Jamie_L

So, I'm told I should believe the words of Jesus, that he was the Son of God.

Yet what of other prophets, messiahs, and so forth who have successfully started religions?

Should I believe Muhamed (sp?), John Smith, L.Ron Hubbard, David Koresh?

It seems many believers casually dismiss modern-day people who claim to be prophets - either because the message conflicts with their belief about the truth, or because these people are clearly just ordinary people who are deluded.

What made Jesus different, that people should believe him and not others? Miracles? But we are chastised for wanting miracles or empirical proof of divinity. So, it would certainly be wrong to expect miracles from modern day prophets.

Are we to test it by faith? Some internal guidance? If so, then what of those who do follow these people. How can we tell them they are wrong, if their faith has shown them the "truth" about Scientology or Mormonism or Branch Davidianism?

It seems to me there is a double standard when it comes to a modern-day person who claims divinity. These people are dismissed as clearly false prophets. Yet, if I make the same claim about Jesus, somehow I am doing something entirely different?

Jamie

Melkor

When it comes down to it, any and all religions in general require such arbitrary belief to choose one above any other.

That's why I've never really understood why atheism is so reviled across the board.... what I am doing by being an atheist is exactly what religious folks are doing by not believing every other religion besides the one they call their own.

I just believe in one less religion, that's all.

Ockhamite

And now god's prophet 'Emmanuel' has been jailed in Utah. He had renounced ownership of worldly goods and was preaching to the homeless. It is said he was controlling, abusive and sometimes cruel. (Where did he get his inspiration?)

It's hard not to laugh when theists label Emmanuel as a crackpot. Is he really mentally ill? Are not those whom would follow him.... or any prophet, deficient also? A lack of critical thinking skills in Elizabeth Smart is not surprising considering her age and upbringing. What excuse does everyone else have?

Woe to us for punishing god's prophet.

Ice

A question that I have concerning prophets, is what makes them any different from a madman, who thinks he is talking to god?

beastmaster

"Jesus" sez that you will know a prophet "by his fruits."

Based on this passage, Xns often say that other self-proclaimed prophets are known to be false because they don't "bear fruits."

I'll leave it to Xns to explain what "bear fruits" is supposed to mean. Jesus never saw fit to speak plain.

But I can imagine that many Xns will say that Xnty "bears fruit" because it is the most popular religion in the world. Or they will claim that other prophets don't "bear fruit" because they preach immorality or apostasy .. you see where this is going: Xnty is right because it makes the rules; other prophets are wrong because they don't follow Xnty.

Eric H

Hello beastmaster,

Christ said all the law and the prophets hang on the greatest commandments.

Could it be that any prophet whose teachings hang and depend on loving God and loving your neighbour, be on the right track?

peace

Eric

Ice

The "greatest commandment" is purely based on personal preference.

beastmaster

Eric, that sounds overinclusive. Most every prophet preaches those two things -- even David Koresh.

A good friend of mine from high school ended up getting born again and he became the disciple of an End Times prophet. They trucked out to Montana in the dead of December 1996 to await the Second Coming. After sitting in the mountains for a month, in the freezing icy cold, they ran out of toilet paper. My friend was using his hands to wipe his butt. In this mizzable state, he remembered the warnings of Christ about false prophets, and struck out to make his escape under the pretext of driving to town on a t.p. run.

So if running out of toilet paper means your prophet doesn't "bear fruit," then I guess just about anything does.