Religion

mvd

(65,454 posts)

43. One of the reasons I am spiritual rather than religious..

Sat Jan 4, 2020, 01:02 AM

Jan 2020

Is the ability to form my own opinions and practice my faith how I like. I do not take the Bible literally. Much of it, especially the Old Testament, is just stories. I think the accounts of Jesus were sometimes embellished to please Rome and to grow the new faith. I think the Virgin Birth and literally being Son of God defy reason. I think being sent by God and the Resurrection are more likely. Miracles supposedly happen even today. And yes, he could have been born in a manger and into poverty. You don’t have to take everything word for word to enjoy the general message.

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Does anyone here think the Nativity is not pure myth? [View all] edhopper Dec 2019 OP

I was there Goonch Dec 2019 #1

You must be very old. edhopper Dec 2019 #2

If you read the Bible, the wisemen could have been two or twenty two, AND... 4139 Dec 2019 #3

Right you are PJMcK Jan 2020 #51

Similar myths appear in other spiritual traditions Dream Girl Dec 2019 #4

Four gospels, four different birth treatments. The message was more important than fact.h Karadeniz Dec 2019 #5

Only two bother to mention the nativity Major Nikon Dec 2019 #9

How long has it been Mariana Dec 2019 #17

That was why I said "treatments." Mark doesn't give a birth story, so apparently the birth was Karadeniz Dec 2019 #25

Greatest hoax of all time, and a big money maker for some! Pure BS IMO! n/t RKP5637 Dec 2019 #6

The story of the nativity appears in later gospels Major Nikon Dec 2019 #7

So he was given gifts of frankensense, myrrh and GOLD. 3Hotdogs Dec 2019 #8

as recently as ... stopdiggin Dec 2019 #10

maybe I should have said edhopper Dec 2019 #11

And the Ark (flood) was a TRUE account of actual events. Ferrets are Cool Dec 2019 #12

Was Jesus born? guillaumeb Dec 2019 #13

Your first premise is not that easy or clear cut. Cuthbert Allgood Dec 2019 #34

We could trade citations, guillaumeb Dec 2019 #36

"Historians in general agree that there was an historical Jesus who preached in Palestine" Cuthbert Allgood Dec 2019 #37

My first citation for you Cuthbert Allgood Dec 2019 #38

And in return, guillaumeb Dec 2019 #39

The Bible stories all agree Mariana Dec 2019 #40

And historians agree that Jesus was crucified for sedition. guillaumeb Dec 2019 #41

The story of Jesus was written by various people one hundred Enoki33 Dec 2019 #14

"if one ignores the contradictions" KT2000 Dec 2019 #31

Sort of, an example. Dunnjen Dec 2019 #15

Or maybe the entire story was completely made up Major Nikon Dec 2019 #16

I think Jesus was a person who had to be born somewhere. Steelrolled Dec 2019 #18

Reasonable Dunnjen Dec 2019 #19

Per sources referenced by wikipedia Steelrolled Dec 2019 #24

If Jesus wasn't born in Bethlehem, he isn't the messiah Major Nikon Dec 2019 #20

I agree that ultimately, the birth story would have a single source Steelrolled Dec 2019 #22

Maybe he's just a very naughty boy ? OnDoutside Dec 2019 #27

Excitable boy, they all said Major Nikon Dec 2019 #29

You missed something important. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2019 #21

I wouldn't say they tell it verbatim Steelrolled Dec 2019 #23

A distinction without a difference. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2019 #32

I think we cannot make such firm conclusions given how little information we have Steelrolled Dec 2019 #33

Dennis McDonald (and others) make a compelling argument that the NT Cuthbert Allgood Dec 2019 #35

Gosh. Act_of_Reparation Jan 2020 #42

of the four gospels uriel1972 Jan 2020 #48

Isn't it mostly a rehashed Mithras myth anyway? sandensea Dec 2019 #26

Pure myth? No. Loki Liesmith Dec 2019 #28

Telephone connecticut yankee Dec 2019 #30

One of the reasons I am spiritual rather than religious.. mvd Jan 2020 #43

Vatican has the actual for-real manger. Iggo Jan 2020 #44

I guess that settles it then Major Nikon Jan 2020 #45

I have the Ark of the Covenant in my garage. Act_of_Reparation Jan 2020 #46

Wise choice! Iggo Jan 2020 #47

The trouble is... Act_of_Reparation Jan 2020 #49

Pinche the covenant, I swear to god! Iggo Jan 2020 #50

Remember not to look at it COLGATE4 Jan 2020 #55

Can't tell you how many neighbors it's melted over the years. Act_of_Reparation Jan 2020 #56

You're all discussing a virgin birth like it, um, Croney Jan 2020 #52

... Major Nikon Jan 2020 #53

I am discussing the virgin birth edhopper Jan 2020 #54