"FULFILLED PROPHESY"

This is usually the first reason given by a fundamentalist to explain his undying faith in the Bible. Whenever I ask a fundamentalist to list some fulfilled prophesies (excluding events written about in the New Testament which supposedly fulfill Old Testament prophesies), he almost always starts with the restoration of the nation of Israel in 1948.

Obviously, it would be remarkable if the Bible had prophesied Israel would become a nation in 1948. Unfortunately for the fundamentalists, however, the Bible does not make this prediction. What the Bible really says is:

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: "The Lord is our righteousness." Therefore, the days are surely coming, says the Lord, when it shall no longer be said, "As the Lord lives who brought the people of Israel up out of the land of Egypt," but "As the Lord lives who brought out and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the land of the north and out of all the lands where he had driven them." Then they shall live in their own land. (Jeremiah 23: 5-8)

Therefore thus says the Lord God: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for my holy name. They shall forget  their shame, and all the treachery they have practiced against me, when they live securely in their land with no one to make them afraid, when I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from their enemies' lands, and through them have displayed my holiness in the sight of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God because I sent them into exile among the nations, and then gathered them into their own land. I will leave none of them behind; and I will never again hide my face from them, when I pour out my spirit upon the house of Israel, says the Lord God. (Ezekiel 39: 25-29)

So what the Bible really predicts is that Israel will become a nation. The same passages also claim that Israel will become just, righteous and holy, yet that nation is hardly a bastion of the dispensationalist Christianity espoused by those who would twist these Old Testament passages to make them appear to predict the imminent return of Jesus!

The standard eschatological line among premillennial, pretribulation-rapture dispensationalists is that Jesus will return in the air to take his followers to heaven within one generation of the creation of the nation of Israel. In the sixties and seventies, a generation, for the purpose of these "last days" preachers and evangelists, was considered to be 20-30 years. Of course, that figure has been periodically increased; and now, over five decades later, a generation is, conveniently, 70 years.

Never mind the fact that very few people lived to be 70 years old in the New Testament era; the argument that follows is that the Lord knew we would average 70-year life spans in the last days! This is circular reasoning at its most daring.

Where does the Bible state that Christ will return within one generation of this event? Oddly enough, the best Biblical evidence is from a passage which predicts the ruin of Jerusalem! From Luke 21:20-32:

"When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not enter it; for these are days of vengeance, as a fulfillment of all that is written. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people; they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place."

InfoPet is the second reason given by most fundamentalists for their assurance of fulfilled Biblical prophesy. InfoPet is an identifying microchip that can be implanted in house pets, and tribulationists like to believe that such technology lays the groundwork for the "mark of the beast".

Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell who does not have the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. (Revelation 13:16,17)

But is the book of Revelation even addressing future events? Yes, according to those who hold to the futurist position; and no, according to those who take the more traditional views of Revelation: the spiritual, historicist or preterist. (Ask a fundie why he thinks the preterist view of Revelation is inferior to the futurist view.)

Fundamentalists claim to take a literal view of scripture, until they need a passage to be figurative in order to support a given opinion. The "mark of the beast" is a classic example: a literal mark of the name of a figurative beast. Why not a figurative mark, but a literal beast?

Does the book of Revelation even mention the Antichrist, that villain supposedly responsible for the mark of the beast? Not once.

This is probably a good opportunity to point out the fact that, in order to construct any model of Christian eschatology, the theologian must use passages from Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Joel, Zechariah, the synoptic Gospels, 1 Corinthians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Peter, 1 John and Revelation. God could have easily written a more coherent textbook than the Bible, especially with the eternal souls of his children at stake.

Most pre-trib rapturists think that Jesus just passed the whole rapture, seven-year-tribulation, mark-of-the-beast scenario onto his disciples before he ascended into heaven, and that the doctrine is verifiable through the scattered Old and New Testament passages. They haven't yet discovered the fact that this dispensational doctrine is less than two hundred years old! It will be a relatively short-lived heresy, compared to some of the lengthier of the past 2000 years; in 2020, Israel will have been a nation for 72 years, and very few will be clinging to the "within one generation" line. 

"ITS BEAUTY REVEALS ITSELF AS DIVINELY INSPIRED"

"The Bible reads like inspired scripture; I can feel in my heart that the breath of the Holy Spirit moved the Biblical authors to record the words of the Lord." However, this claim is made by Latter Day Saints to support the inspiration of The Book of Mormon; by Christian Scientists for Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures; by those who follow Helen Schucman and William Thetford's A Course in Miracles; or Neale Donald Walsch's Conversations With God; or the Marian prophesies of Lourdes, Fatima or Medjugorje.

Now look at the following passages and decide whether these read like inspired scripture:

"Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known a man by sleeping with him. But all the young girls who have not known a man by sleeping with him, keep alive for yourselves." (Numbers 31:17,18)

"Thus says the Lord: I will raise up trouble against you from within your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this very sun. For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun." David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." Nathan said to David, "Now the Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child that is born to you shall die." (2 Samuel 12:11-14)

He went up from there to Bethel; and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, "Go away, baldhead! Go away, baldhead!" When he turned around and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys. (2 Kings 2:23,24)

O daughter Babylon, you devastator! Happy shall they be who pay you back what you have done to us! Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock! (Psalm 137:8,9)

See, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the earth a desolation, and to destroy its sinners from it ... Whoever is found will be thrust through, and whoever is caught will fall by the sword. Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be plundered, and their wives ravished. (Isaiah 13:9,15,16)

To the others he said in my hearing, "Pass through the city after him, and kill; your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity. Cut down old men, young men and young women, little children and women, but touch no one who has the mark. And begin at my sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were in front of the house. Then he said to them, "Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go!" So they went out and killed in the city. While they were killing, and I was left alone, I fell prostrate on my face and cried out, "Ah Lord God! will you destroy all who remain of Israel as you pour out your wrath upon Jerusalem?" He said to me, "The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of bloodshed and the city full of perversity; for they say, 'The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see.' As for me, my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity, but I will bring down their deeds upon their heads." (Ezekiel 9:5-10)

Yet she increased her whorings, remembering the days of her youth, when she played the whore in the land of Egypt and lusted after her paramours there, whose members were like those of donkeys, and whose emission was like that of stallions. (Ezekiel 23:19,20)

Samaria shall bear her guilt, because she has rebelled against her God; they shall fall by the sword, their little ones shall be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open. (Hosea 13:16)

See, a day is coming for the Lord, when the plunder taken from you will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses looted and the women raped; half the city shall go into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. (Zechariah 14:1,2)

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one's foes will be members of one's own household." (Matthew 10:34-36)

Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard it. (Mark 11:13,14)

"Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26)

"Then the other came, saying, 'Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.' He said to him, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that I was a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest.' He said to the bystanders, 'Take the pound from him and give it to the one who has ten pounds.' (And they said to him, 'Lord, he has ten pounds!') 'I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them - bring them here and slaughter them in my presence.'" (Luke 19:20-27)

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. (Romans 13:1)

Women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. (1 Corinthians 14:34,35)

Let a woman learn in silence with full submission. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing, provided they continue in faith and love and holiness, with modesty. (1 Timothy 2:11-15)

Let all who are under the yoke of slavery regard their masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be blasphemed. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful to them on the ground that they are members of the church; rather they must serve them all the more, since those who benefit by their service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these duties. (1 Timothy 6:1,2)

Thomas Paine wrote:

Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and torturous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness, with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we called it the word of a demon, than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness, that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind; and, for my own part, I sincerely detest it, as I detest everything that is cruel.

And from Chad Doctorman's Why the Christian God is Impossible:

The Bible is supposedly God's perfect Word. It contains instructions to humankind for avoiding the eternal fires of hell. How wonderful and kind of this God to provide us with this means for overcoming the problems for which he is ultimately responsible! The all-powerful God could have, by a mere act of will, eliminated all of the problems we humans must endure, but instead, in his infinite wisdom, he has opted to offer this indecipherable amalgam of books called the Bible as a means for avoiding the hell which he has prepared for us. The perfect God has decided to reveal his wishes in this imperfect work, written in the imperfect language of imperfect man, translated, copied, interpreted, voted on, and related by imperfect man. No two men will ever agree what this perfect word of God is supposed to mean, since much of it is either self-contradictory, or obscured by enigma. And yet the perfect God expects the imperfect humans to understand this paradoxical riddle using the imperfect minds with which he has equipped us. Surely the all-wise and all-powerful God would have known that it would have been better to reveal his perfect will directly to each of us, rather than to allow it to be debased and perverted by the imperfect language and botched interpretations of man.

"IT IS HISTORICALLY ACCURATE"

How can we know that? The historical books of the Bible are no more or less reliable than any other ancient history books - though the most respected tend to relegate accounts of the supernatural to the status of commonly accepted myths and legends of the people. Circular reasoning tends to set in here when one claims to know that the Bible is historically accurate "because it is the word of God".

"THE BIBLE CHANGED MY LIFE"

This is no more evidence for the divine inspiration of the Bible than lack of change - or a change for the worse - would be evidence that it is not inspired. If the writings of Richard Bach or Harold Kushner changed your life for the better, would you then conclude that they were written by God?

"I BELIEVE THE BIBLE BECAUSE IT SAYS IT IS GOD'S WORD"

Texts other than the Bible claim to be divinely inspired, yet that claim holds no water with the Bible fundamentalist ... for those texts are "Satanic deceptions". The fundamentalist, at this point, will usually bring up prophesy, the beauty of the Bible's language, its historical accuracy and its ability to change lives. He's dodging the issue, but he's doing so in order to state that the other texts in question do not have those attributes.

But let's assume that, in order for any document to be considered "inspired by God", the document would at least need to make that claim. Does the Bible make that claim? Does it claim to be inspired by God?

All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16,17)

That would seem to cover it, assuming that Paul meant the Biblical books of Genesis through Revelation. But he didn't. Look at the passage in context, beginning with verse 14:

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

This is a letter from Paul to Timothy, and when Timothy was a child, the Bible consisted of the Old Testament books of Genesis through Malachi. Paul is defining "all scripture" as the books of the Old Testament, and nowhere does he claim that his own letters are inspired by God; suddenly, "all scripture", for the fundamentalist, becomes "all scripture that is, and is to come".

That statement fails to exclude books like The Imitation of Christ and The Book of Mormon from Paul's description of "all scripture". If "all scripture" is defined as "all scripture which the Lord will write before he is finished", how do we know when he is finished? The fundamentalist's response is this single verse:

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. (Revelation 22:18)

That is the verse fundamentalists use to claim that the canon of Spirit-inspired scripture is closed. Even at first glance, one has to wonder if John was referring only to the book of Revelation, and not to a collection of books which would not finally be assembled into one volume for another 300 years. And, at second glance, it is hard to miss the phrase "the words of the prophesy of this book", which again indicate that "this book" is the book of Revelation.

If one takes the "futurist view" of the book of Revelation, as is typical of most fundamentalists, one would expect John to also reveal that there was someday going to be a "New" Testament that would be added to the Old, and that this new set of books was going to include the book of Revelation, and that Revelation would be the last book of the Bible, ever.

But here are two verses the fundamentalist will never show you, as he most likely has never seen them, and because they do nothing but weaken his position:

You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of the Lord your God with which I am charging you. (Deuteronomy 4:2)

You must diligently observe everything that I command you; do not add to it or take anything from it. (Deuteronomy 12:32)

By the same standard used to prove that the canon of scripture ended with the book of Revelation, one could use Deuteronomy 4:2 and 12:32 to "prove" that the books of Joshua through Malachi, and all of the New Testament, are bogus!

Clearly, Paul's use of the term "all scripture" in 2 Timothy 3:16 is meant to indicate the books of the Old Testament. If not, then it becomes a difficult task to refute the claims of the Latter Day Saints, Christian Scientists and the Branch Davidians. However, Paul's claim cannot even support the inspiration of the Old Testament, since Paul never claims that his own epistles were inspired by God. 

Map Maker, Map Maker
by Mike Earl

Scientists and philosophers are sort of like cartographers – map makers. They observe the goings-on in the universe and then offer up theories (maps) that attempt to explain why things are the way they are. We employ these maps in an effort to better understand the world we live in and to successfully navigate our way through life.

These maps survey a variety of intellectual territories. Evolution is a map. General Relativity is a map. Solipsism is a map. Fundamentalist Islam is a map. Clearly, not all maps are created equal. To illustrate the value of a good map, I’d like to borrow an analogy used by Stephen R. Covey in his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

The Map From Hell

Imagine that you are visiting the city of Detroit for the first time. You don’t know your way around so you buy a map. There’s just one problem. This particular map is really a map of Chicago. A freak printing accident resulted in the map’s being labeled "Detroit" in error. Anyway, there you are in Detroit trying to find your way around using a map of Chicago. Should be interesting.

Let’s assume you are standing at the corner of 1st Avenue and Main Street. Let’s also assume that you are able to locate 1st and Main on your map (keep in mind that nearly every city in the U.S. has a 1st Avenue and a Main Street). According to the map, if you walk three blocks to the north you will find a library. You decide that you’d like to visit the library so you start walking. After walking the three blocks you stop and look around you. You see four bars, a bus station, and the Salvation Army – but no library. Hmmm.

Now let me embellish Covey’s analogy just a bit. Imagine that you happen upon a small, wandering cult. The members of this cult all have bogus maps just like the one you have. You share with them the frustration you’ve experienced with your map, and you suggest that there might be something wrong with the map. They seem eager to help. But rather than confirm your suspicion that there’s a problem with the map, they tell you that the map is perfectly fine.

You find this hard to believe. Still, they seem absolutely certain that there’s nothing wrong with your map. The real problem, they claim, is with you. Your attitude is all wrong. You aren’t looking hard enough, or you simply don’t understand the true nature of libraries. "Your senses can deceive you." they chant. "You must learn to have faith in the map!" At this point, Twilight Zone music starts playing in the background.

Dazed and confused you begin wandering aimlessly through the city streets. About the time you think all is lost, a perfect stranger, sensing your confusion, asks if he can help. You explain to him your dilemma and show him your map. "I don’t know what city this map is supposed to describe" the stranger replies, "but it sure as hell isn’t Detroit! Let’s get you another map."

And with that the two of you step into a nearby convenience store and pick out a new map. "We’re right here" the stranger says, pointing to spot on the new map. "You can see from the map that if you head five blocks south and two blocks east you will find a library." So off you go, and sure enough, this new map is right. You find the library. You get where you want to go. You’ve found a map you can trust. What a difference!

Popular Maps are Not Necessarily Good Maps

Imagine trying to navigate your way through life using a bogus map. Talk about confusion! Yet, I believe that’s exactly what the vast majority of people do. The most popular philosophical maps of today (the Bible, the Koran, Touched By An Angel – pick your favorite) all are highly supernatural in nature. Maps like these tell us that the world was made in six days by an invisible man, that believers in Christ will not be harmed by poisonous snake bites, that demons can posses your body … the list goes on and on.

"Ask and ye shall receive" is a popular verse (i.e., set of directions) from the Bible, the world's most popular map. But how often does this advice actually work? Ever?! How about when a believer in the biblical map asks God to heal a sick friend or loved one, but the person dies anyway. Does this mean there’s something wrong with the map? Heavens no! You didn’t pray with enough faith, or you didn’t anoint the person with the right kind of oil, or God just wanted to take this person to Heaven. The problem’s not with the map – the problem’s with you! What a frustrating way to live.

The Best Map

But all is not lost. There’s a better map out there. But it comes at a price. The price is honesty. You have to be honest with yourself. If the map you’re now using tells you there’s a library three blocks to the north and you discover that there is NO library three blocks to the north, then you have to be willing to admit that. After all, what are you going to believe? The map or reality? Remember, the role of the map is to explain reality. So when the map conflicts with reality, the map’s got to go.

The best map is one that you create yourself – one based on experience and reality, one that you can really count on. If this sounds like a daunting task, it’s not. In fact, once you rid yourself of supernatural presumption and religious dogma, you’ll find that your new map practically assembles itself. This map-building process is a natural function of the human brain - as natural as breathing and just as important.

By the way, this assembly process never ends. To me, that’s the most exciting part. You’re always learning. You’re always adding to the map. You’re always growing. And this ever-increasing understanding of the real world will add a dimension of meaning to your life that is simply unavailable to those who insist on clinging to ideas that have no foundation in reality.

©1999 Michael Scott Earl http://reasonworks.com

from Why Christians just don't get it

After reading the Bible, many people are mystified as to why grown, otherwise intelligent adults would believe that it is the direct communication or the "inspired Word" of an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-good being. To many people, it seems absolutely incredible that any reasonable person could maintain this belief in the face of our current scientific knowledge and the contemporary understanding of history, religion and mythology. To outsiders, the phenomenon of Christian belief is a puzzlement.

However, after a bit of research and reflection, the mystery is resolved. It soon becomes apparent that the whole bizarre Christian belief system is predicated, to a large degree, on two compelling ideas. The first idea is that maintaining faith in Bible claims is the most morally virtuous act one can perform and will be rewarded with an eternal life of bliss. The second belief is that doubting biblical claims represents the greatest evil imaginable and will be punished with an eternity of torture. These linchpin beliefs make it possible for Christians to accept thoroughly ridiculous biblical assertions not merely in the absence of evidence, but against the evidence-against reason.

The sanctification of "faith" and demonization of doubt short-circuits the thinking process. Since it is continually drilled into Christians' brains that faith must be maintained at all costs, anything which contradicts a Bible claim is automatically rationalized away as the arrogance of the "wise," as a ploy of Satan, or as a test of faith from God himself. So when it is explained and demonstrated to a Christian that the Bible is simply a collection of ancient writings masquerading as the "Word of God," this is dismissed as the delusion of unbelievers blinded by their sin. (See the wisdom of the world) When scientific discoveries are shown to clearly, directly and unambiguously contradict biblical pronouncements, these scientific discoveries are interpreted by the Christian as satanic trickery. If it is patiently and painstakingly evinced to the Christian that the Bible is filled from one end to the other with obscene cruelty and violence, pagan mythology and superstition, blatant contradictions, ludicrous claims and out and out stupidity, the Christian smiles in the face of this, confident that his faith is being tested by God, and that he will be rewarded accordingly in the Age To Come.

It must be understood that in the Alice-in-Wonderland Christian world view, the more difficult it is to believe in a biblical claim, the more one is glorified for believing it. Faith, believing no matter what the facts say, is the highest manifestation of moral righteousness. Developing and maintaining one's faith in the preposterous and the incomprehensible becomes the ultimate purpose of life. Tertullian's declaration, "I believe because it is impossible," is the boast of a man who celebrates his irrationality. While liberal Christians today may pay lip service to the notion of a reasonable faith, the sentiment of Tertullian's inane "I believe because it is impossible" is alive and well and continues to be spouted from church pulpits every Sunday morning: "Brethren, did not Paul say that God will make foolish the wisdom of the world, and choose that which is foolish to shame the wise of the world? Brothers and Sisters, did not JEEEZ-ZUSS tell us that unless we become as little children we will never enter the kingdom of heaven, that God has chosen to hide his light from the eyes of the wise and reveal himself to babes?" Reason and knowledge are ridiculed while biblical absurdities are held aloft as bless-ed revelation. This is how Christianity sustains itself. It is the only way that it can.

Thus the Christian faith's invisible attributes are now clearly to be seen. Behind all the sacraments and the rituals, the organ music and the angelic choirs, the praying lips and the arms thrust heavenward, the echoing preachments and the soaring cathedrals, behind all this, propping it all up, is the monstrous doctrine that gullibility and ignorance are divine. It is what makes everything else in the religion possible, be it a three-equals-one god, a talking jackass, a worldwide flood, water-walking, resurrections or, even, weekly church collections.

Please don't try to explain all this to a Christian though, for it has been most assuredly foretold that he would be mocked and persecuted for Jesus' sake by the wise of a fallen, perishing world. Yea, lo, verily, for it has been written...

from http://members.aol.com/bbu84/biblicalstupidity/faith.htm#3