Pope reads bible shock
Pope Benedict has started off the reading of the whole of the Bible on Italian state television. The readings which will take a week and will involve 1,200 people will move to a satellite station. The Pope has said that he wants to encourage Roman Catholics to read the Bible.
Here in Northern Ireland Dr. Paisley has welcomed the reading of the Bible but clearly disagrees with the Pope saying:
“Any reading of the Scripture is something that I approve of but unfortunately the Roman Catholic Church draws a line upon the Scriptures in that they are the only interpreter of the Scriptures.” and ӅThe interpretation that the Pope gives of certain Scriptures is in my opinion contrary to the Scriptures themselves.”
Rev. David McIlveen also welcomed the readings with some reservations:
“When people hear that the Church of Rome is reading the Bible, we have to make it clear that from the Protestant perspective, there are major differences between the version of the Bible they read – the (English translation) Douay Version – and the Authorised Version, but the central message is still that ‘the just shall live by faith’, which was what the Reformation centred around.”
“However, the reading of the Scriptures on television would be a very good thing – it would be a change from a lot of the corruption and pollution that are so often transmitted through television screens today.”
There are of course differences between the bibles. For those who are interested here are two positions: one from a Protestant position and one Roman Catholic.
“[i]I wonder what the meaning and context of this Bible gem is:
Judges 21:10-24 NLT “[/i]
slartibuckfast, verse 25 sums it up well.
“In those days [there was] no king in Israel: every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes.”
“verse 25 sums it up well.”
I suppose we’ll just have to take your word for it that it does. I happen to think this sums it up better:
Deuteronomy 3:3-7 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
[NIV at IBS] [International Bible Society] [NIV at Zondervan] [Zondervan]
3 So the LORD our God also gave into our hands Og king of Bashan and all his army. We struck them down, leaving no survivors. 4 At that time we took all his cities. There was not one of the sixty cities that we did not take from them—the whole region of Argob, Og’s kingdom in Bashan. 5 All these cities were fortified with high walls and with gates and bars, and there were also a great many unwalled villages. 6 We completely destroyed [a] them, as we had done with Sihon king of Heshbon, destroying [b] every city—men, women and children. 7 But all the livestock and the plunder from their cities we carried off for ourselves.
“verse 25 sums it up well.”
[i]I suppose we’ll just have to take your word for it that it does. I happen to think this sums it up better: [/i]
Don’t take my word for it, read the bloomin thing yourself.
Slartibuckfast, why did you post Deuteronomy 3:3-7, explain what grievance you have with it?
You don’t think this god of yours was complicit in the genocide described in that delightful verse?
‘How do you think they went about all this begattin’? Did they begat much like you or I begat today?’
Well Archbishop Ussher of Dublin in the 17th century obviously thought so for based on the premise that each generation begats in a similiar timely sequence and interlude as the preceding one, he estimated that the world was ‘created ‘ on Oct 27th 4004 BC at 6.00pm approx.
There are ‘devout ‘ folk still extant some indeed holding high positions within the DUP who are adherents and believers in Archbishop Ussher’s methodology
As for predestination -this is a no brainer . Starting with an all knowing God then it stands to reason that such a God will know in advance how we will end up ergo no free will thus the Jehovah fruitcakes have designed their heaven to cater for just 144,000 saved souls . The rest of the chosen peoples will just have to gnash their teeth
Slartibuckfast ,
Stop complaining about God;) You are sounding just like one of those old testament Jews who kept bitching on about their treatment in Egypt and when their God delivered them from Pharoaoh they still kept on complaining . No matter what God does it’s never enough – not enough genocide here -too much there – not enough food one day – too much manna the next – Ya wanna sacrifice your son go ahead -no stop – it’s ok -I’ve changed my mind – I’m going to talk out of a burning bush just so you believe I really exist etc etc etc
As the Israelites massed on the edge of the Red Sea with Pharoah and his posse close on their tails they knew that their God had been plaguing the Egyptians with locusts and had killed off every one of their first born males . Understandably nervous about their fate at the hands of revengeful Egytians they turned on Moses and said
There’s no graves in Egypt , you had to take us into the desert to die … What did we tell you in Egypt ? Get off our backs and let us serve the Egyptians because serving the Egyptians is better than dying in the desert ( Exod 14:11-12)
Moses then of course pulled the outstretched arm and the parting of the waves sleight of hand and the lads scurried across to safety leaving the Egytians to be drowned by the returning waters .