Category Archives: History

the hedonist king sardanapalus

Posted on October 19, 2013 by christopher fisher

In Athenaeus’ Banquet of the Learned, we read about a hedonist King named Sardanapalus, a somewhat legendary figure. While other historians write of him, Athenaeus seems to provide a complied account including variants of Sardanapalus’ death. Sardanapalus, by all accounts, … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Human Nature | 2 Comments

a gnostic Jesus

Posted on October 14, 2013 by christopher fisher

The Gospel of Thomas was discovered in the Nag Hammadi library, a collection of gnostic texts discovered in 1945. Most scholars date the original Gospel of Thomas to the middle of the second century. One of the most interesting facets … Continue reading →

Posted in Gnostics, History, Jesus, Mystery Cults, Omnipresence, Theology | 1 Comment

anarchy in the walled city

Posted on October 11, 2013 by christopher fisher

All this intensity of random human effort and activity, vice and sloth and industry, exempted from all the controls we take for granted, resulted in an environment as richly varied and as sensual as anything in the heart of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Goverment, History, Human Nature, Standard of Living, Trade | Leave a comment

mencken on greek philosophy

Posted on October 2, 2013 by christopher fisher

From A Mencken Chrestomathy: Is it seriously argued that Plato was the most enlightened Greek of his age? Then it may be argued with equal plausibility that Upton Sinclair has been the most enlightened American of this one. Item by … Continue reading →

Posted in Greek History, History, Theology | Leave a comment

josephus on the pharisees sadducees and essenes

Posted on September 29, 2013 by christopher fisher

Here is Josephus (37AD-100AD) talking about the trends in Judaism around the time of Christ. Pay attention to the afterlife, fate, and salvation: Now, for the Pharisees, they live meanly, and despise delicacies in diet; and they follow the conduct … Continue reading →

Posted in Church History, History, Theology | 1 Comment

communism in acts

Posted on September 29, 2013 by christopher fisher

Karl Marx summed up Communism with the phrase: From each according to his ability, to each according to his need. Communism is the principle that people pool resources and the resources are then distributed according to people’s needs. People have … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Dispensationalism, Economics, History, Human Nature, Theology | 3 Comments

mortality and the western mindset

Posted on September 28, 2013 by christopher fisher

There is a very interesting article on the blog Experimental Theology in which the author discusses the difference between educated Western sensibilities and those of prison inmates. I’ve read some of the most scandalous passages in the bible to men … Continue reading →

Posted in God, Greek History, History, Human Nature, Morality, Standard of Living, Theology | 1 Comment

neglected verses – John 2 15

Posted on September 26, 2013 by christopher fisher

Joh 2:15 When He [Jesus] had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. The picture of Jesus that … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Church History, Gnostics, History, Jesus, Neglected Verses, People, Theology | 1 Comment

the gnostic view of God

Posted on September 22, 2013 by christopher fisher

From the Gnostic manuscript, The Sophia of Jesus Christ: The Savior said: “He Who Is is ineffable. No principle knew him, no authority, no subjection, nor any creature from the foundation of the world until now… For he is immortal … Continue reading →

Posted in Calvinism, Gnostics, God, History, Theology | Leave a comment

understanding galatians chapter 1 – part 1

Posted on September 2, 2013 by christopher fisher

The books of the New Testament are letters. This might be a hard concept for some Christians to digest. The books of the New Testament were not as much theological treatises as they were personal letters (Romans being the exception). … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Bible Critics, Dispensationalism, Ehrman, History, People, Theology | 3 Comments