I have my own view on the Bible. I the original Bible, especially quotes from Jesus, was a true documentation, if said in Aramaic. But while translated intro Greek - and then from Greek into English - many passages became pretty nonsencial. I once wrote here my view that "son of God" means no more no less than simply "human". Similar thing might have happened here with the pigs and the daemons. I think the "possessed with daemons" human was simply a mentally ill person - and I also think Jesus had a gift for some kind of hypnosis, able to hypnotize both humans and animals without making them relax. So, with hypnosis technique, he made the "possessed" person look sane and make the pigs run down into the water.
"I think the original Bible...." in my second sentence... Bahhhhhhhh
Actually, all monotheistic religions have the same God. Names are different, but the "description" and "role" of God is everywhere the same.
I think that the Greeks really added a lot elements from their original religion into Christianity, such as the belief of Heaven and Hell (Mt. Olympus and Hades)
The main difference between Heaven/Hell and Olympus/Hades belief is that while people were believed to get to Olympus/Hades immediately after death, they are believed to go to heaven/hell only AFTER the Last Court. Nowhere in the Bible I found a description of what happens with the soul between person's death and the Last Court.
Actually when it comes to Judaism i can call myself a "semi-insider" (my own religion is partially based on it) but I never heard of ANY afterlife conception in the Judaism.
Not really. When the Messiah comes, it will be simple eternal peace on earth, everybody will start to believe in God (no judgment for non-believers, the belief will suddenly become something clear) and the Third Temple will be built. No battle of God against Devil, which is the Christian variant.
The "Judgment Day" is a pure Christian concept, it is mentioned only in the Matthew Evangelium and in the Book of Revelation.
Actually in Judaism dead people will become alive after the Messiah's coming - if they followed the Seven Laws of Noah - but that is it all. Who didnt follow it, will simply remain dead.
I'm sure I'll hear what you all think,
but the fact that Christianity is not founded on good > evil
makes it unique compared to religions that depend on good > evil
Not founded on good>evil? The whole Apocalypse is a battle of good and evil , with a time of the rule of evil before good beats it. And it is unique for Christianity - while ancient religions said a similar battle took place in the past, Christianity says, it will take place in the future.
The "son of God" concepts originates from Jesus' constant referring to God as "my Father in Heaven". But since the main Prayer is "Our Father" - it's clear that God is "Father" of all humans, Jesus one of them.
The word for "son" in Aramaic also meant "similar to....". "Son of God" or "Son of Man" can be also interpreted as "God-like" (which are all humans according to Genesis) and "manlike" (i.e. a man, compare with the English word "humankind" for humanity).
If 100% of poopulation had the same religion, separating of church and state is not needed. But this codition is given only in Vatican....
I would point out that the literal biblical answer to both questions is "no."
Actually the Bible doesn't give a direct answer to any of both questions. While the second one is indirectly answered with "no" (see creation), the first question is not answered, whether directly or not. Or can you quote a place where the Bible says the Earth would be flat?
How about oppression without domination? Think of apartheid in the South Africa before 1994.
Well, the whites were in a clear minority, something like 10% of population...
Actually no, all monotheistic gods have MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE CHARACTERISTICS.
The all can't be right.
Examples? Like loving and punishing in Christianity? Well, one can love and punish (or do parents never punish their children?)
The first post was taken in complete context. Demons back then actually did exist, and they still do. However, a lot of people were killed because of the ignorance of many others who took those with mental illnesses as demon possessed.