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THE
BIBLE—TRUTH or FICTION?
The term Bible fiction refers to the works of fiction which
uses characters, settings and events taken from the various
Bibles or Old Testaments. The degree of fiction in these works
varies between the writings of Christians and Jews.
Did
a man name Jesus live 2000 years ago? The majority of this
planet’s inhabitants agree that he did. Still, there
are the doubts of the few. The majority believe his story
is told in the records of the four gospels by the four Evangelists
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. However, there are those who
contend that the original authors were “anonymous”
because their writings weren’t signed by those fore
mentioned.
They
claim that the names were added at a later date. Well, really,
what difference does it make? Does an author who writes a
biography always know his/her subjects? No, not always.
In
the case of Jesus, his teachings were known by many, which
means anyone could have written a gospel. The gospels relate,
in parables, the stories of a man’s life called Jesus,
his death by crucifixion and his rising again. Are these the
true definition of a man named Jesus of Nazareth?
Ten
of his twelve followers were put to death because they testified
that he did, in fact, rise from the dead. One would say they
believed.
Let’s
ponder on Matthew’s parable 13, The Parable of the Sower:
After Jesus gave his parable, to the crowd assembled, about
the seeds and weeds contained in his parable, he was asked,
“Why do you speak to the people in Parables?”
He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secret of
the Kingdom of Heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
Whoever has will be given more and they will have an abundance.
Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from.
This is why I speak to them in parables.”
The
Catholic Bible doesn’t refer to its stories as fiction,
instead it uses the word parable, which are stories that reveal
a spiritual truth.
If
one takes the time to read the parables, of the many spiritual
books, one might get confused in modern day thinking. It could
easily be taken for answering a question with a question,
which is really not an answer.
The
Bibles: Tanakh or Hebrew Bible has 24 books,
the Protestant Old Testament has 39 books,
the Catholic Old Testament has 46 books and
the Eastern Orthodox Old
Testament has 51 books. Almost all of them were written in
Hebrew and just a sparse few were written in Aramaic and Greek.
All are considered canonical collection of sacred text.
Now,
let’s take a question from the Holy Bible. When Pontius
Pilate, the Roman Governor of Judea, asked Jesus, “What
is truth” (John 18:38)? He receive no answer.
So,
let’s analyze what four ancient philosophers had to
say about truth Before the Common Era (B.C.E.):
Plato
born in 424/423 B.C. E. in Argina Greece, who taught Platonic
ideals, said “that we can know truth if we, sublimate
our minds to their original purity.”
Arcesilaus
born in 316/315 B.C.E. in Pitane in Aealis, said “that
our understanding is not capable of knowing what truth is.”
Carneades
born in 214-129 B.C. E. in Cyrene, North Africa, who was an
Academic skeptic stated “that we can never comprehend
truth; and not only that, but even our senses are inadequate
in assisting us in the investigation of truth.”
Gorgias
born in 485 B. C. E. in a Greek colony in Leontini, Sicily,
another Sophist (one who flirts with the truth) said, “what
is right but what we prove to be right? And what is truth
but what we believe to be truth.”
Socrates
born in 469 B.C.E. in Athens, Greece created the Socratic
Method, which is a question and answer method to stimulate
critical thinking to prove a point of right or wrong.
Philosophical
Skepticism is a school or method of thought which critically
examines a meaning. Et alii, other philosophers hold that
all knowledge is impossible, except for the knowledge that
all other knowledge is impossible.
So,
from these examples of classical philosophical reasoning,
truth appears to be a hazy concept, or a philosopher’s
subjective interpretation; or perhaps very little at all.
Ancient
Hebrew text dates back to the Hasmonean dynasty (140-37
B.C.E.), which can tend to prove, maybe, just maybe, there
is a blurred gray line in all of the Old Testament’s
writings, regardless whether they are Hebrew, Protestant,
Catholic or Eastern Orthodox.
Before
anyone can accept the writings in these Old Testaments as
the teachings of a man called Jesus, one must first try to
understand what it means in their life. Is salvation the resurrection
of the soul not the body, true?
Ok,
let’s not ask if the different versions of the holy
books are true or false, instead let’s ask a few questions.
1.
Did the biblical places exist? Yes, archaeologist have
found evidence of locations.
2.
Did the events described happen? Again, archaeologist
have found locations that battles did occur in excavations
of buried cities.
3.
Does this mean that they are true since there are places
and events that the mystical things occurred? There are
too many versions and related stories that vary in their
findings to conclude that the writings are absolutely
true or false.
Let’s
consider and ponder the following:
If
the God of the Bible exists, then his existence is different
than the universe.
After
all, according to the Bible he created all things, which must
include the universe.
Now,
consider this, I’m creating this article and my existence
is different from this article. Is there any prove that I
wrote this article? It can only be proven as fact because
I’m real and have signed this article?
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Now,
go softly into the night. mgf
Comments
always welcome
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