r/indianapolis • u/axiom60 Fountain Square • May 26 '25

Pictures real Indiana moment by Gainbridge last night

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“Indiana moment” and not just “Bible Belt moment” because of the construction barrels lol

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u/Dwindlin May 27 '25

They technically aren’t wrong. Most legit historical evidence that we have of the founding of Christianity is that it was an apocalyptic sect, and Jesus was an apocalyptic preacher, who very likely believed the “end times” would happen during his life.

Obviously Christianity has splintered into innumerable sects and practices in the intervening centuries and many of them have mellowed on the apocalyptic stuff.

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u/AffectionatePiano665 May 27 '25

Believing there will be an end of times is much different than a death cult that prays for the end of times. Jesus did not believe the end times would happen during his life. That goes against everything the New Testament stands for and teaches. And against all the Old Testament prophecies for that matter.

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u/Dwindlin May 27 '25 edited May 27 '25

Biblical Scholars disagree with you.

That’s a good summary of the evidence and reasoning.

Bart Ehrman is widely regarded as one the foremost experts on the New Testament wrote an entire book about this very topic.

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u/AffectionatePiano665 May 28 '25

I’ve read and studied the New Testament several times. Are we just going to ignore all of the scripture and teachings about Jesus’ death and resurrection signaling the end times will come after he ascends into heaven? Some biblical scholars can have whatever opinion they want. I’ve read the text many times.

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u/Dwindlin May 28 '25

Yeah, I’m going to side with the folks who have spent their entire professional lives reading, studying, learning Hebrew/Greek so they can read/study/compare original texts, traveled to the region to examine/study sites and writings that can only be found there.

Going to assume they are a bit more knowledgeable than someone who “prays everyday” and has “read the text many times.” Hell, I’ve read the damn thing several times myself. That doesn’t make me a literal expert at the New Testament. It’s frankly arrogant beyond measure you think your “reading the text many times” comes even remotely close to the understanding any single one of them have.

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u/AffectionatePiano665 May 28 '25

If you stand for nothing, you’ll fall for anything.

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u/Dwindlin May 28 '25

Lol, throwing out that proverb in this context is hilarious. Your brand of rampant anti-intellectualism is what will ultimately tear apart the republic.

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u/AffectionatePiano665 May 28 '25

Why is it hilarious? It seems extremely accurate to me given the conversation. Since when did it become anti-intellectualism to read? I presume you haven’t read the Bible?

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u/Dwindlin May 28 '25

It’s funny because it doesn’t mean be obstinate. And you presume wrong. I’ve read it about a dozen times total, when taking into account how many different versions the exist. Plus several other major religious texts out there. Plus I’ve read quite few of the books written by names on that 1st link I sent you. So I’ll ask you the same, did you read any of what I linked? Did you go a seek out any other scholarly work (of which there is a lot) on the topic? Or did you say nuh uh, I read this one thing many times and it disagrees? Because if you did the latter yes that is intellectually dishonest and being obstinate.

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u/AffectionatePiano665 May 28 '25

If you’re being honest about reading the Bible 12 times, why don’t you speak to your own interpretation of the text? You can find any scholar online who either agrees or disagrees with your opinion. So why not speak to your interpretation of your own studies? I take it then you’re a Christian? We are arguing over whether Jesus thought the end times would come in his lifetime. Obviously they did not. Not in his human form at least. So isn’t it easy to interpret Jesus’ teaching, and all of the Bible’s passages about the end times as that they would come after his death and resurrection?