₦airaland Forum

I have given my thoughts on this issue before:

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-101571.0.html#msg1812102

Ces the problem is that neither side knew what they where doing. Some of our forefathers sold everything they had, including their brothers, their sons and daughters, and their ways of life to the missionaries who came under the false guise of bringing the knowledge of God. They brought an already corrupted religion. They ostensibly brought the knowledge of God but actually they were colonizing in order to increase the wealth of their countries and ways of life.
True Christianity is not a religion, it only a way of life. It doesn't demand that one should abandon his culture or religion. True Christianity will only make one renovate his culture IE- remove the bad practices. But branding ones culture totally evil and of the devil while at the same time comanding or tricking them into accepting yours is not true Christianity.
Christ never asked anybody to change his religion, neither did he start any religion.

If the so called missionaries(colonial masters) had the right Christianity, and if our fore fathers were wise, both sides would have learned from each other. Our fathers should have seen in Christianity the love and acceptance which will make them stop some of their bad practices like the killing of things. At the same time they should have had to freedom to continue with their own culture and develop it in a God pleasing way. Not abandoning their culture and becoming catholics and protestants, and learning a foreign language rather than their own.

If we had done this, like some Asian cultures, we would have developed our culture to a greater level today. Our understanding of God and life would have been better. Our actions would have been better, and our languages should have been more developed. We would have been able to command more respect from the rest of the world than we do now.

Today we are nothing but caricatures, neither truly European nor truly African. How can we better our country this way? The colonial masters intentionally made use this way, so that they will never have to share the world power with us. We will remain too busy trying to be like the whiteman; thats what we think progress is.

The answer to your question is:
The only thing wrong with African Religions is Africans themselves who abandoned their religion to the devil and accepted foreign ones

School is school! it doesn't matter where it is located, there are good schools in Nigeria. It depends on what you want to study. In certain arts fields Nigerian schools are excellent. Think about world respected people like Chinua Achebe and Whole Soyinka, they all went to school in Nigeria and they are wonderful artists. I've mate an American(born citizen) who went to school in Nigeria and he talks highly of the education he got.
However, in certain science fields Nigerian universities are terribly lacking behind. The practical aspects of concepts are never really taught due to the lack of modern equipments.
Also, it depends on what you want to do with your degree. Looking around me, I have seen that it is easier to succeed in any field utilising your degree in the country from where it's gotten. I have seen medical doctors, who went to school in Nigeria and very successfull in Nigeria; some of them abandon everything to come to America. And when they get here, only very few end up successful as a doctor. So many abandon their profession for something less, not necessarily because they are bad doctors. Being groomed in a system makes it easier for you to understand that system.
Also, it depends on who you are. If you are truly motivated and want real education, you can get it anywhere. I heard that some people can bribe their ways through Nigerian universities but such people will not be able to get good education even if they come to America. I know, and I have brothers who went to Nigerian universities and they are very sound; I also know some who went to the same school but could hardly write their names.
In education, one can never do without personal effort.

bawomol:
inspired by the "are nigerian engineers competent thread"

Lol.  check out another thread inspired by the "are nigerian engineers competent thread."
https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-110848.0.html

bawomol:
why avoid the comment about souls and spirit but somehow u claim his post is scientifically accurate. again, this is the first step to creating a synthetic organism and artificial life. this is a scientific breakthrough.

My dear bawomol,
Mr M_Nwankwo's post had both the non-physical (soul and spirit) and scientific information. His statements on both are very correct and thats what I meant when i said it's scientifically accurate. His science was flawless as well as his references to the soul and spirit. Both stand side by side, not intermingled- He did not use soul and spirit to explain his science. I know those (soul and spirit) are not scientific therms.

I do not avoid comments about souls and spirit but this issue is a scientific one and I try to speak to people in a language that they will understand. You seem to be scientifically inclined and knowlagable; that's why I spoke scientifically to you.

You're right. It is a scientific breakthrough. But it is the first step towards rearranging living organisms, and DNA of living organisms to achieve a different living organism or DNA. Definitely no question of creating life!

bawomol:
there is nothing scientifically accurate about a soul or a spirit. according to such theory, plans wouldn't be considered living things since they bear no soul or spirit.

I will not talk about soul or spirit here. Lets talk scientifically. What the scientists recently did is that the, "researchers used yeast to stitch together four long strands of DNA into the genome of a bacterium called Mycoplasma genitalium."http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/01/synthetic_genome
If you really understand what this implies then the question of creating life should not even arise. Remember yeast is a living thing already in nature! Now how can you create something (life) from something (life) that already exists. It is only a question incubating, fusing, and rearranging or reforming something that already exists in a manner that nature doesn't usually do it.
Even if this "synthetic genome" ends up booting up a cell like they plan to do, it is still not creating life.
To create means to start from nothing to something. In this case, to create life will be to start from completely none-living thing to a living thing. In this process of creating, none of the ingredients should posses any life, and in the process no living thing should be used, even if it used as an incubator. Of course you know this is impossible and no scientist will ever dream of that.
If you call this creating life then every father and mother should be considered creators because they did basically the same thing -- the father putting his sperm into the mothers eggs.  Wheather this is done naturally or in a laboratory or at the cellular level it is basically the same thing. Would you call invitro-fertilization (which I have witnessed) the creation of life?
Is it not strange how much the so called steps to creating life depends on already existing life forms. Why, in the case of cloning and intro fertilization, despite the fact that the ingredients are already living cells, after the artificial fertilization the fertilized egg(embryo) still cannot continue to live and grow if it is not implanted in a woman's womb. Why is a woman's womb indispensable!!!

bawomol:
there is nothing scientifically accurate about a soul or a spirit. according to such theory, plans wouldn't be considered living things since they bear no soul or spirit.

I will not talk about soul or spirit here. Lets talk scientifically. What the scientists recently did is that the, "researchers used yeast to stitch together four long strands of DNA into the genome of a bacterium called Mycoplasma genitalium."http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/01/synthetic_genome
If you really understand what this implies then the question of creating life should not even arise. Remember yeast is a living thing already in nature! Now how can you create something (life) from something (life) that already exists. It is only a question incubating, fusing, and rearranging or reforming something that already exists in a manner that nature doesn't usually do it.
Even if this "synthetic genome" ends up booting up a cell like they plan to do, it is still not creating life.
To create means to start from nothing to something. In this case, to create life will be to start from completely none-living thing to a living thing. In this process of creating, none of the ingredients should posses any life, and in the process no living thing should be used, even if it used as an incubator. Of course you know this is impossible and no scientist will ever dream of that.
If you call this creating life then every father and mother should be considered creators because they did basically the same thing -- the father putting his sperm into the mothers eggs.  Wheather this is done naturally or in a laboratory or at the cellular level it is basically the same thing. Would you call invitro-fertilization (which I have witnessed) the creation of life?
Is it not strange how much the so called steps to creating life depends on already existing life forms. Why, in the case of cloning and intro fertilization, despite the fact that the ingredients are already living cells, after the artificial fertilization the fertilized egg(embryo) still cannot continue to live and grow if it is not implanted in a woman's womb. Why is a woman's womb indispensable!!!

m_nwankwo:
The DNA is the blueprint or code for the physical body. It is not life since life is not physical. Life comes from God and it cannot be created. Technically, it is a possiblity that within 15-30 years molecular biologist can synthesize artificially the entire human genome. However even with this feat, it is incorrect to talk about creatting life since the very precursors used in artificially synthesizing the DNA molecule are already provided by God. Thus science does not create anything but through the union of already existing elements, it brings about new forms. It is more correct to say that science can form but cannot create. The spirit or "soul" which animates the physical body and its DNA is the only truely living part of man. This spirit or soul cannot be created by any creature, it is a creation of God. When the spirit withdraws from the body during physical death, the body and its DNA lack "life" and decays. Mainting cells or tissues in cultures is not living since such cells lack counciousness. It is is possible that the entire human genome can be synthesised and programmed to develop into a physical human body but it is impossible for this artificially created body to become a living man since the soul or spirit is lacking.

Need I say more??.
Thanks M_nwankwo you said it all. As a science student, I can say that your post is not only spiritually fulfilling but also scientifically accurate.

By the way, where have you been? I haven't seen your posts for a while. I missed your matured outlook on things.

Electrical engineers definitely should know how to wire their houses. This is a very basic thing. In civilized countries electricans follow a blue print made by an electrical engineer in wiring houses. They also follow regional codes like NEC regulations, and these regulations are made by electrical engineers.
If you doubt this go to this link:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm

According to the US department of labor:
Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical equipment. Some of this equipment includes electric motors; machinery controls, lighting, and wiring in buildings; automobiles; aircraft; radar and navigation systems; and power generation, control, and transmission devices used by electric utilities. Although the terms electrical and electronics engineering often are used interchangeably in academia and industry, electrical engineers have traditionally focused on the generation and supply of power, whereas electronics engineers have worked on applications of electricity to control systems or signal processing. Electrical engineers specialize in areas such as power systems engineering or electrical equipment manufacturing. (From www.bls.gov)http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm

The bold sentences show that electrical engineering is different from electronic engineering(computer engineering) although some universities merge the two.

Also, according to the US department of labor:
Electricians also advise management whether continued operation of equipment could be hazardous. When working with complex electronic devices, they may consult with engineers, engineering technicians, line installers and repairers, or industrial machinery mechanics and maintenance workers. (Statements on these occupations appear elsewhere in the Handbook.)
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos206.htm#nature

This is from the hand book "Occupational Outlook Handbook" by the US. Department of Labor or the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Anybody working in America should be familier with this book. You can also read it at the website: www. bls.gov

dear brothers and sisters
why all these hatred towards catholics?

Is true Christianity a religion or a way of life?

Does the Almighty see you through your religion or religious beliefs?

Is God a respecter of religions?

Did Christ start any religion and does God have any religion?

Why do we humans quarrel about religions(all of which are manmade) while ignoring the important thing which is to live a Christlike life.

I am not a catholic neither do I have any religion but I hate nobody based on his or her religion.

No Religion saves. Only obedience to God saves.

@babs787
Thank you so much for examining my words. At least you are addressing the issue and not attacking personalities. 
However you chose not to accept my explanations. You chose to believe that the son of God was talking to their physical bodies rather than their spirits. I cannot force you to accept the Truth, you either take it or live it. Rest assured, I stand proudly by my words which none have been able to ridicule.
I wish you well on your path.
Remain blessed

pilgrim.1:
@justcool,

Let's help you grasp simply English, if you're struggling with it.

@ seeklove and Nairalanders
Please help me here but the English above is very wrong.
It should be: Let's help you grasp simple English!!! not simply English.



The one who wants to help me grasp "simply" English could not even write it.
My dear please don't take this personal.

@ Seeklove
I'm happy that you an unbiased person is examining the issue.

seeklove:
Besides,the guy just told you that the quoran has being interfered with and still you are quoting the quoran on him?
What if he tells you that the verses you quoted are those interfered with.

Thank you! you completely made my point here. I never told her that I my source was the Koran.
I proudly stand by my word that neither Jesus nor Mohamed nor any true prophet from God ever brought a religion. Religions of today have become a canopy that shields people from personally experiencing the Truth and exercising their free will. It has degenerated to a political weapon sometimes used for oppressing the poor. Remember Hitler was on the Good side of the largest Christian organisation -- the catholics. Islam today condons terrorism and senseless killing of Christians. Anybody with the slightest intuition will be repulsed by this satanic sects called religions.
Therefore I don't need the Koran nor the Bible to know that if Mohamed was a true prophet he could not have brought a religion. But some of us have lost our ability weigh and examine with our Gods given intuition that we have to consult the Bible or the Koran for the most simple things.

@ pilgrim.1
Thanks but I have to say this. You defend and attack religions but like I said, I don't deal with religions. I don't even have a religion. Neither do I defend the Bible for I have made it known many times that although the Bible still contains some truths, it has been interfered with thus it also contains some things that are not in accord with the Truth. The Koran itself is also very much interfered it. Both books have been reduced to religious weapons and neither contains the Truth in it pure form.

It ridiculous of you to discredit my explanation based on the fact that certain verses of the Bible do not agree with it when I never claimed to have drawn my knowledge from the Bible.  I made it clear that I draw from the Grail Message. 

However I owe it to God for the recognition that He has granted me out of the Grail message, to defend His words which mankind has reduced to religion. Neither Christ nor Mohamed brought any religion. They brought the living word of God for man irrespective of his race, nationality, and creed. Jesus who was, is and will forever remain the love of God brought His word for every human spirit. Whenever I find his word being massacered like you have always done, I will always offer the truth. Not for you but for those who your words might mislead. It is left for everybody to examine both and decide which makes more sense.

You have judged ABD-RU-SHIN by saying that he takes from the pages of the Bible.  Rest assured we will all recieve the judgment we give to others. This attack on the personality of ABD-RU-SHIN is uncalled for! Why can't we let facts speak against facts? Why must we condescend to attacking people who have done nothing wrong to us.

I stand proudly by my words and don't ever think that you can intimidate me.

As usual posters have deviated from the main point of this thread and have condescended to religious attacks. Obliviously neither party can explain what the above biblical sayings mean. I am not here to attack or defend any religion, I'm only here to offer explanation on the biblical sayings in question.

In other for one understand the sayings in question one must have knowledge of these two spiritual facts -- reincarnation and spiritual death.
1.) Reincarnation.
One life on earth is not enough for the human spirit to attain the maturity and purity that is prerequisite of it for it to return to Paradise. The human spirit must return to earth many times in other to achieve this, however it can only return in a human body. It can only incarnate as a human being, in a human body and never as an animal or inanimate object.
Some people reincarnate to complete tasks that they left uncompleted in their past lives.
2.) Spiritual death.
The death of the physical body is not the real death but only a transition since the Spirit, which is the real man, continues to live after physical death. The physical body, like everything material goes through these four stages i.e. birth, ripeness, over ripeness, and decay. At the death of the physical body, which commences its stage of decay, the spirit detaches from the body and continues its life in the beyond. This is not real death because the spirit, which is the real man, continues to live. But real death is spiritual death, in which case the spirit loses its consciousness and its personality. This is the real death. This is the type of death that is caused by sin, hence: “the wages of sin is death.”

Now let us consider the biblical sayings in question in the light of the knowledge above.

babs787:
Are these really Jesus' words?

1.
Matthew 10:23 - When giving instructions to his apostles as to just how they are to go about spreading his message Jesus says," . . . for truly I say unto you, you shall not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes."

They have since perished but son of man hasnt come

You are wrong to say that they have perished because only their physical bodies perished. Jesus spoke to their spirits, which are still alive and are still spreading His massage. Some of them are on earth today (reincarnated) and are still carrying on the task that Jesus gave them; and up till today the true message of Christ have not finished going through the cities of Israel. They will continue this task till the Son of man comes.

babs787:
2.
Matthew 16:28 - Jesus says to his disciples, "There are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

They have all tasted death without the sign of son of man.

Once again here, Jesus was referring to Spiritual death and not physical death. So you are wrong to say that they have all tested death. Some of them are on earth today(reincarnated) and some will be reincarnated on earth at the time when the Son of man will come in His kingdom on earth.

babs787:
3.
Matthew 24:33-34 - " . . . when you shall see all these things, know that it (the 2nd coming) is near, even at the door. This generation shall not pass till these things be fulfilled." He was obviously referring to the contemporary generation.

The generation has passed without the fulfilment of his sayings.

Here Jesus' saying has a deep spiritual meaning. “This generation will not pass away” is meant in the spiritual sense. For a generation to pass away means that they have completed their maturity and have returned to Paradise. A spirit in Paradise does not have return to earth anymore, it has risen above the material realms i.e. the physical worlds, to which the earth belong, and the beyond, where spirits sojourn after physical death. Only by living in accordance to God's will can a spirit be able to disentangle all that ties it to material things and be allowed to enter Paradise. This is the completion of spiritual ascent, which is tantamount to passing away from the material worlds.
Christ, seeing that the generation of men on earth at that time will not be able to complete their ascent and return to Paradise before the coming of the Son of man was right to say, "This generation shall not pass till these things be fulfilled." They will still be incarnating on earth and living in the beyond when they die till the Son of man comes.
I can go further here but I have said enough to clarify this particular saying.

babs787:
4.
Matthew 26:64 - When brought before Caiaphas, the Chief Priest, Jesus said to him, "I tell you, hereafter you shall see the Son of Man . . . coming on the clouds of heaven."

According to this the second coming was to happen during Caiaphas' lifetime but nothing of such happened.

Here you must understand that Jesus was speaking from the Spiritual perspective and the Spiritual time and space is different from physical/earthly time and space. For example a thousand years on earth is like a minute in Paradise. Therefore the "hereafter" which was said, to us means very soon but to somebody seeing from the spiritual perspective may mean a thousand years later if compared to earthly time.
Therefore this saying is true because Caiaphas' lifetime is actually his spiritual lifetime which could have been thousand of years or everlasting if he lives by the words of Jesus.

babs787:
5.
Mark 9:1 - Jesus said to the people and to his disciples, ”Verily I say unto you, that there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.


They have all perished with no sign of son of man.

Once again this is easy to understand if one considers the spiritual meaning. The death Jesus spoke about here is spiritual death, so you are wrong to say that they have all perished.

babs787:
6.

Luke 21:27-28 -Jesus said to the congregation, “And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”


Still they have all perished with no sign of him .

Once again you are wrong to say that they have all perished. Some of them may be on earth today (reincarnated) but rest assure they will all reincarnate when the Son of man comes.

babs787:
7.
Luke 21:32 - Jesus said, again to the congregation, “This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.”


But the generation has passed without any fulfillment.

Once again you are wrong, in the spiritual since that generation has not passed away. I have explained this above.

babs787:
8.
John 18:20 - When being questioned by the high priest, Jesus answered, "I spake openly to the world; I have ever taught in the synagogues and in the temple, and in secret have I said nothing." Here he told two lies. For example, the Sermon on the Mount, perhaps his most famous sermon was delivered neither in a synagogue nor in the temple but on a mountain top (Matthew 5:1.)
In Matthew 16:20 he warns his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. In other words, Keep it a secret.

Here you contradicted yourself. According to your post Jesus said, "I spake openly to the world, " You came up with the sermon on the mount which He spoke openly and which confirmed His truthfulness when he said, "I spake openly to the world, " May I remind you that a mountaintop is also an open place and that a synagogue used as a figure of speech doesn't necessarily have to be a place but a congregation.
If he had warned his disciples not tell anybody that he was the Messiah, this doesn't mean that he was teaching in secret. What makes one a true Christian is the recognition that Jesus is the Son of God, thus the Messiah. However for this recognition to be genuine it must be a personal thing. Only God himself reveals this people. That's why Jesus told Peter that neither heaven nor earth had revealed this to Peter but His father who is in heaven. Jesus went about teaching the will of God openly; those that are of God heard Him and followed Jesus and God revealed to them that Jesus is the Messiah.  If Jesus had started by telling everybody that He was the Messiah, then most of the people will come to test him or get his miracle, and this will remove their attention from the most important thing which is hearing and living the words of Jesus. Poeple must be allowed to come to the recognition of Who Jesus is(The son of God) by themselves through the words of Jesus, thats why you dont go about telling poeple that Jesus is the son of God.

The recognition of God lies in His words.

babs787:
9.
Revelation 22:7, 12, 20 - Jesus says, "Behold, I come quickly."

Almost two thousand years have passed, all those who knew him are long dead, yet Jesus’ promise of a quick return remains unfulfilled.

Even one million earth years is still very quickly compared to spiritual time.  Jesus spoke from spiritual perspective. Once again you are wrong to say that they have all passed away.


Please lets not drag the Holy words of Jesus down. Lets not use Holy words as weapons for fighting and defending religions. The words were given to our spirits and if we open our spirits to the words in the correct manner, our spirits will find its way back to Paradise and live forever.

I have drawn my knowledge from "In the Light of Truth: The Grail Message" by ABD-RU-SHIN. Being an imperfect human spirit my explanation cannot be perfect. If you want hear from the horses mouth, from the Truth Itself, read the Grail Message

Kobojunkie:
You never answered my question please. No need repeating exactly the same thing you already did. And please read the posts to be sure you have the right statements cause I do not remember commenting on your post about the Gnostics. and Yes, I stand on the fact that Reincarnation is attributed to Buddhism. Check the history on it.

About the verse, the verse, like what I pointed to earlier only speaks of the belief of some but has nothing to do with Christianity itself. If you have you be haughty about it then there is no need for you to even bother. M_nwankwo is at least confident enough to answer questions without feeling he needs to jump to defense mode. sheesh!!

I meant, my second post on this particular thread.
My brother I have no feelings attached, it's unfair for you to accuse me of that.
Thanks and Blessings!

Kobojunkie:
I am glad that you are at least honest that not all the claims in the book are of the christian faith. I do know that the grail message combines a bit of buddhism with other beliefs in it's message. I have researched it a bit but ok.

You are very wrong, my friend.
The Grail message did not derive from Buddhism or any other religion. The Grail message stands on It's own. The writer draw his knowledge from out of the Truth. Truths in other religions are found in the Grail message because the Grail message contains the whole Truth in It's pure form.

@ Kobojunkie and Lafile

I have answered you question. You keep going round and round. I showed you an account in the Bible that suggested reincarnation-- "Some say you are Elijah, some say you are John the baptise or one of the prophets."

I also explained that the fact that reincarnation is not elaborated in the Bible dose not mean that it's false.
Read my second post on this thread.

lafile agreed with me that the Christian Gnostics believe in reincarnation. And now Kobojunkie turned around and said that reincarnation is an Eastern ideology.

Even a child know that there were Christians Gnostics. Indeed they were one of the earliest branches of Christianity just like the Ethiopian Orthodox church. Most of todays christains derived their religion from Roman catholic church. Although some of them ignorantly consider catholics non-Christians. Saying that the Gnostics were not Christians is like saying that the catholics are not Christians.
Please tell what makes one a Christian?
Please checkout the website
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/origen06.html

@ m_nwankwo
Thanks for your nicely written explanation. The Truth speaks for It's self.

lafile said:

lafile:
NO WHERE WAS A DECISION TAKEN TO AMMEND THE NEW TESTAMENT TO DENY RE-INCARNATION. The Books of the New testament was already wide spread all over Asia Minor and East/Central Europe. There was no way ammendments could be made.

My brother, you made a very bold statement above! But have you studied all the ideas that was discussed in the council of Nicea. It was a very elaborate council, involving bishops from different corners of the earth and all their divergant opinions on the nature of Christ.
From your post, you probably read a summery of the council and felt bold enough make assertions that you are not very sure of. Be carefull with what you say because you will answer for it one day.
I personally cannot tell you that I know all that was discussed in the council because I was not there, but I can tell you that I have seen reports from historians that included reincarnation as the one of the ideas dismissed during the council.
The major issue in the Council was the nature of Christ. Some believed He was God, some believed He was just a man, and some believed that he was a reincarnate.
Please read more on the council of nicea, talk to historians! Read this qoute:

  "Nicea, nevertheless, marked the beginning of the end of the concepts of both preexistence, reincarnation, and salvation through union with God in Christian doctrine. It took another two hundred years for the ideas to be expunged."
http://kuriakon00.tripod.com/reincarnation/council.htm

lafile said:

lafile:
Because people (mention was made of Gnostics) believed in Re-Incarnation doesnt make it true. Gnostics believed that matter was inherently evil and spirit inherently good. It doesn't mean its true.

I didn't authenticate the doctrine of reincarnation just because some of the ancient Jews believed in it. I said that the doctrine of reincarnation should not be alien to Christians. It is an early Christian doctrine, and you proved me right by giving the name of an early Christan sect -- the Gnostics. All I was trying to say is that todays Christians should cease to regard it just an eastern school of taught. They should consider it and not just disregard it as unbiblical. I personally have examined the doctrine of reincarnation and found it to be true.

You cannot explain that God is justice if you don't believe in reincarnation. Life would be very unjust if reincarnation is not real. In it lies the Justice and love of God.

Kobojunkie:
Hold up. Some of the jews believed the Pharisees were holy, what has what some of them believed to do with the actual message?? Can you please pick the very first verse posted in that article and explain to me how it speaks of reincarnation?? I would love to see what you say you see

You asked two questions. Here are my answers:

(1) The fact that the some of the Jews at the time of Jesus believed in reincarnation goes to show that the idea of reincarnation is not just a school of thought borrowed from eastern cults. Reincarnation should not be alien to Christians, since some of the ancient Jews, from whom the Christians derived Christianity believed in it.  Dorcasde is right about the council of Constantinople. You can also research on the Council of Nicea 325 AD.

(2) The writer used the first Biblical verse in his article to prove that the fact that an idea does not receive a complete explanation in the Bible does not mean that the idea is wrong.

For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully ,  ( I Corinthians 13: 9 - 12 ).

Revelations are given to people based on their spiritual maturity. Giving a spiritually immature parson everything about spirituality at once will be tantamount to eating more than your body can digest and assimilate, which is dangerous and can lead to death. Paul knew this, which was why he wrote the above verses, he knew that as people matured spiritually, God would reveal more to them.
Therefore, the fact that Jesus did not spend too much time teaching reincarnation or that reincarnation is not elaborated in the Bible does not mean that reincarnation is false.
Remember, Jesus being a part of God and the perfect teacher would not give his students more than they could digest. He only gave them what they needed most at that time, knowing that if they hold on to it and mature, later everything will be added unto them. Hence, Jesus said:

"I have yet many things to tell you, but you cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when the Spirit of Truth is come, he will guide you into all truth; (John 16:12)

I've read the attached page. The writer makes a convincing case. The Biblical verses he quoted, if understood very well, actually suggests reincarnation. He makes a very good point in the paragraph - "Who Do Men Say that I am?"

How could the Jews have thought Jesus was John the Baptist or Elijah, both of who were already dead.
Either (1) that they believed that Jesus was the reincarnate of John the Baptist or Elijah;
(2) Or that they believed that Jesus was John the Baptist or Elijah that returned from the grave.
The second is not probable since they knew that Jesus was born, and did not just appear from the dead. Therefore, the fact that they thought Jesus was Elijah or one of the dead prophets, suggests that they believed in reincarnation.

The thing with the Bible is that you see what you want to see in it. You won't see what you don't want to see even if it is written in letters of flame. Moreover, your inner maturity will always interfere with your interpretation of any verse you find in the Bible.

dafidixone:
@juscool

Rainbow is not just a combination of colours, but a also a sign of God's convenant of Rememberance. God will remember you for good and add colour to your life this year and in the years ahead. In Jesus Mighty name I pray.

@dafidixone Great words of blessings.
May He remember you too and add colour to your life this year and years ahead.
Thanks Bro

@ Dorcasde
What can I say, Your's is a life's resolution and that's what it should be! You have the right attitude and with your attitude, volition and unrelenting effort you'll definitely get there. The strength has already been provided for you, you only need to draw from it.
Remember: Attitude is everything.

@ nwando
I know as long as you long towards the Lord His guidance is asssured.
May the Almighty bless your wishes for your husband as well as your marriage
To want to potray love is the noblest desire that can arise in a human soul. May the Almighty grant you the strength and experiences that you need in order to be able to truly love.
May the ray of purity find Its way to your heart, For love travels through the path of purity.
He who has found love has found God, for God is love.

@ Islander
You already know your true self -- a sweet lady.
May the almighty grant you the strength and the experiences that you need in order to realise and potray only your true self. May you have the strength and wisdom to enchant all that comes across you with the sweetness of your womanly nature. Let your inner light shine everywhere you go and don't let provocations dim the brilliance of this light.
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (Mathew 5:16)

@dafidixone
Yours is a selfless wish. Be assured He will conquer all souls, those who wont bow will break.
We pray that most souls will voluntarily bow to the Lord, all humans have free will. May the almighty give us strength to make the right choice, which is to choose His will.
"fear not, I have conquered the world"!

@chychy
You hunger for righteousness. It is a very noble wish You want to get closer and more intimate with your maker. Rest assured He will give you all that you need in order to achieve your aim. It has been His wish that humans get closer to him, hence he sent his prophets and His Holy son.
I pray that He will send you men who will love you truly and not those who only want to steal your purity by making unclean demands on you in the name of romance.
Your innocence remains inside you and you have not lost it. With genuine hunger for righteousness you will rediscover your purity and innocence.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (Mathew 5:6)


@all
It doesn't matter how many times you fall, the important thing is to get up and keep trying.

Please lets keep wishing each other good. Wish me as I wish you for I am a sinner too.

And finally comes the Truth!!!
Thanks Dorcasde

As we approach December, we approach the last step of this year's journey. This is the time for us to analyze and give thanks for the year then get ready for the next by making resolutions.
Please fellow Nairalanders state your new year's resolutions and wish strength to others that has stated theirs. 

Mine is to make 2008 a year without sin. I resolve to live completely in the Truth, rehabilitate my spiritual life and get closer the Almighty. Please wish me strength.


Remember every new year is an opportunity for you start all over again!!!

@ Dorscasde
Is that an excerpt from one of Herbert Vollmann's essays? It contains profound truth. It's really very touching, I hope more people will open themselves to the Truth contained in it.
Thanks for the tread, and I wish you strength in your spiritual accent.


I pray that the Almighty will give me strength to conquer my intellect and swing in the Truth in all my actions, words, and thoughts. Amen.

@ enitan2002
How are you? my friend!
Wish me strength as I wish you.
May you be allowed to serve the Almighty eternally!

My brother are you sure that what you are experiencing is a spiritual problem.
Here is my experience:
My father suffered from those alleged spiritual attacks in his sleep, it was so sever. he sought all kinds of spiritual help to no avail. He preyed, he fasted, He even hard priests watching over him as he slept, all to no avail.
The first time I experienced the problem, I was 12 years old. My was so severe that when the thing came over me, I couldn't move, I couldn't breath, I couldn't even think of any thing. I will be suffocating till almost to point of death, then my mouth will be released and I will shout JESUS!! Once I shout this name my whole body will be released then I can breath again.
My family did all that they could to help me but it contined. Sometimes I even saw ugly faces as the thing happened to me. In the church they told me it was the devil. I did all I could, went from church to churches, they kept telling me the same story. I even tried the meditation, chanting and some other stuff all to no avail. To make a long story short, the thing continued till I came to America.
I told an American friend of mine about my problem, he laughed at me and told me that I probably had sleep apnea. A medical condition that sometimes runs in the family. I took his advice and went to a specialist who diagnosed me and started treating me. For many nights they had all sorts of things hooked to me and monitoring me while I slept. Finally the doctor put me on medication and gave me some simple instruction to live by, IE exercises, lose weight and don't eat after 6:00pm, drink lots of water. Till then I hardly have the attacks anymore. Only when I'm stressed or eat very late do I have it once in awhile. I say that for many years now I have not had it at all.
I not saying that yours is sleep apnea, I m not a doctor but consider seeking medical help. And read up Sleep apnea at
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/articles/212.html

I wish you the best.