THREE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR YOU

The first question I have already asked: WHAT DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE ABOUT THE BIBLE? The second question is: WHAT DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE ABOUT GOD? The third question is: WHAT DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE ABOUT JESUS? These three questions are both relevant and important for those who wish to understand, know, and study the BIBLE because the basis of the BIBLE beliefs that people have may well be faulty, erroneous, contradictory, unprovable, and not as simple or exact as such may seem and very problematic for those who really read the BIBLE! NOW, another group of questions must be asked: WHAT DO YOU REALLY KNOW ABOUT THE BIBLE? WHAT DO YOU REALLY KNOW ABOUT GOD? WHAT DO YOU REALLY KNOW ABOUT JESUS? Here we come to the CRUX of the problem or what I have been trying to say and indicate to you! Are what you know and what you belive the same thing? How do you know this and,if so, why do you believe this? If you are honest you will realize that feelings and thoughts are not the same and people often mix the two and creat a vast confusion for themselves and for others.

WHAT DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE ABOUT THE BIBLE?

This question few people can honestly answer based on real religious experience(s) and actual study of the BIBLE as found on bookshelves, in bookstores, in churches, or homes! AND, most importantly, can you rpove your beliefes to be valid(without using the BIBLE itself, (or merely quoting passages)? I have not many persons who could do this without succumbing to the temptation to grab a BIBLE and open it,especially to alleviate their anxieties and discomfort and sometimes inadequacy if not ignorance. Can you prove if your belief is founded on actual fact and not simply on a nebulous 'faith' or profession of faith, which is difficult to really demonstrate to anyone except for actually perhaps dying to prove it! Can you prove intellectually and rationally your beliefs and not on mere emotion or cultural acceptance?

MY MAJOR CRITICISM OF MOST BIBLE READERS

My major criticism of CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALISTS,BIBLE readers, BIBLE thumpers, BIBLE readers, missionaries, and Bible Students is NOT their belief inGOD, CHRIST, or CHURCH but their approach to the BIBLE and the use of the BIBLE because they tend to treat the BIBLE and use it like they do electricity in their lives. FIRST, they know little of the physical nature of electricity and, likewise, with some exceptions, the BIBLE. They know little of the history of electricity, save for the name of Edison usually much the same way they kow the name of MOSES & JESUS as concerns the BIBLE. They know the names are in the BIBLE but how much more? When it comes to electricity, they merely throw a switch to 'on' or 'off' positions similar to 'opening' and 'closing' the BIBLE whenever they fell the urge, desire, inspiration or necessity to do so(seldom resorting or hardly ever to quoting the BIBLE without aids and text,etc. to guide them)(which is all right since the BIBLE has many unknown and unfamiliar passages and books for nearly all of them! They also tend to ignore the BIBLE in favor of utilizing the 'Power' they believe is in the BIBLE mainly by prayers and possibly other rituals(which is all right as testamonies to the efficacy of prayer abound as do, no doubt, the unaccounted times when all such prayers, rites and rituals have failed or continued to fail, as dismissed by all 'religionists of the Christian persuasion as ,THE WILL OF GOD" which is, perhaps actually the same statement as THE WILL OF ALLAH!

BOOKS MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE THAT ARE NOT TO BE FOUND OR ARE LOST

There are by some accounts FOURTEEN BOOKS that are mentioned in the BIBLE,both OLD & NEW TESTAMENTS, that few people know about except those who are interested in such things. One of them I became acquainted with years ago and often consulted dictionaries and encyclopedias,etc. in search of information about this book. Of course, I discovered what was reputed to be a book available for reading and took a look at it then but did not feel compelled to buy it,etc. for several reasons. The title of the book is; THE BOOK OF JASHER` which is mentioned in Joshua 10:13. Since these books are not found in any degree beyond name mention they are classified as 'NON-BIBLICAL BOOKS' and I shall research more about them and post their names and locations of mention in the BIBLE from time to time.

THE COPTIC GOSPEL OF THOMAS

As was mentioned before, Thomas is controversial and his name is DIDYMUS JUDAS THOMAS and this Gospel of Thomas is a COLLECTION OF SAYINGS OF JESUS that many might consider THE SECRET TEACHINGS OF JESUS and of which some writers on these abstruse, arcane, and esoteric subjects have 'identified' as being 'THE HOLY GRAIL' and brought to Europe in the ways that are now finding an attraction and fascination for many,especially in various books on 'Templars','Crusades', 'KING ARTHUR', The Freemasons, The Shroud of Turin, The Holy Grail, etc. some of which are involved in novels and works of fiction, that sometimes seek a 'bloodline' or 'code' based on special circumstances, works of art, old manuscripts, and other things, some of which will be discussed when appropriate. HOWEVER, these SAYINGS OF JESUS are not sensational for the most part and seem, if you do read the book of the GOSPEL OF THOMAS(which is recommended) familiar to all readers of the Bible,that is, the New Testament Gospels,etc. The point that might be missed by most readers could well be that no details, for which many hunger and thirst, are not there, such as, miracles, death & resurrection, and other stories, and perhaps the most important thesis being:THOSE WHO LEARN THESE SAYINGS(UNDERSTANDS THEM AND THEIR TRUE INTERPRETATION) will have ETERNAL LIFE.

THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS

THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS is perhaps one of the more,if not the most, controversial books that is not included in the present BIBLE. THOMAS is also controversial himself as discussion of him will perhaps show, since like the figure of JUDAS, he has been considered in legends, that are still prevalent in some circles,AS THE TWIN BROTHER OF JESUS. This notion is seldom pleasing to ordinary Christian believers of the more literal, fundamental, and sectarian groups or the ORTHODOX believers(not Eastern Orthodox) but those who follow standards 'articles of faith', or specific theology, or 'creeds' of faith and belief. These latter AFFIRMATIONS OF FAITH should not be confused with petitions,prayers, positive or mental affirmations as they sometimes are in the popular mind and 'new-age' groups, but seen as a basis for RELIGION that is highly organized,usually with a hierarchy of some sort.

THE LOST SCRIPTURES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

The 'LOST SCRIPTURES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT' can be considered as scriptures or 'books' or 'scrolls' etc. that were not included in the NEW TESTAMENT as found in most modern day Bibles and of which few that consider themselves as CHRISTIANS,BIBLE STUDENTS, SCHOLARS,ETC. are aware for many reasons. Most modern readers of the BIBLE, as is found on the shelves of bookstores and other stores that sell such,which are selling a wide variety of other things, aside from religious paraphenalia, which strangely enough these days is made in 'communist' CHINA for Americans to buy, are not aware that such books and information exists. The standard attitude of those who are fortunate enough to hear about these things but who do nothing to increase their understanding or kknowledge of them dismiss them as of no importance, as possible 'false' scriptures or heretical, and perhaps as 'forgeries' which is a complicated position to take for innumerable reasons, or as of a 'pagan' origin or created by diabolic forces or at Satan's behest to confuse believers,etc. and many are not 'acceptable/ to various religious groups and churches for they often contain contradictions that these sects and cults and groups deem important and necessary for 'salvation' as defined by them on their specific terms and concepts and interpretations,etc. Moreover, some groups that consider themselves 'Christian' have their own versions of the Bible and their own special 'scriptures' and materials which sometimes are considered of 'sacred' or 'divine' or 'inspired' origins. I shall not mention these groups here as it would detract from the main discussion of those books that need to be listed and checked on in regard to history and archeology and related activities if one is willing to go beyond a very narrow understanding and interpretation and appreciation of the Bible, which is for many Christians, a LIVING SOURCE of many aspects and facets, that otherwise would be ignored.

BIBLE WORSHIP & SCRIPTURAL VENERATION

It often seems the case among believers in any kind or variety of SCRIPTURAL DEVOTION that an undue veneration of what are considered 'SACRED TEXTS' or 'HOLY BOOKS' or 'THE WORD OF GOD(S)' borders on a superstitious attituded, a 'magical' belief, and an EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT that can be 'excessive', even 'materialistic' in nature.

THE METAPHYSICAL STUDY OF THE BIBLE-THE METAPHYSICAL LEVEL

When I was growing up and interested in my teens in the Bible and Bible topics,etc. the study of METAPHYSICS was often mentioned, even advertised in various publications,some of which were called 'Institutes', 'Schools', etc. and correspondence courses,some expensive and some by donations, were common. Courses in METAPHYSICS dealt with many interesting and 'arcane' or esoteric subjects,some of which I will comment on in future blogs. METAPHYSICS is sometimes defined as A STUDY PERTAINING TO ESSENTIAL NATURE OR ESSENCE. This means that such a study, whether theoretical or practical, and such can be both from some points of view, deal with the NATURE & CAUSES OF BEING AND KNOWING! Roughly defined, or loosely defined, as the case may be, METAPHYSICS is 'BEYOND PHYSICS' as is usually classified as a 'science', although some realms and subjects and areas of 'conventional physics' tend to intrude and overlap into the sciences. More on this later. Certain 'mystical' concerns and religions take up the study of metaphysics and one example are those who write and meditate on THE TAO or DAO. A number of popular books are out on this aspect and a lot of concentration on 'DIMENSIONS' etc. is to be found in such and also on the internet. However, metaphysics as pertains to the Bible is another matter and,of course, metaphysics is part and parcel of PHILOSOPHY, especially since Aristotelian Times.

THE KING JAMES VERSION OF THE BIBLE

THE KING JAMES VERSION OF THE BIBLE is the one I grew up with, deeply appreciate, consult, read, and utilize for the most part. That King James himself did not actually work on this Bible but authorized it and had scholars,etc. work on it at the time when 'ELIZABETHAN' ENGLISH was spoken, or 'THE LANGUAGE OF SHAKESPEARE", that is rapidly disappearing in today's world for the most part, but still has a rhythm and flow that modern English cannot convey, the same for Chaucer,etc. Nevertheless, I have read a few other versions but I tend to dislike and ignore the 'revised','updated', etc. modern affairs, though in some instances the claims that such 'translations' are more in keeping with what is or was intended by Biblical writers is maintained by many,etc. The DOUAY VERSION(often called THE CATHOLIC BIBLE) of which other authorized Bibles or version are now in print, contains books seldom found in the King James Version and most of these I have read or glanced at. Aside from these things there are many manuscripts and writings that have a 'BIBLICAL TINGE, FLAVOR, & POSSIBLE CONNECTION to orthodox/canonical writings that are worthy of attention, study and consideration. Aside from that there is the topic of THE LOST BOOKS OF THE BIBLE which are not these latter ones, though some label them as such, and I shall mention examples of them at some future time. The real Lost Books of the Bible are simply those mentioned in the Bible in various Chapters or Books that are not to be found, as yet, in any manuscript form or documentation other than in mere mention,usually.