NONSENSE FROM THE BIBLE (18 page)

Isaiah 14:12

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 

Job 1:6-7

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 

Chapter Seven

26. Rainbow

Chambers Dictionary defines a rainbow as:

An arch in the sky displaying the colors of the spectrum formed by the refraction and reflection of the sun’s rays through rain or mist. It’s cause was discovered by Theodoric of Freiberg in the 14th century.

Chapter Nine

27. Apocrypha books.

The general Apocrypha consists of these seventeen books.

Protestant Christians reject the Apocrypha books as a collection of
uninspired
 history written by men without the aid of God writings during the ‘silent centuries’ (400BCE - 27CE). 

The contents noted as ‘unscriptural’ include the doctrine of Purgatory, salvation by almsgiving, the justification of suicide, slavery and cruelty, reincarnation, lying, assassination and magical incantations - all of which are approved within the writings of the Apocrypha.

The protestant Bible contains none of the Apocrypha books. The Greek Orthodox Bible contains all of the books and the Roman Catholic Bible contains 13 of the books but not  Esdras, the third and fourth books of Maccabees or Psalm 151.

28. Purgatory

The claimed description of Purgatory according to Roman Catholic doctrine based on the Apocryphal texts is the condition or temporary punishment by which those who die in a state of grace are believed to be made ready for Heaven. This theological notion has ancient roots and is well-attested in early Christian literature, but the conception of purgatory as a geographically situated place is largely the creation of medieval Christian piety and imagination.

Chapter Ten

29. Other Tongues

The ‘Biblical’ experience of speaking with ‘other tongues’ originates from the Book of Acts of the Apostles:

Acts 2:1-4

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The experience of ‘speaking with other tongues’ is known as Glossolalia - meaning: Unintelligible utterances, thought to form part of unknown languages, spoken while under the influence of religious excitement, and believed by Christian groups of various periods to be a sign of grace. 

From Greek
glossa
tongue +
lalia
speech  (Chambers Dictionary)

Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians practice ‘Baptism with the Holy Spirit’ and believe that the ability of
speaking with other tongues
 as described in the Bible is the evidence of the ‘indwelling’ of the Holy Spirit. They believe the
language
is a special prayer language which is only know to the Holy Spirit.

BY THE SAME AUTHOR

FROM FAITH TO REASON

Second Edition 2011

Having spent some seventeen years as a ‘Born Again’ Christian fundamentalist and for ten of those years as the founding Pastor of one of Australia’s largest churches, Brian Baker resigned from the ministry in 1989 following the failure of his marriage.  During the course of the next few years he spent much time questioning his faith and seeking evidence concerning the validity of the Bible which he had accepted literally as ‘The Word of God.’ 

In his book ‘From Faith to Reason’ – Brian boldly questions the existence of God and uses the Bible to provide evidence that God is NOT the ‘Intelligent Designer – creator God’ as creationists have claimed in recent times. Brian, again using the Bible as evidence provides serious questions concerning the validity of Jesus, including his birth, ministry, crucifixion and resurrection. Another Chapter under the heading of ‘Crimes against humanity’ – includes many examples from the Bible which clearly reveal on numerous occasions the ‘dark side’ of God. The Bible, which Christians believe contains good and dependable teaching on family values, comes under close scrutiny which opens many parts of the Bible which are usually overlooked by Christians.

Brian’s conversion from fundamentalist Christian to Atheist was a gradual process over a period of several years after he had effectively left the influence of the church. Brian believes that it is extremely difficult for a Christian who is seriously involved in a church or Christian group to be ‘open’ to knowledge or evidence which is in conflict with the Bible and Christian teaching. Brian states in his book that one has to be ‘outside’ the Christian ‘bubble of faith’ in order to see clearly and to consider rationally the evidence and validity of theocratic religions of any persuasion.

Chapters include: How did we get here - did God do it? - The good the bad and the ugly influence of religion - Intelligent designer or schizophrenic sadist? - Crimes against humanity - Five good reasons to doubt the existence of God - Jesus fact or fiction? - Family values and the Bible - Faith, fatalism and destiny - Angels, demons and he human spirit - Visions, dreams and other delusions -Why do intelligent, sensible, down to earth people seek a religious experience? - What is the meaning of life.

259 Pages - Published Paperback & eBook download from fastpencil.com/amazon.com/barnes & noble/nook/iBooks & others on line.

REST IN PEACE & LIVE!

PERSONAL PEACE WITHOUT GOD

Published March 2012

Contrary to widespread belief, to be peace is not a condition only applicable to those who have died. Personal peace is, in fact, available to everyone according to Brian Baker the author of this book. This is not in any sense a spiritual or mystical experience but is based entirely on a program of practical personal adjustments to one’s own attitudes and lifestyle. Brian was the founding Pastor of one of the largest churches in Australia (1979-1989). After he resigned from the ministry he began to examine his own faith and seek evidence for the veracity of the Bible and Christian belief. He finally came to the conclusion that his Christian beliefs had been entirely, but sincerely, wrong as they had been based on myth and stories handed down over hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of years. He concluded that it is virtually impossible to find any factual, historical or scientific evidence to validate the contents of the Bible or the existence of God. 

When he had come to terms with his transformation from believer to atheist he also realized that for the very first time in his life he began to live day by day in peace. During all those years when he was totally immersed in Christian life and ministry – he had been surprised and disappointed that he was never able to experience the level of personal peace he had desired and expected. – At last, the personal peace which had been so elusive was a reality.

The contents of this book are the result of Brian’s experience and discoveries which he believes will assist anyone to find their own personal peace by applying the practical principles and self examination to their life which will enable them to live in peace.

In the first chapter – Peace without God – Brian explains his reasons why Christian or religious peace is a false or temporary peace which ultimately cannot provide the high level of personal peace we all desire.

Other Chapters include: Know yourself - Hindrances to Peace - Contentment, the peace maker - Peace through equality and tolerance - Love and patience - Peace in old age - Peace in bereavement or divorce - Peace in sickness and death - Assistance to peace.

 169 Pages - Published Paperback & eBook download from fastpencil.com/amazon.com/barnes & noble/nook/iBooks & others on line.