This could be HUGE...but then it would be just like when Jesus came and the Jews said he wasn't the one.
If this is Jesus or not, "scholars" will say it isn't, otherwise it is the end of a religion...at least if you are someone who takes the Bible literally.
I myself see religion and the Bible as nice teaching to live by and pass down to your kids...I don't know or care if any of it really happened...
OTHER LINKS:
IS THIS JESUS' COFFIN? Filmmaker shows relics...
'Tomb could be of Jesus, wife and son'
Scholars Criticize...
Israel may open 'tomb' to public...
Monday, February 26, 2007
Scorn poured on James Cameron's 'coffin of Christ' theory
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Game,
I understand completely your need to take the position that you do on religion, but to say "...I don't know or care if any of it really happened..." is a little strong. I'd like to believe that most would care, deeply, if they were convinced "it really happened".
Since the bible has been in print, there have been those that've strived to discredit, or contridict it. These "new" theories are just a new twist to an old theme.
Game,
There are those, especially on the Left that have been trying to discredit Christianity their every waking moment. Christianity holds together a people and is a source of strength that the statists and secular progressives have been defeated by time and time again.
I won't be surprised to see the Democrats jump on this bandwagon.
More to the point, there is tons of info that points to the truth of the Bible, particularly the New Testament. What most doubters, agnostics, atheists, etc have trouble with are the miracles. Yet, if the New Testament is judged by the same standards as any other ancient text, it holds up far better. Conversely, if all the ancient texts concerning other ancient figures are judged as the doubters judge the New Testament, none of the figures from ancient times could be considered to have existed. There is far more manuscript evidence for the New Testament than any other religion or ancient figure or story. A good primer for studying the truth of the Bible is "The Case For Christ" by Lee Strobel. Strobel was an atheist who was a reporter for the Chicago Tribune who was challenged to investigate Christ as he would for any crime story to which he'd be assigned. After about two years of research, including interviews with a series of experts in several different fields, he became a Christian. I've offered this book in the past at other blogs and got a few disparaging comments for my troubles, but none of those who did so gave a concrete reason for it. I see the book as a good starting point for personal investigation and the bibliography presents many options for further study. Another good source is "The Handbook of Christian Apologetics" by Peter Kreeft & Ronald K. Tacelli, which is a great overview of most, if not all, of the major questions regarding Christianity. There's also C.S. Lewis & G.W. Chesterton. Another good source of info is the Christian Research Institute at equip.org.
The fact is, "scholars" know what the hell they're talking about, hence the appelation "scholars". They don't just opine about their personal agendas and beliefs. They've done the due diligence. Few others have done any, and that's the problem. There are those who are brought up in the faith and just believe. They study their Bible, pray, meditate and live their lives as closely to Biblical teaching as they possibly can.
Others, also brought up in the faith, stray and indulge themselves in whatever attracts their fancy. Of these, some never return to the faith. Others, for a variety of reasons, do come back. Still others experience doubt and can't shake it. They want to believe but wonder and want and wish they could know for sure.
Personally, I had a little of all of the above going for me. Brought up Roman Catholic and sent to Catholic elementary school, I actually loved hearing the Bible stories. But then high school rolled around and I was up for pushing the envelope. I got to a point where I felt certain I could rationalize anything. Several disparate episodes motivated me to read the Bible cover to cover to once and for all discover just what the rules were. It was enlightening to say the least.
But still, what if it was all crap? Eventually, I developed a keen interest in studying not only THE Bible, but studying ABOUT the Bible. To get right to the punchline (and isn't it about time?), I found that the deeper one goes, the more one reads, listens and studies, the more convinced one becomes that God exists and exists in the manner described in the Bible. There is no doubt. None.
There's a difference between God and religion. If there is any belief in God, one must ask one's self whence comes that belief? For many it's simply cultural. But for whatever reason one believes, it behooves that person to understand what a God could want from us. It, frankly, is goofy to assume that one is living in a manner that would be pleasing to one's Creator, and do nothing to insure that is true.
And if one doesn't believe at all, one must understand the downside of not believing if one is wrong. WHY don't you believe? What proof have you that you're not making a big mistake?
There are only two possibilities: either God exists, or He doesn't. You've heard it before. If I'm wrong, I've lived a good life and have been a good citizen. There's nothing that I've missed doing that matters when I die. But if YOU are wrong, there's nothing you could've done that will change the fact that you won't live eternally in God's loving care.
Take the time.
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