Jesus Family tomb found? (Jewish, miracles, missionaries, children)

[Wisteria]

The Suppression of Christian Gnosticism

The Christian Gnostics believed in reincarnation and the preexistence of the soul. They refused to believe in a resurrection of corpses at the end of time. They emphasized meeting Jesus on a spiritual level to become liberated and attain permanent citizenship in heaven. The Church of Rome of the second century A.D., on the other hand, declared that those who deny a Last Day resurrection of corpses are heretics.

Many Christian Gnostics regarded themselves as part of the organized body of Christians of the early church. However, as the organized Church gained political control of the Roman Empire, the Christian Gnostics were persecuted by the organized Church and many were martyred. The Christian Gnostic tradition is one of many branches of early Christianity labeled as heretical by the early Church fathers. The Gnostic influences and writings were cut out of official Church doctrines as heresy. Because of their suspected Christian Gnostic origins, the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation was almost rejected from the New Testament. Nevertheless, the organized Church succeeded in hiding its Christian Gnostic doctrines.

It is not surprising that the orthodox Church bishops edited out the practical spiritual knowledge which was once an integral part of Christianity and was known and practiced by the apostle Paul. For these fathers, it was far more convenient and gratifying for their egos to assert that spiritual grace could only be attained through them as Christ's representatives on earth. To control the masses, the political organization of the church declared that salvation was attained only through the church rituals and through the priesthood. Salvation through a personal mystical experience with Christ apart from the organized church was cast away. In a move that is very likely to have met with the disapproval of Christ himself, the worldly political aspirations of a few priests won out over the spiritual enlightenment of the many.

And as it is with any religion or movement, the successors of its founder decided which things to keep and which to throw out. The organized Church discarded the spiritual knowledge of Christian Gnosticism as being too dangerous and kept the concept of blind acceptance of church doctrine.

Ultimately, the organized Church declared Christian Gnosticism a heresy and began killing those who adhered to its doctrines. Thus the powerful Roman Church began its crusade of eliminating all rivals to its authority. Christian Gnosticism was obliterated and relatively little historical and theological information was left to fully understand early Christian history. This all changed in 1945 with the discovery of the Gnostic Christian scriptures discovered in Egypt. Then in 1947, the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls of early Jewish Gnostic writings occurred. Today, with many Christians wondering if the Second Coming of Christ is soon to happen, it may not be a coincidence that these secret writings have come to surface after two thousand years of being hidden. Finally, after two thousands years, the secret is finally out again.
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/origen06.html

Haven't kissed and made up yet, I see. Oh, just for the heck of it, I'll throw some more fire on the stack. Here is a story:

When man writes a book, about another man, and only men read that book, then one wonders just what is correct about that book. Were the writers literate, did they have a large vocabulary, how much did they experience, and how is personal interpretation viewed? I see lots of various interpretations here.

And when a book is torn apart, and chapters are missing, the end of the story may not make sense. Then other men fill in pieces by trying to explain what is not there.

Others just take what is "good" and accept that and leave behind that which is not resolved. However, many can accept the good and leave the bad, and have very exemplary lives without being labeled a particular kind of person (i.e. Christian). But sometimes men are mad and don't like people being reasonable, helpful, kind people unless the people repeat what the men say.

And sometimes the men don't even explain why the people should follow what they say, they just say "Because it is." And those who don't follow sometimes are lost, and others are magnified in their lessons and generosity because they now open their arms and hearts to many, not just the select few.

They do not slaughter as in the Crusades, nor do they burn innocents at the stake. No, they recognize the inherent goodness in all and try to illuminate by personal experience and actions toward others. Others see this, and are glad because they are not forced to choose one side or another, but willingly choose to follow the path of those who have shown great kindness, acceptance and tolerance. And they are happy and God shines upon them.

And so they realize that man alone does not hold all answers. And they know that God whispering in the ears of man is sometimes not fully heard. But God sees and blesses those who live good lives and He is happy. God understands that men are many and of many kinds and He allows for many ways to understand Him. He knows that some people like the mountains of India, or the deserts of Africa, or the snows of the Himalayas, or the lush forests of Peru or the rain of Great Britain. So, He is kind and gives many ways to follow His teachings of kindness, generosity, acceptance, tolerance and love -- and he gives them different names for each place. Sometimes He calls it Buddhism, sometimes He calls it Moslem, sometimes He calls it Christian, sometimes He calls it Hinduism. Yet, they all have the same thread of loving kindness, good deeds, and love of a larger spiritual world. And God smiled. Like all His little children, He had given them different gifts for each one and each was personal and each was loved. He did not expect His children to fight over whose gift was better, but to be happy and blessed that He gave them each His own personal gift.

Those who practice any religion will, hopefully, have the love of God enough that they can accept differences -- whether it be in the discoveries of a tomb, or a missing book that is recovered, or those who honor God in their own loving way, even if that way has a different name. And in that, I think God would be pleased.

Kiss and make up.

[wildberries61]

Your right each religion does have it's own beauty and ideas for Heaven. We are talking about Jesus on this thread and even if some find this OFFENSIVE the BIBLE only gives us ONE way to HEAVEN. As Christians we are only following the word of the Bible and it tells us often that Jesus is the ONLY way.
Scienctist can't just come in and tell us that these are the bones of Jesus and except the Christian just to except that the ressurection NEVER happened it just won't happen!!! If others would like to believe this story then, this is what they will believe!! Christians will just keep our faith in the one that loves us!!!

[wildberries61]

There is an excellent post at the blog of Dr. Ben Witherington III refuting the claims of the new Discovery channel show.

The post includes emails from the archeologist who actually catalogued the 10 ossuaries found in the Talpiot tomb

http://benwitherington.blogspot.com/...uary_9874.html (broken link)

[Nea1]

Originally Posted by wildberries61

There is an excellent post at the blog of Dr. Ben Witherington III refuting the claims of the new Discovery channel show.

The post includes emails from the archeologist who actually catalogued the 10 ossuaries found in the Talpiot tomb

http://benwitherington.blogspot.com/...uary_9874.html (broken link)

People including this guy whom ever he is , needs to watch the show before making statements, that was already answered in the show. Guessing and assuming means nothing. If it is true or not we may never know for sure. People that believe it isnt really need not worry, nothing will change your beliefs, but for some of us, it still holds weight. And the guy that cataloged them got shown up in the film.

[wildberries61]

Originally Posted by Nea1

People including this guy whom ever he is , needs to watch the show before making statements, that was already answered in the show. Guessing and assuming means nothing. If it is true or not we may never know for sure. People that believe it isnt really need not worry, nothing will change your beliefs, but for some of us, it still holds weight. And the guy that cataloged them got shown up in the film.

Bible scholar Ben Witherington III is Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. A graduate of UNC, Chapel Hill, he went on to receive the M.Div. degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from the University of Durham in England. He is now considered one of the top evangelical scholars in the world, and is an elected member of the prestigious SNTS, a society dedicated to New Testament studies.

Witherington has also taught at Ashland Theological Seminary, Vanderbilt University, Duke Divinity School and Gordon-Conwell. A popular lecturer, Witherington has presented seminars for churches, colleges and biblical meetings not only in the United States but also in England, Estonia, Russia, Europe, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Australia. He has also led tours to Italy, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, and Egypt.

Witherington has written over thirty books, including The Jesus Quest and The Paul Quest, both of which were selected as top biblical studies works by Christianity Today. He also writes for many church and scholarly publications, and is a frequent contributor to the Beliefnet website.

Along with many interviews on radio networks across the country, Witherington has been seen on the History Channel, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, The Discovery Channel, A&E, and the PAX Network.

Seems to me this man would have creditability to know what is going on not just someone making blank statement!! He was involved in the research did you by chance read the article??

I really have no problem with people trying to find the truth but, there are pot holes in their theories and it just gives wrong information about the Bible for those that have never tried to read it or hear the word told the right way!!

They are dealing with a religion that has been around for centuries and is just as important to the Christian for them to get it right as it is for them to dishonor the resurrection and by saying bones where found this is a dishonor and you would have to be a Christian to understand the feeling.

Christians are constantly being asked to be tolerant of other religions but, you sure don't see them putting out films or false information about other religions because, most would like too keep their heads. It just seems like a cheap shot to make money by trying to deny Jesus for the Deity that HE is.

[Amaznjohn]

The problem for Christians is that they have no physical proof, but it seems that the rest of us may have some, quite substantial, physical evidence.

I'm sure Mr. Witherington won't easily allow his life's work to be shown to be in vain. He has much too much to lose if this becomes accepted and the basis for Christianity refuted.

Before saying that I just don't understand, I was a Christian for about 16 years. In that time I taught Sunday School classes, led worship services, and led many people to Christ. I simply grew tired of defending the indefensible, and decided to look deeper into the scriptures. The more I looked the less I found and have now come to the realization that the Christian religion is one of the least likely, of the 130 or so religions in the World, to be true

[skyegirl]

I missed the movie, but I am so interested in the subject. Does anyone know if or when it will be on again? Thanks!

[Marks]

Originally Posted by skyegirl

I missed the movie, but I am so interested in the subject. Does anyone know if or when it will be on again? Thanks!

I pray to God never. Why watch a lie?

[Amaznjohn]

Originally Posted by Marks

I pray to God never. Why watch a lie?

Any proof that it's a lie, or just wishful thinking?

[Wisteria]

Christians are constantly being asked to be tolerant of other religions but, you sure don't see them putting out films or false information about other religions because, most would like too keep their heads. It just seems like a cheap shot to make money by trying to deny Jesus for the Deity that HE is.

I'm really sorry -- I know you mean well, and I know that religion is (no pun intended) a sacred thing. But this documentary was just archeology and history -- it just happened to merge with Jesus. People are not asking you to be tolerant of "false information," they're just saying to look at the newest discoveries of history. What in the world is so bad about that?

Being tolerant means to merely be accepting of various outlooks, to be HAPPY to have your religion confirmed, but if there is such defensiveness, it makes me think that maybe there is a bit of nervousness about the outcomes of such discoveries.

I truly do not understand why there is such distress and such anger and such denial. If you really want people to believe that Jesus is a holy figure, then why in the world wouldn't a Christian rejoice at the discovery of the reality of Jesus??

I know you are not open to investigating your religion, however, I do know some Christians who ARE re-investigating their religion -- it is not a bad thing. Maybe the fear that seems to protrude is that Jesus was a wise man, and not a being who resurrected in a physical body, instead of a spiritual body.

Obviously, we will not agree on this, but certainly as a Christian, I would think that you would be extremely curious and excited about such an amazing discovery. It may not be THE Jesus, but it IS amazing that there are so many correlations.

My guess is -- and it is only my guess, so please don't jump down my throat -- is that somehow this discovery is threatening to your religion, although to me it would seem to AFFIRM your religion, and, therefore, you may be upset that somehow it goes against some of what you were taught. But that is the key word: taught. Most Christians are taught religion -- look at missionaries trying to explain Christianity to uneducated populations in other countries. Missionaries have to start from square one, just as little children are taught from square one.

Christianity and religion are very comforting. But it seems that if someone is that disturbed by a historical discovery, that maybe there is either internal doubt, or some emotional/intellectual confusion that creates such a reaction.

Quite frankly, if I were a staunch Christian, I would be so excited to hear about this tomb, and that there may be literal physical proof of Jesus, that I would be praising God in thanks. Instead, it seems that the typical response is one of the ostrich sticking his head in the sand and saying it isn't happening. I would be proud if something like this were discovered and I could say, "SEE, he DID exist!" And then let it go from there.

Obviously, there is a line that will never be crossed, and people just refuse to look at all the information. I thought that education, intelligence and knowledge were for exploring all possibilities. In this regard, I only see brick walls. I'm sorry you are so upset by this, when this is your chance to convince others of the reality of Jesus.