America has problems, but America is NOT THE PROBLEM!~
Simple, But the truth of things
Published on November 16, 2008 By Moderateman In Religion

I subscribe to NO RELIGION in particular, even though I Identify with being a JEW because simply enough I was born one.

I find all Religion an anthema, For one very easy reason, they all subscribe to the following " OUR WAY IS THE ONLY WAY TO G-D'S HOUSE"! As soon as I hear this one statement from any religion they lose me completely. My personal belief is there are many paths to G-D's house after death and for any ONE religion to lay claim to know G-D's mind in this matter is hypocrisy to the nth degree.

No human can possibly know G-D's mind or how he feels about what it takes to get to his house. We must remember the bibles,  both old and new were written by man not the hand of G-D, far as I can tell nothing of this earth was written by G-d him or herself, so this leaves out all this religious wars in HIS name as a reason, truthfully religious wars are made because of men trying to impose their interpretation of what other men wrote on other men and women. there can be no war in G-D's name because no one can understand what G-D wants in the first place. I hear many people say their way is the only way to G-D's house; what a crock! How dare anyone think they can exclude billions of people from a loving G-D's home because they are not of the same "religion" yet I see and hear this constantly! all I have to say is world? get a clue; no one religion has locks on how to get to G-D's house after death. not a single one!


Comments (Page 18)
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on Dec 20, 2008

To begin, St. Matthew was the only New Testament writer who didn't write in Greek. He wrote the Gospel in the original language of the Hebrews but we don’t know for sure whether it was in Aramaic or Hebrew.

I have heard the rumour that Matthew wrote in Hebrew, but I also read that the most recent view is that he wrote in Greek.

We might need the original text. If you can give me the original text and it is in Hebrew, I can probably tell you whether the wise men were Magi or not.

Either way, whoever they were, they were astrologers, believed in the same god as the Jews, found it possible that a new Jewish king would be the Messiah, and came from the east. That says Zoroastrian to me.

If they merely came from east of Bethlehem, they wouldn't have come "from the east" but from a region in Israel. Anything further east with those beliefs was Zoroastrian.

 

 

on Dec 20, 2008

I have heard the rumour that Matthew wrote in Hebrew, but I also read that the most recent view is that he wrote in Greek.

We might need the original text. If you can give me the original text and it is in Hebrew, I can probably tell you whether the wise men were Magi or not.

Ya, getting the original text in either Hebrew or Aramaic would be great, but sorry no bananas!

St.Matthew wrote in either Hebrew or Aramaic and the consensus amongst scholars is that it was in written in Aramaic. We don't know for absolutely, positively sure becasue no copy of the original text exists today. The only descriptuions we have of it merely reference its existence.   

 The Pontifical Biblical Commission thinks the original in either Hebrew or Aramaic was composed prior to St.Paul's journey to Rome in 60 and put the date at the year 50.   

It was composed into Greek around 70 but I don't know who did the composing. Christian documents such as the Didache written between 80 to 100, the first letter of Pope St. Clement between 92-101, St. Ignatious of Antioch, in 107, all indicate that it was widely known and used.    

 

If they merely came from east of Bethlehem, they wouldn't have come "from the east" but from a region in Israel. Anything further east with those beliefs was Zoroastrian.

Yes, every tradition and legend indicates they came by caravan from "afar" meaning quite a ways away. St.Matthew's East could mean Mesapotamia or Persia though some think the gifts indicate South Arabia. Bede's opinion was the three represented Asia, Europe and Africa. Some consider the Magi as descendents of Noah's sons, Sem, Ham and Japheth, representing the major families of man.

The idea the Magi were three in number comes from the number of gifts offered to the Infant Christ. In the East, it's set at 12 and in various art depicts them as 3, 4 and 8!  

Catholic tradition from the 8th century gives them names and more info...Gaspar of Mesapotamia, the youngest was light brown in appearance, while Balthasar of Parthia was dark brown and Melchoir of Media, the oldest was stout and of olive colored complexion. In Syrian tradition, Larvandad, Harmisdas, and Gushnasaph while Armenians refer to them as Kagba, Badalima, etc. No uniformity no certainity. We just don't know.

All were supposed to be unusually just and honorable men and great scholars. They had knowledge of OT prophecies and through their various traditions believed in the coming of the Savior of all mankind. From Catholic tradition we are told the story that each one was told by angels in a dream that the long awaited King of the Jews had been born, that He was the promised Redeemer, and that they were chosen by the Lord to seek Him and honor Him. Though each one received this revelation separately, each was made aware that it had been given to the other two. Each of them after giving thanks to Almighty God by prostrating themselves, left immediately for Israel in order to adore the Divine Child. As each one set out, they perceived the mystic star formed by angels, and in this star was the symbolic vision of Virgin and Child with a cross, a king of a heavenly city whom all the kings on earth worshipped. The star guided them in such a way that they all joined together and became immediate friends. Each wise man had his own accompaniment of relatives, servants, and the caravan supposedly consisted of 200 persons. The journey took a month across Chaldea and Syria.  

This takes us back to what St. Matthew's intention may have been. While he wasn't interested in too much detail, he was impressed with the theology of Christ and the fulfillment of prophecy. Catholics celebrate the liturgy of the Feast of Epiphany which is associated with the advent of the Magi....the Epistle and Gradual readings are of Isaias 60:6, "all from Saba shall come, bearing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praises of the Lord". At the Offertory, Psalm 71 (72): 10-11 is quoted. "The kings of Tharsis and the Isles shall offer gifts: the kings of Arabia and Saba shall bring tribute. All kings shall pay him homage, all nations shall serve Him."

This feast has stressed the universality of the Chruch represented by Jerusalem, forseen by Isaias and extolled by the Psalm was realized in the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles represented by the Magi.

The short lesson of the wise men come from the East to adore Christ suggests a call of all men to Christ.

Thanks again Leauki for bringing the wise men up in the discussion.

 So, I join Gaspar, Balthazar, and Melchoir in wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year. Joy, health, and prosperity, and lots of it,  all 2009!  

 

on Dec 21, 2008

~begins to leak...(just to annoy KFC.)

you do that well....both leaking and annoying...........

Interesting discussing involving the Magi.  I'll be back later when I get more time.  Been a busy weekend. 

 

 

on Dec 22, 2008

LoL, wait till I start to decompose!

I thought that was the leaking.......  

on Dec 24, 2008

little-whip
I won't let you have the last word here.  I won't!

Yikes, Can I have the last word?

on Dec 24, 2008

Yikes, Can I have the last word?

nope.  It's a woman thing.......

on Dec 25, 2008

Merry Christmas, everyone!

 

on Dec 26, 2008

MM, Brad exiled me (Sodaiho) and removed my blog. Stay in touch?  Harveyhilbert@yahoo.com

Be well

on Dec 26, 2008

MM, Brad exiled me (Sodaiho) and removed my blog. Stay in touch?  Harveyhilbert@yahoo.comBe well

i WILL, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED WHILE i WAS GONE?

on Dec 26, 2008

Sodaiho was exiled!  Huh! 

Am I missing something? 

Anybody have any explanations here? 

on Dec 26, 2008

I hear he cannot reply to posts either. But avodah.joeuser.com still exists.

We are in email contact as we have been for some time.

 

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