Recent content by Stephen T-B

Teachings and stories (oral and written) songs, pictures and sculptures set the parameters within which a person's imagination perceives a particular god. Every now and then, however, a person comes along who is charismatic, manipulative, narcissistic and creative (Ron L Hubbard) or charismatic...

Are these the most prophet, and appalling sayings attributed to Jesus? Matthew 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (Indeed. We only need to look at the blood-soaked history of Christians Vs Muslims, Christians Vs Jews and Christians Vs...

Was it not the claim of Jesus's followers that he was the messiah which got him into trouble with the Pharisees? As far as I've been able to find out, the anticipated Jewish messiah is not supposed to be the son of god. Two things seem to be going on here: his followers who promoted Jesus as...

"Odd that when he creates man, he doesn't forego the foreskin in the creation process." Yes...in a discussion I had with a fundie on a bible discussion web site (now defunct) god's loving consideration for mankind was illustrated by the circumcision requirement, insisting it was to do with...

If this were to happen, what difference would it make to anything? A person might shrug his shoulders and think "So? There's something 'out there' able to do this. And now I'm going to finish breakfast then I'll rob a bank and, if I must, shoot a couple of tellers and perhaps hold as hostages...

"The traditional church view is that they still had an immortal soul.... causing them to live forever in hell.... I think being able to die is merciful..." Gen 2:17 "..but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."...

"I'm not sure if serious Christians believe that Satan is ruling over hell...." Is this a recent development, and how widely do you think it's held? (I'm not sure what you mean by "serious" Christians).

I don't disagree with it. What I'd hoped for was a critique. In the OP I outlined the steps taken in the development of a religious mythology which in turn underpins present-day doctrine. Naturally I think I've got them right but would like to hear if I haven't; if I've over-simplified or...

Where do you think I'm coming from as regards the OP?

No. I've not been told any if that.

I offer this summary as the basis for a conversation (sorry for its length)... The Story. Stage 1. An immortal entity, worshipped as a god and referred to variously as God, Lord, Yahweh...

Is this the right place to talk about the ethics of making films and documentaries which are presented as dramatasing real events? The subject came to mind after I’d been reading about the portrayal of General Lord Cornwallis in the The Patriot and how it was a perversion of...

I had in mind Creation "Science". A deliberately misleading misnomer. What muddies the water is that there are scientists whose normal areas of work require them to follow the scientific method, qualifying them as scientists, but they abandon the scientific method where it leads to conclusions...

Buying firearms in the UK is somewhat different from buying them in the US. On holiday in Florida, I and my wife were taken by our hosts to a vast out-door market in the middle of nowhere, and I was interested to see, on my left a stall selling Bibles and other religious paraphernalia (books...