Sav on Saturday

Alright, when I say that this post will be short, I actually mean it this time! lol

I don't have a lot new to add to my discussion from last week (I covered a lot between the post and my comment on it). Suffice to say that I'm questioning the value of reading the Bible literally. I do not believe the Gospels were necessarily meant to convey historical truths as much as they were meant to convey the mysteries of the God-experience the early Christians found in Jesus. (Read "Jesus for the Non-Religious" by John Shelby Spong for information about how the Gospels follow liturgical patterns).

Additionally, the earliest texts on the resurrection were from Paul, and they never specifically identify the resurrection as a physical, earthly one. In fact, they leave out many details about the crucifixion and "betrayal" that the Gospels, written many years later, gradually add. The resurrection, some scholars believe, was originally a spiritual one to explain how the Christ-experience didn't die with Christ. Mark, the first Gospel written, does not have any witnesses to the resurrection. The last few verses in that Gospel that identify the resurrection story are only included in later texts. As well, the Gospels do not agree on the details about the resurrection. There are many contradictions. Why is it so necessary for us to believe that Christ had a physical resurrection? I don't think it is. Early Christians were trying to avoid the sticky question of how the Christ could die. But if you see the crucifixion as a symbol of God's love, then a spiritual resurrection is perfectly adequate.

Am I making any sense at all? I feel like I'm babbling with my thoughts randomly spitting out. That's how I think sometimes. Oh - another thing. A lot of scholars believe that the "miracles" of the New Testament were actually how the early Jews tried to explain how they experienced God through Jesus. Most of the miracles and other prophesy-fulfilling details are not historically accurate, necessarily, but are the Jewish Christians' way of attributing to Jesus the signs of the Christ Messiah. They were symbolic liturgies developed, as some scholars postulate, to help the early Christians process the life and experience of Jesus.

Anywho, as for me, I start my Borders job on Tuesday. I signed a contract with the Truth Co-op (on Washtenaw) this Thursday, so I will be living on campus next year. Other than that, I've just been reading and cultivating relationships. :)