FRDB Archives

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.


Go Back   FRDB Archives > Archives > Religion (Closed) > Biblical Criticism & History
Welcome, Peter Kirby.
You last visited: Yesterday at 03:12 PM

 
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 12-22-2008, 11:37 AM   #1
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: England
Posts: 5,629
Default Brothers of non-existent people

http://www.share-international.org/b...s/AWT_main.htm

'The World Teacher for the current time is Maitreya, the 'eldest brother' in the human family and head of the Spiritual Hierarchy. Preferring to be known simply as the Teacher, Maitreya has not come to found a new religion, but to act as a guide and counselor for all humanity ― regardless of religious affiliation.'

The Maitreya is a brother. I guess you can be brother to a non-existent person.

And the Maitreya prefers the title of Teacher.

Did Paul refer to the brother of the Lord, in the way that the Maitreya is referrred to as a brother?
Steven Carr is offline  
Old 12-22-2008, 11:48 AM   #2
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Midwest
Posts: 4,787
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steven Carr View Post
The Maitreya is a brother. I guess you can be brother to a non-existent person.
Who is the nonexistent person of whom Maitreya is the brother?

Ben.
Ben C Smith is offline  
Old 12-22-2008, 11:50 AM   #3
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: England
Posts: 5,629
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ben C Smith View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steven Carr View Post
The Maitreya is a brother. I guess you can be brother to a non-existent person.
Who is the nonexistent person of whom Maitreya is the brother?

Ben.
The Maitreya is the non-existent person, but he is still regarded as an 'elder brother'
Steven Carr is offline  
Old 12-22-2008, 12:02 PM   #4
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,305
Default

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days.
But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother

Galatians 1

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:

Jude 1

These the relevant epistles passages - the gospels name Jesus' blood siblings
bacht is offline  
Old 12-22-2008, 12:07 PM   #5
Contributor
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Los Angeles area
Posts: 40,549
Default

Why did Jude call himself the brother of James and not "the brother of Jesus?"

How many times are we going to go over these ambiguous phrases and expect to find some solution to the question?
Toto is offline  
Old 12-22-2008, 12:17 PM   #6
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: England
Posts: 5,629
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Toto View Post
Why did Jude call himself the brother of James and not "the brother of Jesus?"

How many times are we going to go over these ambiguous phrases and expect to find some solution to the question?
Did Jude not know there was a famous brother of James, who could be confused with his brother?

Or did Jude expect to be identified by his famous brother, as the names of his other brothers might not ring a bell with his fellow Christians?
Steven Carr is offline  
Old 12-22-2008, 01:22 PM   #7
J-D
Moderator - General Religious Discussions
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: New South Wales
Posts: 27,330
Default

My brother is a non-existent person.
J-D is offline  
Old 12-22-2008, 01:30 PM   #8
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Midwest
Posts: 4,787
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steven Carr View Post
The Maitreya is the non-existent person, but he is still regarded as an 'elder brother'
Sorry, I am not getting your point (nor, apparently, the point of this thread).

Castor is the brother of Pollux; Pollux is the brother of Castor. I do not think either Castor or Pollux existed.

Richard Milhous Sagan is the brother of Carl Sagan. I think the latter existed, while the former did not.

What are you saying, exactly?

Ben.
Ben C Smith is offline  
Old 12-22-2008, 01:32 PM   #9
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: England
Posts: 5,629
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ben C Smith View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steven Carr View Post
The Maitreya is the non-existent person, but he is still regarded as an 'elder brother'
Sorry, I am not getting your point (nor, apparently, the point of this thread).

Castor is the brother of Pollux; Pollux is the brother of Castor. I do not think either Castor or Pollux existed.

Richard Milhous Sagan is the brother of Carl Sagan. I think the latter existed, while the former did not.

What are you saying, exactly?

Ben.
There are religions being formed today where teachings are being attributed to the central figure, who does not exist.
Steven Carr is offline  
Old 12-22-2008, 01:38 PM   #10
Contributor
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Los Angeles area
Posts: 40,549
Default

I guess that the $64 question is - is there a leader in this religion who is known as the brother of Maitreya?
Toto is offline  
 

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 06:43 AM.

Top

This custom BB emulates vBulletin® Version 3.8.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2015, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.