The crucifixion/passion of Christ

Originally posted by Capt_Fantastic
and who are we, flawed human beings, to decide which metaphores are "obvious" and which have secret, hidden meanings that should be pondered over and put to the test of time? How important is considering the "possible meanings" when the truth has been declared by God, and the humans that have to rely on his representatives on earth to let them in on the secret? And if by literal, you mean what Jesus said, well there's a huge difference between what Jesus "said" and what is practiced by christians. And I agree. The meaning is much more important. But then why do so many christians get caught up in the details?

Originally posted by Nellinator
I meant that some statements obviously contain metaphors, not that the meaning of the metaphor is obvious.
You raise some good points. It is a shame and a pity that so many Christians are hypocritical, and I realize it is what pushes many people away. I think a lot of Christians get caught in the details and miss the big picture.
Some Christians need to stop worrying about what they eat and start going out and helping and loving people.

well said. but such a position should be true of all religion. Not just christianity.

Originally posted by Capt_Fantastic
well said. but such a position should be true of all religion. Not just christianity.

Originally posted by Nellinator
Indeed.

well, when i said "well said" I was referring to your meaning. Not your metaphore. Now, you might be saying, "there was no metaphore". But, why wouldn't earlier christians do teh same as I just did? Is there a metaphore, isn't there? "Just to be safe, we'll take it all at face value"

Originally posted by Capt_Fantastic
because God is limited to your understanding of him? In explaining your interpretation of the dinosaurs, you failed to mention that you believed the biblical creation accounts as literal.

I apologize - I should have given more detail and clarity regarding my beliefs. Tis not my belief that God is limited - no indeed he is not, however, my knowledge of him, as well as my understanding of him, is the limiting factor.

Question - What does thou think the terms "literal", "metaphorical", and "allogorical" mean - to the one who created speech? Or by what authourity does any human terminology have - over the one who's very spoken word created this mystery we call life? (Of course one is assuming with these questions, that God is the Creator, not man)

So to put it literally- (which I must clarify again, I'm figuratively speaking, as the term "literal" can only truly be applied to the human perspective) our minds have little understanding, and our words have little authourity regarding any aspect of God.

Can everyone realise where I'm going with this? If not, then let me further extrapolate -

7 days to God, does indeed mean 7 days - As God being fully righteous, does not lie. But from the human perspective - and with our limited knowledge of what a "day" truly is, it is quite possible - or more appropiately termed, quite evident - that this limited knowledge of ours does not fully grasp the concept of what a "day" actually is, atleast from God's perspective.

So what does thou think of those grapes? Are they sour to thy tastebuds? Perhaps they are - for not everyone has a palate capable of ingesting truth. However to myself, they are a delicacy -- much sweeter than the sweetest of honeys or nectors.

Originally posted by Nellinator
Sometimes the Bible uses obvious metaphors. Sometimes they are not obvious. Some Hebrew words can mean more than one thing (such as day or age). It is important to consider all the possible meanings and then see which ones are in concordance with the literal. Understanding the meaning is much more important than understanding the details.

...couldn't have said it better, Nelly (not to get off the topic here...).

Originally posted by Capt_Fantastic
But on whose authority should the difference be drawn? God's? Jesus's? The Pope? Etc? I'm not trying to be an *******, I'm just wondering where the line should be drawn? Maybe between the archaic teachings of the bible that stand in direct opposition to the words spoken by Jesus himself?

That is an excellent series of questions for which I have no answer. To each their own?

Originally posted by BobbyD
Has it been played out thousands of time already throughout the universe? Will it not continue to do so too?

If for instance, on a remote planet across the galaxy where Christ also lived, but looked like (oh, I don't know, let's say) a giraffe, because all the inhabitants of intelligent life on this particular planet looked like giraffes, wouldn't he have been crucified there also? Has this scene not taken place already on thousands of planets across the universe? Get my drift?

If God in his splendor, put this whole time machine known as the universe in motion, with limitless possibilities for intelligent life; and as such allows for limitless possibilties for different physical features of intelligent life elsewhere, wouldn't He also have sent Christ (in some physically different, relative form) to spread His message on these life sustaining planets also?

Christ died for us on Earth, so God probably had a few others on the few other planets that had intelligent life on them.

Originally posted by Imperial_Samura
Am I the only one who thinks trying to crucify a giraffe would be both difficult and funny looking? Why would aliens without out anatomy use a human form of executions and torture?

Silly, I just needed an example for illustrative purposes. 🙄 😛

Originally posted by Capt_Fantastic
The meaning is much more important. But then why do so many christians get caught up in the details?

Very good question, I might add.

Soooo.......we can continually challenge ourselves to be the best possible Christians? Not to be satisfied with the status quo all the time?

Man law? 😕

Originally posted by usagi_yojimbo
So what does thou think of those grapes? Are they sour to thy tastebuds? Perhaps they are - for not everyone has a palate capable of ingesting truth. However to myself, they are a delicacy -- much sweeter than the sweetest of honeys or nectors.

Thou ist a poet, and doust not knoweth it. 😉

Originally posted by Council#13
Christ died for us on Earth, so God probably had a few others on the few other planets that had intelligent life on them.

So Council-like me, you too feel that the possibility COULD exist, however likely or unlikely. Is that what I'm getting?

Originally posted by Nellinator
Some Christians need to stop worrying about what they eat and start going out and helping and loving people.

And sometimes, as sweet as it may taste to one's palate - the "truth" -- can sometimes hurt. 😉

Originally posted by usagi_yojimbo
And sometimes, as sweet as it may taste to one's palate - the "truth" -- can sometimes hurt. 😉

Indeed. Truer words were never spoken.

Originally posted by usagi_yojimbo
And sometimes, as sweet as it may taste to one's palate - the "truth" -- can sometimes hurt. 😉

It is not the true that hurts; it is the loss of delusion that causes the pain.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
It is not the true that hurts; it is the loss of delusion that causes the pain.

Interesting.

Originally posted by BobbyD
Interesting.

It's kind of like falling of a cliff; it is not the fall that kills you, but the sudden stop at the bottom.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
It's kind of like falling of a cliff; it is not the fall that kills you, but the sudden stop at the bottom.

Anesthesia anyone?

Originally posted by BobbyD
Anesthesia anyone?

🙁 Are you making fun of me?

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
It is not the true that hurts; it is the loss of delusion that causes the pain.

Only the wise fool understands that it is not the loss of his delusion that causes himself pain, but rather the realisation of the truth presented before him.