[muddeprived]

What's your opinion on the Holy Grail? I just got done watching Davinci Code...again. I have to watch that movie two or three times to get everything. Pretty good movie. I don't think it's true but what if.......

 

[TrueBlueXJ]

I can't appreciate the "DaVinci Code," mostly because it fictionalizes a topic I take great interest in. "Holy Blood, Holy Grail" was a much better composed piece of literature, but Michael Baigent's most recent follow-up, "The Jesus Papers," a non-fictional literary documentary, is the most well-thought take on the subject to date, and a must read IMO.

The discoveries of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the findings at Nag Hammadi are fascinating, and a testament to the faults of the Christian religion and the corruption of the Catholic Church. Believers and non-believers alike should at the very least consider these texts as parallels to the "approved" gospels of the New Testament, as they were composed by men of equal intelligence, in either the same time periods, or time periods even closer to the life of Jesus. To say that they are any less credible than the allowed texts is naive beyond belief.

Now, do I believe that the "holy grail" is a human vessel that carried Christ's blood by way of lineage? No. It's an interesting theory, but I very much doubt its credibility. I do however believe, through texts from the Dead Sea and Nag Hammadi, as well as the "forgotten" passages of the New Testament's gospels, that Jesus did indeed have a relationship with Mary Magdalene, and that they likely did have a child. But for all of Jesus' parables and irony, I find it hard to believe that the grail was ever meant to be anything but a chalice.

I could go on about this subject forever, but I'll let someone else chime in now.

 

[nick_n_ii]

I'm going to step out on a limb here. See I view the bible as a very flawed history book. "Holy Grail" I don't think it ever was. It like the fountain of youth or Atlantis just another story told that people put to much effort into. Did Jesus have "relations" with Mary Magdalene, probably. Do I care no, why should we care if he had relations with her? Why should we care if they had kids? He was a grown adult and she was a grown women.

If I had to guess on history I'd say the Davinci Code was closer to the truth of what happened than he Holy Bible. There has been more lies proved in the Holy Bible than only other peace of literature ever written..

Now yes I'm a non-be leaver in God or Satan. I'm what I call a "Seaker", I'm looking for the truth and keep a open mind about all things. Am I wrong maybe, are you wrong maybe. So please don't drag me over the coals for my view or burn me at a stack. I just look at most all things through science's eye..

 

[Belto]

well its a facinating story, and life style that for sure, Ive seen the movie a few times and ive seen about 2 different Discovery Channel documentals on it a few times aswell, and I just think, at least some people still have hope,, but well at the time of life we are now it will be very hard to take this as history more that historic fiction, I have study int catholic schools all my life, and well I say you either come out a saint or an athiest , so I did my fair share of challenges to what they tell me,, and I still belive that the bible is historic document but it is one sided, and well I know as a catholic your supposed to believe in the church but I cant explain or back up the Crucible were inocent people and children were sent to fight for the benefit of a human that was called the Pope, IDK, I do belive that there is a God and the balance of good an evil is in our own self. but well I cant trust a the church,, sorry if I offend some one,, but thats just my holly opinion

 

[TrueBlueXJ]

^ Agreed. Some people accept the Bible as absolute truth, though they've never done an ounce of research outside it, because their minds (or their "faith") will not allow them to. I never accepted Christianity, in any form, as truth, and instead sought out to seek for myself what was true in this world, and come to my own conclusions.

If you've ever even remotely questioned Christian beliefs, do yourself a favor and Google "Nag Hammadi", "Dead Sea Scrolls", "The Gospel of Thomas", "The Jesus Seminar", "Historical Jesus", etc. etc., and actually consider ALL the facts, not the paraphrased and mis-translated texts, written centuries after Jesus' death, and extensively edited by the Catholic church.

What do I believe?... That Jesus lived, and was exiled to Egypt along with his family, where he became a prominent member of the Therapeutae Jewish faith, who mixed Old Testament prophecy and religious doctrine with Egyptian mysticism. He was a profound speaker, a descendent of Herod, and found himself in the right place at the right time to fulfill an ancient prophecy. He brought his beliefs to Jerusalem and was considered a public nuisance and a heretic, and was punished for it. There are many who believe he survived the crucifixion (no truly fatal wounds were received, and the "oils and spices" that were brought to his tomb were proven revival drugs at the time). I in NO way believe he was divine, and very much doubt he intended for a church to be founded in his name. In fact, certain texts show he was more than likely against it.

In short, Christianity was born in mankind's infancy. Now that we've passed though our adolescence (the age of reason) and into adulthood, it's a system of beliefs that should have been abandoned ages ago. But for some, it's a constant sense of hope and assurance, unfounded as it may be. If it gives people solace, I will never tell or ask them to believe otherwise, I just choose not to agree or share in their beliefs. I only expect the same courtesy in return.

 

[BlueXJ]

Bottom line is it is all written by man and not by a supreme being, thus it is flawed and only good as a teaching tool for a morals lesson or two. Holy grail is more than a cup by the story and whether it actually existed or still exists is a mystery that will live on for eons.
All fiction IMO.

 

[BlueXJ]

Bottom line is it is all written by man and not by a supreme being, thus it is flawed and only good as a teaching tool for a morals lesson or two. Holy grail is more than a cup by the story and whether it actually existed or still exists is a mystery that will live on for eons.
All fiction IMO.

<---<< but I'm an a$$

 

[Belto]

I believe that religion is created by humans to give a sences of hope and well that there is something bigger than us.. but fanatism is bad , everything in exess is bad..

I personaly belive in something superior wich I call God, but I found that the control of good and evil is in yourself to search and decide you are your own salvior or devil,, and hell and heaven is just a state of mind, you will live hell in earth same with heaven depends on your decitions in life. I also like the buddist way of life, all that nirvana and peace within yourself with the rest of the world is nice,

if you see all religions in the world monogoded or multigoded have one mayor or dominat god, some call it God, Ala, Shiva, what ever you think, and it for a reason to explain what science has not explain yet..

(all this does not apply to Scientology, I dont think aliens are gods or should be consider gods)

 

[Belto]

Bottom line is it is all written by man and not by a supreme being, thus it is flawed and only good as a teaching tool for a morals lesson or two. Holy grail is more than a cup by the story and whether it actually existed or still exists is a mystery that will live on for eons.
All fiction IMO.

I agree with you on this,, but on the holy grail part, I dont think if there is one it is a cup, I think is the blood line of Jesus. Son of God or great profet or cool guy that did many good deeds ...

 

[nick_n_ii]

Not to get off track, but this is the first time I've seen this debate with out name calling or finger pointing. It's good to be with educated people that can see more than one view.



O.K. back to the topic at hand..

 

[nick_n_ii]

I had a friend years ago say.." The bible was wrote by fisherman, and all fisherman have a fish story. So does that mean only fishers lie or only liars fish. That being said how much truth is there in the bible."

I have viewed the bible for years as a flowed history book, and history has shown the only book we ever get to see is the winner. I want to read the losers book it's probably closer to the facts...

 

[Belto]

its always important to get the 2 sides of the coin, so that you can make a concrete decition,

at HS I had this bibles study prof, that was very fanatic, so I asked every time what will be the next topic and did some reaserch and always found a way to contradic him or have a science explination,

again religion is just a scapegoat and a hopefull lifestyle , some1 dies blame God, God why? some is miraculasly alive and thanx God and all its a doble blade sword

 

[TrueBlueXJ]

I had a friend years ago say.." The bible was wrote by fisherman, and all fisherman have a fish story. So does that mean only fishers lie or only liars fish. That being said how much truth is there in the bible."

I have viewed the bible for years as a flowed history book, and history has shown the only book we ever get to see is the winner. I want to read the losers book it's probably closer to the facts...

Findings in the last century have proven that many texts never made it into the bible, but long before then it was a well known fact that many of Christ's characteristics were the result of debates and votes, namely by the Council of Nicaea (which met twice in the first 1,000 years after Jesus' death). Even the "approved" texts have been altered, mistranslated, and contain missing fragments. Why do you think the Vatican libraries are closed to the public? op:

Some of you might think my theory that Jesus was exiled to Egypt and became a member of the Therapeutae Jewish faith sounds odd, but if you notice, from the time Jesus was around 12 years old, to the time he reached 30 years of age, is almost entirely unmentioned in the Bible. Is no one interested in what he might have been doing during those 18 years??? Also, many Jews were exiled from the Nazarene region during those years, and settled in Egypt, where the Therapeutae sect was most prevalent. When Jesus returned to Jerusalem, he exhibited ideas and parables synonymous with this Jewish sect, which as I mentioned, believed in the practice of certain Egyptian "mystical" practices, which may explain his sudden ability to perform "miracles."

Just something to consider......

 

[Belto]

yeah, ive always wonder what happen those years, he was a teenager for that time, he might have gotten in trouble lol, but seriously, yeah its werid that no one has publish any search in this period of Jesus life.. maybe he got a GF pregnant, at that age you will get married back in the day so who knows..

those years might be the answer to the holly grail..

 

[nick_n_ii]

I've read several accounts of Jesus being put in prison for those years do to being a theaf. True or no I don't know but if you read and research enough you find that Jesus was a bigger sinner than most he was "supposedly" trying to save...

 

[Belto]

well I was going to put a inmature comment after your post nick but I dont want to mess up the thread, well maybe Jesus acted up, and then he got his act together,, IDK

 

[nick_n_ii]

You never know, it take finding older books to read to get closer to the truth. I've seen read through and lived through so much that I'm not sure what to think.. That's why a see myself as a seeker I'm seeking the truth. It's gota be out there some where.

 

[Belto]

that will be hard, like some1 posted before, "history is written by the winners", you will never know the entire truth..

 

[nick_n_ii]

that will be hard, like some1 posted before, "history is written by the winners", you will never know the entire truth..

I wrote that. But you have to remember the truth is out there some where you just need to know where to look and that is the hard part...

 

[Belto]

true true..^^