RE: [asa] Re: (religious memes?) [christians_in_science] Brilliant article by Dawkins

I don't start with a thesis, but with information, and try to draw a conclusion based on that. Read my information stated below (1 and 2) then conclusion. Summary: I thought OT/NT was unique revelation by God. Then I find out it is not new or unique, but rather evolution of religious ideas. Therefore, likely, ...

...Bernie

________________________________
From: David Clounch [mailto:david.clounch@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2009 11:16 AM
To: Dehler, Bernie
Cc: asa@calvin.edu
Subject: Re: [asa] Re: (religious memes?) [christians_in_science] Brilliant article by Dawkins

But your basic thesis is there isn't any God to be appeased. So it doesn't really matter what various cultures did or why. Its all easter bunny to you.

On Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 1:08 PM, Dehler, Bernie <bernie.dehler@intel.com<mailto:bernie.dehler@intel.com>> wrote:

David Clounch said:
"So you are saying the atonement sacrifices prior to Moses were real and had meaning and weren't just part of some untrue pagan religion?"

What I was thinking is this:

 1. Jesus died for our sins. Why is death required?
 2. Because it is fulfillment of sacrificial system introduced by Moses from God.

Therefore, one might think this was God's unique plan. So, doesn't it weaken (and I think fatally weaken) the whole point to discover that sacrifice for sin was practiced by other cultures prior to Moses (like the idea of 'throw the virgin into the volcano to pacify the angry gods to end the draught')? Same with circumcision.

So- what were these ancient near east precursors? That is the fun of reading Sparks' book:

"Ancient Texts For The Study Of The Hebrew Bible: A Guide To The Background Literature."
http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Texts-Study-Hebrew-Bible/dp/1565634071/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2/189-9860859-6596268

...Bernie

________________________________

From: David Clounch [mailto:david.clounch@gmail.com<mailto:david.clounch@gmail.com>]
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 7:46 PM
To: Dehler, Bernie
Cc: asa@calvin.edu<mailto:asa@calvin.edu>
Subject: Re: [asa] Re: (religious memes?) [christians_in_science] Brilliant article by Dawkins

You said:
>but there were other ways to sacrifice and atone for sins prior to Moses and Jesus.

So you are saying the atonement sacrifices prior to Moses were real and had meaning and weren't just part of some untrue pagan religion?

I don't believe you.

On Wed, Aug 26, 2009 at 10:39 AM, Dehler, Bernie <bernie.dehler@intel.com<mailto:bernie.dehler@intel.com>> wrote:

Ted said:
"... Dawkins -- who, apart from his idea of religion being a "meme" that we "catch" like a virus, hasn't had an original thought about religion in his life."

If religion were just a man-made meme, maybe there would be a way to test it. For example, what if it is discovered that there is nothing new (revelatory wise) from the OT or NT? Would that mean that everything about Christianity evolved, since none of it was new?

Here are some items to consider:
-- Blood atonement
-- Eternal life

What was revealed from God to man, in the Bible, that other cultures didn't already have? Christ dying on the cross for sins is new, but there were other ways to sacrifice and atone for sins prior to Moses and Jesus.

I'm reading about that now in evangelical Christian Prof. Sparks' book "Ancient Texts For The Study Of The Hebrew Bible: A Guide To The Background Literature."
http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Texts-Study-Hebrew-Bible/dp/1565634071/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2/189-9860859-6596268

I'm serious- I'd like to know what God revealed that was so unique- I'd like to study that to see if it is true. It could make interesting discussion.

...Bernie

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Received on Thu Aug 27 14:19:37 2009