CONTRADICTION: the word itself mean a saying or statement that seems contrary to the reality or truth of another statement. Contradictions are a ‘dime a dozen’ in our everyday lives—may are readily resolved and many go totally unresolved. I want to address what seems to me do be a direct contradiction between Christian prayer and a direct quote from Luke’s Gospel.
The Christian prayer in question is the Apostles Creed which says, ‘Jesus was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. He arose again on the third day—‘ . Luke, in referring to Jesus’ crucifixion with the two insurgents on either side says that one of them rebuked Jesus for not saving them and himself, while the other scolds the first for rebuking Jesus, attesting that Jesus was innocent while they were getting their ‘just due’—he asked Jesus to ‘remember him when he came into his kingdom’. Jesus replied ‘this day thou shalt be with me in paradise’.
This appears to me to be a clear-cut example of ‘direct contradiction’. Some apologists, may attempt to explain it away with some hidden meaning of hell etc. However common folks speaking and hearing common language would definitely have a clear understanding that those two statements are a direct contradiction of one another.
As a matter of factual experience, during my 81 years of regular weekly/daily attendance at Catholic Mass, I have never once heard the issue addressed from the pulpit. I believe I know why—there is no rational explanation.
While I can’t prove either of the statements to be correct/incorrect, my strong suspicion is that neither is correct. In the first instance, no one knows what happened to Jesus’ soul, and in the second instance, we know from History Professor Emiratis, Garry Will, That Luke was a veritable liar. Professor Will, in his book, What Paul Meant, Shows clearly that everything Luke wrote in ‘Acts Of The Apostles’ was a total lie. Paul, you recall was the first writer—he wrote about his activities basically as they occurred. Luke’s writings about Paul’s activities bear no resemblance to Paul’s writings. Luke fashioned a religion the way he wanted it—not according to Jesus’ plan.
So, ‘right off the bat’ we have, contradictions galore and we have unfounded speculations galore all of which set the stage for the birth of more mythology founded religions—33,000 of them to be exact (as of 2014).
Preachers of every ilk have pounded the pages of that ‘holy book’ without the slightest notion of that they are saying—how can they possibly know? They speak incessantly about a god that they don’t know, and they speak incessantly about a Jesus they don’t know. And for what purpose?—money, power control. These same preachers are building empires of structures, wealth an influence. Is That what Jesus supposedly told his apostles?—I don’t think so.
While shaking the dust off my cerebral cortex, I seem to remember Jesus telling his apostles to ‘go into the world and preach the good news that God loves you and that I have come to die for your salvation. Take no provisions; accept that is offered you; If you are not received, shake the dust off your sandals and move on’ (paraphrased). Of all the hundreds of thousands of preachers in the world, what percentage of them are concerned enough about your soul to do as Jesus said?—I suspect extremely few. Do you see the hypocrisy as I do?
More importantly, do you see the lament? While the preachers are amassing wealth, simultaneously they are unwittingly/possibly wittingly spreading hostility among Gods People—‘my preaching(church) is better than your’.
Please read my little books, Wilderness Cry , and Peace in Spirituality. In wilderness Cry I actually define the essence of God, so now you may know explicitly just who your God is. In Peace in Spirituality, I show the absolute only fool-proof pathway to peace. Press Releases and video trailers for both books attached—all comments and questions welcomed.
Press Release for Peace in Spiritialoty
906242_Press Release for Wilderness Cry
WILDERNESS CRY by Hilary L Hunt MD 