Questions for Black christians of African descent

[Prodigital]

Happy this thread hasn't become a shyt storm yet.

Jesus was black. It's not that it matters, but for me in particular it makes me feel like i wasn't simply handed a white mans religion by slave masters, but that there's something more divine about how i arrived at this belief.

I read king james bible. Its full of contradiction's just like most religious books, but i like the book of matthew most.

I don't like church a whole lot, but when i go its always based around the pastor. Not the music, not the building, solely based on the amount of philosophical knowledge the sermons have. I want to walk out with a new perspective, feels great when i'm going through something in the week and the sermon somehow matches up to my struggle and i get that enlightenment.

Overall, i know religion is in general is bigger than each individual faith. I just really like the teachings and compassion of jesus, it gives me hope and following his teachings morally keeps my spirits high. Doesn't need to be more complicated than that.

 

[valet]

Well a lot of what people believe about the bible comes from interpretation. People have interperated the bible very differently over the years. Why did you choose your interpretation over others? And do you think the others are wrong?

Well, as we both agree everything needs to be interpreted. Even the paragraph you just typed I had to interpret it. But to get to the Bible. The key is that you can't take verses and apply ANY MEANING you want. Your interpretation should be able to defended. And then show the other person why their conclusion does not naturally follow from the text.

I think another key is we have to see what was the writer to trying to communicate to his audience. And some reasons are better then others. So again, I think boils down to what is your evidence for your interpretation? And are there better reasons to believe one over another? I've changed my positions on certain passages because people have provided better arguments, reasons that my interpretation was not the best. It's sorta like a court case. Providing reasons why one interpretation of the evidence is better then another. That's my take on that.

 

[Mr. Somebody]

In your opinion, what makes this good book better than others? Is it jesus?

Or i should ask, what version do you put your face in and why? What makes it better than the qu'ran or torah?
I am going somewhere with this, but i'd like a general idea of how/why a lot of us choose one system over others

The quran is a good book. The Old Testament is a good book. I dont see a problem with either of those books. What Christ taught is epic. I mean Christs teachings are a lot easier to follow than the Torah so when someone says they're turning their back on their faith i have to ask what demonic filth are they engaged in.

We choose one system over another because of how we were raised. You were brought there for a reason ultimately and when you become an adult you can make a decision to abandon that faith, choose another or keep the path. You just have to ask yourself something, "when i turned my back on my faith, did i run to the devil and and am i engaged in demonic filth" If you are engaged in demonic filth, the only thing thats changed is you dont want forgiveness and you know what, thats so demonic, friend. because we all need that, as Sinners!

 

[Mr. Somebody]

We have a good relationship. I might indulge in some extra piff from time to time but i dont go out of my way to hurt anybody

We all have vices friend so i dont really believe that. People engage in behavior that influences others or hurts the feelings of others. This is a demonic realm and forgiveness was allotted to us for that reason. Lets be honest here. If you have no need for forgiveness you are stuck in a small microcosm of self.

 

[Dusty Bake Activate]

who's the last guy...?

W. D. Fard. The guy who started started the Nation of Islam.

 

[NvrCMyNut]

Most Africans only started to convert to Christianity in the mid 20th century, christianity being forced on them by colonizers is a myth.

 

[upthere]

Well, that's a 2 part answer. Obviously, White racist lied to promote it to advantage. At the same time, people make different pictures of Jesus to look like themselves. For example this is a picture of Jesus in China. But does that lead me to believe they lied about him in the Bible. No.

Are there any particular verses or stories that give you faith, or the ability to literally see past his color? The way i think is "if they have no problem lying about his appearance, what else could they lie about or hide?" As far as the asian jesus n mary. I see your point, but the difference is Asians didn't physically enslave africans (to my knowledge),they didn't change our own stories in order to put us under mental slavery. There are more people who believe in a european looking jesus than an asian looking jesus.

I use various versions but mainly the English Standard Version. There is nothing significant that changes in meaning in the different versions. Different words are used. But nothing changes the meaning dramatically.

I've read that the word "virgin" in the bible has different meanings and interpretations which could change how people view mary (and jesus). I'm no expert and not claiming this is true, but I know this is a strong belief that more qualified believers have and they've looked into this a lot more than i have . I've also read that certain books or scriptures we're omitted from the final product. Do you believe they are irrelevant to the grand scheme of things?

If you mean borrow as like the Egyptian myth stories (i.e. Horus/Jesus). No. Now, was Christianity African influenced. Most def. The person who first used the term Trinity was an African named Tertullian. Another African who influenced Christianity was Augustine or as Catholics call him St. Augustine. And there are many more. Of course, the Coptic (African) Christians still exist today.

Horus was one that came to mind, but what are your thoughts on the 10 commandments when compared to the 42 negative confessions/Ma'at? From what i've learned, Moses studied in egypt, which means theres a good chance he would have learned and been expected to live by Ma'at. Ma'at predates the estimated dates of the 10 commandments (somewhere between 1500-1200 BC). I know this is more to do with the old testament, but im assuming as a christian you believe in the story of Moses and the 10 commandments?

One of the 1st people baptized in the book of Acts was an Ethopian Eunuch in Acts chapter 8.

As far as African shoulda been sending missionaries to us. Not really sure about the history about that. But if you look up the Coptic church and its founder. You'll see that it was in Africa way before it became the so called "White man's religion". It was founded by Mark. The same Mark who wrote the book of Mark who was a Jew from Africa.

Thanks for the feedback, i will look into this

 

[upthere]

@upthere



Uh, if you're black aren't you of African decent?

yes

 

[upthere]

idk if u thought that was directed at you?

but peep my sig

my mistake


the man seems dedicated to his faith

 

[upthere]

The quran is a good book. The Old Testament is a good book. I dont see a problem with either of those books. What Christ taught is epic. I mean Christs teachings are a lot easier to follow than the Torah so when someone says they're turning their back on their faith i have to ask what demonic filth are they engaged in.

We choose one system over another because of how we were raised. You were brought there for a reason ultimately and when you become an adult you can make a decision to abandon that faith, choose another or keep the path. You just have to ask yourself something, "when i turned my back on my faith, did i run to the devil and and am i engaged in demonic filth" If you are engaged in demonic filth, the only thing thats changed is you dont want forgiveness and you know what, thats so demonic, friend. because we all need that, as Sinners!

How do you feel about ancient belief systems with similar messages and stories? I didn't mean to come off like i "turned my back" on my faith. I turned my back on the people who told me that theirs is the "right" faith.
I dont believe God would have a problem with his creations using the gifts he gave us to find a little bit more truth while still trying to avoid demons and their lifestyle, but thats ultimately between me and whoever God really is.

 

[upthere]

We all have vices friend so i dont really believe that. People engage in behavior that influences others or hurts the feelings of others. This is a demonic realm and forgiveness was allotted to us for that reason. Lets be honest here. If you have no need for forgiveness you are stuck in a small microcosm of self.

Yes i have my vices. I didn't say i have no need for forgiveness. I dont go out of my way to influence others negatively.

Im interested in your thoughts on the original topic if you'd like to share. I'm not sure if it was you or another poster that said they had read one of the oldest bibles from ethiopia or something?
My mistake if thats not true, but i'd like to hear your thoughts on the matter anyway

 

[Mr. Somebody]

How do you feel about ancient belief systems with similar messages and stories? I didn't mean to come off like i "turned my back" on my faith. I turned my back on the people who told me that theirs is the "right" faith.
I dont believe God would have a problem with his creations using the gifts he gave us to find a little bit more truth while still trying to avoid demons and their lifestyle, but thats ultimately between me and whoever God really is.

What ancient belief systems?

 

[Mr. Somebody]

Yes i have my vices. I didn't say i have no need for forgiveness. I dont go out of my way to influence others negatively.

Im interested in your thoughts on the original topic if you'd like to share. I'm not sure if it was you or another poster that said they had read one of the oldest bibles from ethiopia or something?
My mistake if thats not true, but i'd like to hear your thoughts on the matter anyway

The bible for the most part is very simliar across texts. You have to look at the basics. What does it take to get into heaven and what does god want you to do and to not do. Once you outline the basics whatever editing you find in bibles that change words around really has little impact on your salvation. We know what we have to do so i dont see how someone saying *well there is a similarity here between this and this* can make an individual say *well, i guess ill just be demonic then because of those contradictions/similarities* Worst case scenario, friend, you missed out on a lot of demonic filth that would alienate you from good and possibly ruin your life or the life of another human being. Best case scenario for sticking it out with God, you go to heaven. Are you with Satan or with God, friend.

 

[Box Cutta]

I've always felt like, for all he loses we've taken, accepting these cac devils religion was the biggest and most damaging one.

I'd honestly prefer it if niccas were walking around talking about Mami Wata as opposed to this bullshyt Christ nonsense.

 

[valet]

@upthere As far as the 1st paragraph, it's a difficult question because race is a social construct. People back in the Bible days, then didn't think in terms of one's skin color makes one superior over another. The slave master's/colonizers took that concept of course and use passages to say the Black people were cursed. Which would be foreign concept to people 2000 years.

But the problem is it's Africans throughout the Bible. Heck, if you look at the description of where the Garden of Eden was. Those rivers are in Africa. So it's hard to answer this question because Christianity didn't start in America. When we say it's the White man religion, or look at how Christianity was used to oppress Black people. We're looking at Christianity from an American perspective. As if it started in America.

So what I'm saying is yes America is racist. The religion of the slave holders was racist. But the religion of Christianity predates this superiority of people of one of skin color. Over another skin color. I think you have to make a distinction between historic Christianity vs. White Man is superior Christianity.

As far as virgin. Yes, it can be translated 2 ways. There may be other versions but the only one that I know of that translated NET. Which translated Isiah passage as young woman. But in that same Bible (NET) in the New Testament Mary is referred to as a virgin. The other versions used virgin in both. Now, I don't have a problem with the young girl translation. Because she was. But if you interpret as young girl but wasn't a virgin, then that's a problem. Because Isaih 7:14 says:Therefore the Lord himself will give you[a] a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and[c] will call him Immanuel. What would be a "sign" if young girl who wasn't a virgin be? There were plenty of young women getting married and having babies. In that culture.

Now, as far as other verses being omitted. Yes, that boils down to the Canon of scripture. I have looked at many of those books that were omitted (and they're online book of Enoch, various other Gospels). Looking at the process which was pretty strict, I'm confident that what we have today is what God intended.

As far as the 10 Commandments borrowing from 42 Negative Confessions. I'm not sure if those were considered laws like the 10 Commandment. But at the same time, I think you'll probably find common themes in Middle Eastern religion. So I won't say no it didn't. It possible. But what makes the Law unique is the other laws (there were 600 plus, the 10 Commandments pretty much summed it up). Dietary laws, Sabbath were unique to the Jewish religion.