"Is there proof for the inspiration of the Bible?"
Here are some evidences that the Bible is inspired (God-breathed) by God, as declared in 2 Timothy 3:16.
1) Fulfilled prophecy. God spoke to men telling them of things He would bring about in the future. Some of them have already occurred. Others have not. For example, there were more than 300 prophecies concerning Jesus Christ's first coming 2,000 years ago. There is no doubt that these are prophecies from God because of manuscripts and scrolls dated before the birth of Christ. These were not written after the fact. They were written beforehand. Scientific dating proves this.
2) The unity of Scripture. The Bible was written by approximately 40 human authors over a period of approximately 1,600 years. These men were quite diverse. Moses, a political leader; Joshua, a military leader; David, a shepherd; Solomon, a king; Amos, a herdsman and fruit picker; Daniel, a prime minister; Matthew, a tax collector; Luke, a medical doctor; Paul, a rabbi; and Peter, a fisherman; among others. The Bible was also written under a variety of circumstances. It was written on 3 different continents, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Yet, the great themes of Scripture are maintained in all the writings. The Bible does not contradict itself. There is no way, apart from God the Holy Spirit supervising the writing of the Bible, that this could have been accomplished.
3) The Bible presents its heroes truthfully with all of their faults and weaknesses. It does not glorify men as other religions do about their heroes. When you read the Bible, you realize that the people it describes have problems and do wrong just as we do. What made them great was that they trusted in God. One example is David. David is described as “a man after God's own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). Yet, David committed adultery (2 Samuel 11:1-5) and murder (2 Samuel 11:14-26). This could have been left out of Scripture to hide these details of David's life. But God included these things.
4) Archaeological findings support the history recorded in Scripture. Though many unbelieving people throughout history have tried to find archaeological evidence to disprove what is recorded in the Bible, they have failed. It is easy to say that Scripture is untrue. Proving it to be untrue is a different story. It has not been done. In fact, in the past the Bible contradicted the current “scientific” theories, only to be proven later to be in fact true. A good example is Isaiah 40:22, which declared that God “sits on the circle of the earth” long before scientists claimed the earth was flat.
The Bible’s claims of being from God should not be understood as arguing in a circle or by circular reasoning. The testimony of reliable witnesses - particularly of Jesus, but also of others such as Moses, Joshua, David, Daniel, and Nehemiah in the Old Testament, and John and Paul in the New Testament - affirm the authority and verbal inspiration of the Holy Scriptures. Consider the following passages: Exodus 14:1; 20:1; Leviticus 4:1; Numbers 4:1; Deuteronomy 4:2; 32:48; Isaiah 1:10, 24; Jeremiah 1:11; Jeremiah 11:1–3; Ezekiel 1:3; 1 Corinthians 14:37; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:16–21; 1 John 4:6.
Also of interest are the writings of Josephus, a historian who recorded much of the history of Israel during the first century. In this he records some events which coincide with Scripture. Beware though, his writings are rather lengthy. Considering the evidence given, we have no choice but to accept the Bible as being from God (2 Timothy 3:16).
oOo
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Definition and Meaning of Hilot
The term HILOT refers to three ideas:
• Traditionally, the term hilot refers to the system of physical manipulation employed by our traditional medicine practitioners such as the Manghihilot and the Magpapaanak.
There is no distinct characteristic for Filipino system of physical manipulation. The principle or system of physical manipulation varies from region to region or a Manghihilot to a Manghihilot depending on the theory, knowledge, training and know-how of the practitioner. Thus, the system of hilot in Mountain Province is different from the system of hilot in Antique; the system of one Manghihilot may be different from the system of another Manghihilot although they live in the same place. Some parameters however must be clear - the system is passed from a previous generation; the system works; it is of Filipino origin and not simply a copy of other alternative practices like Shiatsu, Swedish massage or acupressure; and the practitioners are recognized and acknowledged in their community to have the ability to bring about healing.
In this modern age however, open minded and theoretical Manghihilots upgrade their knowledge by attending seminars, doing research works or view in the internet different system of physical manipulations uploaded by some generous professional practitioners. Thus, a system which is passed from the previous generations is modified according to scientific theory about the human body. Today, a modern Manghihilot explains healing in terms of venous flow, blood circulation, musculo-skeletal process, neurotransmitters and drainage of metabolic waste.
• The word hilot also refers to a Magpapaanak, a folk medicine practitioner who assists mothers in the delivery of their children.
By virtue of physical manipulation she employs to mothers before and after childbirth, the Magpapaanak is also called as hilot.
• Today the word hilot takes a wider and more profound meaning. It does not only refer to a Filipino system of physical manipulation or to the identity of Magpapaanak but as a name for the Filipino traditional art of healing.
As a traditional art of healing, hilot is a synthesis of Filipino folk medicine. It preserves the folk medicine practices that have been validated by experience to be safe, effective and beneficial to health. Hilot leaves the metaphysical folk medicine practices to the indigenous specialist as these practices may have a hard time standing in the scientific community. Then again, just as the system of physical manipulation varies from region to region or Manghihilot to a Manghihilot, the synthesis of traditional healing varies from organization to organization or from a practitioner to a practitioner. The parameters however should remain clear if hilot has to remain as a genuine Filipino traditional art of healing – the synthesis and philosophy must come from Filipino tradition beliefs and practices. It would be preposterous to explain hilot concept of health and illness in terms of Ayurvedic philosophy or Greek concepts, or in terms of man as a swirling mass of electrons, since these things are inexistent in Filipino traditional concept of health and illness. Hilot lecturer and trainer ought to be faithful to his tradition and history and not to grandstand with the knowledge he learns from other healing modality just to impress his listeners.
• Traditionally, the term hilot refers to the system of physical manipulation employed by our traditional medicine practitioners such as the Manghihilot and the Magpapaanak.
There is no distinct characteristic for Filipino system of physical manipulation. The principle or system of physical manipulation varies from region to region or a Manghihilot to a Manghihilot depending on the theory, knowledge, training and know-how of the practitioner. Thus, the system of hilot in Mountain Province is different from the system of hilot in Antique; the system of one Manghihilot may be different from the system of another Manghihilot although they live in the same place. Some parameters however must be clear - the system is passed from a previous generation; the system works; it is of Filipino origin and not simply a copy of other alternative practices like Shiatsu, Swedish massage or acupressure; and the practitioners are recognized and acknowledged in their community to have the ability to bring about healing.
In this modern age however, open minded and theoretical Manghihilots upgrade their knowledge by attending seminars, doing research works or view in the internet different system of physical manipulations uploaded by some generous professional practitioners. Thus, a system which is passed from the previous generations is modified according to scientific theory about the human body. Today, a modern Manghihilot explains healing in terms of venous flow, blood circulation, musculo-skeletal process, neurotransmitters and drainage of metabolic waste.
• The word hilot also refers to a Magpapaanak, a folk medicine practitioner who assists mothers in the delivery of their children.
By virtue of physical manipulation she employs to mothers before and after childbirth, the Magpapaanak is also called as hilot.
• Today the word hilot takes a wider and more profound meaning. It does not only refer to a Filipino system of physical manipulation or to the identity of Magpapaanak but as a name for the Filipino traditional art of healing.
As a traditional art of healing, hilot is a synthesis of Filipino folk medicine. It preserves the folk medicine practices that have been validated by experience to be safe, effective and beneficial to health. Hilot leaves the metaphysical folk medicine practices to the indigenous specialist as these practices may have a hard time standing in the scientific community. Then again, just as the system of physical manipulation varies from region to region or Manghihilot to a Manghihilot, the synthesis of traditional healing varies from organization to organization or from a practitioner to a practitioner. The parameters however should remain clear if hilot has to remain as a genuine Filipino traditional art of healing – the synthesis and philosophy must come from Filipino tradition beliefs and practices. It would be preposterous to explain hilot concept of health and illness in terms of Ayurvedic philosophy or Greek concepts, or in terms of man as a swirling mass of electrons, since these things are inexistent in Filipino traditional concept of health and illness. Hilot lecturer and trainer ought to be faithful to his tradition and history and not to grandstand with the knowledge he learns from other healing modality just to impress his listeners.
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