On the study of Religions (Page 4)

Zanjan: My argument is you're holding the words of a regular man as equal to scripture. That's not authentic.

For this reason, God permanently forbid the old practice of followers adding their own writings to scripture. However honest Biblical writers were, with the passage of time, that became very misleading because they weren't perfect. Was God being picky? Yep.

Sage of Bryan: If Peter writes "all scripture is given of inspiration" Then that very sentence is inspired. So tell me, how am I holding the words of a regular man as equal to scripture...? How did Peter add his own writing to scripture...? You're not making your point very clear to me Zan.

chronology: Here is a question for you Zan. The recent death of Hugh Heffner has probably jolted many now older followers of Mr Heffner into considering the afterlife and what awaits people there.
Mr Heffner was Jewish so he probably had little fears of what lies in the 'Uknown country' . But most of his 'Playboy Set' were Agnostic, they were more interested in today than the graveyard. Frank Sinatra who was a friend of Mr Heffner became more Catholic as he grew older, Many celebrities used to call Billy Graham and ask him about religion. The respected Preacher always carried his Gospel with him and used to bring it out and point to Gospel words.
But Zan, how do you think the older Playboy crowd will react to the news of 'Heffs' passing in regards to religion? Personally I think they will look into Cryonics and hope to 'Boot and Rally' , who knows what fun there will be in the 25th century? Maybe some will even try and call Dr Billy Graham and ask his advice, Rev Graham may remark 'well you have left it to the last minute, but better late than never' .

But Zan, what do you say?

Zanjan: Sage, Peter's writings, as well as other follower's writings are included in the New Testament, yes? By greatly improved standards, they wouldn't be. Christians have always written books about the faith; no one considers those as scriptures. Peter wasn't even a Prophet, he was a follower with a rank no higher than bishop.

The problem is fixed now anyway.

Zanjan: Chron, Hefner's passing has nothing to do with religion. How others react will have no impact on the general public. It doesn't concern me in the slightest.

chronology: Well Zan the older Playboy crowd are members of society like everyone else it would be interesting to know what arrangements they plan for the afterlife after hearing of Heffs passing. Personally I think they will be calling the Cryonic Corporation and reserving a place in their center. 'Boot and Rally' will be the plans of older Playboys.

Sage of Bryan: Zan. Peter never claimed to be a prophet. He was an apostle, ordained by Christ. He was never a bishop of the Catholic church nor was he the first Pope of Rome as the Catholic's claim. That Peter was a different Peter than the apostle.

The teachings of the the Catholic church are contrary to the church that Christ built. Peter was not the head of Christ's church either. All apostles were of the same rank. Christ Himself was the head of His church.

Sage of Bryan: Zan. Not only was I off base, but, I was in the wrong ball-park. Peter did not write the "all scripture line" it was Paul. He was writing to Timothy when he penned the sentence. But what I wrote about Peter (prophet, apostle, bishop, pope) is true.

This is why Christ didn't send me to preach or teach. I sometimes don't know what I'm talking about. Sorry about that.

ghostgeek: Let's be straight about Peter. He was James's sidekick. When James pulled his leash, Peter came to heel. The proof is in the letters of Paul.

And as to what language Peter spoke, it would have been Aramaic. By the time of Jesus Christ, Hebrew was a dead language.

ghostgeek: I do find it sad, but not in the least surprising, that people show no desire to check the underlying factual basis of their beliefs. They prefer the fuzzy warmth of belief to the adamantine certainty of truth.

ghostgeek: As for the death of Hugh Heffner, it just shows that having pots of money cannot save a raddled old bastard from the grave.

ghostgeek: Take comfort where you can find it, for the cold winds of mortality are never far behind.

ghostgeek: Now then, anybody for Egypt? I'm sure the weather's beautiful this time of year, which is more than can be said for the situation in my neck of the woods.

chronology: ghost, am sorry you abuse Hugh Heffner like that. Heff did a lot for charity work, donated millions to disadvantaged people. He was also in the forfront of the Civil Rights struggle and spoke out for Human Rights as well.

ghostgeek: That's what happens when you get manky. People don't look at the cash you dole out. Instead, all they're interested in is the hand up the skirt. Oh, what it is to grow old.

Sage of Bryan: ghost.. Abut Peter speaking Aramaic, you're probably right.

chronology: Heff lived a long full life, today he remembered with respect and affection by millions. His darkest days were the Reagan years when the Right Wing went after him with everything they had. Playboy was banned from all D.O.D. Property and his business started loosing money. But times changed and he slowly regained profitable trading.
Heff's philosophy was 'life is to be enjoyed not endured ' . He did make some classic one line comments. When he was interviewed one time an interviewer asked what he thought was the great achievement of the times he had lived in, was it the Moon landing? The fall of the Soviet Union? The liberation of Iraq? The Internet? Heff thought for a moment then commented. 'Viagra' .

chronology: Ghost, yes Aramaic was the language of most people in Jerusalem back then like most of Judea. But Priests spoke in Hebrew among themselves. Latin was common among Government Officials who worked alongside Romans. Greek was common among traders and shipping people.
It is difficult to know just how Jesus spoke because he spent his first decade at least in Egypt so He probably spoke Aramaic but with a dialect different from other Galileans. Jerusalem had it's own distinctive dialect of Aramaic.
He seems to have had a great affection for Greek culture. Which he may have picked up among Greeks in Egypt. Curiously, He quoted a line from a Greek Play when He spoke to Paul on the Damascus Road.

Sage of Bryan: I used to speak Spanish. I got in a bar fight once and a guy pulled a knife on me. I said,"Adios"

chronology: Hey Saige we have all had 'bad bar days ' I remember one time a guy I knew came running out of a bar. A second later about 10 guys came running out of the bar in hot persuet after him. He never ran so fast in all his life.

Sage of Bryan: Yeah chron, that bar story was just a little humor. I stole it from a joke that making the rounds about 50 maybe 55 years ago.

Black guy walks into a bar and orders a beer. Bartender say's we don't serve Black''s in here. Black guy say's I'm not Black, I'm Mexican. Bartender lays a shotgun on the bar and say's, Okay, say something in Spanish. Black guy say's, Adios

Zanjan: Ghost: "And as to what language Peter spoke, it would have been Aramaic. By the time of Jesus Christ, Hebrew was a dead language. "

Peter - that is, Simon Peter - was a simple fisherman. He was also a businessman. We have reason to believe he was multi-lingual because the fishseller has to bargain with the buyers. Israel was a multi-cultural country at the time. Aramaic is a form of the Hebrew language. The Temple scrolls were in Hebrew so Jews had to know the language - Jewish men were NOT illiterate.

chronology: I think the reason the guy who ran from the 10 guys was he had walked into a black folks bar.

Zanjan: Sage, St. Peter is the original Simon Peter, who started the church in Rome. That's where he was martyred by crucifixion. His bones were found there not long ago. The Catholic church didn't exist then - Christianity was one Faith at the time.

Each of the Apostles were assigned or chosen to teach in certain places - they became bishops of the place where they taught. Peter was supposed to teach the Jews since Christ had told them to teach the Jews first. This made a lot of sense in the early days because the converted Jews would make the best future teachers to the Gentiles.

Christ wisely chose each of the Apostles, not for their saintliness, but for the special gifts they could offer to serve and spread Christianity.

Zanjan: The problem with Christians is that most aren't interested in increasing their learning, especially of other religions - too bad because they'd understand their own religion better if they did.

Instead, they've left it to their clergy to make their religion into an island of superstition, which has made their faith weak. Like its predecessors, it has become a belief system which creates more questions than it can answer.