Religion (1st Lesson of the Year):

How reliable in your view, is the Bible?

Well, I'd say the Bible is quite reliable to an extent since all/every single bible states the same things & there is no single Bible that's different within its text. There were so many stories that had passed through (from history & old times). People would've mingled about, telling the story to everyone because Jesus may have been a very significant (miraculous event) during their time which is why the story still exists up till now. Although, it may be unreliable because nobody wrote the story down, it wasn't told through communication (mouth) to people and then passed on and on... and nobody knows who wrote this whole story down.

What do you believe about the historical reliability of accounts of Jesus' life?

As an agnostic individual, I think that the historical reliability of accounts of Jesus' life isn't really reliable. Firstly because, there has not been any artefacts possessed or is of Jesus found. There had only been some historical artefacts 'related' to Jesus that's found, so how can we just say that they are all linked to Jesus and etc... After all, like I stated in question 1, it's like an amazing story that has just been retold and passed over the generations by people.

How do we know Jesus existed?

Through the past tellings of stories that generations before us had passed on. However, it could've all been made up.

What do you make of stories about miracles?

I think they are amazing and interesting stories (also I find them inspiring), but they don't just happen in life. No such miracle have occurred during our time of living ever since the miracle of "Jesus has been born"... no-one can really make any sense out of any fascinating yet unrealistic miracles, unless you truly believe in them. But yes, miracles are inspiring and stories about miracles encourages people to push through their hard times (e.g. sick people in the hospital, running a marathon when you are about to faint...etc...) They really do help people mentally & that's what I like about stories of miracles.

What is your view about the 'the resurrection'?

I think that it was really unfair for Jesus to be resurrected and that he was extremely brave to take the punishment and forgive everyone for treating him so cruelly when he didn't do anything. It's so hard to imagine what it was like for him and it takes true braveness to be as stoic as him about the whole situation.

Notes on the Son of God

“Son of God claims to be ‘An analysis of one of the most remarkable lives in history’, utilising as much scientific and historical research as possible and combining their findings with cutting edge computer graphics, the BBC’s aims were to uncover just who this mythical Jesus was.” reviewed by Jonathan Reed and released on January 15^th, 2009…

· Jesifus was one of 80 sources to write about Jesus and to confirm that Jesus was a real man who actually lived and died.

· The film stated that the best places to look and find evidence was in the gospels. Much of the knowledge of knowing that Jesus existed was based on stories that had been handed down. Not only do we have to rely on the past telling, orals & stories, but also by written work.

· The “Heart of the city” was ruled by Augustus and there was a pilot who ruled Judea and executed many people.

· Bethlehem is close to the heart of conflict.

· From church records, during the 2^nd century, Christianity was going strong.

· There had been evidence of the ‘Networks of caves’, seen directly under the church. That was where Jesus was born >>> in a cave (under a church that’s still present nowadays).

· Mary & Joseph’s house was originally built on a hill for them to see enemies approaching; roof tops to shelter then, caves under houses.

Astrology:

· Astrologists were definitely there at the time of Jesus.

· Many astrologists used the tracking system by looking at Jupiter and other planets (for birth and death) and it turns out to be like the astrology that we still talk & believe about (by some people) nowadays.

· Jupiter can appear as a star instead of a planet at the time of when Jesus was alive then.

· Jesus wasn’t born in “what” A.D and was meant to be born 6 years earlier than what the history books tell us.

· There was an indication about the birth of the super King during that time and it was when - (the Stars, Jupiter was revealed for the first time, moon and sun all together.) In the year that he was born, something miraculously huge along with a big incident had occurred. All evidence was checked to be proved.

· Gold, frankincense and murph from the east – they may have been astrologists.

Scandals:

· Mary was unmarried at the time of conception.

· It was widely agreed that Mary was not married when he was pregnant, it was a miracle.

· In Mary’s days, a woman who had lost her virginity before marrying would have been stoned to death.

· People who were Christians were sceptical about Mary’s pregnancy, knowing that something dodgy was going on.

Other Notes:

· Jesus upturned the market tables of the temple: it was a symbolic act.

· River Jordan: Jesus was baptised by Jordan, who was wearing animal skin - which was the significant turning point of Jesus’ life.

· Judaism: believed that the Messiah has not arrived yet and is still thinking of all the possibilities where the Messiah might be. They are still waiting for the Messiah.

· There were many political chaoses during the time of Jesus’ childhood.

· The temple in Jerusalem - some of the temple still exists today but the majority of it would be ruins.

· Jesus believed that the temple was not the place for exploiting people to obtain money, but the place to worship God.

· Jesus was known to be in great agony when he was in the city of Bethany, knowing what had to be done to him. He somehow sweated blood. Later on, it was proved that the physical condition of sweating blood was possibly because of the fact that one could be under great anxiety, where arteries burst and flow into the sweat gland. Jesus was in turmoil as he knew he was going to die.

· Judas was seen as a traitor for many years due to his act of selling Jesus over. Nevertheless, a new theory about Judas with the world ‘betrayal’ has been translated incorrectly and that Jesus chose Judas to carry out the act due to Judas’ high reliability and the connection to the high priest.

· The receiving of thirty silver coins by Judas was because there was no other way of handing someone over in the Jewish system, not because of greed.

· Kiathes accused Jesus of blasphemy. He saw in his dream that Jesus was sitting beside God.

· It was said that Jesus seemed slightly frustrated when he was dying. >>> saying things like, “God, where are you when I need you.”

· 3 days after Jesus’ death, some woman came to visit the tomb. They found the tomb empty and so they ran away, terrified.

· Women were 2^nd class citizens, not regarded as reliable.

· Research into other parts of the Gospel story shines new light on what Judas may or may not have done, and whilst “Son of God” couldn’t prove that Jesus was resurrected, it does disprove some of the more recent claims that Jesus either didn’t die, or his body was simply stolen.

· Mandate was found to be a strong anaesthesing plant that probably was a source of healing Jesus if actually did stay alive and run away.

To many typical Christians, science may seem to be the enemy of faith. In this documentary, science corroborated along with many reliable historical sources which were used to prove things beyond doubt that Jesus actually existed. Moreover, it goes to prove some of the more remarkable parts of the Gospel story. In the section where the film shows the star leading the Wise Men to Jesus, it was more than just a bright shining star. It was in actual fact, an astrological declaration that something amazing was about to happen! (This was the birth of Jesus, the Messiah…) The sweating of blood from Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane was supported by numerous documented modern medical cases.

As a whole, this film showed that along with science and historical records that could prove that Jesus was real and suggested that that belief in his resurrection may not have been that far-fetched when you look at how this solitary man had influenced so many others in the course of history.

"The Christ Files" (Student Questions and Tasks)

1. What is unique about Christianity from a historical perspective?

• It is said that Jesus claims to be divine & the Son of God and to have all authority in Heaven & on earth.
• There were central claims of Christianity that can be checked out - (including such things as tangible historical evidence, events...)
• The Bible is a historically reliable book, not just a collection of generic stories. The detailed accounts can be verified in time, place & people are confirmed by secular history & archaeology.

2. What types of academic research into Christianity are usually reported by the media? Why do you think this is?

• The ones that were controversial, sensational and scandalous-like fringe claims surrounding about Jesus were usually reported by the media.

• Apologetics

3. When were the Gnostic Gospels written and what was there focus?

• The Gnostic Gospels were written during the 2^nd & 3^rd centuries.

• Believed to have been written between AD 200 and 400.

• The main focus was on Gnosticism and the sayings & teachings of Jesus.

• It’s a collection of about fifty-two texts based upon the ancient wisdom teachings of several prophets and spiritual leaders including Jesus.

• It is now generally believed that the evidence suggests that Gnosticism was a Jewish movement which subsequently reacted to Christianity or that Gnosticism emerged directly in reaction to Christianity.

• Also focused on post discussions of the resurrection of Jesus.

4. Some people claim, on the basis of the Gospel of Phillip that Jesus married Mary Magdeline. On what basis do they reach this conclusion and why do mainstream scholars challenge this thinking?

• This conclusion was reached as many came believed that the missing word on one of the famous written scripts (was assumed) as mouth. It might not be, but if it was, it would’ve been a holy kiss.

• This had been a rumour that was not popular until the late 20th century as a result of wild speculation (that ignores all historical facts) found in 2 related books.

• The Gnostic gospels indicated that Jesus would kiss her on the mouth and that she was the most favoured disciple.

• Scholars challenge this because there had been no mention whatsoever in any historical writing or in any passage of Scripture of Christ about Jesus ever having a wife - at least not in the commonly understood sense.

5. What did Celsus in the late second century claim and how do his claims aid the case for Christianity?

• He wrote the “True Doctrine”

• He wrote two controversial plays.

• Celsus wrote his work True Discourse (or, True Reason) as a polemic against the Christians in approximately 178 CE. Celsus divided the work into two sections, the one in which objections are put in the mouth of a Jewish interlocutor and the other in which Celsus speaks as the pagan philosopher that he is. Celsus ridiculed Christians because they advocated blind faith instead of reason.

• He claimed that Jesus called Himself as God and that claimed that Jesus’ birth was suspicious.

• The miracles were merely Egyptian sorcery.

6. Who was Tacitus, when did he write and how is his writing helpful to the Christian cause?

• Little is known for certain about the origins of Tacitus, although he is believed to have been born, around A.D. 56, into a provincial aristocratic family in Gaul (modern France) or nearby.

• He wrote the “Annals”.
• His disdain for Christianity did not prevent from showing accurate details of Jesus’ life.
• He was a Roman historian and he wrote in 114 C.E. (He wrote major works on the history of the Roman Empire.)
• He tells us when and where Jesus lived and that he was known as Christ (special one from God) and the circumstances of his death.

7. Who was Pliny, when did he write and why is his writing helpful to the Christian cause?

• He was a Roman soldier and wrote to ask whether they should continue executing the Christians.
• He wrote in 110 CE.
• Pliny had certain unique qualifications that make this reference more valuable than we might suppose. Prior to being a governor, he held a position as a state priest. His job as state priest included acting as an overseer in the state religion.
• As a member of the priesthood, in order to "safeguard the wise conduct of religion," Pliny should be expected to be "in the know" about religion.
• Pliny would conduct his own research (or use what he already knew) in order to do his job to the best of his abilities. He did not get into the Emperor's good graces or into high positions by being lazy or unprepared.
• In light of the fact that Christianity was recognized as a threat to public order, Pliny certainly had to know something about it in order to fulfil his duties. It is therefore likely that, while his knowledge of Christianity itself was largely second-hand, he also had firsthand knowledge of basic facts such as Jesus' existence.
• More important here, however, is the testimony by Pliny that Christians died for their faith. This was extremely unlikely to have happened if Jesus had not existed.

Introduction to Religious Education

This is first post for this blog. I will look forward to the year ahead of me in RE (Religious Education)... & hopefully learn more about the subject - Religion.