i truly hope so!! Once we all understand these texts are man made, we can appreciate the mythology and flow with science and such. I have actually gone from atheist to believing there is something but it is not meant to fully understand. What is meant is for us to understand & value the divine within ourselves, so we can be empathetic and loving aka see the value in each other. Get rid of our FEARS and greed. Love is the opposite of fear. Stop fearing science, enough homophobia and domination or divisions based on gender or race/ It's all so absurd and the Bible was written in an ancient time where we would never do some things we did then. &again, once that's understood and there is no fear, we can accept all science... we can accept all things. It really doesnt matter if there is a god or not...we should be the best versions of ourselves regardless. fairy tales are fun.... I love playing mentch on a bench and elf on a shelf w my nephew... but we know we are pretending "omg how did the elf get there w the mentch??!" its that connection that matters. Hillel said it himself "Whatever is hateful (even) to yourself, do not do to another. ALL THE REST IS COMMMENTARY" i love that quote
Hey Doc, I got here via Derek Mythvision. I am amazed at the time spent by scholars like you that work meticulously thru your faith in this 'book written by man' per Derek's wife. So many tell-tale clues like 2 creation stories, Let Us create, Let Us go down to see what they are building, Abram hometown in Sumeria. And what about the Sumerian story and cuneiform tablets? Older, much much older stories of our humanity. Thanks so much for you efforts. Namaste.
Thank you for starting this channel. "Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua." Is a Maori proverbs which means " I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on the past. I believe this was a common way of live in ancient days. Perhaps that's why the Hebrews had the east/ancient (qedem) also as their front and the west at their backs.
Your title, "The Bible was Written Backwards" is enlightening to me, that humans looking backwards and trying to make sense of how we got here were compelled to write a narrative for the purpose of helping us come to terms with our existance. I look forward to your content.
MythVision has brought me here. And before introduced me to Kipp too. Love that you and Kipp know each other. Maybe one day I'll be brave enough to publicly tell my own deconversion story
I came here from Derek's channel ... Myth Vision Podcast. Happy to find a new scholar on topics that I like learning about. I am happy to learn more about early era of Christianity's roots. Dr. Monger is not the only one that struggled with Faith. I started questioning in my mid 25's after a hard breakup from a girl I really loved. And, no matter how much we prayed about things and asked for "religious guidance" (what a joke); it didn't help issues that she fought from childhood, instead of getting counseling and therapy. So funny that we were told to pray to fight off the spirits that were affecting her, and cleanse ourselves of the demons and sins that were in hiding in our souls. So, after 10 years of thinking, questioning, and research, I shed my faith at around 35 yoa. So, yeah, it took me 10 years to finally free myself totally of religion and its effects. Yet, I still have family that proclaim their faith and would die for Jesus. Seriously, when you grow-up religious, you will believe any "Hogwash" that they tell you. I would be embarrassed to write about all of things that I did to try and improve my relationship with her, and how I prayed & prayed & prayed to be "Her Servant" to help her overcome childhood issues. But, now, I look back and know (from psychological studies) what bi-polar is, how someone will act if they are not medicated, how childhood issues will stay with you if you don't do serious therapy and have assistance from psychologists and therapists. No, you can't just "Pray the Bad Away" -- as we were told by the people in the church we talked to. So, yes, my experience with the Church is different than yours, but I do understand the questioning. And, trying to do everything that I could to be "Christ-Like". Only to waste years of my life, beliving in fairy tales that only made me: older, dumber, more guillable for manipulation, more broke, and less secure in finances -- because of trusting that "God will provide" and not realizing that I had to create my own path in life. So, you are not alone, and I'm glad that you embarked on this channel.
Good on you! I've been studying that Roman royalty invented all three Abrahamic religions. It makes sense.... the concept of slavery is strong in these religions and the point is to consider yourself less than you are, whilst supporting these royals living their wealthy lifestyle. It has worked too, unless you use reason and logic to undo the strong indoctrination these religions teach.
I would have stopped believing in Jesus completely if not for the compelling evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. The evidence being of the image of the crucified man on the Shroud of Turin. The latest findings show the image was made by a blast of light that today's technology cannot come even close to replicating! If not for this evidence, I would not believe in Jesus either. I do not believe in Christianity because those are the teachings of Paul, and contradict Jesus'teachings. But I can't throw out Jesus'teachings in the gospels in light of this resurrection account evidence I see on the Shroud. Comments?
I'm very happy and excited to be an early subscriber. I listened to your discussion on the MythVision podcast. I was able to easily identify with your internal struggle over the validity of Christian theology as it impacted against your natural reasoning. I too went through such a change over a period of about 20 years but fortunately, it was one that did not impact my profession. I appreciate the gentleness of your sensitivity to those around you and with those you love. I personally have taken the study and reason route to support my gut level reaction to the Christian theology and especially with regards to the Bible. Somewhere in Isiah, El Shaddai says something like: "Come, let us reason together." This is a fine motto for any who have any doubts of divinities or just want more knowledge of human history. Peace to you on your journey.
JudyCarlson, have you ever studied the findings on Shroud of Turin? The latest findings show very strong evidence, if not absolute proof, that the image on the Shroud is that of a resurrected man. The evidence shows that the imprint could not have been made by any current technology we have now, or have ever had and shows the blast of light creating it to be consistent with the resurrection account in the gospels. If not for this ONE piece of evidence, I would have left any beliefs I had in Jesus. Comments?
I saw you on MythVision. I wanted to say to you that you are able to bring so much history, humanity and life to a major world religion. You do not have to be a “believer” to appreciate or understand something. I think it could be argued that the beliefs of the devout might get in the way when they are looking at sacred texts. Beyond your work as a scholar, I would argue that beauty and meaning are part of the human experience. As are ugliness, emptiness and despair. It’s okay to just be.
I left the faith and the RC Priesthood 30 years ago. I support you and your work. Enjoy life, family and friends. Thank you for your testimony and work. I look forward experiencing you works and books.
Listened to your life story on MythVision. I am a former Christian/pastor and I truly related to the difficulty of leaving both faith and livelihood. It is VERY difficult to do. I have many, many thoughts about the toxicity of congregational life, and how this toxicity is actually baked into authoritarian New Testament directives as well as subsequent ecclesiastical history. Also, how Christianity (indeed, all religion) continues to do battle with the Enlightenment even now-360 years into the era. I saw Religulous when it first came out, and didn’t like it. Now, however, I find myself agreeing with it more and more.
I was really moved by your interview on Mythvision, and enjoyed very much Dr Kipp commenting in live chat! I felt viscerally in my body when you described the trauma-inducing attitude of some after escaping dangerous situation for your family. However, I was overjoyed to hear your family journeying together into a new phase of life, especially you and your wife being in sync. You scholars are helping us tremendously- giving us tools to help us disentangle ourselves from deeply ingrained indoctrination and negative mental straightjackets. Watching this intro I now understand the channel title “the bible was written backwards”, and that in itself is a useful mental picture to keep in mind. We look forward to whatever you can find time to share. I think your Jubilees expertise is really exciting, and I’m sure much more besides. Now I’ve dared to open my eyes and ears a little to academics since beginning of lockdown, I can’t get enough lol!
@@Biblemonger OMG - first, I love your handle. Plus, I am eager to see what you'll be offering. I hadn't realized that you were previously a missionary -- it explains why we had so many similar reactions to our exchanges over the past few weeks! :)
Dr Matt. I am so thrilled that you have opened a channel and are willing and eager to share your knowledge not just to those in the ivory towers of biblical scholarship but to the public and the world. Bravo, love and my very best wishes to you and for your family.
Loved hearing your story on MythVision. I too did a YWAM DTS in Kona. "The Bible is written backwards"...is such a perfect and easy to remember phrase/lens for explaining how the Bible works.
What kept me in the faith for so long was the apparent coherence of the text of scripture. But this makes perfect sense, that every subsequent book retcons the ones which came before. It's a manufactured coherence.
@@Biblemonger I don't think anyone can get that coherence outside the Catholic intellectual tradition. There's a reason protestant scholars and pastors are becoming Catholicism. In the decade from 2004 to 2014, more than two dozen faculty members, students, and alumni of Southern Evangelical Seminary in North Carolina have entered into full communion with the Catholic Church. Keeping in mind that only around two dozen students graduate from SES each year, this is rather a significant percentage. The obvious question is: “How can a school co-founded by an Evangelical theologian-apologist known to be critical of Catholicism produce so many Catholics?” In an effort to answer this very question, Douglas M. Beaumont has collected the accounts of nine conversions from SES, including his own, in a new book, Evangelical Exodus: Evangelical Seminarians and Their Paths to Rome, published by Ignatius Press.
It's funny you say that, because your theory proves the exact opposite. We know the Bible wasn't written backwards. It was written right at the times it says it was. So, basically, the reason you're saying that, is because textual analysis reveals fulfilled prophecies. Isaiah 53 still being in the Great Isaiah scroll testifies greatly to that. This is cutting edge theory over in Continental Europe. My friend who's working on a Masters Degree in theology keeps me updated on it. But, it's so counter intuitive to me, because it seems the theory itself proves the exact opposite of what its claiming. It's actually known pretty much for a fact, the Bible was being written contemporarily of the events it describes. New evidence is highlighting that, at Mount Ebal. Just, Maranatha. As Mark Twain said, "Scholars compile an overwhelming body of evidence, to prove just one thing, but it ends up proving the exact opposite."
Telling a lie puts you in a frame of mind where: • You must act as though you believe the lie is true • You must construct more lies to prop up the lies you have already told • What is true becomes ambiguous as the network of lies are made more concrete in your mind • The idea of others not knowing what is true and real is a good thing from your perspective • You are counting on the benefits secured by the continuance and furtherance of the lies • The idea of supporting and protecting a community delusion is crucial to your wellbeing It is totally understandable how religions come into existence and why they are so fiercely supported, but they are founded on lies.
I’ve said many times the Bible tells the narrative in reverse best example is Sermon on the Mount ends in the importance of the foundation Matt 7. When a real builder would mention it as the first thing.
Really excited about your channel, Matthew! The reception history of the jewish traditions and inner-biblical exegesis are my favourite topics in biblical studies!
Jesus is In all of the scriptures John 5:39 (KJV) Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. Jesus's birth Micah 5 2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Matthew 2:5 (KJV) And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, Jesus's suffering Psalm 22 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. 19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. 20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. 21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns Jesus arriving In Jerusalem Zechariah 9:9 (KJV) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he [is] just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. Matthew 21:5 (KJV) 21:5Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. John 12:14-15 (KJV) 12:14And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,15Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. Psalm 22 17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. 19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. 20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. 21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns ************************ Psalm 118:22 (KJV) The stone [which] the builders refused is become the head [stone] of the corner. Matthew 21:42 (KJV) Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Psalm 34:20 (KJV) He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. John 19:36 (KJV) For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. Judas: Psalm 41:9 (KJV) Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up [his] heel against me. Psalm 55 12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company Zec 11 12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. 13 ¶ And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD Matthew 26: 14 ¶ Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him Crucifixion Psalm 22:18 (KJV) They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. Luke 23:34 (KJV) Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. Psalm 22:16 (KJV) For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. Psalm 22:1 (KJV) [[To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.]] My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [why art thou so] far from helping me, [and from] the words of my roaring? Mark 15:34 (KJV) And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Matthew 26:54 (KJV) But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? Matthew 26:56 (KJV) But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. Mark 14:49 (KJV) I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled. Luke 24:27 (KJV) And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:32 (KJV) And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? Luke 24:45 (KJV) Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, John 5:39 (KJV) Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
I too am an now atheist from a Mennonite Anabaptist tradition. I am so looking forward to your channel. I have Myth Vision to thank for my introduction to your content. You go and wow us with your knowledge of languages and theology. I can’t wait!
Dear Matt Prof Don Ringe et al suggest Gaelic is older than Greek and Latin. Prof Theo Venneman suggested " verb first" gaelic was a Semitic language with roots in the Megalitgic era. Is it possible that Africans and North Amerucans coalesced on the NW coast of Europe - and had an evolving concept of the Universal Mind ( like Jung today), a place of Light after physical life and the interconnectedness of all life on Earth - embraced by Love? You may be interested in the " Irish Adam and Eve Story", from ' Saltair na Rann' - possibly a story of dark skinned schools of reflection, which may have been erased from cultural memories! Lorcán
LOVE this stuff, I grew up in a very tolerate family, agnostic, Christian mom Jewish dad and Buddhist Aunt I LOVE stuff like this my family always told me to ask questions and read and I love stuff like this I took so many Religion as a Literature. I love learning about it
Good to have these insights. Thanks. It all helps. Rather tenous link here but it is on the theme of rewriting newer events into older formats. See Spiked article 26th March 2023, "The cult of the climate apocalypse- Green campaigners are not "following the science" - they are promoting a Biblical fantasy.' It is sort of about the grey area between fearful imagining based on interpretations and the more firm scientific data. It is an article by Michael Crowley who is a British author of "The Stoney ground", not the Crowley of The NY times. It is more in your face skeptical of Biblical texts and other scriptures than is common in mainstream media, done in a clever way. He writes that the book of Revelation could be seen as a revenge fantasy. Maybe it should be renamed The Revenge of St John ?
Was just listening to one of the videos with you and Derek from MV. I just wanted to send a positive message…Love your knowledge and the info you share! I’ve recently left my faith but I’m still fascinated with the Bible and love to learn all about it. Keep it up and love your channel so far too!! And also appreciate you sharing your story 😢❤
After listening to you and Derek’s latest video I’m sorry you have had such negativity from so called Christians. You are very humble and very knowledgeable. I am learning. Coming from a very deep Christian back ground, It gets pretty lonely out here when taking a different route and way of thinking. Happy to be here.
I watched your interview on Mythvision and I have almost left Christianity myself. But I, as you, couldn't because of the resurrection account. If I knew that was false, I would be a total non believer. But after many hours of research on the Shroud of Turin, it appears that THIS shows the evidence that the resurrection happened! The imprint is not a painting they have proven and the WAY the imprint was put into the Shroud could have not been put there by today's technology, let alone any technology ever known to man. So if anyone who has really ever studied the findings on the Shroud can give me an answer to WHY it is a fake, I will be done with Christianity forever.
This will be a very interesting series. 👍 I’ll be particularly interested in when you get to the compilation/construction of the later bits of the first few parts of the pentateuch, with all the weird stuff about how second-borns deceitfully, with the gods blessing the deceit, getting their hands on an inheritance. Or the strange invention of an age of slavery in Egypt, when the reality was that a semitic group, the Hyksos, were actually the *rulers*, not slaves. Had the memory of that faded, or was it too embarrassing to have been ousted? 🤔 And then come the tedious rules for “sacrifices” for *everything*, that is so obvioulsly a mythology to support the collection of taxes, but calling it sacrifices for “god”, that the newly installed previously “exiled” elite had to pay into the empire of which they were vassals. I just don’t understand how anyone could have taken that grift seriously even back in the day. 😄
Thank you for your careful and massive effort in doing your videos. I appreciate the time and effort involved. I also appreciate your clear presentations. I continue my walk out of indoctrination and into more and more truth!! Greetings from Mrs Kerry of South Australia.
Enjoyed your interview on Dereks show. I have believed for a long time now that religion and the Bible’s have caused more pain and suffering in the world than any disease we have encountered.
This is a video suggestion, how is it possible to know that EL in the Hebrew bible was the father god of the Canaanite pantheon instead of being a common noun for god with a small "d"? is there a marker in Proto-Canaanite script for proper names, like a capital letter for example?
Great to hear your story from Derek’s channel! Thank you for being honest and vulnerable! Hope your wife is doing much better now. How has parenting changed after you left Christianity? How are the kids coping with all that you went through? I’m sure it was pretty traumatic for them too. What other challenges have you faced post leaving the religion? Looking forward to this channel!
Its interesting that in genesis after completion is says everything was good. The end is seen in the beginning, then the foundation is built. Adam is taken up out of the ground and then breathes in to becoming living.... rewind, stop living, drop dead, buried in the soil. Ultrasounds reveal an image of an unborn child wrapped up neatly sleeping in the womb..... Jesus's image was found neatly wrapped up in the tomb, reveling he was born to die. 😊
A little insight to reading from the end... Revelation 22:21 KJV [21] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Revelation 1:8 KJV [8] I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. And from the womb/tomb he's ultrasound reveals, a mighty miracle of life snuggled up all neat and tidy, my little child of light. As he was pulled out from his womb, he his lifted up into my arms, as he took his first breath in through his nostrils, our little bundle of joy, ready to face the world. Who knows how he's life will end, this is just the beginning. (From the end)
Thank you for being honorable. This has been a difficult transition to say the least for me as well. I can't thank you enough. This is a tough club to be a part of.
Your journey into scripture isn't done. You have read and studied the Old Testament, and the New Testament, but haven't looked into the Final Testament. It brings everything back full circle and will give you much more clarity and the finality you are looking for. The Quran.
So.. this guy had a few bad HUMAN experiences (which the bible says Christians would have) and deconstructed his faith so he could save himself and indulge in his own flesh (drinking, etc)?? Is your eternity something you don't care about? I would understand if you found a major contradiction in your bible that makes sense. But how can you ignore Isaiah 53 which was written 800 years before Jesus Christ was alive and predicted His death, burial, AND resurrection?!
Exactly....and as we can see in his testimony, it is so eveident that he was never really rooted in Christ. All he was trying to be a good person through his own efforts when the Apostle Paul clearly mentions that no is righteous in book of romans( forgot the exact verse). What I also find that he being with christ he really doesn't want any difficulties in his life and following Christ he will have no troubles in life. That's were I was like uh ha...!!! Because if he was a true disciple he would have accepted any thing that come in his way. Just like the disciples of Jesus. And how could we forget about Apostle Paul and his conversion. From persecuting Christians to saving the soul. Anyway let us uphold him in our prayer.
I got baptized in 2010, and finding stuff like this on my UA-cam feeds doesn't make me question JESUS but does the opposite. I'm thankful before my baptism I also study the cost of following JESUS. That is why having a personal relationship and putting him first in our life is so important. God blessed 🙌
Interesting to me that you went to the psychological side of things. I came here from Derek's Mythvision channel. I've noticed that many of these channels are ran by folks with traumatic pasts, be it from a beginning in a psychologically abusive fundamentalist congregation, or that they are on SSRIs. Not that this invalidates real scholarship, but it seems they are bipolar and/or prone to an "all or nothing" mentality. I look forward to seeing what Dr. Monger brings to the table.
After all this process in your life, have you sit down and talk to yourself or what use to be God for you and ask him to show himself to you in some way?!
This is a great question. I hope he talks about his experience with this. I would love to know more about the source of that sense of communicating with someone or something or ourselves. I ask it things and seem to get very definite answers.
Wow, good news! This era of Scholars sharing their information firsthand is going to revolutionize people's understanding
i truly hope so!! Once we all understand these texts are man made, we can appreciate the mythology and flow with science and such. I have actually gone from atheist to believing there is something but it is not meant to fully understand. What is meant is for us to understand & value the divine within ourselves, so we can be empathetic and loving aka see the value in each other. Get rid of our FEARS and greed. Love is the opposite of fear. Stop fearing science, enough homophobia and domination or divisions based on gender or race/ It's all so absurd and the Bible was written in an ancient time where we would never do some things we did then. &again, once that's understood and there is no fear, we can accept all science... we can accept all things. It really doesnt matter if there is a god or not...we should be the best versions of ourselves regardless. fairy tales are fun.... I love playing mentch on a bench and elf on a shelf w my nephew... but we know we are pretending "omg how did the elf get there w the mentch??!" its that connection that matters. Hillel said it himself "Whatever is hateful (even) to yourself, do not do to another. ALL THE REST IS COMMMENTARY" i love that quote
Subscribed!! Hello from Nova Scotia Canada!
Hey Doc, I got here via Derek Mythvision. I am amazed at the time spent by scholars like you that work meticulously thru your faith in this 'book written by man' per Derek's wife. So many tell-tale clues like 2 creation stories, Let Us create, Let Us go down to see what they are building, Abram hometown in Sumeria. And what about the Sumerian story and cuneiform tablets? Older, much much older stories of our humanity. Thanks so much for you efforts. Namaste.
Thank you for starting this channel.
"Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua." Is a Maori proverbs which means " I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on the past. I believe this was a common way of live in ancient days. Perhaps that's why the Hebrews had the east/ancient (qedem) also as their front and the west at their backs.
New subscriber.Keep it coming.
Came here from Mythvision, subscribed, and I look forward to getting to know you better!
Definitely interested and looking forward to future posts!
Found you through MythVision. Subbed.
Your title, "The Bible was Written Backwards" is enlightening to me, that humans looking backwards and trying to make sense of how we got here were compelled to write a narrative for the purpose of helping us come to terms with our existance. I look forward to your content.
Thanks for a new channel. I find this kind of analysis very interesting.
Looks really promising. These are very worthwhile endeavours!
INTERESTING, KEEP IT UP!
Få dette ut på norsk også. Vi har store behov for denne informasjonen på skolen 👍👍
MythVision has brought me here. And before introduced me to Kipp too. Love that you and Kipp know each other. Maybe one day I'll be brave enough to publicly tell my own deconversion story
I came here from Derek's channel ... Myth Vision Podcast. Happy to find a new scholar on topics that I like learning about. I am happy to learn more about early era of Christianity's roots. Dr. Monger is not the only one that struggled with Faith. I started questioning in my mid 25's after a hard breakup from a girl I really loved. And, no matter how much we prayed about things and asked for "religious guidance" (what a joke); it didn't help issues that she fought from childhood, instead of getting counseling and therapy. So funny that we were told to pray to fight off the spirits that were affecting her, and cleanse ourselves of the demons and sins that were in hiding in our souls.
So, after 10 years of thinking, questioning, and research, I shed my faith at around 35 yoa. So, yeah, it took me 10 years to finally free myself totally of religion and its effects. Yet, I still have family that proclaim their faith and would die for Jesus. Seriously, when you grow-up religious, you will believe any "Hogwash" that they tell you. I would be embarrassed to write about all of things that I did to try and improve my relationship with her, and how I prayed & prayed & prayed to be "Her Servant" to help her overcome childhood issues. But, now, I look back and know (from psychological studies) what bi-polar is, how someone will act if they are not medicated, how childhood issues will stay with you if you don't do serious therapy and have assistance from psychologists and therapists. No, you can't just "Pray the Bad Away" -- as we were told by the people in the church we talked to.
So, yes, my experience with the Church is different than yours, but I do understand the questioning. And, trying to do everything that I could to be "Christ-Like". Only to waste years of my life, beliving in fairy tales that only made me: older, dumber, more guillable for manipulation, more broke, and less secure in finances -- because of trusting that "God will provide" and not realizing that I had to create my own path in life. So, you are not alone, and I'm glad that you embarked on this channel.
Have you looked into Islam though❓️🤔
Good on you! I've been studying that Roman royalty invented all three Abrahamic religions. It makes sense.... the concept of slavery is strong in these religions and the point is to consider yourself less than you are, whilst supporting these royals living their wealthy lifestyle. It has worked too, unless you use reason and logic to undo the strong indoctrination these religions teach.
@@Joorawon.M.Yousuf wasn't Islam also invented by those who invented Christianity?
I would have stopped believing in Jesus completely if not for the compelling evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. The evidence being of the image of the crucified man on the Shroud of Turin. The latest findings show the image was made by a blast of light that today's technology cannot come even close to replicating! If not for this evidence, I would not believe in Jesus either. I do not believe in Christianity because those are the teachings of Paul, and contradict Jesus'teachings. But I can't throw out Jesus'teachings in the gospels in light of this resurrection account evidence I see on the Shroud. Comments?
I'm very happy and excited to be an early subscriber. I listened to your discussion on the MythVision podcast. I was able to easily identify with your internal struggle over the validity of Christian theology as it impacted against your natural reasoning. I too went through such a change over a period of about 20 years but fortunately, it was one that did not impact my profession. I appreciate the gentleness of your sensitivity to those around you and with those you love. I personally have taken the study and reason route to support my gut level reaction to the Christian theology and especially with regards to the Bible. Somewhere in Isiah, El Shaddai says something like: "Come, let us reason together." This is a fine motto for any who have any doubts of divinities or just want more knowledge of human history. Peace to you on your journey.
JudyCarlson, have you ever studied the findings on Shroud of Turin? The latest findings show very strong evidence, if not absolute proof, that the image on the Shroud is that of a resurrected man. The evidence shows that the imprint could not have been made by any current technology we have now, or have ever had and shows the blast of light creating it to be consistent with the resurrection account in the gospels. If not for this ONE piece of evidence, I would have left any beliefs I had in Jesus. Comments?
I saw you on MythVision. I wanted to say to you that you
are able to bring so much history, humanity and life to
a major world religion. You do
not have to be a “believer” to
appreciate or understand something. I think it could be argued that the beliefs of the devout might get in the way when they are looking at sacred texts. Beyond your work as a scholar, I would argue that beauty and meaning are part of the human
experience. As are ugliness, emptiness and despair. It’s okay to just be.
retro-engineering is a big part of the process of christian theology and apologetics
Looking forward to a dose of truth. 🎉
Oh yeah!
Nice!! Congrats on making a UA-cam channel. I'm looking forward to seeing what you've got in store for us.
Thanks!
I left the faith and the RC Priesthood 30 years ago. I support you and your work. Enjoy life, family and friends. Thank you for your testimony and work. I look forward experiencing you works and books.
Glad to be among the first ones to subscribe :3 Can’t wait to see what you’ll bring to the table.
Thanks!
Listened to your life story on MythVision. I am a former Christian/pastor and I truly related to the difficulty of leaving both faith and livelihood. It is VERY difficult to do. I have many, many thoughts about the toxicity of congregational life, and how this toxicity is actually baked into authoritarian New Testament directives as well as subsequent ecclesiastical history. Also, how Christianity (indeed, all religion) continues to do battle with the Enlightenment even now-360 years into the era. I saw Religulous when it first came out, and didn’t like it. Now, however, I find myself agreeing with it more and more.
Can’t wait to see this.
I was really moved by your interview on Mythvision, and enjoyed very much Dr Kipp commenting in live chat! I felt viscerally in my body when you described the trauma-inducing attitude of some after escaping dangerous situation for your family. However, I was overjoyed to hear your family journeying together into a new phase of life, especially you and your wife being in sync.
You scholars are helping us tremendously- giving us tools to help us disentangle ourselves from deeply ingrained indoctrination and negative mental straightjackets. Watching this intro I now understand the channel title “the bible was written backwards”, and that in itself is a useful mental picture to keep in mind.
We look forward to whatever you can find time to share. I think your Jubilees expertise is really exciting, and I’m sure much more besides. Now I’ve dared to open my eyes and ears a little to academics since beginning of lockdown, I can’t get enough lol!
Looking forward
to learning about how bible writers kept looking backwards.
I see what you did there!
That's pretty funny! 🤣
Haha! Yeah, Daniel was written hundreds of years after the fact.
Nice music. 😊
Thanks! I appreciate the support 😃
Do you have a youtube channel Dr Bird?
@@tsemayekekema2918
@JenniferBirdPhD Thanks for asking! :)
@@Biblemonger OMG - first, I love your handle. Plus, I am eager to see what you'll be offering.
I hadn't realized that you were previously a missionary -- it explains why we had so many similar reactions to our exchanges over the past few weeks! :)
@@JenniferBirdPhD Wow - i guess we have a lot more to talk about!
Look forward to content on this channel
Dr Matt. I am so thrilled that you have opened a channel and are willing and eager to share your knowledge not just to those in the ivory towers of biblical scholarship but to the public and the world. Bravo, love and my very best wishes to you and for your family.
Excited about this channel
Loved hearing your story on MythVision. I too did a YWAM DTS in Kona. "The Bible is written backwards"...is such a perfect and easy to remember phrase/lens for explaining how the Bible works.
... found you via MythVision Podcast... subscribed and shared...
I actually found your channel independent of Mythvision. It would seem the algorithm already has you pegged and knows me well.
This is so good Matt. I have your notifications on and look forward to your content. Congratulations 🎉
Thanks so much!
What kept me in the faith for so long was the apparent coherence of the text of scripture.
But this makes perfect sense, that every subsequent book retcons the ones which came before. It's a manufactured coherence.
Exactly!
@@Biblemonger I don't think anyone can get that coherence outside the Catholic intellectual tradition. There's a reason protestant scholars and pastors are becoming Catholicism. In the decade from 2004 to 2014, more than two dozen faculty members, students, and alumni of Southern Evangelical Seminary in North Carolina have entered into full communion with the Catholic Church. Keeping in mind that only around two dozen students graduate from SES each year, this is rather a significant percentage. The obvious question is: “How can a school co-founded by an Evangelical theologian-apologist known to be critical of Catholicism produce so many Catholics?” In an effort to answer this very question, Douglas M. Beaumont has collected the accounts of nine conversions from SES, including his own, in a new book, Evangelical Exodus: Evangelical Seminarians and Their Paths to Rome, published by Ignatius Press.
It's funny you say that, because your theory proves the exact opposite. We know the Bible wasn't written backwards. It was written right at the times it says it was. So, basically, the reason you're saying that, is because textual analysis reveals fulfilled prophecies. Isaiah 53 still being in the Great Isaiah scroll testifies greatly to that.
This is cutting edge theory over in Continental Europe. My friend who's working on a Masters Degree in theology keeps me updated on it. But, it's so counter intuitive to me, because it seems the theory itself proves the exact opposite of what its claiming. It's actually known pretty much for a fact, the Bible was being written contemporarily of the events it describes. New evidence is highlighting that, at Mount Ebal.
Just, Maranatha.
As Mark Twain said, "Scholars compile an overwhelming body of evidence, to prove just one thing, but it ends up proving the exact opposite."
Telling a lie puts you in a frame of mind where:
• You must act as though you believe the lie is true
• You must construct more lies to prop up the lies you have already told
• What is true becomes ambiguous as the network of lies are made more concrete in your mind
• The idea of others not knowing what is true and real is a good thing from your perspective
• You are counting on the benefits secured by the continuance and furtherance of the lies
• The idea of supporting and protecting a community delusion is crucial to your wellbeing
It is totally understandable how religions come into existence and why they are so fiercely supported, but they are founded on lies.
I'm looking forward to your content. Have a great day!
Thanks!
More!!!❤️
556th subscriber. 100th like.
Great. Got here thru your Mythvision discussion.
Enjoyed your broadcast with Derek 🙌🏻
🍻
Looking forward to things to come!
🍻
I’ve said many times the Bible tells the narrative in reverse best example is Sermon on the Mount ends in the importance of the foundation Matt 7. When a real builder would mention it as the first thing.
LOL, good point.
Really excited about your channel, Matthew! The reception history of the jewish traditions and inner-biblical exegesis are my favourite topics in biblical studies!
Thanks! I look forward to discussions with you about the topic!
I’m sorry that you never knew Jesus, the real person. You only knew religion 😢
He knows the bible, that's for damn sure!
Great to hear your story with Derek. Looking forward to your channel.
I want to see this content
💛👍
Oh hell yeah.
Jesus is In all of the scriptures
John 5:39 (KJV)
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Jesus's birth
Micah 5
2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Matthew 2:5 (KJV)
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
Jesus's suffering
Psalm 22
I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns
Jesus arriving In Jerusalem
Zechariah 9:9 (KJV)
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he [is] just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
Matthew 21:5 (KJV)
21:5Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
John 12:14-15 (KJV)
12:14And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,15Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.
Psalm 22
17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns
************************
Psalm 118:22 (KJV)
The stone [which] the builders refused is become the head [stone] of the corner.
Matthew 21:42 (KJV)
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Psalm 34:20 (KJV)
He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
John 19:36 (KJV)
For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
Judas:
Psalm 41:9 (KJV)
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up [his] heel against me.
Psalm 55
12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company
Zec 11
12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.
13 ¶ And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD
Matthew 26:
14 ¶ Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him
Crucifixion
Psalm 22:18 (KJV)
They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Luke 23:34 (KJV)
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Psalm 22:16 (KJV)
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Psalm 22:1 (KJV)
[[To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.]] My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [why art thou so] far from helping me, [and from] the words of my roaring?
Mark 15:34 (KJV)
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Matthew 26:54 (KJV)
But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
Matthew 26:56 (KJV)
But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
Mark 14:49 (KJV)
I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.
Luke 24:27 (KJV)
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:32 (KJV)
And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Luke 24:45 (KJV)
Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
John 5:39 (KJV)
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
I too am an now atheist from a Mennonite Anabaptist tradition. I am so looking forward to your channel. I have Myth Vision to thank for my introduction to your content. You go and wow us with your knowledge of languages and theology. I can’t wait!
Very exciting Dr. Monger!
Thanks!
Just subscriber while watching you on MythVision (The Truth About Yahweh and His Asherah. From 8 months ago. )
Just saw your interview on mythvision and came straight over. Thanks for sharing your valuable knowledge
If you bring up the Hermetic text involved I'll stay subscribed😊
Dear Matt
Prof Don Ringe et al suggest Gaelic is older than Greek and Latin.
Prof Theo Venneman suggested " verb first" gaelic was a Semitic language with roots in the Megalitgic era.
Is it possible that Africans and North Amerucans coalesced on the NW coast of Europe - and had an evolving concept of the Universal Mind ( like Jung today), a place of Light after physical life and the interconnectedness of all life on Earth - embraced by Love?
You may be interested in the " Irish Adam and Eve Story", from ' Saltair na Rann' - possibly a story of dark skinned schools of reflection, which may have been erased from cultural memories!
Lorcán
binged ur entire channel...this was just a treat!!! Thanks for what you are doing! :)
LOVE this stuff, I grew up in a very tolerate family, agnostic, Christian mom Jewish dad and Buddhist Aunt I LOVE stuff like this my family always told me to ask questions and read and I love stuff like this I took so many Religion as a Literature. I love learning about it
Good to have these insights. Thanks. It all helps.
Rather tenous link here but it is on the theme of rewriting newer events into older formats. See Spiked article 26th March 2023, "The cult of the climate apocalypse- Green campaigners are not "following the science" - they are promoting a Biblical fantasy.'
It is sort of about the grey area between fearful imagining based on interpretations and the more firm scientific data. It is an article by Michael Crowley who is a British author of "The Stoney ground", not the Crowley of The NY times. It is more in your face skeptical of Biblical texts and other scriptures than is common in mainstream media, done in a clever way. He writes that the book of Revelation could be seen as a revenge fantasy. Maybe it should be renamed The Revenge of St John ?
Was just listening to one of the videos with you and Derek from MV. I just wanted to send a positive message…Love your knowledge and the info you share! I’ve recently left my faith but I’m still fascinated with the Bible and love to learn all about it. Keep it up and love your channel so far too!! And also appreciate you sharing your story 😢❤
After listening to you and Derek’s latest video I’m sorry you have had such negativity from so called Christians. You are very humble and very knowledgeable. I am learning. Coming from a very deep Christian back ground, It gets pretty lonely out here when taking a different route and way of thinking. Happy to be here.
Thank you for your channel, just discovered it and can't wait to dive in!
Mythvision Podcast is amazing. Thanks for sharing your insights and looking forward to your content. 🎉
I watched your interview on Mythvision and I have almost left Christianity myself. But I, as you, couldn't because of the resurrection account. If I knew that was false, I would be a total non believer. But after many hours of research on the Shroud of Turin, it appears that THIS shows the evidence that the resurrection happened! The imprint is not a painting they have proven and the WAY the imprint was put into the Shroud could have not been put there by today's technology, let alone any technology ever known to man. So if anyone who has really ever studied the findings on the Shroud can give me an answer to WHY it is a fake, I will be done with Christianity forever.
This will be a very interesting series. 👍 I’ll be particularly interested in when you get to the compilation/construction of the later bits of the first few parts of the pentateuch, with all the weird stuff about how second-borns deceitfully, with the gods blessing the deceit, getting their hands on an inheritance. Or the strange invention of an age of slavery in Egypt, when the reality was that a semitic group, the Hyksos, were actually the *rulers*, not slaves. Had the memory of that faded, or was it too embarrassing to have been ousted? 🤔
And then come the tedious rules for “sacrifices” for *everything*, that is so obvioulsly a mythology to support the collection of taxes, but calling it sacrifices for “god”, that the newly installed previously “exiled” elite had to pay into the empire of which they were vassals. I just don’t understand how anyone could have taken that grift seriously even back in the day. 😄
Thank you for your careful and massive effort in doing your videos. I appreciate the time and effort involved. I also appreciate your clear presentations. I continue my walk out of indoctrination and into more and more truth!! Greetings from Mrs Kerry of South Australia.
Awesome testimony. Yah is on the inside. Pray daily for guidance and see the miracles unfold in real time without religious barriers. Much Shalom.
I'm here because of mythvision's derek lambert
Im coming from mythvision and I loved your interview!
Enjoyed your interview on Dereks show. I have believed for a long time now that religion and the Bible’s have caused more pain and suffering in the world than any disease we have encountered.
This is a video suggestion, how is it possible to know that EL in the Hebrew bible was the father god of the Canaanite pantheon instead of being a common noun for god with a small "d"? is there a marker in Proto-Canaanite script for proper names, like a capital letter for example?
*Appreciate your work & what you bring to our community.*
Thanks so much!
Saw you on MythVision, look forward to learning from you
thank you dr monger! do your thing and we'll be here to watch your channel grow! i say hallelujah you are doing this. long awaited. again thank you!
I’m looking forward to your content.
So you went from 11 subs to 4.4k subs in two weeks? Dayum.
Great to hear your story from Derek’s channel! Thank you for being honest and vulnerable! Hope your wife is doing much better now. How has parenting changed after you left Christianity? How are the kids coping with all that you went through? I’m sure it was pretty traumatic for them too. What other challenges have you faced post leaving the religion? Looking forward to this channel!
Thank you I look forward to studying
I’m new at this please keep the good work up 👍
Its interesting that in genesis after completion is says everything was good.
The end is seen in the beginning, then the foundation is built.
Adam is taken up out of the ground and then breathes in to becoming living.... rewind, stop living, drop dead, buried in the soil.
Ultrasounds reveal an image of an unborn child wrapped up neatly sleeping in the womb.....
Jesus's image was found neatly wrapped up in the tomb, reveling he was born to die. 😊
A little insight to reading from the end...
Revelation 22:21 KJV
[21] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Revelation 1:8 KJV
[8] I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
And from the womb/tomb he's ultrasound reveals, a mighty miracle of life snuggled up all neat and tidy, my little child of light.
As he was pulled out from his womb, he his lifted up into my arms, as he took his first breath in through his nostrils, our little bundle of joy, ready to face the world.
Who knows how he's life will end, this is just the beginning. (From the end)
Thank you for being honorable. This has been a difficult transition to say the least for me as well. I can't thank you enough. This is a tough club to be a part of.
Excited for all your content!
Matt! We need more content please!!!
Looking forward to it :)
what way
Your journey into scripture isn't done. You have read and studied the Old Testament, and the New Testament, but haven't looked into the Final Testament. It brings everything back full circle and will give you much more clarity and the finality you are looking for. The Quran.
Saw you on Derek's channel. Looking forward to you sharing some of what you have learned.
Well done Monger family, well done! Thank you for sharing.
Just subscribed and I’m so excited to see what you do next! #biblemonger
Looking forward to your videos Dr. Monger!
Looking forward to getting this information.
So glad you are doing videos! Congratulations on all your journey.
So.. this guy had a few bad HUMAN experiences (which the bible says Christians would have) and deconstructed his faith so he could save himself and indulge in his own flesh (drinking, etc)?? Is your eternity something you don't care about? I would understand if you found a major contradiction in your bible that makes sense. But how can you ignore Isaiah 53 which was written 800 years before Jesus Christ was alive and predicted His death, burial, AND resurrection?!
Exactly....and as we can see in his testimony, it is so eveident that he was never really rooted in Christ. All he was trying to be a good person through his own efforts when the Apostle Paul clearly mentions that no is righteous in book of romans( forgot the exact verse). What I also find that he being with christ he really doesn't want any difficulties in his life and following Christ he will have no troubles in life. That's were I was like uh ha...!!! Because if he was a true disciple he would have accepted any thing that come in his way. Just like the disciples of Jesus. And how could we forget about Apostle Paul and his conversion. From persecuting Christians to saving the soul.
Anyway let us uphold him in our prayer.
I got baptized in 2010, and finding stuff like this on my UA-cam feeds doesn't make me question JESUS but does the opposite. I'm thankful before my baptism I also study the cost of following JESUS. That is why having a personal relationship and putting him first in our life is so important. God blessed 🙌
Interesting to me that you went to the psychological side of things. I came here from Derek's Mythvision channel. I've noticed that many of these channels are ran by folks with traumatic pasts, be it from a beginning in a psychologically abusive fundamentalist congregation, or that they are on SSRIs. Not that this invalidates real scholarship, but it seems they are bipolar and/or prone to an "all or nothing" mentality. I look forward to seeing what Dr. Monger brings to the table.
Kom her fra MythVision. Gleder meg til å lære :)
After all this process in your life, have you sit down and talk to yourself or what use to be God for you and ask him to show himself to you in some way?!
This is a great question. I hope he talks about his experience with this. I would love to know more about the source of that sense of communicating with someone or something or ourselves. I ask it things and seem to get very definite answers.