Good Intentions

"I'll pray for you."

Source of Bible Covenant with God discovered?
by D.M. Murdock

Archaeologists working in Turkey have unearthed an Assyrian tablet dating to around 670 BCE that "could have served as a model for the biblical description of God's covenant with the Israelites." What this fascinating discovery suggests, of course, is that the Bible tale of a divine pact does not represent "history" or a "factual" event, but is instead a fictional rewrite, borrowing or plagiarism of this older Assyrian treaty.

Over the centuries, many Bible critics, minimalists and mythicists have asserted that much of the Old Testament constitutes not factual history but a rehash of ancient myths and traditions dating to before the founding of the Jewish kingdom. This new find apparently adds more evidence to that theory, and it is quite refreshing that both the scholars and the media are spelling out clearly this possible "borrowing," without prejudice in favor of bibliolatry or upholding unprovable matters of faith.

Ancient treaty resembles part of the Bible

Canadian archeologists in Turkey have unearthed an ancient treaty that could have served as a model for the biblical description of God's covenant with the Israelites.

The tablet, dating to about 670 BC, is a treaty between the powerful Assyrian king and his weaker vassal states, written in a highly formulaic language very similar in form and style to the story of Abraham's covenant with God in the Hebrew Bible, says University of Toronto archeologist Timothy Harrison.

Although biblical scholarship differs, it is widely accepted that the Hebrew Bible was being assembled around the same time as this treaty, the seventh century BC.

"Those documents...seem to reflect very closely the formulaic structure of these treaty documents," he told about 50 guests at the Ottawa residence of the Turkish ambassador, Rafet Akgunay.

He was not necessarily saying the Hebrews copied the Assyrian text, substituting their own story about how God liberated them from slavery in Egypt on the condition that they worship only Him and follow His commandments.

But it will be interesting for scholars to have this parallel document.

"The language in the [Assyrian] texts is [very similar] and now we have a treaty document just a few miles up the road from Jerusalem."...

Notable is the fact "it is widely accepted that the Hebrew Bible was being assembled around the same time as this treaty," i.e., during the 7th century BCE. The case for this "late" dating of the Old Testament's compilation - with a significant part of it also written later, after the Jews' "Babylonian Exile" (597-538 BCE) - has been made by Israeli archaeologists, including and especially Israel Finkelstein in The Bible Unearthed.

Although the article states that the archaeologist Timothy Harrison "was not necessarily saying the Hebrews copied the Assyrian text, substituting their own story about how God liberated them from slavery in Egypt," it is nonetheless raising that very issue in a manner which breaks with the centuries-old tradition of bending all finds in the "Holy Land" and other places of biblical interest to fit the Bible, in attempts to prove the "Good Book" as "history." It is obvious that this sort of bibliolatry appeasement from the more scientific segment of society is losing ground precisely because of such discoveries - and the implication of this one is a doozy.

No historical covenant with God?

It needs to be emphasized that this intriguing development concerns not just any biblical event but the very covenant between God and the Israelites - here indicated as not something supernatural that actually occurred but, rather, as mere human propaganda based on older texts from other cultures. This discovery, therefore, would essentially negate the basic premise of the Old Testament: To wit, that the Hebrews, Israelites and Jews are the "chosen people" of the Lord of the universe.

Needless to say, for those of us who have been stating as much for many years - and getting pilloried for our efforts - this archaeological find is very exciting, as it adds to the growing body of hard, scientific evidence that the Bible is not "God's Word" but a manmade cultural artifact designed for propagandistic purposes.

Furthermore, as the Old Testament is thus apparently in significant part a rehash and rewriting of the traditions and myths of other cultures, so does the New Testament story of Jesus Christ represent a remake of the mythical motifs of pre-Christian cultures, combined with OT scriptures serving as "blueprints" for the gospel tale's creation.

Original Article


The road to Hell is paved with good intentions!
by Jake Jones

Atheists don't believe and agnostics are not sure. However, they feel the need to tell Christians just how wrong they are about the Bible, creation, prophecy and everything else about Christianity. In reality, atheists just don't get it, they haven't figured out that if they allow Jesus into their heart, they will see more clearly.

Are they dense? No! Just unwilling to look at reality, the truth and fact of archaeological digs in the middle east and history itself. They consistently tell Christians that they are wrong! They simply must always be right! Atheists can’t see the forest for the trees. Atheists simply don't want anyone or anything telling them how to live their lives with the exception of government. For some strange reason they are more than willing to toe the mark for government. Uncanny!

Most believe that the atheists are good intentioned people who are kind, generous and have the best of intentions for their work in trying to disprove Christianity. The problem with that is that "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions".

Christians believe the Bible to be the perfect, divinely inspired word of God himself. For some reason, atheists just can't get their head around that idea. Oh my, they say, a book that was written 2,000 years ago just can't be accurate; while science has proven a substantial number of Biblical incidents, locations, buildings, wars, famine and more. Check out the accuracy of the Bible here.

Using scientific theory to disprove the Bible is like using gasoline to put out a fire. The reverse of that would be using the Bible to prove the existence of UFO’s, it can’t be done! By using scientific theory to disprove the Bible and Christianity, atheists only create more questions for themselves, but atheists would never admit that.

There are many things that science, scientists and yes, even NASA have discovered which have helped mankind, but Atheists seem to have a mental block about the reality of the real truth about who is/was responsible for even their own individual existence. However, they are more than willing to put their trust in some guy named ‘Charlie’ Darwin who wrote a book titled “On the Origin of Species” or what is commonly knows as the Theory of Evolution 150 years ago this year. But, good old' Charlie was rather lame in his execution of his investigation.

The Bible is filled with witnesses to the events described in it. Additionally, it is filled with witnesses to prophecy; both to prophecy as it was being fulfilled, as well as witnessing the Prophet giving the message, but Atheists are not willing to believe, it’s just a fairy tail to them.

The understanding of true Christianity is something that Atheists will never grasp until that proverbial light comes on. Prayerfully, that proverbial light comes on in time!

Note to all atheists: The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.

Original Article


A while ago I read something a Christian actually wrote, saying that 'just being a good person is not enough!' [to be saved]. Really sums it up for me. The road to Hell, in this world or otherwise, is indeed paved with good intentions. And whose 'good intentions' have helped to pave the road to Hell, historically?

(Just for the LMAO factor...)