Letter from Gabrellen Pfan
(Longer Web version)

Lisa Rayner may hold a degree but she is not well researched on the subject of Jesus. She is among the many liberals who prefer to present Jesus in their image rather than who he really was. Any legitimate scholar knows that Jesus was a real person. He was indeed mentioned in the historical documents of his time, twice in Josephus, also in Tacitus and Pliny the Younger. His crucifixion was one of the most momentous occasions of the time and the ancient historian Thallus mentions an extraordinary darkness on that day. "Most scholars believe" is not always a reliable indication of truth, especially in this era of relativism. Most scholars believed the sun revolved around the earth until a Bible believing, Christian scholar proved differently. In the Middle Eastern kingdoms of ancient times, the Judeo ethic of the Bible was always in contrast to the gentile cultures around them. Women were to be respected and girls were educated along with boys. Proverbs 31 of David's time, described the worthy woman as a hard worker who makes linen garments and sells them and supplies belts to tradesmen. She was to be given the products of her hand. So it's obvious that Jewish women could conduct business with men and could keep the profits of their business. ' When Jewish tribal lands were divided up, a fair share was given to the daughter if there was no male heir. Many Biblical stories involve lands owned by widows. The Jewish culture from which Jesus sprang was quite different from the surrounding cultures whose practices were offensive to God.

In the Old Testament men were admonished not to exploit women. This was in great contrast to the ethnic cultures with roots in mythological gods and oppressive belief systems. The caste system was promoted by the Hindu belief system out of which sprang Buddhism. Sidhartra Gotoma (the most famous Buddhist) [Lisa: Siddhartha Gautama] left his wife and son to search for god at a time when the Jewish culture exempted newly married men from battle duty for two years so they could provide comfort and protection for their wives and establish their homes. Arjuna got no guidance from Krishna other than to meditate and look for peace within while his countrymen were killing one another in war. Meditation is a common tool in the Eastern culture to cope with the hopelessness of their cultural problems. Meanwhile, Christians cope by building hospitals, schools, improving living conditions, feeding the poor, standing against injustice.

Contrary to Lisa's information, Priscilla is nowhere mentioned in the book of Hebrews. She is mentioned in Acts. The Gospels were written within 70 years of Jesus and within the lifetime of eyewitnesses. The names on the Gospels were unlikely characters and were not disputed whereas the names put onto the fanciful apocryphal gospels which were written much later, were chosen because they were of well-known, exemplary figures which would lend credence to their content. The writings that claim that Mary Magdalene bore Jesus a son were removed from the New Testament for good reason. They were false! Mary Magdalene did indeed have an important part in the life of Jesus and it is apparent that he was fond of her, just as he was of Martha and other women with whom he had contact. Even during Jesus' time he had many enemies who were constantly looking for something against him and a son from Mary would have made big headlines in the historical records, yet there is no mention of it. Even the Jews "could find no fault in him" so they had to trump up charges to have him crucified.

Peter made no exclusive claim to direct connection to God. Such claims were abolished by Jesus and his followers were persecuted for claiming that through Jesus every believer now had direct connection to God (Hebrews) thus eliminating the need for the Levitical Priesthood. The Bible needs to be read carefully to be understood. The reference in Galatians 3:28 that "there is no Greek or Jew or slave or freeman for you are all one in Christ Jesus," was not a blanket inclusion of mankind into God's kingdom, but rather a reference to those who had accepted Jesus as Messiah. In Matthew 12:39, Jesus addresses those who did not believe as "an evil and adulterous generation". In other places Jesus contrasts those who believed and those who did not. In John 3: 17,18, Jesus calls himself God's Son and says those who reject that condemn themselves because they reject him.

When Lisa, claims that the scriptures were heavily edited to eliminate offensive teachings, she knows not about what she speaks. If offensive teachings had been edited out of the scriptures, his followers would not have been so heavily persecuted. Jesus himself was abandoned by many when his teachings were too offensive for them and he asked his disciples if they also wanted to leave, Peter said, "Where would we go, only you have the words of life". Jesus warned his followers that just as he was hated by "the world" because he did not say what it wanted to hear, so will whose who follow him be hated. I wonder why those who "eliminated offensive teaching" overlooked this.

Paul opened the doors of the church to women and he recognized the leadership of Lydia in the church in Macedonia. Paul admonished husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself to her, so husbands should give themselves to their wives and love them as he loves his own body. These are not the words of a misogynist. There always have been, are now and ever shall be extremists in all faiths that give a wrong impression. Paul dealt with them in acts when he accused them of giving a bad name to God. And it is these extremists whom opponents of Christianity love to point to and label as "fundamentalists". In reality, fundamentalists are those who accept the fundamental tenets of the Christian faith. Just as there is probably no "typical" liberal but a wide range of people who accept the basic liberal tenets, there is no "typical" fundamentalist. In is not so much the fundamentalists who promulgate an authoritative, misogynstic platform as it is that the liberal view which, for its own benefit, continues to ; promote this as a fundamental platform. Good research debunks the idea that Jesus preached peace and non violence. He told his disciples that he did not come bring to peace on earth but to bring a sword which will set a man against his family (Matthew 10:36).

  Lisa shows a woeful lack of knowledge when see asserts that "progressive" Jewish and Muslim and Buddhists ... and others (whoever they are), promote spiritual equality for all people, equal rights for women, non violence, democracy and socially just economic systems. Muslims are some of the strongest advocates of male dominance and their basic opposition to Christian claims to God's kingdom through Isaac clashes with their own claims through Ishmael sets them up to view Christians as perpetual enemies. Their very name means "doing God's will" and that includes Jihad violence. Democracy is not compatible with the Buddhist system which, according to Sidhatra's teachings, recognizes various stages of spiritual excellence achieved through the performance of many obscure rituals until one arrives at the state of Nirvana. They merely transfer the caste system from the physical to the spiritual realm. Jesus himself was not hostile to a monetary system He gave explicit instructions to render unto Cesar that which belonged to Cesar.. .and with that he gave the Romans the tax money due them. He did recognize man's capability to use the system in a corrupt way, but he did not condemn the system.

  I am disappointed that Lisa uses her bright mind so poorly.

Gabrellen Pfan
Flagstaff