NONSENSE FROM THE BIBLE (10 page)

The madness continues to this moment; killing in the name of religion is a daily event. Fanatical beliefs based on teachings from the Bible, the Koran or the Talmud since their ancient beginnings have been a motivating force setting human being against human being.  Millions have been murdered or executed simply for their beliefs. How long do we have to endure such madness?  Surely, it is time for the human race to dismiss the superstitions and religious myths that have caused so much suffering since the earliest human times.

When we take time to study religious beliefs of all and every colour we would quickly discover a world of confusion, decadence, human suffering, torment, murder, corruption, bigotry, injustice, oppression and every evil inflicted upon humanity. The truth about these religious activities may be shrouded in ceremony, myth, idolatry, tradition, misrepresentation, fabrication, forgery and mystery presented as spiritual experiences. In fact there is no reliable factual substance for the adherent or believer. The entire spectrum of religious belief is based on faith not fact. Believers are required to believe by faith as there is no factual evidence to prove their beliefs.

From early childhood and to some degree according to our culture and parental experience, we are nurtured and seduced to accept the reality of God and religion of one sort or another. We are conditioned to accept everything we are told concerning this higher power. Many of us never question the information we receive, presented not as a theory, myth or fable, but as fact. It is NOT!

Surely it is time for us to cast off these ancient superstitions, myths, imaginations and falsehoods which have been passed down to us by earlier generations, and seek the truth. Only then can we live without any possibility of spiritual condemnation and fear. We can be free from the oppression and guilt imposed by narrow-minded, ignorant religious organisations. We can live with peace of mind every day knowing the reality of life as we experience it. 

Regrettably, many people are convinced that there can be little or no meaning to life without faith in God. Many believe that life here on earth is simply a training camp for a real place called Heaven. How terrible to contemplate the fact that millions of the world’s inhabitants may have accepted a life of suffering for one cause or another, simply in the hope that they would be rewarded in the so-called next life.

I completely refute the idea that life has no meaning without God, in fact the more serious unbiased study we give to the Bible the more convinced we become of the absurdity of this book of myths and fantasies. The pre-programmed brainwashed mind will, of course, disagree with my evaluation. Ultimately, unfortunately, many people believe what they want to believe regardless of facts or evidence which conflicts with their long-held personal beliefs and assumptions.

My purpose is simply to ask the reader to look and think again objectively and if possible without allowing preconceived ideas to colour your thinking. Seek to discover the truth by reason and factual evidence rather than by an emotional response or by accepting willingly as fact everything that you may have been taught by a pastor, priest or Bible teacher whoever they are. It is also evident that a high percentage of Christian ministers often have grave doubts about their own faith and their perception of God.

1 John 4:8   

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 

1 John 4:16
   

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 

GOD IS LOVE? - NONSENSE!

 BIBLE NONSENSE NUMBER 5

There are claimed to be up to 300 Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by Jesus!  Looking at just a few of the most important ones will give us an idea of the standard of accuracy for these ‘prophecies’ and their so called fulfilment.

PROPHECY OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS

The Prophecy:

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore
the Lord himself shall give you a sign
;
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

The Fulfilment? 

Matthew 1:18-23

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Luke 1:26-35

 
And in the sixth month
the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 

Problem 1.

Matthew admits that this was all done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet- it sounds like a set up if it actually happened. The claimed virgin birth of Jesus story was not unique. It had been used as a qualification for deity on many occasions throughout the centuries before the time of Jesus.

Problem 2.

In fact, the Hebrew word in the original text of Isaiah 7.14 is
alma
which means young woman and had no implication of virginity. In the translation from the Hebrew text to the Greek of the New Testament the word used was
parthenos
which does imply virginity. The trick is in the translation thus falsifying the original meaning and the mistranslation has been perpetuated ever since, with special implications for the Catholic adoration of Mary.

Problem 3.

The third problem with this prophecy and fulfilment is that Isaiah said his name was to be Emmanuel, meaning ‘God with us.’ He was named Jesus, not Emmanuel and ‘Jesus’ does NOT mean God with us. Jesus was and still is in some counties of the world a popular name and not a synonym, for ‘God with us.’ The name
Jesus 
is a short form of the name Joshua - from the Hebrew Jehoshua. It is also claimed that the name Jesus means Lord or saviour.

Problem 4.

In Matthew, the Angel of the Lord (un-named) appears to Joseph in a dream as he is worried how his wife is ‘with child’ as they had not had intercourse together. The angel told him that she had conceived a child by the Holy Ghost and his name shall be Jesus

In Luke, the Angel Gabriel appears to Mary and tells her she will have a child conceived by the Holy Ghost and she shall call him Jesus.

Problem 5. 

The Geneology of Jesus reveals a natural Father.

Obviously, there is no need to read all of this. I have entered the full text so you can see that Jesus had a natural father - Joseph. 

Matthew 1:1-17

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; And Eliud begat 
Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;
And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

Luke 3:23-24

And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age,
being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph,
which was the son of Heli, Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph,

The above genealogies of Jesus, in Matthew and Luke, are through Joseph, a natural father. If Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost this genealogy is nonsense and therefore no-one could claim that he was a natural descendent of David or Abraham. Obviously, neither Matthew nor Luke actually believed that Mary had been impregnated by the Holy Ghost or they would not have written the above human genealogy of Joseph as the father of Jesus.

Problem 6.

Mark and John knew nothing about a virgin birth and make no mention of it in their writings. Paul believed that Jesus had a natural father and made no reference to the possibility that Mary was a virgin.

Romans 1:3

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

Galatians 4:4

But when the fulness of the time was come, God
sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

 Virgin Birth?  Prophecy? Nonsense!

PROPHECY OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS IN BETHLEHEM

The Prophecy

Micah 5:2

But thou,
Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel
; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

The Fulfilment?

Luke 2:1-7

And it came to pass
in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

 Problem 1.

‘Bethlehem Ephratah’ (Micah 5:2) in fact refers to a clan who are the descendants of a man called Bethlehem, the son of Caleb’s second wife Ephrathah and nothing to do with a place called Bethlehem. Bethlehem was also called the City of David (Luke 2:4) not Ephrathah.

1 Chronicles. 2:24

And after that Hezron was dead in
Caleb-Ephratah
, then Abiah Hezron’s wife bare him Ashur the father of Tekoa.

 1 Chronicles. 2:50

These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur,
the firstborn of Ephratah
; Shobal the father of Kirjath-jearim,

1 Chronicles. 4:4

And Penuel the father of Gedor and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of
Ephratah, the father of Bethlehem.

In common with almost every so called prophecy the statements can easily refer to almost anyone. In the reference quoted from the book of Micah it refers to one who will be a ‘Ruler in Israel.’ Jesus did not qualify – he was never a ruler in Israel and became, according to the Roman law, a criminal who was executed.

Problem 2

The Gospel of Luke is the only account of this census; it is not mentioned in the other Gospels. It is also not historically correct as there is no historical evidence that a decree by Caesar Augustus was made for a census to be held at that time. There was no practice in the Roman Empire which required citizens to return to their place of birth in order for them to be taxed. The idea that Joseph or any husband would take his very pregnant wife on a journey of at least five days on the back of a donkey is extremely unlikely. The census of Quirinius referred to the enrolment of the Roman provinces of Syria and Judea for tax purposes was taken in the years 6CE and 7CE after the alleged birth of Jesus. This passage has long been considered problematic by biblical scholars, since it places the birth of Jesus around the time of the census in 6CE and 7CE, whereas the Gospel of Matthew indicates a birth during or just after the reign of Herod the Great, who died in 4BCE, nine years earlier.

Prophecy? Nonsense!

PROPHECY OF THE FAMILY ESCAPING TO EGYPT

The Prophecy

Hosea 11.1

When Israel was a child
, 
then I loved him
, 
and called my son out of Egypt.

The fulfillment?

Matthew 2:14-15

When he arose, 
he took the young child and his mother by night and departed into Egypt. And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet saying, out of Egypt I have called my son.

According to Matthew, Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus escaped from Bethlehem by night because of Herod’s supposed order to kill all the male children under the age of two years. This is another of those admissions by Matthew 
that it might be fulfilled
 - to give credibility to the text.

Problem

This is a prime example of taking a few words completely out of context in order to create a so called ‘prophecy’ - I have included here more verses from Hosea Chapter One which clearly shows this nonsense:

Hosea 11:1-12   

When Israel was a child, then I loved him
, 
and called my son out of Egypt
.
 
As
 
 
 
they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. 
 
I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. 
 
I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them. 
 
He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return. 
 
And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour 
 
them
 
, because of their own counsels. 
 
And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt 
 
him
 
. 
 
How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? 
 
how
 
 
 
shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? 
 
how
 
 
 
shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. 
 
I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I 
 
am
 
 
 
God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city. 
 
They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west. 
 
They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD. 
 
Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.