Today's Bible reading is John 3, in which Jesus explains to Nicodemus, "You must be born again." http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jhn&c=3&v=1&t=NLT#1

What about that guy who lived to 979 ........ he did well. I understand he had his kids when he was in his 500's. Can't we talk a bit about him?

So you're reading the bible .. daily.
Great! Why not start with the beginning instead of next to last chapter?

Mujus
Why do you keep reading something if you already know what it says?
If the Bilble was a newspaper it would be 2000 years old ....... have you any new news about Jesus or God?
regards
Nigee

Bully!

I'm having a bully day, are you having a bully day?

Thank god we live in this time.

It's a serious question
I really want to know why anybody would keep reading the same things over and over again. He doesn't have to be the Bible, it could be anything?
I suppose if you keep forgetting it you may need to remind yourself but most people already know what is in the Bible, what about other books?

Me too. Why not start reading at (in?) the beginning instead of spoiling the ending right off?

"I really want to know why anybody would keep reading the same things over and over again. He doesn't have to be the Bible, it could be anything?'

I listened to a lecture series a while back on philosophy. The lecturer made a comment about studying the great philosophers, I forget his exact words, but something to the effect of "you don't just read Aristotle or Plato and then know Artistotle or Plato, but rather you must read it many times; it is a conversation you have to have over and over again if you really want to understand the ideas". I would say for a Christian the same is true for the Bible. Or for a muslim, the Koran, for a jew the Torah etc.

@ Tao, I should have specified John Chapter 3, rather than 3 John. It's from the gospel of John, and two posts back I posted John Ch. 1, which indeed begins "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

spyman
As` I said in a previous thread re-affirmation (a statement asserting the existence or the truth of something) is important also. With so many people questioning so many aspects of religion I'm sure it's helpful for 'believers' to re-read books to help 'keep the faith'.
With all the reading material out there I do find the Bible a little dry but I know prople who have Bible classes and read to each other, I'm not talking about kids either but grown adults. I suppose it's no worse than wasting your time on a Diplomacy website

To be more specific, there's the gospel of John, and there are John's three letters, plus Revelations. This is chapter 3 from the gospel of John--and Chapter 4 is coming tomorrow morning!

Here's the link to John Chapter 4, wherein Jesus tells a Samaritan woman about living water, says he is the promised savior of Israel (the Messiah), and heals a government official's son.

http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jhn&c=4&v=1&t=NLT#1

@Mujus: If you were going to read the bible in order, why not start with genesis?

Not a complaint or anything, but I am just wondering why you chose to start with John.

Since the Bible was not written front to back by one guy (other than being singularly inspired by God), it does not have a specific order, does it? The order of the collection is made by man, and is not, in fact, chronological based upon when a given book was written.

Genisis was about creation, all the events of the old testament happened before Christ, and all the events in the new testament happened after him.

It was chronological based on the time of the events.

The Old Testament is not chronological, nor is the New Testament. That being said, yes, I get the the Old took place before the new. But, in the study of the Bible it is not necessary to go in order. John is actually a *very* good place to start a study of the Bible. "In the beginning was the Word..."

The Old Testament is about God, yes, but God of a different dispensation. The New Testament is about God's current relationship with humanity, and you can achieve salvation through the New Testament without reading the Old. Reading the Old will certainly (perhaps) help you understand God, but it is not "essential" per se to salvation.

So I just read this book and I'm 'saved'. Given salvation.
Tried that with Harry Potter. Didn't work. Prove yours.

Tim-Tim, nobody can prove it to you. You have to seek God, question all of your beliefs, have an open mind, and consider all of the evidence.

@Nigee - I know it's old news and you have had it answered, but one doesn't just read. One studies and looks for additional insights throught he Word. Hell, I read the Lord of the Rings at least once a year and always find something new in it. That's right, Tolkien is such a great writer that the depth found within his fiction is nearly as deep as the philosophy of Christ and the writings about him as coming messiah, messiah in the flesh, and as advocate for us in the afterlife. So I reread both the Bible and Tolkien. From the first I gain more insight into how to live my life, and from the latter I gain mor einsight into Professor Tolkien's life and more pleasure at the deeper elements and details of the story.

But I ask these two questions... Do you ever watch a movie asecond time or a repeat on TV or listen to a song on a radio or CD or MP3/itunes you've heard many times before? If so, why?

Draugnar
Of course I was being facetious for the simple reason if I want to load up on Christianity would I be heading for my nearest Diplomacy website ....... I think not.
But I suppose for some it's a bit like sex for an 18 year old, you get it where you can :-)
Nigee

But maybe, just maybe, you want to hear what other like minded individuals think about that excerpt. Like minded as in "they like Diplomacy and so do I" like minded.

@Nigee -- but you head to WebDiploimacy to load up on a hundred other non-diplomacy discussions.

It amazes me how completely irrational people can become - and hypocritical - when religion comes up. Suddenly, once is enough, your evil and trying to brainwash people with your opinions, you have no right to express yourself, yadda yadda yadda...and these complaints come from the same people that bludgeon us over and over again with their own personal/political/philosophical beliefs. It's rather sad, actually, how naive these people are of their own hypocrisy...and rather hilarious how predictable is the feigned outrage, and suggestions that proselytizing is somehow harmful...as if they are suddenly going to lose their mind and believe (or else they fear someone else will...thus demonstrating their own personal arrogance and somehow being stronger or more intelligent than the other sheep that might accidentally be persuaded to believe.)

At Nigee - it isn't "like sex for an 18 year old, you get it where you can" it is simply that some people enjoy the discussion (whether or not they believe) just as others enjoy discussion about politics, taxes, capitalism, Office Space, etc. After all, *most* of the world's population exercises some belief system...it isnt' some deviant idea that there is a God.

I appreciate and respect the right of people to spread the word of their particular God, I think it is great.
I have personally heard some good stuff about various Gods, they're not all bad.
If anybody has anything new to say about their particular God I'm keen to hear about it.
Nigee

Again..."if anybody has anything new to say bout their particular God..."

So....since we have *bludgeoned* politics, capatlism, socialism, etc to death, you are asking that these topics never be discussed again unless a new idea is presented? I'm trying to understand your position on when and what is to be discussed...

@Nigee

Or, better yet, you could just remove yourself from this thread. Mujus was very considerate reducing his discussion to 1 thread as was requested. There's really no need for you to demand what is said here.

abgemacht
I'll happily remove myself from this thread at your request.
Just to clarify I don't think I was demanding anything from anybody, I merely pointed out that I would be interested in anything new people had to say.
Obviously you're the boss so I'll happily do as I'm told
regards
Nigee

My take on religious discussion: I grew up in a Christian household primarily surrounded by generically "Christian" people. I frankly find some of the attitudes on here fascinating (and sad, at times). I find the questions posed to be intellectually challenging at times, and for a Christian, these discussion should cause them to study and bolster their faith....or rethink it...either of which is good.

The same goes with political discussion. I think Putin is a raving loon...but it is intriguing to see him vomit his ideas (much as I vomit my own ideas at times).

Everything in these threads gives us a unique look at, to some extent, our *global* culture, given the diversity of this site's population. It gives us a chance to interact with different age groups that we never would have the chance to talk with otherwise, as well as faiths, genders, orientations, etc. It is a *fascinating site*, particularly because I suspect the average IQ here exceeds society. So I relish the opportunity to see what people have to say about *any* topic, as it simply ads to my understanding and view of the world around me...it opens me up to new ideas...and maybe has even persuaded me on occasion....

Cherish these discussion...don't diss them.

+1