27 Jan 2009, 10:06 am
27 Jan 2009, 2:16 pm
27 Jan 2009, 3:33 pm
Capriccio wrote:
I think it’s really good that you are asking questions, as the truth, if you find it, sets you free. No offense taken here, if you’re wondering 
With that, here are my thoughts.
With that, here are my thoughts.Thanks for the reply.
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As for the witnesses themselves, we are talking about people who claim to have seen healings and miracles, to even have seen Jesus alive after He had been crucified. Witnesses may be a little hazy at times on events that have little impact on themselves, but when it comes to an experience that changes your life, like Christ did, you'll probably remember details a lot better, much like how a soldier vividly remembers events on the battlefield. I still remember where I was, what I was doing, what I was thinking, and things I said the day 9/11 happened. If an experience is unforgettable, you won’t forget it. If it encompasses a three-year span of your life, there’s only greater chance you’ll remember it. Having an education though, I imagine Luke would know what to include and what not to.
well, the thing is that any of the witnesses would have their own unique perspective according to their beliefs, perspective and their emotional impact, like you stated, the more impact the more they will remember, but the issue is if that emotional impact could "corrupt" some of the facts by selecting a more suitable interpretation, especially when people are susceptible to things, such as miracles and stuff. Besides, there is evidence that witness testimonies are unreliable in court, few convicted have been freed by DNA tests confirming their innocence, when they were first convicted by witnesses accounts. And I could say that at the time, witness accounts were considered proof enough.
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As for divine inspiration, it could simply mean that God had prodded the authors to write down the things they did, though that doesn’t mean that the writings inspired by God will not come by purely normal means.
Yes, well the issue would be the nature of the divine inspiration, and the level of perfection or imperfection that could be atribuited to scripture.
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Paul did at times insert personal views, though that’s not to say that personal views had no merit.
Yeah, the trouble with this is that inserting personal views into scripture is adding imperfection to a supposedly perfectly divine inspiration, I mean, literalists regard the whole Bible as the irrefutable word of God, that it shouldn't be questioned, but with Paul as an example of putting his own personal views and opinions, he was adding these human imperfections which makes the Bible to lack total divine accuracy, if that's the case.
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Looking at some of the things that Christ said, there’s probably a little harmony than you might think. Jesus one time mentioned how some give up marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of God, and Paul stated he believed celibacy was the better option because despite its benefits it saves a great deal of stress, and it allows a person to live in greater service to God. At the same time, he stated that there’s nothing sinful about getting married, and for some it simply is the thing they should do because of biology (this whole issue goes a bit deeper than what I present here).
well, here is the issue in which Paul has been criticised as being misogynist, although I think that would be wrong as the whole society was "misogynist" from our current western standards. I mean, the issue was that Paul (his personal opinion) thought that it was better not to marry and dedicate yourself to God instead of looking for a woman as a partner, the issue is of women's position in that society at the time and being considered objects of temptation and sin, women could distract you, their presence might create the temptation of sin, as a man, preventing you from serving God, according to their standards, Paul didn't like women to participate in congregations, according to his own writings.
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It’s an odd mix; God created marriage, though when He created it, the world was perfect and free from sin.. not so much the case now, and the sign of our imperfection is in how bitterly common divorce is nowadays, at least in the U.S.
well, as I stated earlier, it depends on social standards in a given culture and time, divorce rates increased today, partly it has something to do with things like freedom and equal rights, I could say it does make sense to make this correlation, a society when women have limited or no rights and freedom, less or no divorce.
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Even if some of what he offered were opinions, Paul’s opinions were considered highly valuable, considering his high education, his strong spirit and determination, and his deep love and concern for the churches. Considering too that all of Paul’s writings in the New Testament are letters, letters addressed to specific churches with specific needs, it’d actually be surprising not to find at least a few opinions. No mistake though, he was concerned with, and did include, a lot of theological exposition too. Think about the opinion that a doctor offers you. You know that there’s a wealth of knowledge that is backing that opinion: Years in medical school, years of practice, and perhaps a very good practice record too. It may be an opinion, but you know that the chances are strong his opinion is correct. So it is with Paul, considering his high level of self-sacrifice, wealth of knowledge, proximity to the original apostles and eyewitnesses, as well as very strong faith. No doubt though, Paul wrote many things that would be considered by the recipient church and himself to be factual.
This is one of the things that I find different when comparing the OT and NT, being letters the majority of the books of the NT, none of this letters seem to come from claimed direct inspirations from God, but rather, indirect, in a sense that comes from his learned experience and his own views about this new movement, Christianity.
27 Jan 2009, 3:43 pm
