Cliff Notes

"He left no written records concerning himself and any information about him must be gained from what other people have written."

"It is well, however, to bear in mind that none of these writings were intended by their respective authors to be regarded as sacred literature...we have good reasons for believing they were somewhat biased."

"How are these records to be evaluated? To what extent do they reveal what actually happened and to what extent do they merely indicate what the author believed to have happened?"

"...that which is human is never infallible."

Cliff Notes on the New Testament by Charles H. Patterson, Phd, department of philosophy, U of Nebraska, 1965.

"And lo, an angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Luke 2:9&10

(Simeon said to Mary) "Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." 35

"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death". Corinthians 15:26

"There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory". Corinthians 15:41

"It is sown in a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body". 44

King James Bible, 1611

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Student: (hands Buffy leaflet) Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal saviour?
Buffy: (takes leaflet) Ah, you know I meant to, and, and then I got really busy.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season Four, The Freshman

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I've always meant to read the Bible but the archaic language and the pages of waffle put me off. Today it seemed kind of fitting to take the time and have a read and a think.

I love the history of the Protestants. Any religion that uses "protest" as it's root has enormous appeal. Anne Boleyn and Katherine Parr were two queens of Henry the Eighth who encouraged Henry to break with the medieval traditions which were political not spiritual and seriously corrupt.

Passions ran high in those days. One guy was burnt at the stake for translating the Bible into English. Henry broke away from the Roman led church in order to marry Anne. Less than three years later he had her beheaded for treason. This ruthless king played a key role in the revolution that was the Reformation.

Reading the Bible could get you imprisoned or executed, right up until the reign of Elizabeth the First. Her heir, James the First of Scotland, had it translated into such a rich poetic work that modern words sound discordant.

I believe in God. I believe in miracles - especially after the births of my nephews. I believe we have souls that exist after our death. Everything else I'm still mulling over.