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1500 questions
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Why is the Bible said to be twisted like a wax nose?
The unusual image of a "wax nose" has been used in a few different ways,
to describe some sort of "twisting" of the meaning of Scripture. It appears
to have been used by both Protestants and Catholics, with different intent.
For example, John Calvin…
James T
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What is the symbolism of the Peacock?
In some churches I have seen, the peacock is used in furniture or other similar items:
It can also be seen in some Iconography and decoration:
I was just wondering what the symbolism of the Peacock actually is, and what churches this symbol is…
Byzantine
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Who Were Mark and Luke?
From Luke 6:13–16 (NIV):
When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of
them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter),
his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
Thomas, James…
Yuck
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What passages of Scripture were used by the popes and crusaders to justify the Crusades?
What passages of Scripture were used by the popes and crusaders to justify the Crusades?
I am specifically interested what the individuals that were contemporary to the crusades were saying. For the purpose of this question, I am only interested in…
Jeff
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Why did God change Jacob's name to Israel?
I am reading the book of Genesis, and I have noticed that God changes certain people's names, such as Abram to Abraham and Jacob to Israel. Why does he change their names? What does it symbolize?
Now that Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, God…
user5513
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Can we pray from any position?
I enjoy praying lying in bed just before I sleep ... until I fall asleep. In church I usually pray with my hands simply by my side or even with my hands in my pockets. I just let them stay wherever they are.
However I have seen that many people…
Pacerier
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How could a seventh-century heretic have possessed papal infallibility?
More specifically: How does the Roman Catholic Church reconcile the doctrine of Papal Infallibility with the Sixth Ecumenical Council's pronouncement regarding Pope Honorius?
The Sixth Ecumenical Council (680–681 CE) posthumously declared Pope…
Philip Schaff
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16
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What is the argument in support of personal interpretation of the Scriptures?
The Catholic church teaches that only the Church (Magisterium) has the right to interpret Scriptures whereas Protestant churches typically believe that anyone has that right.
What is the argument that supports the idea that anyone can and should…
Narnian
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Was Jesus finite or infinite? (human or God?)
I've always heard it said that Jesus was "completely human" and "completely God".
How could he be both human (finite by very nature) and God (infinite by very nature)?
Richard
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What did Jonathan Edwards have to say about the fact that he owned slaves?
I recently learned from a John Piper podcast that Jonathan Edwards owned slaves.
Edwards lived in the early and mid 18th century, long before the American Civil War, and passed away decades before Wilberforce would begin his abolitionist work in…
Philip Schaff
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Why is the Lord's Prayer different in the NIV and KJV?
Why is Matthew 6:13 different in the NIV that some other translations?
NIV (the latest version, I think is 2010)
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
KJV
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For…
Ray
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What does Matthew 5:27-30 ("Cast off your eye/hand/etc") mean?
For reference, here's the text of Matthew 5:27-30:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye…
RCIX
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Do I get a second chance to believe in Jesus after I die?
As if some people couldn't get far enough away from them on earth, several verses in the Bible seem to indicate that there will be preachers even in Hell.
1 Peter 4:6 (ESV)
For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that…
Caleb
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Is there any evidence for the claim that the Catholic church suppressed translation of Scripture?
There is a popular Protestant polemic that Catholics don't (or didn't) want people to read the Bible. It is often furthermore assumed that the Catholic Church went so far as to ban people from having the Bible in their own language.
Supporting the…
Affable Geek
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If Jesus is "God's Only Son" then how can we all be God's children?
In the Apostle's creed it states that "I believe in Jesus Christ God's only son our Lord" (ELCA). But many Christians say that we're all God's children, which is contradictory.
What does the Bible have to say about this?
Or are we God's…
Nels
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