In defense of prophecy

Muslims would say "great man and just another prophet" certainly do not apply to Mohammed. Do you believe Mohammed was the last and greatest of God's prophets? If your answer is "No", then think of how you would describe him.We would describe Jesus in the exact same way.

---

"Illuminant light,
illuminate me."

quote:

---

For example:
John 4:23 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth

​

Does this have the apearance of something that is man orginated? What does it mean to worship something in spirit and in truth?

---

You have to ask what this line means, but then you assert that this line is an example of something that is beyond human teaching. What about this is beyond human teaching? That God is a spirit? You've got almost every religion with that. That you need to worship him with your spirit? Again, almost every religion. Don't lie? Again, almost every religion. That truth is a form of worship? That's hardly even Zen. There's nothing unusual about that line.

quote:

---

I would claim that this very statement from the gospel of John is an example of how Christs teachings were and are seperate from how a mere mans teachings would appear

---

Many Muslims will say the same thing about Mohammed's.

quote:

---

Note, I removed the mention of spirit. Why would a mere man say in spirit AND in truth? This peculiar statement lends further evidence suggesting something far more powerful and meaningfull is at work here.

---

There's 1000 times more depth in every line of "Lost In The Funhouse" than that minimally-zen religious teaching.

quote:

---

Even a non-Christian would concede that in fact Christ was an extremely wise teacher and highly moral(I would of course add -- perfect).

---

If you were to add "perfect", that already quite tenuous assertion falls down dead. Even Muslims wouldn't accept that, and they think of Christ as a prophet.

quote:

---

For someone to examine what Christ taught in context to the culture in which he lived, they would conclude that He was in fact either lying and decieving everyone or that He was simply an irrational lunatic.

---

1) "Everyone"? Why isn't *anyone* at the time even mentioning him?2) Actually, they would conclude that he either didn't exist since there doesn't seem to be any sort of a record until his early cult wrote a biography (see PaulK's example of a Scientology-approved biography of L. Ron Hubbard), or that he is like Mohammed and all other religious founders.

quote:

---

Another option is that He was telling the truth.

---

Equally an option for Mohammed et al.

quote:

---

1) Liar. If He was a liar you would have to ask what His motives were for lying? To die on a cross? To wash other peoples feet and serve? Certainly this is not likely.

---

To get a worldwide following? To achieve fame that he never could have dreamed of otherwise? There are many self-sacrificing religious "cult" leaders out there, even some in present day. Want examples?

quote:

---

Lunatic. The wisdom that Christ professed suggests that He was an extremely intelligent and wise teacher. His behavior is simply not consistent with this option.

---

I see you've never met a schizophrenic.

quote:

---

3) Lord.

---

Self delusional. Nonexistant. Existant, but not what the bible claims. And a whole host of other options not in the trichotomy.

---

"Illuminant light,
illuminate me."[This message has been edited by Rei, 01-05-2004]