Are There Historical Accounts of Jesus Other Than the New Testament? 

Are There Historical Accounts of Jesus Other Than the New Testament? 

Numerous people are convinced that Christianity made up a part of the story of Christ, in order to back-up our faith. This raises the question whether history stands behind our claims on who Jesus really was, and more importantly what non-Christian historians say about Jesus?   Prior to digging deeper into literature, a few things should be noted. One aspect is the sources. There are primary, secondary and tertiary sources. Primary sources are direct sources, such as autobiographies. Secondary sources are indirect sources, such as citations and writings of others. Tertiary sources are more indirect sources, such as citing another citation. Therefore, one does not have to write about him/herself in order for us to know about his/her life. Multiple great historical figures, who are known throughout history, did not write about themselves, such as Alexander the Great and Socrates. Something that marks our faith in Jesus is the…

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Did Jesus Curse The Fig Tree Before Or After Cleansing The Temple?

Did Jesus Curse The Fig Tree Before Or After Cleansing The Temple?

In the Gospel according to Matthew an account is presented where Jesus, after cleansing the temple, finds a fig tree with no fruit; and curses it, causing it to wither  (Matthew 21:12-19). In the Gospel according to Mark, the events appear to happen in a different order. In Mark’s account, Jesus withers the fig tree while leaving Bethany before going to cleanse the Temple (Mark 11:12-15). Is there a reasonable explanation for this seeming contradiction?   This problem can be cleared up upon a closer examination of these two accounts.   In Mark’s account we are seeing the event from a chronological perspective. First,  Jesus and his disciples go into Jerusalem, where Jesus saw what was happening at the temple Mark (11:1-11). Then, because it was late; we see them go back to Bethany for the night (Mark 11:11). Then, on the next day, they went back to Jerusalem where…

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Is God The Author Of Evil?

Is God The Author Of Evil?

One of the most doubtful facts about the existence of God is the existence of evil and pain. If God is able to prevent evil but does not desire to do so, then he is an evil God who does not deserve to be worshiped, and if he desires to prevent evil but is not able to do so, then he is not omnipotent and also does not deserve to be worshiped, and therefore God does not exist, or if he does exist, then he is not capable, or evil and not worthy of worship in either case.  But if God is omnipotent and omnipotent, as Christianity claims, how can evil still exist?  Here the skeptics claim that (assuming that God exists), since God created everything, God must also have created evil. They even cite Bible verses, such as:  “I form the light and create darkness, I make…

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The Christian Point of View on Veganism  

The Christian Point of View on Veganism  

The concept of veganism and people going vegan has become quite popular in the contemporary world. And with the evolution of that relatively new lifestyle, evolved many questions. In this article, we’re going to discuss the Christian point of view on veganism and clarify the multiple misconceptions associated with the term.   But first, what does “veganism” mean?   Veganism is a philosophy and a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment.  Well, that’s a very noble cause, isn’t it! Then, why do we need to clarify anything about it?   The truth is that some vegans, in fact many of them, are people who just don’t want…

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Did The Story of Jesus Change By The Time The Gospels Were Written?

Did The Story of Jesus Change By The Time The Gospels Were Written?

Have you ever played Telephone? You know, the game in which one person whispers a sentence to someone else, that person whispers what she or he hears to the next person in the circle, and so on? At the end, the first person and the last person reveal their sentences,  and everyone laughs at how much the sentence changed between the first and last communicators. According to New Testament critic Dr. Bart Ehrman, this is precisely what happened to the earliest stories about Jesus.2   "What would happen" - according to Dr. Ehrman - is that the stories about Jesus would end up radically changed. "Stories were changed with what would strike us today as reckless abandon," Ehrman claims. "They were modified, amplified, and embellished. And sometimes they were made up.”3   But are Dr. Ehrman's claims true? Did the earliest Christians actually change stories with "reckless abandon"?   As it…

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The Truth about Transgender Ideology  

The Truth about Transgender Ideology  

Transgenderism -wanting to change your gender because you feel you are in the wrong body- has become an increasingly pressing issue in recent years. Transgender ideology claims that each person has a ‘gender identity’ (an internal sense of gender) which may or may not align with their biological sex. Many activists and celebrities are pushing societies towards accepting this ideology unquestioningly and shutting down essential debates on this issue which eventually has led to damaging consequences. But, in this article we’re going to search, question and argue to clarify the confusion accompanied with this topic to reveal the truth.   First: From a logical point of view  Facts VS Feelings   The assumption that a person’s subjective feeling overrides the objective biological reality is just misleading. Feelings are changeable, temporary and often times they are deceiving as well and these three facts are enough for not letting our own feelings…

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