tightened security Saturday after protesters dragged the priests from the main temple into the courtyard and beat them Friday, taking the officers guarding the temple by surprise. The priests did not suffer visible injury.
On Saturday, police blocked all roads leading to the temple, turning away thousands of devotees who wanted to offer their prayers. Katmandu's police chief, Navraj Silwal, told reporters the temple area was cordoned off to prevent possible violence. Twelve protesters were detained.
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Historicity of Jesus - 2 - Guest - 09-06-2009
This blog gives introduction to many biblical criticisms.
http://vridar.wordpress.com/
might be used here.
Historicity of Jesus - 2 - acharya - 09-06-2009
http://vridar.wordpress.com/2009/08/17/why...cept-evolution/
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Why people do not accept evolution</b>
2009/08/17 by neilgodfrey
Cover of "Why Darwin Matters: The Case Ag...
Cover via Amazon
The simple answer is âFearâ. Creationist arguments are very often bracketed with gospel messages, and ever since Darwinâs day the lines have been starkly drawn. Religious fundamentalists fear that âbelief inâ evolution leads to a rejection of God, a rejection of godly values, a loss of any higher meaning or purpose for human existence, an ethic of bullying and of a âme-firstâ struggling for survival. The scientific arguments are secondary, if they matter at all. Hence popular fallacies about evolutionary theory are still proclaimed as facts by Creationists regardless of their having been established as fallacies ever since the days of Darwin himself. What really is at stake is the fear that evolution means there is no need for God or biblically prescribed morality, and that faith and purpose are all lost.
Michael Shermer in Why Darwin Matters quotes extensively from William Jennings Bryan of Scopes trial fame in support. One example:
The real attack of evolution, it will be seen, is not upon orthodox Christianity or even upon Christianity, but upon religion â the most basic fact in manâs existence and the most practical thing in life. If taken seriously and made the basis of a philosophy of life, it would eliminate love and carry man back to the struggle of tooth and claw. [Closing statement of WJB in Scopes trial, 1925 -- p. 23 of Why Darwin Matters]
Shermer cites the syllogistic reasoning thus (p. 24):
Evolution implies that there is no God, therefore . . .
Belief in the theory of evolution leads to atheism, therefore . . .
Without a belief in God there can be no morality or meaning, therefore . . .
Without morality and meaning there is no basis for a civil society, therefore . . .
Without a civil society we will be reduced to living like brute animals.
This is what bothers people about evolutionary theory, not the technical details of science. Most folks donât give one whit about adaptive radiation, allopatric speciation, phenotypic variation, assortative mating, allometry and heterochrony, adaptation and exaptation, gradualism and punctuated equilibrium, and the like. What they do care about is whether teaching evolution will make their kids reject God, allow criminals and sinners to blame their genes for their actions, and generally cause society to fall apart.
Where did they get such an idea?
The fact is, of course, that belief in God and the Bible or Koran or any other religion does not guarantee moral behaviour, and âaccepting evolution does not force us to jettison our morals and ethicsâ (p.29). The Bible Belt of America is notorious for its violent crime rate and premarital pregnancy statistics. International crime statistics do not show special favours for Christian nations. I lived many years in country town Toowoomba which is dominated by very conservative Christian stakeholders, yet is also the unfortunate recorder of child abuse and domestic violence statistics among the worst nationally.
Believe in God, but Accept Gravity . . .
Michael Shermer suggests that one of the obstacles to accepting evolution for some people is that they feel they are being asked to make a choice between âbelieving inâ God or evolution. Shermer comments:
evolution is not a religious tenet, to which one swears allegiance or belief as a matter of faith. It is a factual reality of the empirical world. Just as one would not say, âI believe in gravity,â one should not proclaim, âI believe in evolution.â But getting hung up on the idea that one is supposed to âbelieve inâ evolution just as you âbelieve inâ God is just one brand of resistance to evolution. (p. 30)
Shermer lists five specific reasons he believes people resist the theory of evolution (pp.30-32) â the comments are a mix of Shermerâs and my own:
1. A general resistance to science
People generally choose their religion over science, especially if they think they must opt to âbelieve inâ one or the other. If they generally use the findings of science as supports for their religious beliefs, many religious opt to reject any scientific finding that does not support their beliefs.
2. Belief that evolution is a threat to specific religious tenets
Many religionists dismiss the geological evidence that the earth is 4.6 billion years old and reinterpret other evidence to support their belief that the earth is less than 10,000 years old.
3. Fear that evolution degrades our humanity
Shermer observes that it is one thing for science to discover that the earth is not the centre of the universe and that is one of many planets orbiting countless suns, but it is quite another order of consciousness to think that humans might be subject to the same natural laws and natural history as other animals.
4. Equation of evolution with ethical nihilism and moral degeneration
Some people who rely on hope and revelation from higher beings for a sense of purpose and moral direction cannot imagine a meaningful and ethical life unless without a belief in God.
Comment: On the other hand many find a deep sense of purpose and basis for moral behaviour by seeing themselves as part of humanity alone. The fact that life is so temporary and unpredictable is strong incentive to make the most of our time here and now, and that includes finding a rewarding and worthwhile life through promoting and doing whatever might enhance the well-being of our fellow-beings. By identifying ourselves with our species lifts us out of more parochial self-identities based on race or any other narrow grouping. Species-identity (or what was once in less politically correct days called âthe brotherhood of manâ idea) gives us a higher view of our place in the world, and encourages a life in pursuit of humane causes and actions.
Evolution also explains good and evil, and offers sure foundations of ethical behaviour. People are both selfish and unselfish as a result of how each attribute has equipped us for survival as a species. Selfishness has enabled us to protect ourselves and our families or groups to survive against enemies and competitors, while unselfish acts have enabled us to cooperate as larger social units, from families to village communities. And we also have the ability to reflect on our behaviours and work at modifying or controlling them. All societies have prohibitions against murder, adultery, stealing and lying. This is because no society would be possible otherwise. And humans are among the most social of animal species. Murder obviously cannot be tolerated if people are to live together; and trust must be established between people for communities to thrive. Religions may have codified such innate views of right and wrong behaviour, but the fact that such ethics are found across all societies shows that no particular religion is necessary to inform people that such things are right or wrong.
Fundamentalists will generally point to all the negative news and behaviours in our midst, often as a sign that we are now in âthe last daysâ. Yes there is much evil in the world, but the fact that we can view the world from within stable communities demonstrates that evil is not the whole story. For every rude person on a train who does not give up his seat for an elderly or other needy person, I have seen dozens who do give up their seats. For every time I have been spoken to rudely by strangers or colleagues, there are scores of times I have been treated with friendliness. Most people really do like to help others when given an opportunity. And it has nothing to do with their religious or nonreligious beliefs. Or at least the same is found among people whether they be Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, or âOtherâ.
5. Fear that evolutionary theory implies we have a fixed human nature
There is also a common fear that acceptance of evolution will mean that criminals can plead responsibility lay with âtheir genesâ for their actions. Personal responsibility will be a thing of the past.
Comment: But people will always be held responsible for their actions, and this is a basic fact of all societies. (See âwhy oppose . . .â). Science may well discover certain inherited conditions that predispose a person to a certain type of behaviour (e.g. to be quick to lose oneâs temper) but societies always hold each member responsible for their actions. Awareness of predispositions enables both individuals and a society to assist in treating such conditions and avoiding catalyst situations, as well as in deciding the most appropriate punishment or other response to intolerable behaviours.
The urge to rape may in our distant past have had some value to enhance the survival of our species, but we have â through our social natures â reached a point where we have been able to reflect on our actions and their consequences, and learn to control our feelings and build up social fences that encourage (or threaten) members of our community to fall into line, too.
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Historicity of Jesus - 2 - acharya - 09-06-2009
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->I watched Ben Steinâs Expelled No Intelligence Allowed a while back, and I was surprised to find a professor arguing that evolution necessitates man not having free-will. So I searched the Internet and found this idiotic notion fairly widespread. I say that lack of free-will can only be enforced by a deity. For an atheist evolutionist to argue that evolution means we have no free will is just asinine. A random process doesnât have the power to predetermine all your choices.
âEvolution implies that there is no Godâânot anymore than Marcionâs suggestion (if Tertullian wasnât exaggerating Marcionâs beliefs) that an evil god created the world or the Gnostics and the Demiurge. In fact, why couldnât evolution be the demiurge, if you will. The notion of evolution without mind has never made sense to me. No process can be totally random and work. There has to be some sort of intelligence behind it somehow.
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Historicity of Jesus - 2 - dhu - 09-12-2009
Slumdog was also described as poverty porn.
Satirical Porn
Sacha Baron Cohen's Bruno
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->In the course of his efforts to achieve this, Cohen demonstrates the extremes of bent behavior that, being stereotypical, manages to simultaneously amuse and agitate. The amusement comes from the over-the-top exaggeration and the agitation from the sense that it is as much malicious as it is innocuous.
..
But whatever its motivation might be, it achieves the kind of helpless laughter that is absent from many brain-dead film comedies geared to the teenaged and young-20s marketplace.
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Historicity of Jesus - 2 - dhu - 09-17-2009
Demilitarized by the Exemplar:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Don't break law, Aus PM warns Indian students
Posted by mallaya2020 at 07:07 PM, Sep 17, 2009
DEAR FELLOW INDIANS LIVING IN AUSTRALIA, AN EYE FOR AN EYE MAKES THE WORLD ONLY BLIND. THESE WORDS WERE ALWAYS SAID BY OUR FATHER GANDHI. PLEASE PROVE THAT YOU ARE TRUE INDIANS THAT GANDHI'S BLOOD RUNS IN OUR VEINS.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->