Freethought & Rationalism Archive

cydonia · 08-03-2002, 10:07 AM

Maybe you have seen WWJD TV on TBN. It's an uber youth group show. Bunch of lost teenagers sitting around and talking about the lord.

Teens usually feel completely powerless most of the time, and this show helps them to understand that they're even more powerless than they thought, because they are still sinners and need jesus to do even the smallest things for them. How do you encourage a friend who's having a rough time? Jesus. How to reach out to a new student who may be lonely? Jesus.

So they are done trading tips on how to be great christians, and the host asks us to join in with prayer, "Jesus, i'm a sinner and need your forgiveness....." Boy i can see how self empowering this is for troubled adolescents.

Anyway, my question is, assuming this whole thing is true, How did people function on a day to day basis before jesus arrived on the scene? Was it possible, for instance, for someone who wasn't even Jewish 3000 years ago to be kind to someone, or teach their kids something positive? If someone felt bad for something they did, how did they apologize without first contacting the Lord? Or were they all just barbarians until jesus taught their great great great great grandchildren how to behave in polite society?

[ August 03, 2002: Message edited by: cydonia ]</p>

Buffman · 08-03-2002, 11:16 AM

<a href="http://mypage.uniserve.ca/~tfrisen/morality/ethicsje.htm" target="_blank">http://mypage.uniserve.ca/~tfrisen/morality/ethicsje.htm</a>

Starboy · 08-03-2002, 11:34 AM

Hi Cydonia,

I am not an historian but I think you know the answer, history did not start with Jesus and it will probably not end with Jesus. There are some interesting excavations of the trash piles of ancient Egyptian cities that provide a window into the lives of people who lived before Jesus. The most striking finds are the letters to mothers, fathers, children, politicians and bureaucrats. After you read them you see that nothing has really changed, same old answers to the same old questions.

Starboy

cydonia · 08-03-2002, 11:43 AM

If you have any links to that egyptian stuff, i'd love to see it! I really enjoy that sort of thing.

Starboy · 08-03-2002, 01:43 PM

No I don't, it was in a book I read some time ago.

cydonia · 08-03-2002, 01:47 PM

Thanks anyway. Maybe i'll hunt around online for that book, sounds interesting.

Buffman · 08-03-2002, 10:03 PM

<a href="http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/life/story/main.html" target="_blank">http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/life/story/main.html</a>

Shake · 08-05-2002, 07:42 PM

Good links there, Buffman!

08-03-2002, 10:07 AM	#1
cydonia Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: southern california Posts: 1,002	How did people function before Jesus arrived on the scene? Maybe you have seen WWJD TV on TBN. It's an uber youth group show. Bunch of lost teenagers sitting around and talking about the lord. Teens usually feel completely powerless most of the time, and this show helps them to understand that they're even more powerless than they thought, because they are still sinners and need jesus to do even the smallest things for them. How do you encourage a friend who's having a rough time? Jesus. How to reach out to a new student who may be lonely? Jesus. So they are done trading tips on how to be great christians, and the host asks us to join in with prayer, "Jesus, i'm a sinner and need your forgiveness....." Boy i can see how self empowering this is for troubled adolescents. Anyway, my question is, assuming this whole thing is true, How did people function on a day to day basis before jesus arrived on the scene? Was it possible, for instance, for someone who wasn't even Jewish 3000 years ago to be kind to someone, or teach their kids something positive? If someone felt bad for something they did, how did they apologize without first contacting the Lord? Or were they all just barbarians until jesus taught their great great great great grandchildren how to behave in polite society? [ August 03, 2002: Message edited by: cydonia ]</p>

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08-03-2002, 11:16 AM	#2
Buffman Beloved Deceased Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: central Florida Posts: 3,546	<a href="http://mypage.uniserve.ca/~tfrisen/morality/ethicsje.htm" target="_blank">http://mypage.uniserve.ca/~tfrisen/morality/ethicsje.htm</a>

08-03-2002, 11:34 AM	#3
Starboy Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tallahassee, FL Reality Adventurer Posts: 5,276	Hi Cydonia, I am not an historian but I think you know the answer, history did not start with Jesus and it will probably not end with Jesus. There are some interesting excavations of the trash piles of ancient Egyptian cities that provide a window into the lives of people who lived before Jesus. The most striking finds are the letters to mothers, fathers, children, politicians and bureaucrats. After you read them you see that nothing has really changed, same old answers to the same old questions. Starboy

08-03-2002, 11:43 AM	#4
cydonia Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: southern california Posts: 1,002	If you have any links to that egyptian stuff, i'd love to see it! I really enjoy that sort of thing.

08-03-2002, 01:43 PM	#5
Starboy Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tallahassee, FL Reality Adventurer Posts: 5,276	No I don't, it was in a book I read some time ago.

08-03-2002, 01:47 PM	#6
cydonia Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: southern california Posts: 1,002	Thanks anyway. Maybe i'll hunt around online for that book, sounds interesting.

08-03-2002, 10:03 PM	#7
Buffman Beloved Deceased Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: central Florida Posts: 3,546	<a href="http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/life/story/main.html" target="_blank">http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/life/story/main.html</a>

08-05-2002, 07:42 PM	#8
Shake Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Folding@Home in upstate NY Posts: 14,394	Good links there, Buffman!

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