10 Quick Facts about the New Testament

 

1.       It contains 27 books that are divided into four categories: Gospels, Acts, Epistles and Revelations. Number of books in each category are four, one, twenty one and one respectively.

2.       It contains over 180,000 words, 7959 verses and 260 Chapters.  It makes up 75% of the Christian bible. The other 75% is the Old Testament.

3.       There are four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Luke is the longest of the four (19,482 words) and Mark the shortest (11,304 Marks).

4.       Although Matthew appears first in the New Testament. It is believed that Mark was written first. Some scholars disagree though with this mainstream assertion and believe that both Luke and Matthew preceded Mark and are derived from a lost Q source..

5.       The Gospels tell the story of Christ – his life  and ministering, death and resurrection.

6.       The first three Gospels - Matthew, Mark and Luke – have a similar style and appear to come from the same or a related source. They are known as the synoptic gospels. Best approximate dates for writing Mark - 70CE, Matthew and Luke – 80CE, John – 100CE.

7.       Most scholars believe the gospels were a product of a school of thought rather than a single character.

8.       All the Gospels were written in Koine Greek although there may be an Aramaic source behind this.

9.       Matthew appears to be written to a Jewish audience while Luke focuses on a Gentile readership.

10.   The Pauline Epistles are actually older than the Gospels. There are 13 books here of which the Letter to Galatians ad Second Thessalonians are the oldest (49-51 CE).

Structured Learning Program

 I have day-to-day responsibilities as a father and husband that I take very seiously but I also personally commited to enhancing my knowledge of the world with an eye towards elucidating truths. The following is a list of topics that I have been looking at of late (ie, over the last month).

1. The Origin of the Tanakh

2. The evolution of Jewish philosophy

3. The development of the New Testament

4. Schisms in Judaism and Christianity

5. The origins and Expansion of Islam

An overriding understanding of the origins and historical development of anti-semitism is a primary interest of mine.

After Death Possiblities

What happens to us after we die?

I have absolutely no idea. Although I figure it will be one of these ten situations.

1.      We cease to exist completely in all dimensions.

2.      We are recycled and reborn as humans somewhere else on Earth.

3.      We join with a singularity so that our consciousness becomes one with the new medium.

4.      We are reborn as a life form somewhere else in the universe.

5.      We are reborn as a non-human life forms on Earth.

6.      We join with another consciousness and are reborn in some form or another.

7.      We move into another dimension that our living consciousness here on Earth cannot comprehend.

8.      We ascend to the paradise described in traditional views of heaven. Never to be reborn again.

9.      We are reborn in another world but keep our knowledge gained from the previous life.

10   We (or at least some of us) become 'angels' or messengers. Building new worlds across the universe that will themselves be populated by life

Scientific materialism would suggest the first option.  I am personally hoping for the singularity.

Personal Tastes

 Areas of the book store I gravitate to

1. History - I am especially interested in books on British, Jewish,  Ancient, Cold War and WWII history.

2. Science Section - Physics, Evolutionary Theory and the debunking of Junk Sciences(Misconceptions) are areas of focus. 

3. Current Events - The geopolitical lanscape is fascinating but I am selective as there is a great deal of populist trash from all sides of the political spectrum that has polluted this area.

4. Philosophy - Consciousness, Political Philosophy (including the history of Philosophy) and the nature of G-d are the troika here that I most enjoy.

5. Sports - Football (Soccer), Track and field and tennis are my typical go to topics.

6. Social Science - Economic Theories, civilizational decline, the future of society and psychometrics are at the top of my list.

Personal Distastes

I love reading but generally avoid these sections of the library or bookstore

1. Self Help Section - I used to indulge in this section during my younger days but have given up on the topic as it lacks substance.

2. New Age - I don't trust any of the knowledge available here. Almost all of it is unsubstantiated. Lots of Junk Science.

3. Fantasy Fiction - I am just not a fan. I do like hardcore science fiction though.

4. Cooking - Whatever recipes I need I can get online

5. Think and grow rich books - These books are overhyped and don't say much. The grow rich portion comes from those buying these books.

6. Modern Detective Fiction - My father likes these but I have never warmed up to them. Don't mind the odd Tv show though and I do like Agatha Cristie.

7. Books on Cars - I can see the appeal for some but it just doesn't work for me. Again, anything I want to see can be looked at on line.

8.  Crafts - Maybe if it were my hobby but since it isn't I really don't care that much. I do have a fondness for the history of art.

9. Celebrity Biographies - A celebrity really has to be special before I would consider reading their biography. 99%+ is self indulgent drek. I couldn't care less about most pop culture.

10. Travel books - Again these are outdated as soon as they are written. The better material is on line.

15 Well Established Organizations that have been corrupted by ideological rot

 (Will add to this later)

1. United Nations and its sister organizations

 2. WHO

3. CDC - can hopefully be turned around under Trump although I doubt it

4. BBC, ABC (Australia), CBC (Canada).

5. New York Times

6. Harvard and Colombia University

7. The US Democratic Party

8. The British Labour Party

9. The British Conservative Party

10. British Policing Infrastructure

11. Harvard and Colombia Universities

12. CNN

13.The Canadian Liberal Party

14. ICJ

15. The Australian Labour Party

16 Pro-Russian Information sources in the Western Media

All of these individuals consistently mouth pro-Putin talking points in the media. All of them need to be viewed through this lens. While they may have moments of insight elsewhere they are mot to be trusted within the Russian/Ukranian or Middle East context.

1. Tucker Carlson 

2. Glenn Greenwald

3. Julian Assange

4. Jeffrey Sachs

5. Dave Smith

6. Max Blumenthal

7. Scott Ritter

8. Abby Martin

9. Kim Iverson

10. Jack Posobiec

11. George Galloway

12. Jackson Hinckle

13 Douglas Macgregor

14. Breaking Point Team

15. Aaron Mate

16. Katie Helper