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Genesis 1:1-11:9

New Revised Standard Version

Six Days of Creation and the Sabbath

1 In the beginning when God created[a] the heavens and the earth, 2 the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God[b] swept over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

6 And God said, “Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. 8 God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

9 And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17 God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

20 And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” 21 So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, “Let us make humankind[c] in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth,[d] and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”

27 So God created humankind[e] in his image,
in the image of God he created them;[f]
male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” 29 God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

2 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. 2 And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.

4 These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created.

Another Account of the Creation

In the day that the Lord[g] God made the earth and the heavens, 5 when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no one to till the ground; 6 but a stream would rise from the earth, and water the whole face of the ground— 7 then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground,[h] and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being. 8 And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 Out of the ground the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

10 A river flows out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it divides and becomes four branches. 11 The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one that flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; 12 and the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one that flows around the whole land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.”

18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” 19 So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man[i] there was not found a helper as his partner. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said,

“This at last is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
this one shall be called Woman,[j]
for out of Man[k] this one was taken.”

24 Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed.

The First Sin and Its Punishment

3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die; 5 for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God,[l] knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.” 14 The Lord God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this,
    cursed are you among all animals
    and among all wild creatures;
upon your belly you shall go,
    and dust you shall eat
    all the days of your life.
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike your head,
    and you will strike his heel.”

“I will greatly increase your pangs in childbearing;
in pain you shall bring forth children,
yet your desire shall be for your husband,
and he shall rule over you.”

“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife,
    and have eaten of the tree
about which I commanded you,
    ‘You shall not eat of it,’
cursed is the ground because of you;
    in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
    and you shall eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your face
    you shall eat bread
until you return to the ground,
    for out of it you were taken;
you are dust,
    and to dust you shall return.”

20 The man named his wife Eve,[n] because she was the mother of all living. 21 And the Lord God made garments of skins for the man[o] and for his wife, and clothed them.

22 Then the Lord God said, “See, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— 23 therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man; and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim, and a sword flaming and turning to guard the way to the tree of life.

Cain Murders Abel

4 Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have produced[p] a man with the help of the Lord.” 2 Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

8 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.”[q] And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen; your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground! 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you till the ground, it will no longer yield to you its strength; you will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear! 14 Today you have driven me away from the soil, and I shall be hidden from your face; I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and anyone who meets me may kill me.” 15 Then the Lord said to him, “Not so![r] Whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him. 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord, and settled in the land of Nod,[s] east of Eden.

Beginnings of Civilization

17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch; and he built a city, and named it Enoch after his son Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael the father of Methushael, and Methushael the father of Lamech. 19 Lamech took two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the ancestor of those who live in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the ancestor of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 Zillah bore Tubal-cain, who made all kinds of bronze and iron tools. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.

“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
    you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say:
I have killed a man for wounding me,
    a young man for striking me.
24 If Cain is avenged sevenfold,
    truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

25 Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, for she said, “God has appointed[t] for me another child instead of Abel, because Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to invoke the name of the Lord.

Adam’s Descendants to Noah and His Sons

5 This is the list of the descendants of Adam. When God created humankind,[u] he made them[v] in the likeness of God. 2 Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them “Humankind”[w] when they were created.

3 When Adam had lived one hundred thirty years, he became the father of a son in his likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. 4 The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years; and he had other sons and daughters. 5 Thus all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years; and he died.

6 When Seth had lived one hundred five years, he became the father of Enosh. 7 Seth lived after the birth of Enosh eight hundred seven years, and had other sons and daughters. 8 Thus all the days of Seth were nine hundred twelve years; and he died.

9 When Enosh had lived ninety years, he became the father of Kenan. 10 Enosh lived after the birth of Kenan eight hundred fifteen years, and had other sons and daughters. 11 Thus all the days of Enosh were nine hundred five years; and he died.

12 When Kenan had lived seventy years, he became the father of Mahalalel. 13 Kenan lived after the birth of Mahalalel eight hundred and forty years, and had other sons and daughters. 14 Thus all the days of Kenan were nine hundred and ten years; and he died.

15 When Mahalalel had lived sixty-five years, he became the father of Jared. 16 Mahalalel lived after the birth of Jared eight hundred thirty years, and had other sons and daughters. 17 Thus all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred ninety-five years; and he died.

18 When Jared had lived one hundred sixty-two years he became the father of Enoch. 19 Jared lived after the birth of Enoch eight hundred years, and had other sons and daughters. 20 Thus all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty-two years; and he died.

21 When Enoch had lived sixty-five years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with God after the birth of Methuselah three hundred years, and had other sons and daughters. 23 Thus all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty-five years. 24 Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him.

25 When Methuselah had lived one hundred eighty-seven years, he became the father of Lamech. 26 Methuselah lived after the birth of Lamech seven hundred eighty-two years, and had other sons and daughters. 27 Thus all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty-nine years; and he died.

28 When Lamech had lived one hundred eighty-two years, he became the father of a son; 29 he named him Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the Lord has cursed this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the toil of our hands.” 30 Lamech lived after the birth of Noah five hundred ninety-five years, and had other sons and daughters. 31 Thus all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy-seven years; and he died.

32 After Noah was five hundred years old, Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

The Wickedness of Humankind

6 When people began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that they were fair; and they took wives for themselves of all that they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My spirit shall not abide[x] in mortals forever, for they are flesh; their days shall be one hundred twenty years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went in to the daughters of humans, who bore children to them. These were the heroes that were of old, warriors of renown.

5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out from the earth the human beings I have created—people together with animals and creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord.

Noah Pleases God

9 These are the descendants of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw that the earth was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted its ways upon the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; now I am going to destroy them along with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of cypress[y] wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 Make a roof[z] for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above; and put the door of the ark in its side; make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 For my part, I am going to bring a flood of waters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing, of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground according to its kind, two of every kind shall come in to you, to keep them alive. 21 Also take with you every kind of food that is eaten, and store it up; and it shall serve as food for you and for them.” 22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.

The Great Flood

7 Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you alone are righteous before me in this generation. 2 Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and its mate; and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and its mate; 3 and seven pairs of the birds of the air also, male and female, to keep their kind alive on the face of all the earth. 4 For in seven days I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground.” 5 And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him.

6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came on the earth. 7 And Noah with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives went into the ark to escape the waters of the flood. 8 Of clean animals, and of animals that are not clean, and of birds, and of everything that creeps on the ground, 9 two and two, male and female, went into the ark with Noah, as God had commanded Noah. 10 And after seven days the waters of the flood came on the earth.

11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. 12 The rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights. 13 On the very same day Noah with his sons, Shem and Ham and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons entered the ark, 14 they and every wild animal of every kind, and all domestic animals of every kind, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every bird of every kind—every bird, every winged creature. 15 They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life. 16 And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in.

17 The flood continued forty days on the earth; and the waters increased, and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. 18 The waters swelled and increased greatly on the earth; and the ark floated on the face of the waters. 19 The waters swelled so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered; 20 the waters swelled above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep. 21 And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, domestic animals, wild animals, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all human beings; 22 everything on dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. 23 He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, human beings and animals and creeping things and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark. 24 And the waters swelled on the earth for one hundred fifty days.

The Flood Subsides

8 But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and all the domestic animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided; 2 the fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained, 3 and the waters gradually receded from the earth. At the end of one hundred fifty days the waters had abated; 4 and in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. 5 The waters continued to abate until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains appeared.

6 At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made 7 and sent out the raven; and it went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth. 8 Then he sent out the dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground; 9 but the dove found no place to set its foot, and it returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took it and brought it into the ark with him. 10 He waited another seven days, and again he sent out the dove from the ark; 11 and the dove came back to him in the evening, and there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf; so Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth. 12 Then he waited another seven days, and sent out the dove; and it did not return to him any more.

13 In the six hundred first year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and saw that the face of the ground was drying. 14 In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. 15 Then God said to Noah, 16 “Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. 17 Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh—birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth—so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” 18 So Noah went out with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives. 19 And every animal, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out of the ark by families.

God’s Promise to Noah

20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And when the Lord smelled the pleasing odor, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, for the inclination of the human heart is evil from youth; nor will I ever again destroy every living creature as I have done.

22 As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest, cold and heat,
summer and winter, day and night,
shall not cease.”

The Covenant with Noah

9 God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. 2 The fear and dread of you shall rest on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the air, on everything that creeps on the ground, and on all the fish of the sea; into your hand they are delivered. 3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and just as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. 4 Only, you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. 5 For your own lifeblood I will surely require a reckoning: from every animal I will require it and from human beings, each one for the blood of another, I will require a reckoning for human life.

6 Whoever sheds the blood of a human,
by a human shall that person’s blood be shed;
for in his own image
God made humankind.

8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark.[aa] 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

Noah and His Sons

18 The sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan. 19 These three were the sons of Noah; and from these the whole earth was peopled.

20 Noah, a man of the soil, was the first to plant a vineyard. 21 He drank some of the wine and became drunk, and he lay uncovered in his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 23 Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. 24 When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said,

“Blessed by the Lord my God be Shem;
    and let Canaan be his slave.
27 May God make space for[ab] Japheth,
    and let him live in the tents of Shem;
    and let Canaan be his slave.”

28 After the flood Noah lived three hundred fifty years. 29 All the days of Noah were nine hundred fifty years; and he died.

Nations Descended from Noah

10 These are the descendants of Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth; children were born to them after the flood.

2 The descendants of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 3 The descendants of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 The descendants of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.[ac] 5 From these the coastland peoples spread. These are the descendants of Japheth[ad] in their lands, with their own language, by their families, in their nations.

6 The descendants of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. 7 The descendants of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The descendants of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. 8 Cush became the father of Nimrod; he was the first on earth to become a mighty warrior. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, and Accad, all of them in the land of Shinar. 11 From that land he went into Assyria, and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, Calah, and 12 Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city. 13 Egypt became the father of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, 14 Pathrusim, Casluhim, and Caphtorim, from which the Philistines come.[ae]

15 Canaan became the father of Sidon his firstborn, and Heth, 16 and the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, 17 the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, 18 the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the families of the Canaanites spread abroad. 19 And the territory of the Canaanites extended from Sidon, in the direction of Gerar, as far as Gaza, and in the direction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. 20 These are the descendants of Ham, by their families, their languages, their lands, and their nations.

21 To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, children were born. 22 The descendants of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. 23 The descendants of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. 24 Arpachshad became the father of Shelah; and Shelah became the father of Eber. 25 To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg,[af] for in his days the earth was divided, and his brother’s name was Joktan. 26 Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; all these were the descendants of Joktan. 30 The territory in which they lived extended from Mesha in the direction of Sephar, the hill country of the east. 31 These are the descendants of Shem, by their families, their languages, their lands, and their nations.

32 These are the families of Noah’s sons, according to their genealogies, in their nations; and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood.

The Tower of Babel

11 Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2 And as they migrated from the east,[ag] they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3 And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.” 5 The Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which mortals had built. 6 And the Lord said, “Look, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down, and confuse their language there, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9 Therefore it was called Babel, because there the Lord confused[ah] the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

SERMON ONE - THE FUTURE OF THE NOAHIDE WORLD
In time, should Karaite Noahide faith grow, we feel it would not be wise if Karaite Noahide faith took over Noahidism completely. Too much power in one particular strand of a religion tends to too much domineering and authoritarianism. It would be in the best interests of the Noahide world if ultimately Noahidism was divided equally between Talmudic Noahidism and Karaite Noahidism. Talmudic Noahidism would include Conservative and Liberal/Progressive Noahides, who still follow Talmud ideas, whereas Karaite Noahidism would have its own stylings of conservative and liberal branches, as well as what we favour in Torah Only or Samaritan based Noahidism. A Samaritan Noahide movement would be completely welcome by us, and would ideally be on our side of the Noahide world. Dear Ehyeh Asher Eheyeh, if these ideas are acceptable to you, we humbly ask of your divine grace to allow these realities to be as such in the fulness of time. And the Noahide world should hopefully end up the worlds biggest religion, twice the size of the entirety of Christianity, which would logically remain because of the commitment men of God have made in establishing congregations in the name of Jehovah.

SERMON TWO - ADVANCING NOAH FAITH IS ABOUT TAKING IN ALL THE KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM AND LESSONS WE HAVE LEARNED AS A HUMAN SOCIETY. KARAITE IS OUR FOUNDATION, AND WE DON'T ADD TO THE WORD OF GOD ANYTHING HE HASN'T SAID IS HIS, BE WE DO FURTHER DEVELOP LAWFULNESS AND SPIRITUALITY AND OUR HUMAN SOCIETIES AND CIVILIZATIONS

Noahide Faith of this modern world is largely represented by the Talmud based 7 Laws of Noah movement. Yet, in truth, Genesis 1:1 - 11:9 (which I call the 'Rainbow Torah') is all that applies in terms of the religion Noah followed anyway. This is the essence of Karaite Noahide belief. Yet, its pretty basic in the end. Just holding to 11 chapters of scripture for a religion which in some ways is supposed to be relevant to all mankind. My idea, then, is the 'Advancing Noah Movement' which takes the idea of the religion of Noah and the Noahide Community and looks at how mankind has developed in the thousands of years since then, and the advances in society, culture and legal rule we have made. A Noahide doesn't have to build an ark, sit in it with his family, and think that is the end of his spirituality or way of life. To my way of thinking there is no reason we can not develop a more lawful world with our own rules and procedures to further embellish the social structures of cvilizations, which in the end is what mankind has done anyway. That is the core motivation of the Advancing Noah Movement. Taking the religion of our forefather patriarch Noah and 'Advancing' with it. As Karaite is our foundation, we reject the core idea that the Pharisees inherited an oral law from Moses -rather they INVENTED the teachings of the oral law. So we maintain that Karaism is our foundation but, to be real and true to our citizenships of these human societies we are all a part of, we feel we should acknowledge the laws of the land, adhere to them in general good faith when and were they do not contradict the laws of the Rainbow Torah and, taking from them, enshrined in the 4 sectioned part of the Kingdom of Noah Torah of 1000 rules, a semblance of the laws of Nations as they have developed over the thousands of years of history since the time of Noah, also including a strong element of acceptable for Noahide aspects from the Tanakh itself. A Karaite Noahide need not sit in the world of Genesis 1:1 – 11:9 and think this is the Word of God, and it is ALL he has ever said on the issue, and I don't really care for anything more anyway. Sure, in the end, humanity may provide such individuals and even movements who won't budge from absolutist karaite noahidism, which ONLY accepts Tanakh as any kind of authority. I see in Deuteronomy were Judgements of Danim can be made, but perhaps there will be those who believe the Tanakh is the be all and end all of interpretation of application of judgement anyway. Perhaps the Advancing Noah Movement is not absoultely purist Karaite faith in this sense, in the end, anyway. But I would probably argue that, compared to such groups, we would be the ones who would be following a fuller spirituality and way of life and with the kind of morals and teachings and principles of faith in our religion, drawn from the wisdom of mankind, we are not living simplistic legalism of a fundamentalist soul who just 'Will not be told what to do unless its scriptural' anyway. I think the Advancing Noah movement has grown up in adapting to a more mature way of life, with better principles, and taking in knowledge from mankind's history and ways of life and the lessons we have learned as a human people.

It's interesting. Many of the people who identify as Indigenous of Australia of the various tribes also have a large degree of ancestry from other lands, especially the European lands of the United Kingdom and Ireland. Our UK Families (of which I am an Irish/English person, a member of the Australian diaspora) have many family connections with the Indigenous people of Australia now in the 21st Century of the common era. We are, in fact, quite well inbred with each other. We are really a connected and extended family in many ways. Of course, these indigenous of Australia have deep faiths and beliefs in the ways of Australian Indigenous culture yet, through bloodlines, also have connections to the European peoples as well, especially those of the United Kingdom, and really are part of OUR culture in terms of family as well. There are probably indigenous of Australia who have the surname 'Daly' who have an Irish Celtic ethnicity associated with them as well. We are an intermixed bunch, and I am very happy for such peoples to be part of my clan and Daly family. On the NITV network of Australian TV not only do they show indignenous TV shows of Australia culture, but also those of other nations. Ireland has a deep celtic root and the indigenous of Ireland are still substantially just that in our modern era. In England the Saxon and Norman settlers have intermixed over many generations with the original celtic peoples of the lands that probably just about every citizen of England has indigenous celtic roots in some aspect of their family bloodlines. An 80s tv show like the Robin Hood series from England is, in many ways, an indigenous cultural show of the English people. But, from their celtic roots, even in this modern era a show like the 'Bill' on English TV is strongly an Indigenous English cultural show as well. Could such shows or others from the United Kingdom ever have a chance of showing up on NITV? Perhaps they should. Noahide faith teaches that all modern cultures and peoples of mankind ultimately derive back in origin to Noah and his 3 sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, who, when the Ark rested, repopulated the world from Mt Arrarat in Armenia in modern day Turkey. The Celtic peoples, as far as my investigations are concerned, likely populated from the Galatians of Turkey, likely through Noah's son Japheth. The various other cultures of the world, we teach, also originated ultimately in this area. Later mankind was gathered for the most part to Babylon, and the tower of Babel was attempted to be built, under the authority of Nimrod, son of Cush, son of Ham, son of Noah. From there mankind was divided and the languages were also divided. The Hebrew language, amongst others, developed at this point, likely from the Shemite 'Eber'. The cultures of the world, in our religious teachings, originated ultimately from a Noahide family and, prior to them, ultimately back to the first man and woman Adam and Eve.

The Creator Lives. The Creator Loves. The Creator has a life of his own. The Creator enjoys the life of his own. God works in mankind. God works wonders in mankind. Many receive, perceive and appreciate those wonders, and some are jaded, disinterested or only apathetic about this. The Creator is Yahweh El Shaddai. He has a mind infinite, and knows a lot of stuff. The Creator made men – in his image – and gave them a life purpose. The Creator blessed Job, and gave him offspring, long life and vast possessions at the end of his suffering. One of the purposes, thus, the Creator has for your life is those prosperity ideas. So, the Creator usually has a plan for lives that accept him and draw close to him. Strive for success in life if you want it – striving is how it is achieved. The mediocre approach gives the mediocre result. For some that's enough. For some they just want more out of life. The Creator has his wisdom, and it shines in the design of his creation, yourself included. And his moral rule is found in Torah, the guide for life. The Advancing Noah Movement and the Cherubim Torah community seek the influence of the Creator in their lives to guide and judge them, and to teach and inspire them. To the Creator be the glory, Alleluia, AMEN.

I was watching Limitless by Bon Jovi. It occurs to me it's sort of a video for the catholic church a bit. Mainly the Bon Jovi audience of course, but sort of the catholic church a bit. And Israel a bit.

It also occurred to me when I was looking at the lady running, she looked like a member of the church – probably the catholic church. And it reminded me the church and religion of my childhood had a way about it.

And it also sparked in me, and does when I watch it, feelings of loyalty to the church and the kinds of messages the church often speaks.

With the ANM it's sort of the same thing I am trying to do. To speak religious messages of value and merit. To speak of things which are serious and heartfelt enough that they inspire loyalty – loyalty to something to which people can belong and which will take care of them. And if I,

Daniel, the founder of the ANM won't stay loyal to it, how can I expect anyone else to. So with the way of the ANM, it's supposed to be a place were we belong. Something which we can be loyal to and which is loyal to us. A haven. A sanctuary. A place of respite from what can often be a cold and hostile world.

The Way of the ANM is supposed to be a way which is right for life. A big core of that is being like Noah and being righteous. Noah wasn't perfect. Nobody really is. But he was called righteous. Which generally meant he did the right thing. In the ANM part of our way is about doing the right thing and living the right kind of life. And in living righteously we give witness to society of what makes the ANM unique. Not necessarily original, but Noah is the original son of righteousness in many ways anyway. And it's the doing of right things, the making of right decisions, the living of the right kind of life which builds character in us and it is often character which people notice about a religious community – how moral and ethical they are. So that is perhaps a very primary thing for the ANM. Have a witness of right conduct which people can see and clearly identify in us. And when that conduct is good enough – decent enough – right enough, we have a way of life which we can be part of and find our haven in, and belong. And which means something.

But don't give much consideration to the one who provided my life, liberty and happiness

And Lord help me to stand firm in my family as a godfearing child of the Most High

And do not harm the harvests of those who are at least trying to do the right thing

The dialogue for this discussion with Les Brown (only my side shown here because of Les' copyrights) can be found at:

These earlier views of mine do not necessarily reflect current personal thought by myself on the truths of Noahide doctrine. For example, the concept of a Noahide Covenant is still given credence as an idea of merit by myself, but I have not 100% factual information available to me on the absolute truthfulness of the existence of a covenant or not. I think now it might be true and that the strand of documentary torah it originates from may have recorded an historical truth regardless of this strands origin. But, having said that, all this dialogue is food for thought. Not necessarily absolutist doctrine of our movement, but definitely food for thought and discussion material.

We do not have any specific teaching authority over us, nor de we need one. Actually, the Torah speaks of more than the 7 commandments, and some of the 7 themselves are very difficult to justify in scripture (eg theft). The rainbow promises, according to Scripture, that mankind will never see another flood and that God will look at the Rainbow and remember his covenant with mankind. The difference between Progressive Noahidism and Progressive Judaism is that Progressive Noahidism focuses, in particular, on Gentiles (non-Jews) who share the same God as the Jews. It is meant to be a noahide/gentile movement for those who are liberally/reform/progressively minded. Actually, the Torah speaks of more than the 7 commandments, and some of the 7 themselves are very difficult to justify in scripture (eg theft). The rainbow promises, according to Scripture, that mankind will never see another flood and that God will look at the Rainbow and remember his covenant with mankind. The difference between Progressive Noahidism and Progressive Judaism is that Progressive Noahidism focuses, in particular, on Gentiles (non-Jews) who share the same God as the Jews. It is meant to be a
>noahide/gentile movement for those who are liberally/reform/progressively minded.

MY RESPONSE
In regards to points of law, I will refer you to the website which answers this question. A Noahide is a way of referring to Gentile Humanity, although it includes the people of Israel. .

MY RESPONSE
I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say. Certainly, I agree that theft is morally wrong and I agree that Governments should legislate against this act. The point I was trying to make was that, according to a literal interpretation of the Torah, there is no basis for stating that Gentiles may not steal. There is no specific Torahic command forbidding Gentiles to steal. Please, do not quote vain scriptures at me - I am familiar with the whole Torah and am 100% certain on this issue. The rabbinics twist the scriptures into saying something they never said. This actual weakness in the Torah shows that it is only meant as a Guide and should not be used by governments to be a basis for rule of law. Noahidism and Judaism are Spiritual religions - they should influence us on an individual level - but they are greatly impractical when it comes to legislation for society as a whole. Those who think otherwise are simply fooling themselves.

MY RESPONSE
Firstly, rainbows ocurred prior to the global flood - this is a matter of scientific common sense. You can see a rainbow with a hose. So the idea that the rainbow is specifically linked to a covenant mankind has with God is nothing but spiritual fantasy, clearly the invention of the Priestly author who conceived that portion of the Torah.

MY RESPONSE
While the Torah as it stands alludes to some universal laws, it would be difficult to make the case to any society that these are the divine laws that God intends all mankind to follow. The Torah is the product of multiple authors - It is only outdated fundamentalists who think Moses wrote the whole Torah. The concept of the covenant of Noah is purely fictional as well. Mankind does NOT have a covenant with God. The purpose of the Progressive Noahide/Gentile movement is, however, to
teach a relevant God inspired form of spirituality that men and women may find uplifting and relevant. Its purpose is to not bog them down with religious dogma which is the product of ancient scribes writing their own ideas.

MY RESPONSE
Actually, I conceive of only minor differences between PN and PJ. However, PJ still holds somewhat to the idea that Israel is a chosen people of God (an Idea which I reject). Progressive Noahide/Gentile movement simply offers a spiritual pathway for people who believe in the One God, but who are not interested in the other mainstream monotheistic faiths.

MY RESPONSE
Look at it this way. Who determines who believes or not? Who determines which branch of judaism or which religion you join? Who determines who you marry or even if you marry? Who determines were you will work or if you will work? And, ultimately, who determines what you will believer or not? My perspective is that the ultimate answer to these questions is of course each individual. As you know, many people do not believe in Judaism - there are christians, muslims, bahai, atheists, agnostics, secular, deists and a whole host of religious spiritual beliefs. For all these belief systems it is ultimately the individual who decides wether or not they will follow that belief system. And I believe that is the way it should be.

Australia (the country in which I live) guarantees religious freedom under section 116 of the Constitution. In essence, the core mentality of Australia, and many other western nations, is separation of church (or religion) and state. This, I believe, is the most sensible and pragmatic course of action. You cannot mandate faith. It is a nebulous concept. We live in the here and now and not in the spiritual realm and, thus, many people feel it greatly inappropriate to try and decide socieieties morals and ethics and laws on the basis of any particular spiritual system. As you have asked, the core question remains WHO SHOULD WE TRUST??? Some say the Imam. Some say the Pope and Priest. And some say the Rabbi. How on earth are we to have any unity on the issue? The reality is that society operates under generally understood morals and ethics - for Australia, loosely based on a Judeo-Christian ethical system. However, because we live in the physical (not the spiritual) realm, we can only mandate laws that apply for each and every citizen, no matter what their particular faith system may be. In regards to the Noahide laws, I personally see the value in them. Essentially I agree that the 7 law system is biblical in nature and that it proves a good grounding for anyone in the faith of God Almighty. However, this is a conclusion I have reached after much personal thought. While I may, and do, share my views with other people, I definitely do NOT mandate that they MUST live according to them. That is a dictatorship - and although God is very strict, I personally do not see him as an absolutist dictatorial ruler. He rules his followers with JUSTICE AND MERCY. So, as I feel I have made the point, the only one capable of deciding ultimate spiritual law for each individual is, in fact, each individual. While civil society is run on a basic (and often shifting) code of ethics, spiritual law comes down to each individual to search out for themselves. I do not believe it is something that should be mandated in civil society. Finally, in a spiritual community of common belief - like a particular movement within Judaism or christianity - I feel it is acceptable for mature spiritual elders to shape the culture and direction the community must travel in. So while I do not mandate that each individual MUST believe so and so and adhere to a certain code of law if in fact they do not believe such things, I also feel it is alright for people who share a common system of spirituality to be guided by mature elders in that system. So, I guess, it is acceptable for, say, a Rabbinic council to make up its own mind on certain issues – but ultimately it comes down to each individual as to wether or not they will implement such directives or not. Autonomy of individual belief and decision of which commandments to obey or not is a CORNERSTON of Progressive/Liberal/Reform Judaism. I have read that a number of times on various Reform Judaism websites. I assume you probably knew that anyway.

MY RESPONSE
I am quite familiar with the written Torah. As for the Oral Torah, after reading 'The path of the Righteous Gentile' I found out that non-jews are not in fact permitted to read the Oral Law. So the question I would put to you is why the hell should I defend a book that elitist snobs forbid me from reading anyway. And in regards to the Oral Law, I will post to this message board an article that conclusively refutes the notion that it originated with Almighty God.

MY RESPONSE
I know full well were the rabbinics justify their 7 law system from in the Torah. As for the above argument, it is rather pathetic. Adam was not commanded to 'NOT TOUCH' or even to "NOT HOLD OR POSSESS'. He was simply forbidden EATING the forbidden fruit. To justify the argument that theft is forbidden from this passage is simply twisting the scriptures, something the rabbinics do an awful lot of.

MY RESPONSE
If you are in fact curious about learning more on the Documentary Hypothesis, an excellent book written by a Conservative Jew named Richard Elliott Friedman is called 'Who Wrote the Bible?'. It is available from amazon. If you can read this whole book and still maintain Mosaic authorship of the whole Torah afterwards, then I feel you are greatly fooling yourself. My honest opinion is that those who believe Moses wrote the whole Torah are simply ignorant of the facts. They have not bothered to really thoroughly investigate the findings of higher criticism, and rely on their traditional views instead. Such is the fundamentalist mentality.

MY RESPONSE
I am patently aware of the 7 colour 7 law theory. I just don't believe it.

MY RESPONSE
Actually, the majority of conservative and reform Jews do not really believe that Moses wrote the entire Torah. By and large these communities have accepted the findings of higher criticism. So the idea that Moses wrote the whole Torah is not a Universal Jewish belief. Only the minority of observant jews actually do believe that idea. If you don't believe me, go ask a conservative and reform rabbi.

MY RESPONSE
Actually, I did not comment on the Mosaic law. I commented on the Noahide law. There is a difference, you know. As for the Mosaic law, I view it as probable that God gave the 10 Commandments through Moses, and that Moses himself conceived of a handful of other laws. These laws are found in Exodus 20-23 and Exodus 34:14-28. These portions of law are from the J and E sections of the Torah, which are in fact the oldest sections of the Torah. All of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, and other parts of the torah were written at a later date by various priestly groups. They contain NO divine revelatioin from God and NO Mosaic laws, apart from when they repeat the above legal codes. As for Noahide law, I do not believe God ever gave any. While he may have given the first human beings some idea of what he considered a righteous life, this knowledge is lost to us. The Scriptures as they stand present an innacurate picture of early mankinds history.

I believe, though, that for all people who seek out God Almighty, he will direct them towards the morality of the 10 Commandments and teach them this ideology. Because the 7 laws of Noah address the CORE ideals of the 10 Commandments, I personally feel they are a satisfactory religious system. Having said that I do not really believe in the concept of divinely given pre-sinaitic law, I do believe that God still judges mankind when they gravely step out of line. An example of this is God's judgements over Egypt and Canaan. These societies were given over to lawlessness and because of it God judged them. However, God has hardly touched mankind in terms of judgement ever since then. He basically leaves mankind to run his own affairs. I believe this is so because most socieites have developed reasonably extensive legal codes to mandate civic obedience. I personally believethis generally satisfies the will of Almighty God.

ONE FINAL POINT. Although I do not mandate that somebody MUST follow the Noahide code of law, I do believe, as I have said above, that this particular legal system is quite reasonable. I believe it establishes the basic idea of spirituality that God requires. Personally I think that the 10 Commandments is a BETTER system, but the 7 law system does address the majority of the core system of law anyway.

MY RESPONSE
I feel that I have essentially answered this dilemma above. NO, I do not mandate lawlessnes. However, every society on earth has some sort of legal system today, and many of them quite comprehensive. Also remember that many prayers to God have been offered up for the societies of mankind and I do believe he answers such prayers. So, civic law has been addressed. Spiritual law, from God's perspective, he answered with the giving of the 10 Commandments. These
commandments were given to the Hebrews and Egyptians who accompanied them out of Egypt. They were intended to be UNIVERSAL in scope. I do not believe God intended to limit observance of the 10 Commandments merely to the people of Israel. unlike yourself, I do not feel that God is into a 2 tier legal system to divide mankind. God is the god of ALL mankind, not merely the children of Israel.

MY RESPONSE
I believe I have generally answered this question above. NO, i have no guarantees that my particular spiritual beliefs are in fact God inspired. I have prayed at great lengths about them. I have studied greatly. But ultimately God is the judge of what is inspired or not. This is also the truth for EVERY SINGLE BRANCH OF JUDAISM. Wether you like it or not, it is only FAITH that makes you believe your particular religous system is God inspired. Personally, I don't think it is - and
I feel I can offer much factual evidence to demonstrate this fact to all who are willing to listen.

MY RESPONSE
Not everyone on earth believes that the Jews are a chosen people. Deists deny this idea vehemently. While I do not believe that God CHOSE the Israelite people, I do accept the idea the Israel/Hebrew people and their ancestors clung to Almighty God when most other peoples and nations went astray. Because of this loyalty, God used them. No, I do not believe in the individual calling of the various patriarchs.

The Progressive Noahide. I believe in an intervening God. I believe the gist of the Tenach is true. Not everything is historically true. Not every teaching I agree with. Some things were true for it's time, but are no longer relevant. Some things, such as God ordering the slaughter of babies and women, was never true. The Israelites thought it was true because it's what they wanted. They misunderstood in my opinion. One God only is true. No Trinity. No catches to that. One God period. I accept Science and Archeology. The world is not 6000 years old. Adam was created 6000 years ago, but the universe is 13.8 billion. Adam was not the first human. Genesis 1:26 proves that as well as Archeology. Adam was probably the first created that became the line of Israelites. Simple as that. Eve was not the first woman. Eve was the first woman in the line of Israelites. Transitional fossils are fact. We have them. We have more transitional fossils than we have TRex fossils. Dinosaurs never lived with man. But what they are I'm not sure. Possibly the beast of the field. Chosen people only means chosen to be a light for everyone else. God is not racist. There is no preferred race that is in a special God club. We are all Chosen. The Tenach is not entirely historical true 100%. It's been exaturated in places. I'm not aware of the Tenach claiming to be historically true in its defense. It should be read in light of Science and Archeology. It's foolish to ignor those or claim a conspiracy is behind it. The Tenach brings me closer to God in my opinion even if just partically true. Progressive Noahide. P.S. Thanks Daniel.

Near Death Experiences and Why They Can't Be Trusted by Jay Niamon. - ADDED SUNDAY 28TH OF MAY 2017 (28TH OF MAY 6180 SC)

There are thousands and thousands of Near Death Experiences through the ages. Do they really see something or someone when they die? Yes absolutely. Is it vivid dreams? Possibly. Is it actually what happens when you die? I don't know. But consider this. Muslims have seem Muhammad in their NDEs , Hindus see are shown a spirit guide and their relatives, Mormons see Joseph Smith, Hare Krishnas see Krishna, Christian's see Jesus, Jews see a Jewish decorated Heaven, sometimes Atheist see Heaven, sometimes Atheist see Hell, sometimes Atheist see nothing, sometimes Christian's see Hell, sometimes Christian's see nothing, Wiccans have seen gods and goddesses. So how can they be trusted about what happens at death? They can't. The conclusions would have to mean that either everyone sees what they've been taught in their society, or either all roads lead to the same God, or they are all just vivid dreams. Either way they are not absolute proof of what happens when you die. Just my opinion.

Is Belief a Choice? By Jay Niamon. ADDED SATURDAY 3RD OF JUNE 2017 (3RD OF JUNE 6180 SC)

Belief is not a choice. You are either convinced of something or you are not. You can try to make yourself believe something, but in the end you are convinced its true or you are not. So the classic missionary line of "just take it on faith", is a ridiculous and irresponsible excuse. Believing something really really hard is not truth. Truth is measured by what you can observe and test to be true. If I told you to take it on faith that fairies exist, that would be a foolish argument. The same way that take it on faith that my savior raised from the dead is a bad argument. Believing something just because you want it to be true is also dangerous. Its dangerous because your beliefs do effect everybody. So test everything. Believe nothing without evidence.

Response to 'Is Belief a Choice' by Daniel Daly ADDED SATURDAY 3RD OF JUNE 2017 (3RD OF JUNE 6180 SC)

I have faith in God, and I have faith that the Tanakh generally represents his will. Faith is believing in things which may only seem plausible or possible. There is a rationality behind faith. It believes things without sufficient evidence at times based on the logical probability that it is likely true or probably true. You might not have sufficient evidence for a thing which is told is correct or true, and you might need a lot of verification. Some people do. Some people don't. Faith is extending trust in a sense, and making some assumptions that such is likely the case, even if you don't have enough evidence. Faith in the correct religion needs to be tested by the actual available evidence, and based on the best understanding of the evidence, your faith can rest.