05-24-2009, 12:11 AM
Why I’m starting to believe…
1. I’m not there yet, but I seem to have recently made some significant headway.
2. I’m a sort of modern day “Doubting Thomas.” While I seem to have a strong sense of “transcendence,” and believe that the universe is free, alive and personal, I can wonder that such feelings are evolutional artifacts, persisting only because they are beneficial in regard to survival of the species.
3. But then, I have developed a strong suspicion that the Jesus concept/story fits exquisitely with human nature, and actually works – there being a real, and “saving,” neurological phenomenon associated with surrendering to Jesus, or being born again.
4. I suspect that “love” is the bottom line, the only thing that matters and what makes life worth living forever – but that we humans need a personal target for our love – which is why “G-d sent His son” -- G-d, “Himself,” is too abstract for most of us (at least) to feel the real and personal love we need in order to be “saved.”
5. Anyway, my apparent recent headway is based upon -- of all things -- the stars…
6. I bought an astronomy program for my computer for $25 (I think you can get them for free) and have tracked down the “Star of Bethlehem,” and the celestial events leading up to it.
7. That last decade of BC, must have been positively amazing to the astrologers -- the Magi --of the time.
8. In my opinion, the heavens of that day clearly declared the coming of the Jewish King.
9. As weird as that may sound, the story was there in the stars, waiting to be read…
10. The odds of all those signs randomly occurring when they did must have been infinitesimal.
11. And, I'm a certified Statistician.
12. Whatever, I am currently trying to determine to what extent we can Biblically, and otherwise historically, pinpoint the birth of Jesus.
13. The stars sure seem to be saying that He was born on June 17 of 2 BC – and that the Magi probably came to Bethlehem on December 25 of that year...
14. I’ll explain all of that when I get a chance.
15. But mostly, for now, I’m here to ask questions and pick your educated brains about the apparent dates of Jesus’ life and ministry.
16. My first question: what’s the evidence and consensus (here, at least) about Jesus’ crucifixion and the Passover? Was Jesus crucified during the daylight hours of Nisan 13?
17. P.S., my website is www.MessiahOrNot.com.
Thanks.
--- Jabba
1. I’m not there yet, but I seem to have recently made some significant headway.
2. I’m a sort of modern day “Doubting Thomas.” While I seem to have a strong sense of “transcendence,” and believe that the universe is free, alive and personal, I can wonder that such feelings are evolutional artifacts, persisting only because they are beneficial in regard to survival of the species.
3. But then, I have developed a strong suspicion that the Jesus concept/story fits exquisitely with human nature, and actually works – there being a real, and “saving,” neurological phenomenon associated with surrendering to Jesus, or being born again.
4. I suspect that “love” is the bottom line, the only thing that matters and what makes life worth living forever – but that we humans need a personal target for our love – which is why “G-d sent His son” -- G-d, “Himself,” is too abstract for most of us (at least) to feel the real and personal love we need in order to be “saved.”
5. Anyway, my apparent recent headway is based upon -- of all things -- the stars…
6. I bought an astronomy program for my computer for $25 (I think you can get them for free) and have tracked down the “Star of Bethlehem,” and the celestial events leading up to it.
7. That last decade of BC, must have been positively amazing to the astrologers -- the Magi --of the time.
8. In my opinion, the heavens of that day clearly declared the coming of the Jewish King.
9. As weird as that may sound, the story was there in the stars, waiting to be read…
10. The odds of all those signs randomly occurring when they did must have been infinitesimal.
11. And, I'm a certified Statistician.
12. Whatever, I am currently trying to determine to what extent we can Biblically, and otherwise historically, pinpoint the birth of Jesus.
13. The stars sure seem to be saying that He was born on June 17 of 2 BC – and that the Magi probably came to Bethlehem on December 25 of that year...
14. I’ll explain all of that when I get a chance.
15. But mostly, for now, I’m here to ask questions and pick your educated brains about the apparent dates of Jesus’ life and ministry.
16. My first question: what’s the evidence and consensus (here, at least) about Jesus’ crucifixion and the Passover? Was Jesus crucified during the daylight hours of Nisan 13?
17. P.S., my website is www.MessiahOrNot.com.
Thanks.
--- Jabba