I have been avoiding these forums for a long time. I find the people on both sides of the debate to be often ignorant and brainwashed. One thing Christians and non-Christians alike do not understand is that everything written about in the bible is merely allegory for what is seen in the sky. All religions have an inner (esoteric) and outer (exoteric) meaning. Christians are believers in the exoteric version of astro-theology called Christianity. Christians rail against paganism and astrology, but little do they know their religion is rooted in these two things. It is rooted in celestial worship. Christians and non-christians alike do not understand that the characters in the bible are not real people. They never existed as human beings on earth. They are allegories for the sun, moon and stars (constellations). A complex story was weaved around this, and today it's what we refer to as the Christian religion -- a religio-political movement. I could go into this in much more detail, but I won't for now. In the meantime, let me clarify a few things... The "son" of God is really the SUN of God. The halo around Jesus' head is symbolic of the sun. The solar cross, or sun cross, represents the four seasons and the 12 signs of the zodiac. Noah's Ark is the sun making its ARC across the sky in the northern hemisphere. The fish hat (mitre) the Pope wears is associated with the age of Pisces. This is the current age we are in -- the Piscean age. The Piscean age is the age of Christianity, which began around 1 AD. Christians use the fish as their symbol for Christ. The notion of Jesus walking on water is the sun crossing the sky (in ancient times, the sky was seen as a vast ocean). The twelve apostles (12 tribes in Judaism) are the 12 signs of the Zodiac. Christians celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December because that is the day the sun RISES one degree from its lowest point in the sky. Jesus is born of a virgin mother (.ie Virgo the Virgin). On December 25, Virgo makes its appearance above the horizon where the run rises that day. The Three Wise Men are the three stars in Orion's Belt. Christians celebrate Easter around the turn of spring. This is the time when the sun crosses over from the southern hemisphere in the northern hemisphere. In Judaism this is called the PASSOVER. Jesus was hung on the cross. The point where the sun is lowest in the in the northern hemisphere, as it crosses over into the southern hemisphere, is called the SOUTHERN CROSS.
Close but some of your details are suspect. In no particular order... The virgo thing...if you follow the narative in the bible and calculate the order that john the babtist's dad was in service when his wife became pregnant...than add the amount of time that mary was knocked up, you find the jebus got birthed about september. Later christian tradition shot it up to dec. 25 to match ROMAN mythology. The bible no where states the number of wise men...it only lists three gifts...gold, frankensense etc. The southern cross is a constellation in the sothern hemisphere. I am not sure if you can see it from Isreal or rome...definitely not Europe proper. Holy men all across the east and near east have been attributed with walking on water...no big deal just gullible people. Piscean age thing is about right. Noah's arc...lets see here, how about "arc" and "ark" are two different words and in hebrew, greek or latin sound nothing alike as they do in English. So neither of these three cultures would draw the conclusion that you did. Kind of like I, too have balls and I have two balls mean entirely different things but mean so only in english. "Son" of god and "sun" in the sky are kind of like the Noah thing. Son and sun are no where similiar in hebrew, greek or latin. What you need to understand is that symbolism based on the similarity of words can only be specific for the language spoken. A lot of things loose meaning in translation as do several of your arguments. I am NOT calling you wrong, however. Much of what you are getting at is true it is just that a few of your examples are a bit off. Much of TRADITIONAL christian nauance is based on pagan religions and far more ancient ideas.
Well, I've been in many churches where they draw lines to the zodiac and such to things in the Bible, but to make it so all encompassing is just not so. I'm open to nearly anything if it can be backed and I do put as much outside and obscure study into Christianity that I can. As historical fact, the figures in the Bible did exist. To say that Jesus is the Sun and didn't exist, is like denying the Holocaust. It happened lol Although one may or may not believe that he was the savior, he did exist and most of the events of his life as recorded in the Bible are also backed up in other non-biblical text. True, a lot of pagan or other sects of religion are off shoots from Christianity, but that doesn't make them equally reputable. On a different not however, I also really hate brain washed Christians or non-Christians on any side as well.
pressedrat, Bless you, for the mirth of your many pronouncements stands as smoke upon the wind! Ignorance in the hands of the knowledgable defuses the self-doubt of the faithful; no greater sevice to the Lord may be rendered.
It doesnt quite matter either way really, wether or not Jesus existed. What matters is the teachings attributed to Him in the Bible, and that the main focus for every person should be to strive towards bringing love into every situatioin. If a person cant see that, they misunderstand the importance of the whole thing. Being brainwashed by love, at least, is better than looking down at everyone and showing them all how ignorant they are. Matt I realize you have something to say, but they way you come off is as if you believe all of us are brainwashed and ignorant, when the fact is, your information also comes from writings and in this particular case, a movie. Both your information and the Bible are off the point of what Christianity is supposed to represent, which is love. But that is understandable, considering that bringing that kind of love into one's life is most likely the most difficult thing any human being can hope to accomplish.
^(last two)^ Indeed. The brainwashed I referred to are either: "Christians" who are: Not educated on their faith Quick to bring up God and then get defensive if any one is made uncomfortable Think they are better than others, as if God is patting them on the back for it and think it is there job to save the world non-Christians who: Think all Christians are like above Bring up their non-Christianity and get defensive when other people are uncomfortable Pretend they know more about my faith than I do and patronize
