John Loftus: If God Knows How to Get My Attention Why Doesn’t He Do So?

This will be my REALLY lazy post of the day.

I’ve started several entries talking about John Loftus over at “Debunking Christianity” blog. An entry today asks: If God Knows How to Get My Attention Why Doesn’t He Do So?.

In it, he discusses a recent interaction with a “bible-thumping Christian.” The post stands out, but a lot of Loftus’ do. I haven’t looked further into his claims that a religion professor at some college uses his book as a textbook. But if it’s true, it’s kind of cool.

In the post, he says this about his conversation with said bible thumper:

“Don’t quote the Bible to me. Just think about what you’re saying. Does the Holy Spirit know how to get my attention?” He said that “it depended on whether I reject the Spirit or not.” “But even if I rejected it can the Holy Spirit get my attention anyway, like what supposedly happened to Paul who was so hard-hearted that he was even persecuting Christians? Can he get my attention like his supposedly got Moses’ attention with a burning bush? Can he get my attention like he did with Gideon, or many others?” Joe had to admit that I was right, “yes he knows how to get your attention.” Then I simply asked him: “If God knows how to get my attention why doesn’t he do so? It’s not that I don’t want to believe. I am open to the evidence just like I’m open to the evidence that there is a tunnel in the town of Orland. It’s just that I cannot believe. I really can’t. It not only doesn’t make sense, there isn’t enough evidence to believe these ancient stories.”

I have a lot of thoughts about this, but I thought I would post first and respond later.

Codex Sinaiticus Published Online

Page from Codex Sinaiticus (via Wikipedia)

The world’s oldest Bible, called Codex Sinaiticus, has been published online according to Telegraph UK. It’s 1600 years old — written in the time of Constantine — and “is one of the world’s greatest written treasures.” according to Scot McKendrick, Head of Western Manuscripts at the British Library.

One interesting callout in the article is that the book of Mark ends 12 verses earlier than most bibles used today, omitting the story of the resurrected Jesus. This fact is footnoted in most bibles, but many readers haven’t noticed it or recognized the ramifications of it. It’s written in the NIV bible that I’ve had since I was 12.

Another interesting callout (to me) was this:

“This 1,600-year old manuscript offers a window into the development of early Christianity and first-hand evidence of how the text of the Bible was transmitted from generation to generation. The project has uncovered evidence that a fourth scribe – along with the three already recognised – worked on the text.”

The site where it’s published is either a bandwidth hog or the whole world is checking out the site today. In the meantime, read more about it at the wikipedia article. I think the authors of the wiki have done a great job parsing the information for average folks like myself.

For further reading on the topic, I suggest “Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why” from UNC-Chapel Hill’s Bart Ehrman

(Via Cynical-C)

PUT IT WHERE YOU WANT IT (REMI GAILLARD)

This is a hilarious video from French prankster Remi Gaillard.

About Gaillard from Wikipedia:

Rémi Gaillard (born 7 February 1975 in Montpellier, France) is a French prankster. He gained attention in the French media after performing a well-documented series of pranks, including a famous appearance disguised as a Lorient football player in the 2002 Coupe de France final match where he took part in the celebrations and even greeted the then president of France Jacques Chirac. Gaillard has appeared in severalsport events, TV game shows and political rallies, normally breaking the security measures easily.

He also has several videos displaying his football skills. These videos are “Foot 2008” “Put It Where You Want It” and “Foot 2009”, in these videos he goes around the city doing tricks and making difficult shots, some however are just for the comical aspect.

Gaillard’s motto is “C’est en faisant n’importe quoi qu’on devient n’importe qui” in translation: “It’s by doing anything that one becomes anyone”.

[Emphasis mine.]

(Via Cynical-C)