The Garden of Eden

Originally posted by Proper Knob
So it's your own 'self certified opinion' they are true then?

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
No not really, the gospels themselves are the testimony to their truthfulness.

Originally posted by Proper Knob
Again, this is your own 'self certified opinion'.

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
you think my opinion has any bearing on the veracity of the gospels?

Originally posted by Proper Knob
Go on.

Originally posted by josephw
That's all you need. If there wasn't any other word an empty tomb is all the empirical evidence needed to prove the truth about who Jesus said He is. The empty tomb proves He rose from the dead just as He said He would.

Unless one wants to be counted with the obfuscators and deny the authenticity of the record, one can only conclude that the resurrection of Jesus Christ settles forever all disputes.

Originally posted by Proper Knob
How do you know the tomb was empty?

Originally posted by josephw
I [b]do know the tomb was empty because of the reliability of the record.[/b]

Originally posted by Proper Knob
Go on. Tell me more about the 'reliability of the record' and how this pertains to an empty tomb and a miraculous resurrection. Claiming you just know it's the truth doesn't quite cut it for me.

Originally posted by josephw
You asked me how I knew that the tomb was empty and I told you it was because of the reliability of the record.

What more can one ask for?

How do you "know" anything is historically true except by reason of the reliability of the record? Eye witness accounts, personal testimony, authenticity of manuscript evidence and the scholarly work of historians a ...[text shortened]... ter record than the Bible of what is known about the history of Israel and of the life of Jesus.

Originally posted by Proper Knob
What more can one ask for? An explanation and some examples of what you mean by 'the reliability of the record for a start, and then how this 'reliability' relates to the 'empty tomb'. Form what I've read the gospel accounts don't even correlate with each other when they describe the discovery of the empty tomb.

The Garden of Eden, I think is historical. But it is also an analogy, I think, of God's desire to grow Himself in His creature man.

God created a creature within whom God could enter, mingle, unite, and grow into oneness with.

He obtains His heart's desire in the end of the Bible when the garden becomes a city.

Originally posted by sonship
Could you provide us with your two strongest examples of how the Gospels do not correspond to each other on the empty tomb?

Go right to your most prominent examples of discrepancy.

Originally posted by galveston75
For one who has no clue to much in the bible and certianly none about the trees in the garden or the principles in the bible that one is to take care of the life God gave us and that smoking is bad for you and something God would not aprove of, you sure spout off a lot and point your crooked little finger at everyone here that doesn't agree with you.
...[text shortened]... ual and upbuilding information with us to make our day enjoyable?
No? I didn't think so.......

FMF: [robbie] explicitly claimed that use of cigarettes "is forbidden in scripture".

Originally posted by galveston75
Hummm, I can't find where he said that.