The Bible’s Abraham suffered from schizophrenia. « the BEattitude

I found this article online. It is amazing to me how someone can read something in the Bible and miss the whole point of the passage. The article assumes that God tells Abraham to murder Isaac. The author says that because there is no God Abraham must be hearing voices therefore not mentally stable.

Abraham obviously suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, and further proves the conclusion that the entire book of Genesis is nothing more than an evil fairytale. If I ever hear “god’s” voice in my head telling me to murder my son, I’m checking myself into a mental hospital.

Do you think there would be any difference in criminal sentencing between a man giving credit to god for a murder, verses a man giving credit to the devil? Unfortunately the answer would certainly be yes. Especially in the highly religious regions of the U.S.

A religious courtroom jury would certainly have sympathy for someone claiming God instructed them to murder. They would feel sorry for them. But a person who murders by instruction from the devil would not get the same sympathy. They would be viewed as dangerously evil.

My question is what difference does it make? Murder is murder, regardless of what imaginary person tells you to do it. How is hearing the voice of god any less crazy than hearing the voice of any other mythical character?

What this brings to my mind is if there is any proof that God did not speak to Abraham? Did Abraham have any reason to trust what he heard from God? Yes. Did God make promises to Abraham and keep them? Yes. Abraham was well past childbearing age and so was his wife and she was barren - yet they gave birth to a son - Isaac - just like God promised them. Look at Genesis 15.

¹ After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:
       "Do not be afraid, Abram.
       I am your shield,
       your very great reward. "
 ² But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit  my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?" ³ And Abram said, "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir."
 ⁴ Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." ⁵ He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
 ⁶ Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
 ⁷ He also said to him, "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it."
 ⁸ But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?"
 ⁹ So the LORD said to him, "Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon."
 ¹⁰ Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. ¹¹ Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.
 ¹² As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. ¹³ Then the LORD said to him, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. ¹⁴ But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. ¹⁵ You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age. ¹⁶ In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure."
 ¹⁷ When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. ¹⁸ On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river  of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates- ¹⁹ the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, ²⁰ Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, ²¹ Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites."

Did this happen? Yes it did. Isaac was born. Was Abraham's descendants in slavery in Egypt for 400 years and did God deliver them? Yup. This validates that God did indeed speak to Abraham.Also the other thing to consider is why God gave the command to Abraham in Genesis 22 :2

Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”

God used Abraham as a picture for what He would ultimately do through Jesus Christ. Look at the parallel the mountains of Moriah is where Solomon built the Temple and it's close to where Jesus was crucified. Interestingly when Isaac asked his father where sacrifice was Abraham responded:

Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.  - Genesis 22:8

This was not just fulfilled when the angel stopped the sacrifice but when Jesus died on the cross for our sins. The other thing is that people seem to assume that this was easy for Abraham. They wonder what Abraham thought...what was going through his mind.

¹⁷By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, ¹⁸even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." ¹⁹Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.- Hebrew 11:17-19

Abraham was far from crazy. He had a relationship with God that had grown to the point that He knew He could trust God no matter what. This is what Abraham was commended for and what we should aspire to be.

The Bible’s Abraham suffered from schizophrenia. « the BEattitude

Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: Prophets in Israel

I love Dr. Claude Mariottini's blog. In this post He begins a discussion on the Prophet Zephaniah and the book of the Old Testament named after him. I really enjoyed this post given that although I have read it, I'm grateful to see someone comment on it. I have never heard a message preached from it. This article gives a great background on the book. It's a must-read!

Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament: Prophets in Israel

Beggars All: Reformation And Apologetics: Erasmus as a Problem, not a Reformation Solution

 James Swan posted a great article a few days ago about Erasmus and how the Roman Catholic Church is now  viewing Erasmus and Martin Luther. He expands on it in this post - linked below.


Beggars All: Reformation And Apologetics: Erasmus as a Problem, not a Reformation Solution

Apologetics 315: Apologist Interview: Douglas Groothuis

I just heard Brian Auten's interview with Douglas Groothuis. It was great! I've been enjoying much of his work through Brian and he makes a lot of great points. This is well worth listening to.

Apologetics 315: Apologist Interview: Douglas Groothuis

Confident Christianity: Jesus or Muhammad? Live Marathon!

I just hard about a multiple part event comparing Jesus and Muhammad. It looks like everyone i have ever heard of in the field it in on this - June 15-21, 2010!

Confident Christianity: Jesus or Muhammad? Live Marathon!

Beggars All: Reformation And Apologetics: Incarnation, Atonement, and Trinity

Here is a great post analyzing a great song detailing much Christian doctrine!



Beggars All: Reformation And Apologetics: Incarnation, Atonement, and Trinity

Relationship With God

Last week, I had the honor of having words at my church during our night time service. I thought that I would share my notes.

The point of Christianity is not religion.  I would define “Religion” as defined as a set of behaviors and rituals practiced habitually with the usual purpose of touching, communing, or even to gain control over the unseen world that we all instinctively know exist – whether we choose to consciously accept it or not. There is a hole – an emptiness – in the heart and mind of every single human being. We spend our lives attempting to fill it. Some choose to fill it by practicing a “Religion”. This is a hole that can only be filled by God. “Christianity” is not like other religions. It’s not about doing stuff and not doing other stuff in attempts to be worthy of God’s notice. Christianity is about building and growing a relationship with God. We could not reach out to God on our own and God, through the person and work of Jesus Christ came and filled the  between us and Him. It’s through Jesus Christ that we can be friends of God. The Bible is full of examples of men and women who had a relationship with God. It is through them we can see how God deepens our relationship with Him.  Let us just pick a few Biblical personages. In other words, let us spend a few minutes looking at friends of God.

1.       Abraham

2.       Moses

3.       David

I could go over quite a few other examples, but for now in the interest of time we can just look at the Old Testament. We have it much easier than any of the men and women of the Bible Times. We have the hindsight of their lives and the Holy Spirit empowering us – given us access to God that was not really open to those who lived before Jesus came.

Just like our relationship with people, we can loose sight of what is important with our relationship with God. No one wants to be in a relationship with someone who cares more about what you can do for them than they care about you. That is not what a friend is.  We must keep the old saying that we must seek God’s face not his hands. The things is we have gotten so bold and feeling entitled that we try to get into God’s pockets not just his hands. The people I want to focus on tonight did not live that way.  Let’s quickly look at some scriptures that show this point.

 ¹⁰ Glory in his holy name;
       let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
 ¹¹ Look to the LORD and his strength;
       seek his face always.
 ¹² Remember the wonders he has done,
       his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,

1 Chronicles 16:10-12

 ¹⁴If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

¹² Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity.  I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile." – Jeremiah 29:12-14

Abraham

And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. – James 2:23

¹⁶Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. ¹⁷As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.
 ¹⁸Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." ¹⁹Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. ²⁰Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ²¹being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. ²²This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."

 Abraham believed God that God would fulfill His promise to build a lasting nation through Isaac that when God told Him to sacrifice that very son that was promised, Abraham was willing to go through with it.  – Romans 4:16-22

If you want to be God’s friend you should emulate Abraham, in this way.

Moses

¹⁰ Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent. ¹¹ The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

 ¹² Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' ¹³ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people."

 ¹⁴ The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

 ¹⁵ Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. ¹⁶ How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" – Exodus 33:10-16

Moses is said to be a friend of God…but we notice it’s not an equal relationship. Moses recognizes that God is not on his level and treats God as such. God finds favors with us and that frees us to be His friends.

David

¹⁴ But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command." – 1 Samuel 13:14

After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.' – Act 13:22

 ¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
       and renew a steadfast spirit within me. – Psalm 51:10

This verse is one of the verses that I believe tell us the most about how serious David was about His relationship with God. The word translated “Create” is the same Hebrew word “bara” used in Genesis 1:1 where it says that God “created” the heavens and the earth. The word carries with it the idea of calling something into existence that did not exist! Think about it! God called all that exists out of nothing! David is not just asking God to clean him up…to arrange the stuff that is in him that is already there.  He is asking for God to do much more than that. He wants God to put that pure heart in him!  That is what it takes to be God’s friend.

 ³⁶"For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed.  -Acts 13:36

What better epitaph could you have for your life as a friend of God? We can see through the lives of these three men that God not only wants our friendship He has given us everything we need to do it…just like He did for Abraham, Moses, and David. We see that God reached out to them. They did not reach out for Him on their own. If you are not God’s friend tonight, God is inviting you to become his friend. If you are already saved then God is inviting you to deepen your relationship with Him. Today is the day. We should not let any opportunity to deepen our relationship with God.  I mean Isn’t that what friends are for?

The Hidden Massacre of Fallujah

The Hidden Massacre of Fallujah

The Destroyed Bible – On How to Reconstruct the Bible, part 3 | True Freethinker

Here is the 3rd part of Mariano's article of putting the New Testament back together if we some how lost the Greek copies. More brilliance!

The Destroyed Bible – On How to Reconstruct the Bible, part 3 | True Freethinker

Apologetics 315: 20 Ideas for Doing Apologetics

Brian has posted a great article on his blog Apologetics 315. The article gives 20 good ideas to fulfill your calling in Apologetics. Apologetics isn't just a hobby. It is a ministry and a calling. It's not about winning an argument but winning people for Jesus. It's not you winning. It's God. It's about compelling people to come to Jesus so that they can be free. It's about declaring that Christianity is not about blind faith but it is reasonable.

Apologetics 315: 20 Ideas for Doing Apologetics

Jacobus Arminius: Arminius on Free Will

I found this article from the Brennon's Thoughts blog. It interesting how both Arminians and Calvinists can end up attacking one another - misrepresenting one another. I know I had Arminius all wrong. I thought Pelagianism was the logical endpoint of consistent Arminianism. But this is not true. Near as I can tell, Arminius never taught that. On the other hand I don't know any balanced Calvinists that would agree with what the article's author said:

Thus God is sovereign, but He does not, nor has He, determined anyone to behave in ungodliness merely by decree.

God is not accountable for the ungodliness of any of us. However He can and has stopped people from sinning. I've seen it in my life and I see it in scripture. Yet God does not stop everyone from sinning in all cases or circumstances. I cannot reconcile the fact that God is all powerful with the idea that my free will can undermine or change God's plan.

I think too much is made of the controversy. You can believe that you had a hand in choosing to live for Jesus on your own or God decreed your salvation before He said "Let There Be Light!" in Genesis 1:1. I'm not saying that it doesn't matter. I'm saying that it's not a salvation issue or a litmus text for orthodoxy. Before I started talking to Brennon and reading his blog, I thought that all Arminians denied that it took the power of God to draw people to Jesus and that people just made a decision. I'm happy to see that this is not the case. However there are those calling themselves Arminians who deny the need for grace.

I agree with Brennon that the article I linked to below is a good one and worthy for your consideration.

Jacobus Arminius: Arminius on Free Will

Did God Make Day and Night Before He Made The Sun?

Here is Shane's next problem: My Response is in red.


Here is another descrepency.

Genesis 1:3, "God said let there be light, and there was light. God saw that the light was good. Then He seperated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day" and the darkness night".

So as of the first day of creation week, we have day and night. The scripture even verifies this by saying afterward-"And evening and morning came, marking the first day"!

Yet, we have in Genesis 1:16, "God made two great lights-the larger one (sun) to govern the day, and the smaller one (moon) to govern the night".

So we have here, God creating day and night on the first day of creation week....but God does not make the sun until the fourth day of creation week?

How was it that day and night existed before the sun was even created.....?

We now know in this modern age, that day and night are reconciled with the sun....the sun is our only source of light.

We now know in this modern age, that the moon is not a light....the moon only reflects the sun's light thats it!

It seems pretty obvious that the author of Genesis was not a divinly inspired person.

More likely, the author did not relize the immense size of the sun thousands and thousands of miles away, and did not realize it was the sun itself which gives us our only source of light.

More likely the author did not realize the moon was not a light in and of itself, the moon only reflects the suns light!

It is easy to see why the author would not realize these things. If we never developed the sciences and understandings we have today, we would probably think the same things based on our limited observations.

The first thing I need to say is that I am not an young earth creationist. I think evidence points to the the earth being more than 6000 years old...a lot more. That being said I think that the fact that evening and morning are discussed before the sun is visible tells us that "day:" or ("yom" in Hebrew) must mean something different than a 24 hour day because without the sun how would you know if its evening or morning. Add to that I think that most people look at the Genesis account being told from the point of view of some one standing in orbit and viewing what is happening on earth. However this is not the reference point from which the events are described, It  says that God hovered above the waters. A lot of detail is skipped between verse 1 and that point, but let's start at that point. If someone had been above the waters what would they have seen? Sciences says they would see the earth cloaked with a think layer of gas blotting out the sun. and the stars and the moon. From the standpoint of verse 4, the moon, sun and stars were just made visible at that point just like we know from science that happened.  I agree that the author did not how far away the sun was or the star or that the moon was reflecting sun light. So? Shane, is it your contention that the author was saying the sun was not millions of miles away or that the moon did not reflect sunlight?  I think not. It is describing what a person would have seen had they been on earth at that time (floating in the air with God above the waters  before land was created). It's not trying to give us every single detail or explanation. Does this conflict with science? No. Do all Christians agree with me? No. But although this is a controversy is doesn't show the Bible errant and it's not a salvation issue. Interesting? Yes. I think that this is what science is: Figuring out how God did it.

Real-Life Dreadnoks Foiled By Real-Life Snake-Eyes - ComicsAlliance | Comics culture, news, humor, commentary, and reviews

Image via Wikipedia

Real life is always stranger than fiction. No one could have made this up!

This morning's Sydney Morning Herald:

The men tripped the 27-year-old student, kicking him as he lay on the ground and grabbing his mobile phone and iPod.
What the assailants did not realise was that they were standing outside Ninja Senshi Ryu - western Sydney's ninja warrior school.
They also failed to notice a ninja, Nathan Smith, standing in the shadows outside the dojo. Mr Smith immediately alerted his sensei, or teacher.
Kaylan Soto, a sensei with 30 years' Ninjutsu training, and three of his students raced out of the dojo towards the startled attackers. All five crusaders were clad in the ninja's traditional, all black uniform.

I mean think of it real-life thug that remind anyone my age of Cobra's Dreadnoks getting stomped by ninja! In Real life! I wish someone had gotten that on video! Yo, Joe!


Real-Life Dreadnoks Foiled By Real-Life Snake-Eyes - ComicsAlliance | Comics culture, news, humor, commentary, and reviews

Iron Sharpens Iron: R.C. Sproul: Tough Questions Christians Face

Iron Sharpens Iron was two part show last Wednesday May 19! Not one but two great interviews. A great show.

In the first part RC Sproul was interviewed about the 2010 Ligonier Ministries conference. I hope it's going to recorded and archived somewhere because I can't go. Sproul talked about where evil comes from, how to answer how you can be happy in heaven if you know some of your loved ones went to hell, and a couple of other great stuff.

In the second interview, Ken Jones was interviewed. He talked about how as an African American Christian he came to embrace reformed theology. It was an awesome show. Pastor Jones is one of the contributors of Glory Road, which I am beginning to read now.



Iron Sharpens Iron: R.C. Sproul: Tough Questions Christians Face

Iron Sharpens Iron: "Saturday or Sunday: Which Day is the Christian Sabbath?" A Debate Between Baptists (Part 1)

Last week on Iron Sharpens Iron, for four days there was a debate between two pastors regarding if we should be worshiping on Saturday or Sunday. It is really good!!! Here is a description written by James Swan.

Rod Henry: "Saturday is the Christian Sabbath!"

Rod Henry is pastor of Next Step Christian Church (Seventh Day Baptist) in Thornton, Colorado. Rod's first calling was to be a missionary to the Philippines, where he did evangelism, church planting and developed a program for training Filipino pastors. He is author of The Filipino Spirit World: A Challenge to the Church . Rod received his Master of Theology (ThM) degree in the field of Missions from Fuller Seminary. For 14 years he served as Director of Extension, Director of Pastoral Services, and Interim Executive Secretary of the Seventh Day Baptist General Conference. He developed the Training In Ministry by Extension (TIME) program to train pastors in the US and around the world. He also wrote the book, The Sabbath: God’s Creation for our Benefit, which has been translated into over 10 languages.

Sam Waldron: "Sunday is the Christian Sabbath!"

Sam Waldron is pastor of Heritage Baptist Church of Owensboro, Kentucky. He is also the academic dean and the Professor of Systematic Theology at the Midwest Center for Theological Studies. Sam received a B.A. from Cornerstone University, an M.Div. from Trinity Ministerial Academy, a Th.M. from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Before pastoring in Owensboro, Sam was a pastor of the Reformed Baptist Church of Grand Rapids, MI (1977-2001 ). He is the author of numerous books including To Be Continued: Are the Miraculous Gifts For Today?, 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith: A Modern Exposition, The End Times Made Simple, and A Reformed Baptist Manifesto: The New Covenant Constitution of the Church, and is a contributor to the four views book on church government (see http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=sam+waldron&x=16&y=18).


DEBATE SCHEDULE:

TUESDAY, MAY 11th: Rod Henry (alone) presents his case for the Saturday Sabbath (listeners may call in @ 631-482-8300).

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12th: Sam Waldron (alone) presents his case for the Sunday Sabbath (listeners may call in @ 631-482-8300).

THURSDAY, MAY 13th: Sam Waldron cross examines Rod Henry (first half-hour), then Rod Henry cross examines Sam Waldron (second half-hour): NO calls from listeners.

FRIDAY, MAY 14th: Rod Henry cross examines Sam Waldron (first half-hour), then Sam Waldron cross examines Rod Henry (second half-hour): NO calls from listeners.

We are arranging another 4-day debate on "Iron Sharpens Iron" in July, God willing, between John Reisinger of Sound of Grace Ministries (a non-Sabbatarian Baptist) & Sam Waldron on the theme: "Is the Decalogue for the New Covenant Church?"

Iron Sharpens Iron: "Saturday or Sunday: Which Day is the Christian Sabbath?" A Debate Between Baptists (Part 1)
Iron Sharpens Iron: "Saturday or Sunday: Which Day is the Christian Sabbath?" A Debate Between Baptists (Part 2)
Iron Sharpens Iron: "Saturday or Sunday: Which Day is the Christian Sabbath?" A Debate Between Baptists (Part 3)
Iron Sharpens Iron: "Saturday or Sunday: Which Day is the Christian Sabbath?" A Debate Between Baptists (Part 4)

How to Defeat Calvinism

I'm glad Dr. James White posted this video. Thankfully, not all Arminians are this mistaken! But it does show us that we have to be careful in how we present what we believe and why we believe it.




How to Defeat Calvinism

Octomom’s Degradation Complete With PETA Sign On Front Door « Crushable

Just when I think the woman or her children could be exploited any more, PETA finds a way. Comparing her to an unspayed dog or cat is a little much.

Octomom’s Degradation Complete With PETA Sign On Front Door « Crushable

When the Moors Ruled in Europe

Here is a great historical documentary.

When the Moors Ruled in Europe

Textuality: The Best Case for Atheism

Image via Wikipedia

I read a link from John Loftus that tries to give an example the best case for atheism. The article sums it up this way:

In sum, the real problem with God is --

It cannot really be explained, it cannot be proved, it fits nicely into a human strength for creating imaginary characters, it is deeply undermined by the problem of indiscriminate evil, it is not the best explanation for anything, and it’s the most improbable cause of observed reality.

The best case for Atheism, then, is...God.

None of his arguments are new or amazing. I disagree with all of them but let's focus  on the summary. God is not undermined by the "Problem of indiscriminate evil" because there is no such thing as indiscriminate evil because of God. Without God you do have purposeless evil without any counter balance. Without God we have no objective standard for what good is and no purpose. If there is design for how the universe is shaped and designed, then there must be someone responsible for that. God is the only reasonable cause and explanation. Undirected  chance is no explanation,

Textuality: The Best Case for Atheism

Who was the Twelfth Disciple?

Here is Shane's next question:

Here's another question, who was the twelfth disciple?

According to 10:2-4
-Mark 3:16-19
The twelfth disciple was Thaddaeus.

According to Luke 6:14-16
The twelfth was Judas (son of James).

According to John 21:2
The twelfth was Nathaniel.

The other eleven were, Peter, Andrew, Philip, James, Bartholomew, John, Thomas, James, Matthew, Simon, Judas Iscariot.

Shane, are you really sure? Let's compare the lists:

Matt 10:2-4
Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot,

Mark 3:16-19
Peter,  James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot

Friom Luke 6:14-16
Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot

From John 21:2
Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. (at least 7 men)

Matthew and Luke agree with number of people and the names used. Luke is different, and I will deal with Luke in a moment. John 21:2 cannot be compared to the other passages because it is not attempting to name the 12. It lists only 7 people not 12. Therefore no way could John be trying to name the twelve...and Jesus had more more disciples than just those twelve. Besides this is after Judas Iscariot....um... moved on to where he belongs.

As for Luke's differences. Thaddaeus was also known as “Judas, son of James” (Luke 6:16) and Lebbaeus (Matthew 10:3 KJV). Simon the Zealot was also known as Simon the Canaanite (Mark 3:18 KJV). (http://www.gotquestions.org/twelve-apostles-disciples-12.html)

Recall that in the first century many Jews went by a Jewish name and a Gentile name. Like Paul's Jewish name was Saul. Mark's Jewish name was John.  Judas is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Judah. Thaddaeus is a Greek from of an Aramaic name. One way to refer to him would Judas (or Jude) Thaddaeus. Matthew and Mark used his last name, Luke used his First name. There is no conflict here.

Why would you, Shane,  think that this is conflict?

Update: I did a little more digging. The Greek word for "brother" (aldophus)  is not in the text of Luke 6:16. I saw a translation that says Judas was a relative of James. When I examine the text the word translated "son of" in Luke 6:16 is 'IakoBou (sp) which means in the context of the verse mean "of James". The word is used in verse 15 where it says that  apostle James is the "son of Alphaeus". Why change the meaning of the word in verse 16? It shouldn't..

The Destroyed Bible – On How to Reconstruct the Bible, part 2 | True Freethinker

Mariano has published his second part of his series on how we can reconstruct the New Testament even if we some how lost all of the copies. Mariano, in doing this summarizes what Textual Criticism is and how it is used to understand what the Bible text really says. You should read this!



The Destroyed Bible – On How to Reconstruct the Bible, part 1 | True Freethinker
The Destroyed Bible – On How to Reconstruct the Bible, part 2 | True Freethinker

Debunking Christianity: What Best Debunks Religion: Studying Science Or the Humanities?

John Loftus has pointed to a news article suggesting that students who major in Humanities are more likely to walk away from religion than those who are into the sciences. I'm not surprised by that. The humanities have men and our natures as the standard and relatively equal. However, in the sciences we can see objective truth. There are absolutes. There are well defined and predictive description of nature outside of opinion and emotion. When it comes to history, psychology, sociology, and the like they drive on emotion and one can argue about what is right and wrong and you can't really pin down truth because outside of God you have no rule brick and standard to examine truth claims. I think this is why I like science and engineering better. The truth is you need all the disciplines to understand our reality. If you try to apply sociology to Physics you miss a lot but you also miss much the other way. You need both. If anything in such of things as history, I can see the hand of God just as well as I can physics. I don't really see how people can deny design of the created order and how can people also deny that in order for the world to be just as it is today - billions of choices were made that made things happen as they are. Do we really think that it was by happenstance - that it's not going somewhere? I think that takes more faith.

Debunking Christianity: What Best Debunks Religion: Studying Science Or the Humanities?

Debunking Christianity: Bible Contradiction Quiz Show Part 2

John Loftus has posted a video from YouTube in which there is a mock quiz show with questions from the Bible. The thing is that the questions are phrased a certain way out of context and such that the answers seem ambiguous and conflicting. Let's see if we can help with the confusion.This is Part 2.







How many fighting men did Joab count?
800K 2 Sam 24:9;1 Chron 21:5
1.1 Million 2 Sam 24:9, 1 Chron 21:5

101 Contradictions  Cleared up see number 2

How many horseman did David take with him?
700 2 Sam 8:4, 1 Chron 18:4
7000

 101 Contradictions cleared up see number 11

How much did David pay for the threshing floor?
600 shekles 1 Chron 21:25
50 Shekles 2 Samu 24:24

50 Sheckles for the threshing floor and oxen but 600 for the threshing floor, oxen, and property! Checkout http://www.lookinguntojesus.net/ata20041219.htm


800 men killed in one encounter 2 Sam 23:8 or 300 1 Chron 11:11

101 Contradictons cleared up see number  8


Did both thieves mock Jesus or just one?Did Luke 23:39-42; Mark 15:32; Matt 27:44

Both Thieves mocked Jesus and then one of them repented. One account is just more detailed. Just because one reports that one repented and another says that they both mocked Jesus does not mean both did not happen. It is not mutually exclusive. Also look at 101 Contradictions Cleared Up - number 53

Did Jesus heal 2 blind men or one on the way to Jericho? Mark 10:46; Matt 20:30, Luke 18:35

2 Blind men. Just because one account only focuses one blind man and the other mentions that there was another does not make for a contradiction. If one had said that no one was healed on the way Jericho or only one man was healed or only two men were healed  then there would be grounds for misunderstanding.


Accused contradiction concerning the number of angels and their actions at the tomb
Matt 28:2,MArk 16:5,Luke 24:4, John 20:12

No contradiction the accounts vary in detail...there is no logical conflict.

And the number of women at the tomb


John 20:1, MAtt 28:1, Mark 16:1, Luke 24:10

Neither Gospel tells us how many women total went to the tomb, but instead focuses on certain ones. Where is the contradiction.

The video then lists a bunch of crimes and then ask what the penalty was.

Crime:
Fortune Telling
Cursing a parent
Hitting a parent
Not listening to a priest
Following another religion
adultery
Not seeking the Lord God of Israel
Fornication
Prophesying falsely
Homosexuality
Blasphemy
Working on the Sabbath
Allowing a few people in the town to worship other gods.

Then it tried to show  that the Bible is unfair because the penalty for these crimes were all death. The part about disobedient children was not carried out for any and all offenses as the video tries to lie. The thing about  ancient Israel is that it was a theocracy and by what right do we judge these punishments as "overkill"? An emotional one...because we know it means we deserve death. You can find yourself on this list. easily. If you broke one of them you are guilty of them all.


Good or Bad to be rich? Luke 6:24;Psalm 122:1-3

Jesus never says it's wrong to be rich. It's wrong to put your wealth ahead of God. Love of money is the root of evil not money itself..()

Sell possessions and give it to the poor - Luke 18:22; 12:33; 14:33

Never are we iold to give and not have anything for yourself.

Socialism - Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:34-37

Depends on how you define your terms. If sharing everything so no one has need or goes without then that is what the early church did -  but that is not what socialism is and has never been like that where it has been practiced.


Did the curtain rip before or after Jesus died: Mark 15:37-38;Luke 23:45-46;Matt 27:50-51

 101 Bible Contradictions - read number 50

Who's soldiers put purple rob on Jesus - Pilate or Herod? Luke 23:11, MAtt 27:27-28; John 19:1-2

Does anyone really think that an order from Pilate to Herod's soldiers would be disobeyed? I didn't think so.

Did Jesus curse the fig tree before or after he drove the merchants from the temple? Matt 21:12,17-19, Mark 11:12-17

Bible Contradictions cleared up - numbers 45 and 46
 
Should Homosexuals be killed or exiled? 1 Kings 15:11-12, LEv 20:13

1 Kings 15:11-12 is a description of what Asa did, not what God said to do. Lev 20:13  is what god said to do. Therefore there is no contradiction. Did the the author even bother to read these?


When the women arrived at the tomb was it open or closed? MAtt 28:2, Luke 24:2

101 Contradictions cleared up - read number 85


Did Judas hang himself or did he fall down and his guts spill out? Acts 1:18; Matt 27:5

Both. He fell from hanging himself and his guts spilled out. 

Is God the author of confusion? 1 Cor 14:33

 No

Was Jesus born during the time of herod or not? Luke 2:1, Matt 2:1

Yes he was. Jesus was born somewhere between 9- 6 BC and Herod died i n 4 BC. There is no problem here.

The video shows no understand of what the promises of God are. It's not just heaven. It's about having a relationship with the only one who can tell you what your purpose is. The video author is gravely mistaken. Gee, I wonder if Loftus bothered to check any of these out? Guess not.

Debunking Christianity: Bible Contradiction Quiz Show