Anyone not convinced should read Forged about the writing of what Christians today call "the Bible" by Prof. Bart D. Ehrman. Yeah, but who is Ehrman?
Dr. Bart Ehrman, Ph.D., is an American biblical scholar whose research focuses on the historical Jesus, the textual criticism of the New Testament of the Bible, and the origins and development of early Christianity. He is a distinguished professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the author or editor of more than 30 books, including six NY Times bestsellers, and the creator of nine lecture series with The Great Courses.
Forged: Writing in the Name of God--Why the Bible's Authors Are Not Who We Think They Are
I bow to thine empty Roman torture device and think what I get out of it. Thanks, God!
He reveals which books in the Bible’s New Testament were not passed down by Jesus Christ’s disciples but were instead FORGED by other hands—and he explains why this centuries-hidden scandal is far more significant than many scholars are willing to admit.
A controversial work of historical reporting in the tradition of Princeton Prof. Elaine Pagels, Marcus Borg, and John Dominic Crossan, Prof. Ehrman’s Forged delivers a stunning explication of one of the most substantial—yet least discussed—problems confronting the world of biblical scholarship.
In this provocative work of biblical criticism, Prof. Ehrman separates history from tradition to reveal:
Ancient Forgery: Which New Testament books were written by anonymous authors who lied about their identity? Why does this scandal matter for modern faith?
Historical Methods: Techniques biblical scholars use to detect pseudepigraphyis how we can know who really wrote the books of the Bible.
Early Christian Conflicts: How internal debates and struggles with outsiders led different groups to create documents in the names of apostles like Peter and Paul (a Jew named Saul) to authorize their own views.
Lost Scriptures: An eye-opening look at non-canonical texts like the Gospel of Peter and 3 Corinthians, and what they tell us about the world of biblical forgery. More
What? Middle Eastern North Africans? No, we were always white. We're from Heaven.
The Bible's been changed WAY more than most people realize!
(Holy Koolaid) Since the many books of the Bible were first written, just how much has the Bible been changed? After the New Testament was compiled, how much was it edited, tweaked, and altered to fit the agendas of scribes, copyists, and early Church fathers?
Are there other versions of the Bible? Did significant copying mistakes and translations errors (to say nothing of the purposeful changes and "corrections" to improve on God's word] find their way into our modern copies of the Bible?
If the Bible is the word of God and was divinely inspired, shouldn't it also have been divinely preserved? But has it been?
Was Moses, living in Northern Africa in Egypt or Kush or Kemet, not then a Black man like J?
Unveiling Moses' Journey: Insights on the Ten 'Commandments' from Bashar channeling - Bashar Darryl [Anka]
Behold, my God in space parts the sea for us!!
(Transcendent Bashar Vibes) Tune into these extraordinary revelations (unveilings) from Bashar about the truth of Moses' ascent on Mt. Sinai.
What happened up there?
Whom did he meet?
What "commandments" was he given?
Where are those [advanced extraterrestrial technology] "tablets" now? This is a fascinating exchange, delving into one of the Bible’s most famous accounts.
Enjoy this channeling by Mr. Darryl Anka, bringing forth "Bashar."
"Bashar" is not explained. Who or what is it? It is likely -- if Jerry and Esther Hicks' "Abraham," another almost identical couple's "Galactica," and the source of America's Sleeping Prophet Edgar Cayce's information is any hint -- a council or group of entities, light beings, celestial bodies, tricky demons, or ascended masters sending knowledge and wisdom. It may just be Mr. Darryl Anka's alter ego or subpersonality, his "higher self," his connection to spirit.
Copyright Disclaimer:
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Fair use is a permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. For more information and original content, please visit Bashar's official channels and resources. Official website: bashar.org. Instagram: basharchanneling.
YouTube channel: @basharchanneledbydarrylanka
Bashar channeled by Darryl Anka channeling meditation manifesting manifestation formula quotes relationship law of attraction next level soul teachings healing flame
Bashar (channeled by Darryl Anka) via Transcendent Bashar Vibes; Sheldon S., Seth Auberon (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
How 'The Simpsons' animation evolved over 30 years
(Insider) On May 23, 2021, the 32nd season finale of The Simpsons aired on Fox TV, finishing off a landmark season where the show celebrated its 700th episode. The series has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a segment on The Tracey Ullman Show. On air for 32 years by 2021 and still counting, it's become the longest-running scripted series on prime time, the longest-running American animated series, and the longest-running American sitcom.
Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart, and Maggie have evolved a lot over the course of three decades — in the style, movement, and details in character designs, all the way down to pupil size.
This episode of "Movies Insider" turns to David Silverman and Al Jean, two of the main minds behind the show since Day 1, to find out how the show's animation evolved from the rough-around-the-edges style of cartoonist Matt Groening's early sketches to the crisp, clean look of the show in its 32nd season. #TheSimpsons #Animation #MoviesInsider
Bart's Birthday Party (The SimpsonsSeries Finale)
(Scrooge200) A fake Simpsons series finale involves everyone in Springfield moving on, but Bart is hesitant to change it. Featuring John Cena and Danny Devito. From the Season 36 premiere, "Bart's Birthday."
The Simpsons drops surprise series finale
(Johnny 2 Cellos) For the Season 36 premiere, The Simpsons has done something unprecedented. They aired a surprise series (not season) finale. Well, sort of.
As somebody who grew up obsessed with The Simpsons, it’s cool to say that the show is going through something of a renaissance. Since Matt Selman took over as showrunner in Season 33, the show (created by Mat Groening) has started to feel fresher like it has a renewed energy.
But I think beyond that, the thing that’s really made me excited about the show again is the ways it’s been willing to experiment. And tonight’s premiere, "Bart’s Birthday," is the perfect example of that new energy.
The Simpsons is bringing something fresh to the table, embracing the show’s obscenely long and storied history to throw itself a premature series finale event. It’s one that celebrates The Simpsons in a way that an actual series finale would never be able to. So let’s talk about The Simpsons season premiere/series finale.
Edited by Joe Murphy @nazchoz798. Music:
Johnny 2 Cellos. Theme Music - Norman Marston
Johnny 2 Cellos Theme Remix- @BlackTyeChi. Video Used:
The Simpsons (1989-2024).
Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted.
"Fair Use" guidelines: copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html
Insider (review), May 22, 2021; Matt Groening's The Simpsons (Fox TV) via Scrooge 200; Johnny 2 Cellos, Sept. 30, 2024; Eds., Wisdom Quarterly
(Let's Talk Religion) This episode explores the fascinating life of /the wandering hippie vegetarian sage Apollonius of Tyana, a Neopythagorean philosopher whose life in many ways mirrors that of Jesus Christ. He went to India to study with the Brahmins, the source of Pythagorean theory and gnostic knowledge, casting out demons, raising the dead... #Apollonius #PaganJesus
Apollonius of Tyana [\app-puh-lone-ee-us of tee-ann-uh\] (Ancient Greek Ἀπολλώνιος, Arabic بلينس;, Sanskrit अपालुन्य, circa 15–circa 100 AD [2]) was a wandering sage with mystic powers, possibly the source of many of the stories of Jesus of Nazareth.
He was a first-century Greek philosopher and religious leader from the town of Tyana, Cappadocia in Roman Anatolia, who spent his life as a celibate wanderer, traveling and teaching in the Middle East, North Africa (Israel), and South Asia (India).
I raise the dead, learned in India
He is a central figure in Neopythagoreanism and was one of the most famous "miracle workers" of his day.
His exceptional personality and his mystical way of life, which was regarded as exemplary, impressed his contemporaries and had a lasting cultural influence.
Numerous legends surrounding him and accounts of his life are contained in the extensive Life of Apollonius, which collects a large part of the legendary material about his life and work.
A sage bunny wanders and sits in silence.
A large part of the ancient legends of Apollonius consists of numerous reports about miracles that he was said to have performed as a wandering sage (Indian-style shramana) with his lifelong companion Damis. [This is an echo of the Buddha and Ananda.]
He was tried for allegedly having used magic as a means of conspiring against the emperor; after his conviction and subsequent death-penalty, his followers believed he underwent heavenly ascension [3]. Most modern scholars of antiquity agree that Apollonius existed historically [4, 5]. More
"No bunny saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must hop the path. Buddhas only point the way" (BunnyBuddhism.com, Wisdom Quarterly, wandering quote sages)
Easter and the Goddess Ishtar
(RevivalProphecy) This video is a presentation detailing the connection between the worship of the Babylonian Goddess Ishtar and apostate Christian practices, exemplified by the Holy Roman Imperial Catholic observance of "Easter." The so-called Easter worship in nominal (in-name-only) Christianity. It is 100% paganism and 0% true Christian practice.
Happy to see me, Bunny? - Yes, Goddess! You know I am! - Worship me. - OK, but in secret.
Kirstie Alley (Cheers) was once a Playboy bunny? (eonline.com UK)
Do Bunnies with eggs (ova) prompt spring fertility fests?
Let's Talk Religion, 9/30/22; BunnyBuddhism.com; RevivalProphecy, March 7, 2021; Pat Macpherson, Dhr. Seven, Sheldon S. (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly Wiki edit "Apollonius of Tyana"
The debate between Ehrman and Evans along with Stewart's introductory framework make this book an excellent primer to the study of the historical Jesus, and readers will come away with a deeper appreciation for the ongoing quest to find out if there ever was a historical Jesus.
SYNOPSIS: This book features a learned and fascinating debate between two great Bible scholars about the New Testament as a source on Jesus. Prof. Bart Ehrman, an agnostic New Testament scholar, debates Craig Evans, an evangelical New Testament scholar, about the historical Jesus and what constitutes "history."
Their interaction includes such compelling questions as:
What are sound methods of historical investigation?
What are reliable criteria for determining the authenticity of an ancient text?
What roles do reason, inference, and interpretation play?
Readers of this debate -- regardless of their interpretive inclinations or biases -- are sure to find some confirmation of their existing beliefs, but they will surely also find an honest and well-informed challenge to the way they think about the historical Jesus.
Prof. Ehrman's new course, "The Scribal Corruption of Scripture: How the Bible Was Changed and How Readers May Never Know," delves into the heart of one of the most crucial questions for those interested in the Christian religion: How can we be sure we have the original writings of the New Testament?
Contents:
00:00:00 - The Scribal Corruption of Scripture
00:15:00 - Understanding Manuscript Evidence
01:05:24 - New Covenanters Before Jesus
01:22:24 - Dead Sea Scrolls as New Testament Basis
02:04:24 - Audience Questions
Description:
📜 Join a riveting exploration into the fascinating world of biblical scholarship as MythvisionTV presents an exclusive interview with two renowned scholars, Bart Ehrman and James Tabor. In this enlightening discussion, these distinguished experts shed light on the intriguing journey of how the New Testament came into existence.
🔍 Delve into the historical and textual complexities that surrounded the formation of the New Testament and discover the wealth of insights these scholars bring to the table.
Dr. Bart Ehrman, known for his groundbreaking work in New Testament studies, and James Tabor, a leading expert in early Christianity, share their expertise and perspectives in this thought-provoking conversation.
📚 Learn about the challenges, debates, and controversies that emerged during the compilation and canonization of the New Testament and gain a deeper understanding of the diverse texts that were considered for inclusion.
🧐 Whether one is a scholar, a student of theology, or simply someone curious about the origins of the Christian scriptures, this interview offers a unique opportunity to grasp the intricacies of the New Testament's creation.
🔔 Catch this chance to expand knowledge and engage with the fascinating history of the New Testament.
Like, share, and subscribe to MythvisionTV to stay updated on more enlightening conversations with experts in the field of biblical studies.
👥 Featuring:
Bart Ehrman: A leading New Testament scholar and author.
ABOUT: James Tabor is a distinguished historian of early Christianity.
📅 Stay tuned for more captivating discussions on MythvisionTV as we continue to explore the depths of religious history, archaeology, and biblical scholarship. Subscribe now to embark on an intellectual journey. #NewTestament #BartEhrman #JamesTabor #BiblicalScholarship #ReligiousHistory #MythvisionTV
New course: "The Scribal Corruption of Scripture: How the Bible Was Changed and How Readers May Never Know" delves into the heart of one of the most crucial questions for those interested in the Christian religion:
How can we be sure we have the original writings of the New Testament? In a world where the first copies made by the authors have been lost to time, and we possess only hand-written copies of copies, often created centuries later, this course explores the authenticity of the New Testament texts.
While these lectures draw inspiration from his best-selling book, there's no need to have read it to appreciate this course. Instead of simply rehashing the book's contents, he takes a novel approach to essential questions, introducing fresh examples and diverse arguments to delve into the complexities of deciphering the original New Testament writings from surviving manuscripts.
GUEST: Professor Bart D. Ehrman is a leading authority on the New Testament and the history of early Christianity. He is a Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the author of several books including:
Jewish Voice for Peace (jvp.org) international advisor Phyllis Bennis (Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict) calls on Israel (and its war backer the US) for an immediate ceasefire in Palestine. With Letters & Politics Host Mitch Jeserich, Bennis discusses the burning political issues and their historical context – Oct. 23, 2023 (KPFA.org).
There goes that whole "only" begotten son business, it seems. But a "god" (deva), to be a god, needs to be "reborn among the gods" -- who live on many planes superior to the human plane -- and this is exactly what the Sanskrit term devaputra (Pali language devaputta) means -- "offspring of the devas" or, literally, "son of god."
The Gospel of Thomas (also known as the Coptic Gospel of Thomas, not a Lost or Gnostic Gospel but thought of as one by some) is an extra-canonical [1] "sayings gospel." It was discovered near Nag Hammadi, Egypt, in Dec. 1945 among a group of books known as the Nag Hammadi library. More
The contents of the Nag Hammadi codices were written in the Coptic [Egyptian] language. The best-known of these works is the Gospel of Thomas, of which these codices contain the only complete text. After the discovery, scholars recognized that fragments of these secret sayings attributed to [a koan-spouting Zen-like] Jesus appeared in manuscripts discovered at Oxyrhynchus in 1898 (P. Oxy. 1), and matching quotations were recognized in other early Christian sources. More
(ReligionForBreakfast) Sept. 14, 2023: Most scholars agree that Jesus [of Nazareth, aka Jesus Christ, "Y'Shua the Anointed One"] had a brother named James. But many ancient Christians thought he had another brother, an identical twin brother named [Jude or] Judas Didymus Thomas. Where did this belief come from? And what is its significance?
Gregory Riley, "Didymos Judas Thomas: The Twin Brother of Jesus," in Kimberley Patton (ed.), Gemini and the Sacred: Twins and Twinship in Religion and Mythology, Bloomsbury Academic, 2023.
M. David Litwa, “I Will Become Him”: Homology and Deification in the Gospel of Thomas, Journal of Biblical Literature, SBL Vol. 134, No. 2, 2015. pp. 427-447
[In Buddhism, there is the Agganna Sutra to explain the origins of humanoid life on earth, on this bhumi or level plane, which is a product of devolution not evolution, but evolution comes back in the long course of a repeating/cyclical process. We are descended from devas who alighted on earth and liked the carnal, became attached, and lost their angelic light bodies, as they became coarser and coarser through the ages or over a long period of time. We still have deva potential, so we are much more than mere animals, though animals are certainly living beings worthy of care caught in the same cyclical process.]
The Rebuke of Adam and Eve (Natoire, 1740)
However, beneath the layers of faith and devotion lie an intriguing connection to earlier mythologies of Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), one of the cradles of civilization.
It appears that the Jewish-Christian biblical account of Adam and Eve draws heavily from these ancient tales, suggesting that it is a reimagining rather than a historical reality.
In Mesopotamian mythology, we encounter the Epic of Gilgamesh, a legendary hero whose adventures parallel those of Adam and Eve in surprising ways.
The story of Gilgamesh includes a tale of a sacred plant that grants eternal youth [amrita or amata, ambrosia, an "elixir of life" in the Vedas, likely a concoction for life extension, whereas in Buddhism amata/amrita is nirvana, "the deathless"], guarded by a serpent [naga, earthling-reptilian]. Sound familiar?
It's no coincidence that this motif reappears in the Garden of Eden, where a cunning serpent tempts Eve with the "forbidden fruit" [which is not an apple, but the Apocrypha speculates that it is the grape, as a reference to alcohol, though more likely it would be an entheogenic or magic mushroom, the fruiting body of mycelium] of knowledge.
Furthermore, the Mesopotamian myth of Enki and Ninhursag presents another intriguing parallel. In this tale, Enki, a "god of wisdom," creates a garden and a human-like creature called "Adamu" from the dust of the earth.
[Even in the Adam and Eve creation myth we have, the Adam (ha adam = "the man" or humankind in general) was created from adamah or the "earth, ground, dirt"].
The similarities to the biblical story of Adam's creation from the dust [dirt] are striking. It seems that the Hebrew authors borrowed elements from these older narratives to construct their own theological framework.
[Judaism, like Christianity, is a hodgepodge of older Middle Eastern and Near Eastern myths, most of them Sumerian.]
Considering these connections, it becomes increasingly apparent that the Adam and Eve story is not a historical account but a symbolic and cultural creation.
It serves as a mythological explanation for the origins of humanity and the presence of sin [literally, "missing the mark"] and suffering [dukkha] in the [human and subhuman] world.
While the historicity of Adam and Eve remains questionable, the story's enduring power lies in its capacity to explore complex philosophical and existential questions in an engaging and relatable manner.
So let us appreciate the Adam and Eve tale for what it is — a brilliant and borrowed fusion of ancient mythologies, conveying profound insights into the human condition [the story we tell ourselves in the West to make sense of the world the best we can].
Whether we take it as literal truth [as we are commanded to in some forms of Protestantism and Catholicism] or poetic metaphor, the story invites us to ponder the timeless themes of temptation, fallibility, and the quest for knowledge.
After all, it is in questioning and seeking understanding that we truly embark on the journey of enlightenment, much like the mythical figures of Adam and Eve themselves.
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