Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 04-17-2009, 02:33 PM

I've just come across this:

Press Release

Quote:

"Reading the Word, word for word can be an enlightening experience," says Bill Jemas, founder of the Freeware Bible project and former President of Marvel Entertainment. "You expect the Bible to say something like, 'In the beginning, God created the Heaven and the Earth.' You expect to hear the story of one super-powered male God creating everything from nothing - with nothing but the power of His words."

"But, a more faithful translation starts like this: 'In principles, the powers-that-be conceive the heavens and the earth.' Then, the Bible shows all of nature's powers and elements planning and working together for the common good."

http://www.freewarebible.com/

Comments?

Roger Pearse · 04-17-2009, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

I've just come across this:

Press Release

Quote:

"Reading the Word, word for word can be an enlightening experience," says Bill Jemas, founder of the Freeware Bible project and former President of Marvel Entertainment. "You expect the Bible to say something like, 'In the beginning, God created the Heaven and the Earth.' You expect to hear the story of one super-powered male God creating everything from nothing - with nothing but the power of His words."

"But, a more faithful translation starts like this: 'In principles, the powers-that-be conceive the heavens and the earth.' Then, the Bible shows all of nature's powers and elements planning and working together for the common good."

http://www.freewarebible.com/

Comments?

Sounds as if he doesn't have much knowledge of the ancient languages, and sat down with a dictionary to see what meaning he could force on the text. Another convenience-worshipper...

I'm some people will think that dismissive, and I'm sorry if so. But frankly I can't stomach such wilfully self-deluding people. We've all had several years of people going around asserting that people with no money borrowing money would create an asset -- because they wanted to believe it. It was crap, of course, and misery ensued. Whether Christianity is true or not, either way there is no reason for us to muddle our minds with crap. Let's be sceptical of what we would find convenient, and suspicious when something looks good. It's the only way, in truth. But let us also treat these muddle-headed liars as what they are -- dangers to us all, to the extent that they can contrive it.

All the best,

Roger Pearse

mountainman · 04-17-2009, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Pearse

But frankly I can't stomach such wilfully self-deluding people. We've all had several years of people going around asserting that people with no money borrowing money would create an asset -- because they wanted to believe it. It was crap, of course, and misery ensued. Whether Christianity is true or not, either way there is no reason for us to muddle our minds with crap.

A fabricated bank note is a a fabricated bank note.
Fraudulent bank notes are worthless as currency.
If Christianity has been fabricated what is its value?

And there is every good reason to examine with care
the ancient history associated with "christian origins".

Quote:

Let's be sceptical of what we would find convenient, and suspicious when something looks good.

Do you mean Constantine's mother Helena as the first
christian archaeologist and second christian pilgrim to
the umm holy land?

Quote:

It's the only way, in truth. But let us also treat these muddle-headed liars as what they are -- dangers to us all, to the extent that they can contrive it.

Was Plato's critical questioning a menace to Constantine's "christendom"?
The christian tradition of persecution and intolerance is a long one.
Its bursting upon the fourth century scene has been described in the following way ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Momigliano

If there were men who recommended
tolerance and peaceful coexistence
of Christians and pagans,
they were rapidly crowded out.

The Christians were ready
to take over the Roman empire,
as Eusebius made clear
in the introduction of the Preparatio evangelica
where he emphasises the correlation
between pax romana and the Christian message:
the thought indeed was not even new.

The Christians were also determined
to make impossible a return to the conditions
of inferiority and persecution for the Church.
The problems and conflicts inside the Church
which all this implied
may be left aside for the moment.

“The revolution of the fourth century,
carrying with it a new historiography
will not be understood if we underrate
the determination, almost the fierceness,
with which the Christians appreciated and exploited

the miracle

that had transformed Constantine
into a supporter, a protector, and later a legislator
of the Christian church.”

One fact is eloquent enough. All the pioneer works
in the field of Christian historiography are earlier
than what we may call their opposite numbers in
pagan historiography."

END QUOTAGE — Arnaldo Momigliano

Doug Shaver · 04-18-2009, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freewarebible.com

For each word, The Freeware Bible presents all of its likely meanings along with annotations that put the word in textual and historical context.

Isn't that more or less what the editors of the Amplified Bible did almost 50 years ago?

DrJim · 04-19-2009, 03:32 PM

This guy is out talking to the fairies.

Quote:

Called alhim to atmosphere
to elevate to stratosphere.

Diversity was unity
on the day of two.

Let's hope he spent a lot of money putting this site together and lost his job and his wife moved out to be with normal people. (or is it "the person(s) of norm"?

What a wacko.

Loomis · 04-19-2009, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Pearse

Sounds as if he doesn't have much knowledge of the ancient languages, and sat down with a dictionary to see what meaning he could force on the text. Another convenience-worshipper...

If he gets real creative then maybe he will inadvertently restore Deuteronomy 32:8-9 so that Yahweh is accurately portrayed as one of El’s 70 sons.

I admit it’s a long shot, but infinitely more possible than someone coming back from the dead.

PhilosopherJay · 04-19-2009, 08:31 PM

Hi Toto,

Words are polysemous. They tend to pick up and drop meanings over time and space. Without knowing the exact date of a writing and having a great deal of data aobut other writings of the time, it is difficult to get the meaning of words precise.

It is quite possible that the connotations of the word "elohim," at the time of writing, do not fit the term "God" as commonly understood today. "Powers that be" may, in fact, be a more accurate translation.

Warmly,

Philosopher Jay

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

I've just come across this:

Press Release

Quote:

"Reading the Word, word for word can be an enlightening experience," says Bill Jemas, founder of the Freeware Bible project and former President of Marvel Entertainment. "You expect the Bible to say something like, 'In the beginning, God created the Heaven and the Earth.' You expect to hear the story of one super-powered male God creating everything from nothing - with nothing but the power of His words."

"But, a more faithful translation starts like this: 'In principles, the powers-that-be conceive the heavens and the earth.' Then, the Bible shows all of nature's powers and elements planning and working together for the common good."

http://www.freewarebible.com/

Comments?

spin · 04-21-2009, 02:02 AM

I don't think Genesis needs the ex-CEO of Marvell Entertainment. Out with the fairies indeed.

spin

Amaleq13 · 04-21-2009, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spin

I don't think Genesis needs the ex-CEO of Marvell Entertainment.

Even if Adam gets adamantium claws and Eve can control the weather?

hefdaddy42 · 04-21-2009, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spin

I don't think Genesis needs the ex-CEO of Marvell Entertainment. Out with the fairies indeed.

spin

I must admit, this was my first thought.

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04-21-2009, 02:02 AM	#8
spin Contributor Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: nowhere Posts: 15,747	I don't think Genesis needs the ex-CEO of Marvell Entertainment. Out with the fairies indeed. spin

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