age 15 — “the main point of life is to have the best existence possible”

[Scooter]

Okay, I’m just going to say it. There’s a lot of preaching, and I’m going to respond—

What about Mark 4: 12, in which Jesus says he speaks in parables because “ . . otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!” (NIV)

It’s devastating.

It means the Gospel of Mark is a compilation drawing from a number of sources, some of them inaccurate.

It;s not devastating of Jesus to say this. It's devastating that people do not understand what He was saying. Jesus was quoting from Isaiah 6:9-10 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

Matthew's account sheds more light as to why Jesus spoke in parables: Matthew 13:11-16 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

There were people in Jesus' day who rejected Him and His message (just like people today), so He spoke in parables because they didn't want to hear His message in the first place. No need for Jesus to throw pearls to the swine.

I do not understand your claim that the Gospel of Mark is drawn from inaccurate sources. Please explain this.

 

[Scooter]

In addition,

grief hallucinations are

a recognized phenomenon.

For example, I read one study which estimated that at least 30 % of senior citizens who have lost a spouse will feel the person’s presence or hear their voice or perhaps even see them.

So, one third. So, about 3 out of the 12 disciples.

So you believe 500 people had the same grief hallucination at the same time? I can't buy that. Neither can I accept so many people had these hallucinations for 40 days. Actually ALL of the disciples saw the resurrected Jesus not just 3. You have proven my belief that nonbelievers have more faith than I do.

 

[Scooter]

the problem with utilitarianism…by whose standard

You just wing. Like these two books —

Both of these will give advice of “best bet.” With studies. For example, there will be tricky types of pneumonia. You do your best drawing on all your information and experience.

None of it is certain.

But neither is it “just opinion.” I’m not saying you’re saying this. But this is the kind of thing someone would say who just wants to impatiently dismiss a field they’re not familiar with.

I'm not familiar with either of these book. Do they teach how to be forgiven by God and how to have eternal life?

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Dear readers,

This 1977 book is the best book I know on ethics in the English language. But it’s still written by a PhD academic person.

I recommend skipping to the last two chapters and seeing if you like it.

 

[Scooter]

The absolute best read on ethics I've come across is the Bible. In the Bible we read that it is wrong to steal, to murder, to covet, to cheat on spouses, to cheat others in business deals, to abandon orphans and widows. The Bible teaches us to love our enemies by feeding and clothing them. In the Bible we read what is know as the Golden Rule: And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. The Bible teaches that when we do someone wrong, rather than just apologizing, we are to confess the wrong and seek forgiveness. This is much more humbling than simply mumbling "Sorry." The ethics taught in the Bible are the basis for laws in probably every country of the world.

On top of instructing mankind how to live with one another, the Bible teaches man how to be reconciled to God and how to have eternal life. I highly recommend the dear reader to read the last two chapters of the Bible. They are amazing!

 

[Scooter]

About 1900 years before Mr. Glover came on the scene, the Bible reveals the cause of death and the way to save life. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I guess we could call Jonathan Glover a Johnny-come-lately...Hahaha

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

so He spoke in parables because they didn't want to hear His message in the first place.

and therefore we’re going to give less than our best ? ?

Kind of like a doctor is going to give less than his or her best, because they know the patient’s going to keep smoking anyway.

Please notice that this is different than skillfully under-selling advice, which might be highly effective.

These verses of scripture seem to be saying to deliberatively riddle it up.

——————————-/-///————

To me, the parables in the New Testament are pretty straight forward. And I think they probably are to most people.

And then for whatever reason, the disciples are presented as being dumber than a box of rocks.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

I do not understand your claim that the Gospel of Mark is drawn from inaccurate sources. Please explain this.

Because this portrayal of Jesus saying “ . . otherwise they might turn . . ” is different from other portrayals of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark.

 

[Scooter]

and therefore we’re going to give less than our best ? ?

Kind of like a doctor is going to give less than his or her best, because they know the patient’s going to keep smoking anyway.

Please notice that this is different than skillfully under-selling advice, which might be highly effective.

These verses of scripture seem to be saying to deliberatively riddle it up.

——————————-/-///————

To me, the parables in the New Testament are pretty straight forward. And I think they probably are to most people.

And then for whatever reason, the disciples are presented as being dumber than a box of rocks.

Jesus did give His best. His parables caused people to stop and think about what He had said. His parables were full of wisdom and insight to those who desired the truth. For the ones who didn't care about the truth, the parables seemed as if Jesus had just riddled up His sayings.

The parables that Jesus explained, I believe people can grasp, but many I'm sure, leave people today scratching their heads. Remember, most of the disciples were common blue collar workers who had little to no education. They had never studied the language arts much less philosophy. So, yeah, they were uneducated. But, they turned the world upside down with their preaching and their message still resonates with sinners today.

 

[Scooter]

I do not understand your claim that the Gospel of Mark is drawn from inaccurate sources. Please explain this.

Because this portrayal of Jesus saying “ . . otherwise they might turn . . ” is different from other portrayals of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark.

How do you see Mark presenting Jesus in his gospel that is different?