What is the CENTRAL Truth of Christianity?

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Dameedna said:
Actually none of that came from Jesus.

All of that came from your church and it’s interpretations of a 2000 yr old book. 🙂
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Dear Dameedna,

From an historical point of view,

the “interpretation in action of Jesus’ words” began immediately by the eye witnesses of Jesus who wrote letters to their friends. The students who were taught by eye witnesses imitated the actions of Jesus, one of which was to teach the truth. These pupils preached these truths and wrote them. In the early years, that 2000 year old book was actually various Hebrew Scriptures by a variety of authors dating way back. In addition, there were all those documents floating around, some of which have been found near the Dead Sea.

Obviously, just like now, objectors to the early students became
passionate. Plus all these students of students of students of eye and ear witnesses of Jesus were spread out with the four winds. Using common sense, eventually, the elders discerned which writings contained the truth and the various documents, books, songs, prayers, etc. were put into one official collection.

Blessings,
granny

Human life is amazing!
 
grannymh said:
Dear Dameedna,

From an historical point of view,

the “interpretation in action of Jesus’ words” began immediately by the eye witnesses of Jesus who wrote letters to their friends. The students who were taught by eye witnesses imitated the actions of Jesus, one of which was to teach the truth. These pupils preached these truths and wrote them.
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Granny,

I’m sorry but there is absolutely no reason to believe that the “friends” who were most presumably Jewish, wrote the stories in the way you’ve interpreted them. Many theologians read them very differently, and they are allowed to share it, unlike catholic theologians.

No matter which way you want to look at it, you are relying on human beings, very failable…and very ignorant at the time of the writings.

Have you ever tried to describe a “god” experience and felt like a complete dolt while doing it? “Oh the majesty of the ecstacy of the absolute beauty of my realization of my own destiny within the christ of my being and the absolute purpose upon which I was created oh the awe I feel…”…yadda yadda yadda.

Humans…try to describe events that shape them, and they use human words. Imagine Jesus…and his impact. What words, would possibly describe it? Only the words they knew
  1. Virgin births, were traditionally used as an indication toward the divinity of the human involved. Many myths of old times claimed virgin births.
  2. Ressurection of the dead . Traditionally this was used to describe a human whose words , deeds, and teachings were so great that they surpassed their own death.
  3. Miracles were used to describe the immense understanding gained by the humans teachings and so were considered miraculous, as in a wisdom given, not gained
and on and on.

The truth behind the bible, is a human truth. It is about our history and about a few humans that rose above the ordinary and changed forever how humans view themsevles.

If people need virgin births and dead men walking for their proof, then so be it. But their faith…is in a story and a book. It is not…in God, the essence of life that these teachers tried to tell us about.

Cheers

You don’t have to take them literally 🙂
 
Dameedna said:
um…the last supper is not the Eucharist.

The Eucharist is a very organized and flamboyant and rule based ritual, that does not in any way reflect the man called Jesus.

The Eucharist is no longer the inclusive event as Jesus made the last supper out to be. Within your religion it is a tradition that rejects all those that you think are wrong in some way. It rejects…it does not include and embrace.

It is a tradition that completely negates the entire point.

Jesus WAS inclusive, and he was inclusive particularly for those that did not agree with the cultural and religious rulings of the day. These were the people he embraced.

Your version, is quite the opposite. It negates anyone that does not agree…with the religious rulers of the day.

I think, you miss the point entirely.
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Hello

Actually, in order to understand the priesthood, the eucharist, and the Liturgical Rites, you have to understand the essence of “covenant”.

Please consider the enigmatic priest Melchizadek mentioned in Genesis

Gen 9:3-10 has:

*3-4 Every creature that is alive shall be yours to eat; I give them all to you as I did the green plants. Only flesh with its lifeblood still in it you shall not eat.

5 For your own lifeblood, too, I will demand an accounting: from every animal I will demand it, and from man in regard to his fellow man I will demand an accounting for human life.

6 If anyone sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; For in the image of God has man been made.

7 Be fertile, then, and multiply; abound on earth and subdue it."
8 God said to Noah and to his sons with him:
9 "See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you

10 and with every living creature that was with you: all the birds, and the various tame and wild animals that were with you and came out of the ark.*

Gen 9:3-4 implies that prior to the flood, green plants were the food given by God to Noah. This assertion is consistent with :
I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground - everything that has the breath of life in it - I give every green plant for food. And it was so." (Genesis 1:29,30)

After the flood, the Lord gives animal flesh. This makes sense as green plants would have died in the deluge.

However, Gen 9:5 states an accounting must be made for blood, inclusive an accounting for animal blood.

Gen 9:9 further elaborates on a covenant God establishes in context of this accounting, not only for human blood, but God extends His covenant to the animal kingdom 9:10

Therefore, it is clear that by God’s demand of an accounting, a sacrifice be made by Noah and his descendants, for any and all bloodshed including animal.

Making the sacrificial offering establishes a ritual, and a priesthood of the ritual, aka rite or order.

Melchizadek and his order is enigmatic for several reasons:

** The Pentateuch is dominated by 4 distinct authors of varying writing styles. However, as I recall, the Gen 14 fragment containing the story of Melchizadek is not written by any of those 4 dominant authors. Rather, a mysterious 5 author with unique writing style penned the verses. “He and his style” appear nowhere else in the bible.
  • Melchizadek is said to be a priest, therefore “rite, ritual, and order” follow. The priesthood ensuing from the covenant God made with Noah and the animal kingdom, is a rite of accounting for bloodshed.
  • Melchizadek " being a priest of God Most High", and offering bread and wine, must therefore be bound by to God Most High with another covenant.*
And what is this covenant between Melchizadek and God Most High? In the OT, this covenant unknown.

Jesus, however establishes a new covenant, and replaces the bloodshed covenant sacrificing Himself at the Last Supper. He fully understood that Judas would hand him over, when He replaced the Passover rite with His own rite (bread and wine).

This is why He says, “This is my Body, … and Blood” of the new covenant". Because ending Passover’s rite and priestly tradition would cost Him is mortal body and blood.

This is why the Eucharist can never be separated or considered indifferent from the real Body and real Blood of Jesus.

So it is very clear that Jesus Himself, is the very covenant between God and humanity.
 
The Resurrection is the Central Truth of Christianity, the early Church would have faded and became another obscure sect of Judaism if it wasn’t for the Resurrection.

Even though we have the testimony of the Apostles, they would be a moo point (like the opinion of a cow, doesn’t matter) when you look at it objectively. Ultimately, the belief in the Resurrection is a leap of faith, it is a leap of faith that trumps everything Jesus did or said the previous 30 years of His life, it is what makes Christianity different from Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. And it is such an absurd thing we belive in, unlike Hinduism which mythology takes place in a mythic past this event takes place in firmly in the realm of history, or Judasim or Islam which says God cannot become incarnate or that God would die on a piece of wood would see absurd. Remember when Paul told the Athenians about the Resurrection they laughed.
 
Dameedna said:
A human claiming something happened, is not empirical. Sorry, but it’s not. Human observations count * toward* empirical evidence but it must be able to be replicated under conditions where no other factor may influence the observation.

There is no evidence empirical or otherwise, of a ressurection. There are several books, written within a culture, by those that did not even know Jesus that make up the stories of his life.

If you want to know about the history of the bible, I would suggest you start with an individual who does not have their “belief” system so closely tied to it.
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Sorry, but YES it was empirical FOR THEM. And just as I trust the “evidence” and witness of others who have been to the Grand Canyon, I don’t have to see it for myself to know that it EXISTS (ie - is TRUE). I wasn’t at the Inauguration of President Obama, but I know for FACT that it happened. The Resurrection is TRUE whether or not you or I believe it. Our belief or unbelief does not change OBJECTIVE REALITY.
 
What is the CENTRAL Truth of Christianity?

The Lord Jesus Christ!
 
Sir_Anthony said:
The Resurrection is the Central Truth of Christianity, the early Church would have faded and became another obscure sect of Judaism if it wasn’t for the Resurrection.

Even though we have the testimony of the Apostles, they would be a moo point (like the opinion of a cow, doesn’t matter) when you look at it objectively. Ultimately, the belief in the Resurrection is a leap of faith, it is a leap of faith that trumps everything Jesus did or said the previous 30 years of His life, it is what makes Christianity different from Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. And it is such an absurd thing we belive in, unlike Hinduism which mythology takes place in a mythic past this event takes place in firmly in the realm of history, or Judasim or Islam which says God cannot become incarnate or that God would die on a piece of wood would see absurd. Remember when Paul told the Athenians about the Resurrection they laughed.
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👍
 
Reminder. Lent is here. 👍

Put your belief in the Truth of Christianity into practice.
Get your bodies to Church, some way or another.

We always make time for the important things in life. What about prayer?

Whoever the devil cannot make bad, he makes busy!
He makes them too busy – – to pray – to reflect – to spend time with God.

If you are too busy to pray – you are too busy!

Jesus, truly present in the Catholic Eucharist, is the same Jesus Who, in the garden of His agony, asked: “Could you not keep watch for one hour?” Mark 14: 32-42

Blessings,
granny

Jesus Christ died for all humanity – that means you and me.
 
jkiernan56 said:
I’m curious to know what other people think is the central TRUTH of Christianity.

A better question I would like to ask is … “How do you know it is the central truth of Christianity from your own life experience?”

I will start by saying that I think the central truth of Christianity is the Resurrection of Christ. St. Paul says that if Christ did not rise from the dead, you are still in your sins and that we are the “greatest of fools.” Since we believe and know that Christ is Risen and Alive … through His love and grace He is changing people’s lives …is changing my own life for the good.

Too many people get lost in the forest because of all trees. This central truth of Christianity I believe is the center and starting point of our faith. Some people might say the central truth is knowing who Christ is as a Person … I’m just interested what others might say on this matter.

And to answer the second question about how I know this is the central truth of Christianity from my own personal life experience … that Christ is Risen … that He is Alive … I would like to think and reflect on this a little more before I respond to it.
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That Jesus is the Son of God,
 
Dameedna said:
Granny,

I’m sorry but there is absolutely no reason to believe that the “friends” who were most presumably Jewish, wrote the stories in the way you’ve interpreted them. Many theologians read them very differently, and they are allowed to share it, unlike catholic theologians.

No matter which way you want to look at it, you are relying on human beings, very failable…and very ignorant at the time of the writings.

Have you ever tried to describe a “god” experience and felt like a complete dolt while doing it? “Oh the majesty of the ecstacy of the absolute beauty of my realization of my own destiny within the christ of my being and the absolute purpose upon which I was created oh the awe I feel…”…yadda yadda yadda.

Humans…try to describe events that shape them, and they use human words. Imagine Jesus…and his impact. What words, would possibly describe it? Only the words they knew
  1. Virgin births, were traditionally used as an indication toward the divinity of the human involved. Many myths of old times claimed virgin births.
  2. Ressurection of the dead . Traditionally this was used to describe a human whose words , deeds, and teachings were so great that they surpassed their own death.
  3. Miracles were used to describe the immense understanding gained by the humans teachings and so were considered miraculous, as in a wisdom given, not gained
and on and on.

The truth behind the bible, is a human truth. It is about our history and about a few humans that rose above the ordinary and changed forever how humans view themsevles.

If people need virgin births and dead men walking for their proof, then so be it. But their faith…is in a story and a book. It is not…in God, the essence of life that these teachers tried to tell us about.

Cheers

You don’t have to take them literally 🙂
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Your reasoning is circular. The Incarnation and the Resurrection could not happen because humanly speaking they could not happen. But you also seem to hold the modernist view that the men of that time were more credulous than people today. Yet the philosophers to whom Paul spoke in Athens were as skeptical as you. Still even the skpetics of the age were more open to “wonders” than are our modern skeptics.
They did not have the catch all explanation of anything unsual.
which is that science eventually will have an answer to it. This despite the fact that science shades into mystery at every turn.
As Feynman noticed, reality seems to yield to a relative handful of equations, but…
 
jkiernan56 said:
I’m curious to know what other people think is the central TRUTH of Christianity.

A better question I would like to ask is … “How do you know it is the central truth of Christianity from your own life experience?”

I will start by saying that I think the central truth of Christianity is the Resurrection of Christ. St. Paul says that if Christ did not rise from the dead, you are still in your sins and that we are the “greatest of fools.” Since we believe and know that Christ is Risen and Alive … through His love and grace He is changing people’s lives …is changing my own life for the good.

Too many people get lost in the forest because of all trees. This central truth of Christianity I believe is the center and starting point of our faith. Some people might say the central truth is knowing who Christ is as a Person … I’m just interested what others might say on this matter.

And to answer the second question about how I know this is the central truth of Christianity from my own personal life experience … that Christ is Risen … that He is Alive … I would like to think and reflect on this a little more before I respond to it.
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I think the central truth of Christianity is the Ressurection of Christ as Lord. From my personal experience, it’s what makes Christianity really tick and probably takes the most amount of faith to acccept. Without the Ressurection, my faith would be based on something less than perfect. If I did not know that Christ was ressurected, I could still hope that he was, but wouldn’t get the same benefits that I do really knowing this truth as established and real.
 
ready said:
I think the central truth of Christianity is the Ressurection of Christ as Lord. From my personal experience, it’s what makes Christianity really tick and probably takes the most amount of faith to acccept. Without the Ressurection, my faith would be based on something less than perfect. If I did not know that Christ was ressurected, I could still hope that he was, but wouldn’t get the same benefits that I do really knowing this truth as established and real.
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Amen !!! 🙂
 
The central truth of Christianity, the one true church founded by Christ, is The Eucharist, The Blessed Sacrament, Christ’s Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, our true food and true drink. When we have the Eucharist we need nothing else. The Eucharist is Christ’s death and resurrection consecrated at mass by Christ Himself.

Eddie Mac
 
Eddie_Mac said:
The central truth of Christianity, the one true church founded by Christ, is The Eucharist, The Blessed Sacrament, Christ’s Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, our true food and true drink. When we have the Eucharist we need nothing else. The Eucharist is Christ’s death and resurrection consecrated at mass by Christ Himself.

Eddie Mac
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I absoultely agree with you. However, we pretty much stand alone.
 
Eddie_Mac said:
The central truth of Christianity, the one true church founded by Christ, is The Eucharist, The Blessed Sacrament, Christ’s Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, our true food and true drink. When we have the Eucharist we need nothing else. The Eucharist is Christ’s death and resurrection consecrated at mass by Christ Himself.
Eddie Mac
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Granny and Eddie,

I don’t think you stand alone. In fact, the Eucharist is the Risen Christ. The Eucharist declares that Christ is Risen!!! Without the Resurrection, there would be no Eucharist. 🙂
 
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