Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Homosexual act

2008-02-20T21:02:04Z

Smek:

The term '''homosexual act''' can be applied to any romantic or erotic interaction between persons of the same sex.

Attitudes towards such acts vary, subjectively, from culture to culture, and from individual to individual. We find references and records of sexual relations between persons of the same sex in almost every human civilization throughout history.

A number of countries prohibits Homosexual acts and in case of violation severe punishment follows.

Homosexual acts are forbidden by some religious texts such as the [[Bible]] and the [[Qur'an]].

[[Category:Homosexuality]]

Gospel of Thomas

2008-02-19T22:43:09Z

Smek:

The '''Gospel of Thomas''' is a unique apocryphal work that contains 114 verses of brief sayings attributed to [[Jesus]]. There are some parallels to the [[New Testament]] [[Gospels]], and some areas that are new. It's named as a gospel in the last of the 114 verses.

For many centuries, no surviving text was known. A complete [[Coptic]] text of the Gospel of Thomas was among those discovered in 1945 at [[Nag Hammadi]] in [[Egypt]]. The Gospel of Thomas is dated by international scholars to before the 2nd Century:

"The oldest of the greek remains of The Gospel of Thomas is considered to be before the year 200, but based on the formulations of these Jesus-sayings, the origin of The Gospel of Thomas must be dated far earlier, indeed some of the sayings might rely on a tradition, older than other parts of the New Testament." (Søren Giversen: Thomasevangeliet, p.6. My translation)

Shortly after its discovery in 1945 it was considered gnostic writing, but today it's regarded either non-gnostic or as a work with just a few weak traces of gnostic thought.

Most of the sayings begin or contains the words: 'Jesus said'

Logion 6:

6. His disciples asked him and said to him, "Do you want us to fast? How should we pray? Should we give to charity? What diet should we observe?"

Jesus said, "Don't lie, and don't do what you hate, because all things are disclosed before heaven. After all, there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and there is nothing covered up that will remain undisclosed."

-----

The Gospel of Thomas is not recognized as an authoritative text by any [[Christian]] denominations, but fascinates Biblical scholars who try to piece together its role in the workings of early Christianity.

The Gospel of Thomas was rejected by [[Cyril of Jerusalem]], an early theologian and [[Doctor of the Church]]. [[Hippolytus]] and [[Origen]] likewise make mention of a gospel of Thomas as not having biblical authority. At the Second Council of Nicaea in 787 the Gospel of Thomas was rejected which shows the Gospel still is influential at that time. Even in 11.th century it is mentioned.

==External Links==

http://www.webcom.com/gnosis/naghamm/gosthom.html

http://www.tektonics.org/qt/thomasgospel.html

Debate:Did God create evil?

2008-02-19T21:11:54Z

Smek: /* No */

Of course God made everything, but man sinned and that means evil came into the world by one man. Actually [[Satan]] sinned first but you could say that God created the opportunity for him to sin. Why do you think an omnipotent, omiscient God allowed Satan to rebel in the first place?
Better yet, why do you think God didn't just start over after Adam and Eve ruined his plans for a perfect society? [[User:StevenM]] Oct 20 2007 18:10

In terms of Adam and Eve you really have to ask where was god when they were talking to the talking snake. Also the basic logic being that if god made man and man sins then it would be the biproduct of god. [[User:Concretemuncher]]

One of the greatest gifts God gave his intelligent creations (angelic or human) was the capacity of free will ... the ability to make choices and to serve Him out of love and desire. Blaming God for the choices made by intelligent people would be like blaming parents who provide the best environment for their child, including an abundance of love and ensuring that nothing is lacking - including a positive purpose in life, and whose child then becames a criminal. The problem is not with the parent ... it is with the child. James 1:14-15 warns that sin is the result of someone allowing an improper desire to develop. Satan wanted the worship of humans, Eve wanted to be like God (able to independently decide what is good and bad), and Adam valued being with his wife more than obedience to God.

* God himself acknowledges his ability to foreknow the future. (Isaiah 46:10) Apparently He chooses to be selective when he uses the ability as is evidenced in other Bible accounts (e.g.., the test of Abraham's faith re: Isaac (Genesis 18:19; 22:11, 12)) and the fact that He extends the opportunity to ''all'' mankind to be reconciled to Him. (Acts 17:30, 31) It would be grossly unfair of God to invite ''all'' mankind to repent if He already ''knew'' which ones would not succeed.
** By selectively using his foreknowledge, God dignifies each of us with the opportunity to prove ourselves loyal to Him and provide an answer to Satan's challenge (Proverbs 27:11) and has the ability to find joy in His own life. Consider how boring your life would be if you knew every facet (the good, the bad and the mundane) of how others would treat you. What might seem advantageous to begin with would quickly grow dull.
* Why not start over after the rebellion in Eden? Satan called God a liar and challenged God's sovereignty (His ''right'' to rule), implying that mankind would be better off without God's rulership. Wiping out the three rebels at that time would not have answered the questions raised by Satan in a setting viewed by millions of angels.
** So God has allowed both Satan and mankind the opportunity to prove whether or not they can successfully rule independently of His guidance. (Jeremiah 10:23) At the same time he has made arrangements to allow those that want to serve Him an opportunity to learn about him (the Bible), to come into an approved relationship with him (the sacrifice of Christ Jesus) and enjoy the prospect originally offered to Adam & Even (eternal life in paradise on earth).
** Not to be overlooked is the fact that God immediately provided a means by which he would undo the effects of this rebellion. In the Bible's first prophecy (Genesis 3:15) God foretold that he would provide a Seed that would crush Satan (Romans 16:20). 1 John 3:8 tells us that Christ was made manifest to break up the works of the Devil. In short, there is no evil act that has been done or can be done that will not be undone. Isaiah 65:17 foretells that the "former things will not be called to mind" and Revelation 21:1-5 promise an end to tears, death, mourning, outcry and pain.
[[User:Brentleigh]]

I believe God ALLOWED evil to exist but did not CREATE it. He allowed Satan to rebel and for evil to exist in order that God be glorified. It's hard for mere mortal man to fathom such a concept. Without evil, Christ would not have needed to come to earth and die on the cross for the salvation of man. But in the end, God will become the ultimate victor, Satan will be destroyed, and God will be glorified for all eternity. --[[User:Watchman|Watchman]] 23:27, 8 January 2008 (EST)

== No ==
...but he created [[Liberal|Liberals]]. (poor attempt at fun by [[User:Leopeo|Leopeo]] 14:51, 10 December 2007 (EST))

God created evil, God created Islam, god created atomic bombs, stem cells, abortion - he/she/it created everything