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From: lab@qubix.UUCP (Q-Bick)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Why I disbelieve the Bible.
Message-ID: <1438@qubix.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 17-Oct-84 14:26:50 EDT
Article-I.D.: qubix.1438
Posted: Wed Oct 17 14:26:50 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 18-Oct-84 19:26:30 EDT
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> Mike Huybensz				...mit-eddie!cybvax0!mrh
> The new testament is largely the result of a travelling preacher, much as
> in the non-fiction movie Marjoe.  Faith healings could be staged
> occaisionally, and the big miracles always could have occurred in a previous
> town.  The apostles were the shills, the rumor spreaders, provided testimony,
> etc.  Like any other travelling show, they would perfect their stories so
> that they appealed to the audience, and get them straight so that they all
> agreed.  The resurrection was very appealing to the audience: JC thumbing
> his nose at the Roman oppressors.  Great story.  Perhaps for a while they
> paraded someone dressed up as JC until the heat was turned on: then
> conveniently JC was assumed to heaven.  Witnesses?  It's trivial to say 500
> saw JC in the last town.  Even if it wasn't JC, or even if there wasn't any
> appearence.  And why should the apostles quit after the death of JC?  Why
> let someone else pick up all those followers, when they can continue to
> provide a nice living?  Sure it's risky, but history is full of people who
> gambled lives for power/riches/authority/etc.

"Perfect[ing] their stories"? Given a choice between 'fessing up and
being thrown to the lions, how many would take the lions?
"Nice living"? YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!!!! The job description Paul
gives in II Corinthians 11 is hardly "nice living."

Many a man will die for what he believes to be true -
no man will die for what he knows is a lie.
-- 
		The Ice Floe of Larry Bickford
		{amd,decwrl,sun,idi,ittvax}!qubix!lab

You can't settle the issue until you've settled how to settle the issue.