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Originally posted by saint4God
Originally posted by nathraq
Then how would you explain Hinduism, Shamanism and animism, which, having no contact whatsoever with Judaism, being thousands of years older?
It was more of a silly-slap than an attempt to prove any specific point but I'm game. The bottom line is, when you believe that Judaism began when "God created heaven and earth" then nothing could possibly come before it. Post-era Tower of Babel, there were many tribes and languages that went about their way in the world.
Originally posted by saint4God
Just my perspective from this point forward. What's interesting is the further away you move from Israel in ancient times, the less similarities you have with God as viewed by a lot of Hebrew and Christian people. Hinduism has more in common with Judaism/Christianity than Buddhism, Buddhism more in common than Taoism and same going in the other direction. This is from my observation and study so it's arguable.
Originally posted by Zipdot
Hindus have their own creation stories. Just because you have a creation story that says "In the beginning," and you believe it, that does not actually mean that it predates everything in the world.
Originally posted by Zipdot
Vedic culture predates all modern religions. The Vedas were written before the Bible. If all you can say about this is "Nuh uhhh! Not according to the Bible," then that's less than I expected.
Originally posted by Zipdot
Extremely arguable. Please see my posts earlier in this thread regarding the similarities between Buddhism and Christianity. Taoism originated as a philosophy, not a religion. It wasn't considered to be its own religion until nearly 100 years after its inception (so that kind of resembles Christianity, eh?). I don't think it's comparable in most ways to classical theistic religions.
Originally posted by Zipdot
I would add here that, while we don't have photographic evidence of people sitting around, reading older religious texts, such as the Vedas, and copying their stories into Bible stories, the overwhelming amount of similarities between Christianity/Judaism and other religions begs investigation by inquiring minds. Christianity doesn't lack inquiring minds, except, it seems to me, when it comes to questioning Christianity.
Zip
Originally posted by saint4God
That's why I said: "...when you believe that Judaism began when 'God created heaven and earth' then nothing could possibly come before it."
Originally posted by saint4God
What was first? It's debatable looking at text...which is why we're here debating it. You don't have proof based just on books, I don't have proof based just on books. We need to seek our proof beyond books. Who breaks the tie? Talk to God.
Originally posted by saint4God
With all due respect, if you're going to have my side of the conversation as well, then there's really nothing for me to say either in opposition or agreement.
Originally posted by saint4God
I question things in Christianity all time. I am Christian. I can share with you my questions for Christianity if you like...though many of those questions so far have lead to an answer.
Originally posted by Zipdot
I would gladly talk to God if he existed. As it is, I do not talk to what I deem to be imaginary entities.
Originally posted by Zipdot
There is no debate as to what was conceived first (Vedas) and what was practiced first (Hinduism). Hinduism is predated by primitive fertility and sun worshippers. The Old Testament was written as a going concern between the 12th century B.C.E. and a little while before the time of Christ, though I understand most of the canon was assembled between 650 B.C.E. and 300 B.C.E. Though it portends to describe the beginning of the Earth and mankind, I really must ask, who are the witnesses to Genesis I? I don't believe there are any witnesses to Genesis I, and therefore, it is a second hand account. Even if it was written by someone who was told the details by God, it is still hearsay.
Originally posted by Zipdot
Check out this well-written inquisition entitled, What is the old testament?
Originally posted by Zipdot
Hehe, right, sorry, I'm still in Expert999 mode sometimes.
Originally posted by Zipdot
This guy wrote a very succinct list of things that don't make sense about Christianity and I tend to agree with most of it. Verily, I can say that most of the items in this list are my own questions. The list is not offensive in any way, and is well worth reading. Some items on the list are debatable or agruable, of course.
Zip
Originally posted by marg6043
Sorry to disagree with you saintgod but hinduism is the oldest religion in the world.
Originally posted by marg6043
Now nowhere in the bible it said that Judaism was born with the creation myth.
Originally posted by marg6043
Judaism is much later. indeed. This alone will put the bible stories and myth into question.
Originally posted by saint4God
Originally posted by marg6043
Sorry to disagree with you saintgod but hinduism is the oldest religion in the world.
Feel free to disagree without feeling sorry. I'm understanding, respect your point view, and can see you respect mine as well. What qualifies for 'oldest'? Oldest documented? Oldest to carry a title?
[edit on 7-7-2005 by saint4God]
Originally posted by Zipdot
Check out this well-written inquisition entitled, What is the old testament?
Originally posted by marg6043
The bible accounts are limited to the middle east nations, but the world was still a bigger place.
Seems to me that the God of the Jewish people that created haven and earth forgot to manifest around the world to the rest of the other civilizations.
Just think about that, it kind of make God with a sense of favoritism.
[edit on 7-7-2005 by marg6043]
Originally posted by saint4God
Okay...so what are we saying here? Sounds like a thesis without compelling evidence one way or another. Pretty decent history reading, a lot I knew already, and some I'd have to check with other sources to say "yeah, that sounds right".
Originally posted by marg6043
Truthisoutthere,
Christianity was brought to the new world a long time after the bible was written.
Originally posted by marg6043
If you read the post prior that that statement will explain that while people were living in the middle east during biblical times, it was civilizacions triving in the west.
For some reason they have not knowledge of Jesus or the ancient people in the bible.
Meaning that the bible historical accounts is and always be part of the middle easten and the civilizacions triving in the area.
It was not until the conqistadores discovered the new world that the people in the west was introduce to Christianity.
They were believiers of many Gods, with a central figure. Just like in ancient bible times the civilizations of the east were mostly believers of many gods with one central figure.
In the east the central God figure became the God of the bible and in the west it was introduced to the heathens found after the discovery.
In the caribean where it was later fill with influeces of african roots due to slaves brought to work in the islands, the dominant church been the catholic church blended the pagan deities with the church saints.
Mexico and the Caribean are rich on this type of cultural mix.
As you see christianity was introduce to the new world long after the bible was written but during the historical accounts of the bible times is no mention of the civilizations of the west.