The Bible as fiction? No, and you can check it out
The Bible as fiction? No, and you can check it out
EDITOR:
In the Nov. 13 letter titled, "An evolving story," the writer ponders the question, "Is it possible that the Bible is the most popular piece of fiction ever?" The answer is, "not a chance!" Not only is the Bible the word of God, but it was from the beginning, is alive, eternal, sweeter than honey, plenary, infallible, immutable, revealed, inspired, and more powerful than any two-edged sword!
The Christian walk is a walk of faith in which the believer trusts in the evidence of the invisible God as seen with the eyes of the heart. Some of us are like Doubting Thomas, we need to touch God with our hands before we believe in our heart.
There is an abundance of tangible evidence out there for those of us who have been manipulated by secular propaganda and need to touch the wounds before they believe, but salvation still comes down to a choice, a leap of faith in response to the gift our God has given us in the Son. The biographical and archeological evidence supporting the historic Jesus alone would take several pages just to document. The eyewitness testimony documented in the gospel and early creeds such as 1 Cor 15 which reports that 500 persons witnessed the resurrected Jesus bear unmistakable earmarks of accuracy and cannot be explained away by legendary invention.
The harmony of the four Gospels on essential facts coupled with divergence on some details, lends historical credibility to the accounts recorded. Compared with other ancient documents there is an unprecedented number of new testament manuscripts that can be dated extremely close to the original writing. We have better historical documentation for Jesus than for the founder of any other ancient religion. Over 39 ancient sources have been documented collaborating more than 100 facts concerning Jesus' life, teaching, crucifixion and resurrection including seven secular sources.
Archeological findings have enhanced the new testament's credibility. No discovery has ever disproved a single biblical reference.
Today's public schools try to pass off Darwin's theory of evolution as a truth, but won't permit Intelligent Design which now has more supporting evidence and is supported by many credible scientists. Our forefathers intended the first amendment of the constitution to safeguard our freedom of religion not to enforce freedom from religion.
NEIL B. HAGAN
Warren
X The writer is the deacon of the House of Prayer, United Holy Church of America.
Don't judge people who have 'invisible' handicaps
EDITOR:
A few weeks ago there was a letter in your column from a gentleman who wrote about people with handicap parking permits. There were a few statements that he made that were quite offensive to me. I have one of those permits and am probably one of those people that he sees walking from my car without a cane, wheelchair or walker.
I suffer from chronic pain associated with a very severe back problem and although at this time I can walk most of the time unassisted, there are days that I have to use a wheelchair. Just because a person can walk unassisted at times does not mean that they do not have a right to a permit. There are all kinds of handicaps that can make it difficult for people to get from one place to another. At the same time if I am having a particular good day, I will not park in a handicap space.
As far as his statement that doctors give these permits to just anybody, I do not believe that for a minute. My doctor had to fill out detailed paperwork and also write me a prescription before I received my permit. You also need medical reports that show the nature of your handicap.
My point is that just because some people can walk unassisted without a cane, walker or a wheelchair does not mean that they do not suffer from some form of a handicap. The letter writer should walk in my shoes for a day before he makes such blanket statements. We should concentrate more on the people who do not have permits and still use a handicap parking space.
MARY ROSENBERGER
Struthers