Phat writes:
I looked up the definition of dogma because I had always imagined the term as a slight towards beliefs. I was actually surprised to learn that the term itself means the beliefs themselves incorporated into a culture by the club of choice.
Imagine that when you were becoming a teen, say 13-15 years old, you had been taught the meaning of dogma.
Then you would understand that there was YOUR Clubs Dogma but that other clubs had their own set of rules and beliefs.
Phat writes:
Hopefully, this thread will be educational. So tell me more about these supposed redactors.
I can't since all we have is the evidence that there was either additions or exclusion and no information about who or when. Sometimes, as in the case of Long Mark we can say it was before XYZ date since the long version is mentioned by ABC.
Phat writes:
Why has nearly every apologist and church pastor been willfully ignorant of the bare bones truth(if there is such an animal) about the scriptures they hold dear?
Maybe for the same reason most apologist and pastors don't encourage their members to actually read the Bible as a whole but instead take pieces parts like John 3:16 out of context and make it a Burma Shave Sign form of Theology.
They have a vested interest is discouraging Critical Thinking.
But I don't think they are ignorant of the facts, just willfully and utterly dishonest.
Let me try to illustrate.
You get upset when I tell you to Throw Jesus away.
Suppose I told you to Throw Ganesha away?
Suppose I told you to Throw Allah away?
The difference is only dogma. The each statement says the same thing but the reaction to each statement will depend on the hearers dogma. A Muslim will likely have no issue with the first two, a Hindu will likely have no issue with the first or last and you likely have no issue with the last two.
In Washington we have the National Cathedral. It is actually an Episcopal Cathedral. Yet there have been Buddhist services there and Muslim services there and Hindu services there and secular services there and Darth Vader there as well.
It all depends on whose ox gets gored. As long as it is not YOUR ox all is fine; except for the ox.
What is needed is to learn that they are all someones ox, someones path. Maybe not YOUR path but the path that others choose.