The Primacy of Peter: Vatican to Host Debate in November, 2022

The following article was obtained through News 360 and written by Daniel Stewart.

Vatican to host a debate at St. Peter’s in November between three Protestant, Orthodox and Catholic theologians

On November 22, the Vatican will host a debate in St. Peter's Basilica between a Catholic, a Protestant and an Orthodox theologian on the primacy of Peter, that is, on the primacy of the Bishop of Rome over all Christian confessions.

St. Peter's Square - Evandro Inetti/ZUMA Press Wire/d / DPA© Provided by News 360

Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Culture, has been the main promoter of the discussions on the theme 'On this rock I will build my Church'. This theological debate is part of a new series of conferences on the figure of the Apostle Peter in history, art and culture that will take place in the basilica starting next Tuesday, October 25, and will conclude in March 2023.

One of the main knots of the ecumenical dialogue, that is, to achieve unity between Orthodox Christians, Protestants and the Catholic Church, has been the question of the primacy of Rome and the role of the Bishop of Rome. Ravasi stressed that the new cycle of conferences is not only for believers who want to find the reason for the hope that is in them, but also aims to reach out to non-Catholics.

As he pointed out in this regard, the Italian Baroque master Gian Lorenzo Bernini - who was the architect of St. Peter's Basilica - imagined the colonnade of the basilica as "two great arms that could embrace not only Catholics from all over the world, but also heretics or those of other faiths".

Ravasi founded the Courtyard of the Gentiles foundation within the Vatican's Dicastery for Culture and Education to promote dialogue between believers and non-believers through events, debates and research. This foundation is also one of the organizers of the new cycle of conferences together with the Fratelli Tutti Foundation, founded by Pope Francis in December 2021.

The two conferences planned for 2023 will focus on a "more cultural dimension" of the Apostle Peter, Ravasi explained. The Jan. 17 conference will look at the figure of St. Peter in history and culture, and the March 7 conference, titled 'Quo vadis,' will examine how Peter has been depicted in art, literature, music and film.

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The following article was obtained through Vatican News and written by Deborah Castellano Lubov.

Vatican to host 'Lectio Petri' events to explore St. Peter's legacy

The Holy See Press Office hosts Cardinals Ravasi and Gambetti to showcase the 'Lectio Petri: The Apostle Peter in History, Arts and Culture' initiative, which runs through the Spring of 2023.

The Vatican is set to host 'Lectio Petri: The Apostle Peter in History, Arts and Culture,' a series of meetings on the life and ministry of the saint, open to the public in St. Peter's Basilica.

This new project was presented on Thursday in the Holy See Press Office by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, President Emeritus of the former Pontifical Council for Culture and founder of the Courtyard of the Gentiles, and Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Vicar General for His Holiness for Vatican City, Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, and President of the Fabric of Saint Peter.

The series consists of four encounters, in the evocative setting of the Vatican Basilica and with an unprecedented and original format, to explore the life and Ministry of the Apostle Peter in history, arts and culture.

The project is being organized by the Basilica, the Fratelli tutti Foundation and the Courtyard of the Gentiles.

St. Peter, 'fascinating and complex figure'

During Thursday's Press Conference, Cardinal Ravasi emphasized the current revelance of Saint Peter.

“Peter is a fascinating and complex figure, also narrated in the Gospels, with his weaknesses and frailties. His story is studded with different moments, we could almost call them 'phases', the same that a believer might go through today: vocation, crisis - resulting in betrayal - and then conversion and final rehabilitation.”

The Cardinal, who just turned 80 this week, explained that Peter is "a somewhat modern character," who deserves to be explored in depth and is relevant to contemporary times.

"He was a mediator between the Judeo-Christian and pagan Churches and, according to the Apostle Paul, he was the first official witness of Christ's resurrection, impacting not only the Catholic faith and tradition."

Cardinal Ravasi (L) and Cardinal Gambetti (C) at the Holy See Press Office

Enlightening the face of 'our' Church

Likewise, Cardinal Gambetti described the programme as worthwhile.

"We look at the first of the Apostles with gratitude and reverence," he reflected, "for crossing the Mediterranean and arriving in Rome, in the city that the poet Tibullus called 'eternal,' and bearing witness to his love for Jesus."

"Peter," continued the President of the Fabric of St. Peter, "followed the Master, becoming like Him in every way."

This inheritance, he suggested, "is seamlessly duplicated by the Apostolic Tradition to this day."

“In the light of Peter's faith, we want to enlighten the face of 'our' Church and better understand the Way that the Magisterium points out to all peoples in this Third Millennium", from the Second Vatican Council to Pope Francis.”

Four encounters

The first appointment will be hosted by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, on Tuesday, 25 October, at 6:30 p.m. Rome time, in the Basilica.

For the meeting entitled, "The life of St. Peter. The following, the tears and the martyrdom,' Cardinal Ravasi will propose a reflection and some comments on some of the most significant Gospel passages concerning the Apostle and his vocation.

On Tuesday, 22 November, a Catholic, a Protestant and an Orthodox theologian will debate together on the theme of the Primacy of Peter, at an event entitled "On this rock, I will build my Church”.

The third appointment, called "Accounting for the Hope that is in us", is scheduled for Tuesday, 17 January 2023, and dedicated to an in-depth analysis of the figure of the Saint in history and culture.

Cardinal Ravasi will comment on the two Letters of Peter and some passages from Pliny's Letter, one of the oldest sources describing the life of the early Christians.

Professor Giuliano Amato, President of the Courtyard of the Gentiles Foundation, will conclude the meeting with a reflection on the relationship between faith and society.

Finally, the last Lectio Petri event, "Quo vadis," is scheduled for 7 March.

With the participation with prominent personalities from the world of culture, it will analyse the figure of Peter in arts, literature and music.

The Courtyard of the Gentiles is a structure of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, founded by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi to promote dialogue between believers and non-believers.

Through events, meetings, debates, research and opportunities for sharing, the Courtyard of the Gentiles has established itself as a meeting place for leading figures from secular and Catholic cultures, on issues and challenges affecting contemporary society - such as ethics, legality, science, faith, sport, art, youth and new technologies.

Who Is Amenadiel?

The following article was obtained through the website, Meredith Gould.

Who is Amenadiel in the Bible: The Truth about Him (Summary)                                      December 26, 2021 | Meredith Gould

Amenadiel in the Bible

Who is Amenadiel in the Bible? When the popular TV series Lucifer started airing, many people asked one of the questions, “who is Amenadiel?” For many people who have read the entire Bible several times, the name Amenadiel does not appear.

However, judging from his character in the Lucifer movie, some people began to think they missed something. Other people think that Amenadiel does not exist, and he might be nothing more than a fictional character.

Who is Amenadiel

There is no mention of who Amenadiel is in the Bible. However, some scholars believe that Amenadiel was a powerful angel in Heaven who God trusted. Along the line, this angel disobeyed God, and he was sent away from Heaven.

One theological theory suggests that Amenadiel is an air spirit that has the combination of Angels Michael and Gabriel’s powers. Therefore, this spirit could exist both in Heaven and on Earth.

Other theories that answer the question “who is Amenadiel in the Bible?” infer that he is the brother of Lucifer because they have similar powers. However, this cannot be proven accurate because the Bible does not mention him.

Also, other sources infer that Amenadiel was God’s first son. He carried out some critical assignments, like giving Cain the brother of Abel, a permanent and conspicuous mark of a fugitive.

What does the Book of Enoch say about Angel Amenadiel

The Book of Enoch is an old text in Judaism that talks more about the spiritual realm, the heavenly angels, the fallen angels, etc. According to this Judaic text, angel Amenadiel was one of God’s favorites in Heaven. However, he became selfish and narcissistic, wanting to establish a kingdom to be the supreme leader.

He was tired of being controlled or supervised by his father, God. Amenadiel’s plans didn’t pan out well because Angel Michael defeated him. Also, he was sent to Hell with other angels who conspired with him.

What does the TV series “Lucifer” say about Angel Amenadiel

The storyline of the Lucifer TV series bears no semblance to what the Book of Enoch says about Angel Amenadiel. According to the TV series, Amenadiel is a Seraph who radiated love and light. He was a very powerful angel, superior to several angels. He was also described as a committed servant, having powerful warrior skills that made him quintessential in God’s kingdom.

In the Lucifer TV series, Amenadiel was tasked with important tasks like planting a significant mark on Cain so that anyone who sees the symbol would label him as a fugitive. Also, according to God’s orders, he took his mother, Goddess, to Hell.

Amenadiel was also instructed to bring Lucifer back to Hell because the latter would leave Hell and spend several years on Earth. This was a tough assignment because Lucifer employed different strategies to frustrate Amenadiel’s plans.

Some key qualities of Amenadiel

He is a powerful warrior

One of the attributes that make Amenadiel stand out is his warrior abilities. According to the TV series Lucifer, Amenadiel was one of the most powerful beings alongside Lucifer. He also carries out the will of God without fear or favor. This is why he has faced different dangerous demons and powers.

In the Bible, the angel who matches this description is Archangel Michael. This is why some schools of thought in Christianity think that the answer to the question who is Amenadiel could be found in the answer: Angel Michael.

He is loyal

Another quality that makes Amenadiel stand out is his loyalty. As seen in the series, he mentioned how he felt God would be disappointed in him because he had not fulfilled his assignment.

While he tried convincing Lucifer to go back to Hell, his loyalty to God remained. Amenadiel understood that since God gave him critical assignments, because he was a trusted angel. Therefore, he did not want to disappoint God.

Who is Amenadiel in Bible?

The name, Amenadiel, is not mentioned in the Bible. This is one of the reasons why some sources feel it is a fictional character. In other holy books, Amenadiel is not mentioned. Therefore, it is correct to say that his existence does not matter to our salvation.

Is Amenadiel an angel or demon?

Some sources claim that Amenadiel was first an angel, who later became a demon after he disobeyed God. Other sources claim that even after Amenadiel fell out of God’s favor, he remained an angel. In the TV series Lucifer, Amenadiel didn’t become a demon even after he lost his powers temporarily.

Who are the 7 Fallen Angels?

The Bible mentions Lucifer as the main fallen angel, who was expelled out of Heaven because he revolted against God. However, different theologists and sources have come up with the names of other fallen angels, which are not referenced in the Bible.

Lucifer, Mammon, Asmodeus, Leviathan, Beelzebub, Satan, and Belphegor are these seven fallen angels. In comparison, the book of Enoch lists the 7 fallen angels as Jeqon, Asbeel, Kasdeja, Samjaza, Penemue, Gadreel and Kasbeel

Who is Lucifer’s brother?

The Bible gives no record of Lucifer having a brother. But other sources claim that Amenadiel is the older brother of Lucifer. In the Tv series, Lucifer severally calls Amenadiel, his brother. Also, when Michael arrives later in the series, we learn that he is also Lucifer’s brother. There is no trusted or precise source that tells us if Lucifer had brothers or not.

Conclusion

Amenadiel became more popular when the Lucifer TV series began to air. Hence, different questions have emerged on Who is Amenadiel and if he is mentioned in the Bible. It is important to mention that Amenadiel does not exist in the Bible, as there are no references to him.

Whether this angel exists or not, believers are advised to be careful when researching some unfamiliar names.

This is important to avoid falling into error and idolatry. Some of the knowledge beyond our scope as humans might not be necessary for us because they have little or no ties to our salvation.

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The following article was obtained through Astrofame. 

If you know a little about the Bible, angels, or have even watched Lucifer the Netflix series, the name Amenadiel may already ring a bell for you. Although, the same probably can’t be said about his backstory and origins, which are somewhat mysterious. We’re here to reveal where he came from, who he is, and why you definitely need to learn all about him.

Amenadiel was the first angel that God created

Amenadiel was the first angel to exist, so he is the oldest and most respected of them all. *Satan and Lucifer, who were also angels created by God, are therefore Amenadiel's brothers, however, the trio eventually went on to tear each other apart over the years and form the course of history that we are fairly familiar with.

Amenadiel Angel - He is known as the Fallen Angel

According to the Catholic Church, all angels were created to be good, but some unfortunately become evil and turned against their creator. In the beginning, God had created three archangels: Lucifer, Michael, and Gabriel, each leading a third of the *72 angels. With the complicity of his angels, Lucifer led the revolt against God and looked for revenge. He was a rebellious angel, who had always sought to dethrone God, and he therefore ended up being cast out of heaven and *lost his wings in the process. During the revolt, Amenadiel first sided with his father and then fought to overthrow God's power. This is what earned him his status as a fallen angel.

Whilst Lucifer was angry, and began reigning over the world of the dead, he vowed to take revenge at any cost and to do everything to drag his father down. During this time, his brother Amenadiel angel remained loyal to *his parents, completely abandoning his brother and even turning his back on him. Lucifer decided to lead the revolt and converted many angels to his cause. He tried to make God his father fall and above all to prove to him that men, whom he venerated so much, were in reality not worthy of his love. Faced with such a revolt, Amenadiel did not know whose side to take. Legend has it that his lust and jealousy for his father blinded him and that he too secretly took part in the battle to overthrow the divine power, therefore becoming a fallen angel.

Amenadiel Bible - The truth about this angel

Amenadiel cannot be found in the Bible, as there is no information about him, although there are ancient Judaic and Christian texts that mention him. The Bible contains little information about the angelic kingdom, so the fact that he is not in the Bible does not mean that he does not exist.

That being said, two ancient texts contain information about who Amenadiel might be, and one more recent than the other:

Theurgia-Goetia

*Theurgia-Goetia is a book on magic, and it is an anonymous text written in the seventeenth century, yet it is one of the most important texts that deals of demons in Christianity. In this text, Amenadiel angel is known as the "King of the East", commander of more than 1000 dukes, and numerous lower spirits. Here, the fallen angel is described as a demon of day and night, with a prominent black aura.

The Book of Enoch

The Book of Enoch is an ancient Judaic text that reveals much information about the divine realm and the angelic hierarchy. It contains information about the fallen angel, who is described as a rebel, who wants to create a new kingdom without his father God. According to this ancient text, Amenadiel was defeated by the archangel Michael and sent to hell with other angels who participated in the revolt (the angel Sariel and Remiel are also considered the most powerful fallen angels).

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Commentary by Who's ? Right Blog

> According to the Christian Bible and Hebrew Tanakh, Satan and Lucifer are the same angel, not two separate angels.

> No religious literature states there are exactly 72 angels. The Christian Bible comments, "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels...  Hebrews 12:22 (NASB)

> Likewise, there is no record of "angels having wings". It is an artistic expression created by mankind during the Middle Ages.

> "his parents"... mankind has never properly proven that a female god, or even a female angel, was ever created.

> The Theurgia-Goetia refers to "spirits" not "angels". According to an analysis by Morina Ravenberg, an occult blogger, the following speaks volumes, but has no factual data to back it up when it comes to defining "angels"...“The office of these Spirits is all one, for what one can do the others can do the same, they can show & discover all things that are hidden, and done in the world & can fetch & carry & do any thing that is to be done or contained in any of the 4 Elements, Fire, Air, Earth or Water, & also the secrets of Kings or any other persons or person, let it be in what kind it will. These are by nature good & evil, that is the one part is good & the other part is Evil, they are governed by their Princes, & each Prince hath his abode in the points of the Compass, therefore when you have a desire to call any of the Princes or any of their servants, you are to direct yourself towards that point of the Compass the King or Prince has his mansion or place of Abode, & you cannot well err in your operations, note every Prince is to have his Conjuration, yet all of one form, excepting the name and place of the Spirit for in that they must change & differ, also the seals of the Spirits are to be changed accordingly”.

> While the Book of Enoch mentions Amenadiel as a fallen angel, revolting against God and being evicted from Heaven by the archangel, Michael, no other information is available about him in the ancient book.

Paul Harvey's Controversial Articles - Part Two

Part Two concludes with "A Letter From God". Originally written by Bo Lozoff for a Christmas newsletter in 1989, Paul Harvey read this controversial article on his news program in 1989. Here's the article as read by Paul Harvey...

Part One: A Letter From God

My Dear Children (and believe me, that’s all of you),

I consider myself a pretty patient Guy. I mean, look at the Grand Canyon. It took millions of years to get it right. And how about evolution? Boy, nothing is slower than designing that whole Darwinian thing to take place, cell by cell and gene by gene. And I’ve even been patient through your fashions, civilizations, wars and schemes, and the countless ways you take Me for granted until you get yourselves into big trouble again and again.

I want to let you know about some things that are starting to tick me off.

First of all, your religious rivalries are driving Me up a wall. Enough already! Let’s get one thing straight: These are your reli­gions, not Mine. I’m the Whole Enchilada; I’m beyond them all. Every one of your religions claims there’s only one of Me (which, by the way, is absolutely true). But in the very next breath, each religion claims it’s My favorite one. And each claims its bible was written personally by me, and that all the other bibles are man-made. Oh, Me. How do I even begin to put a stop to such complicated nonsense?

Okay, listen up now: I’m your Father and Mother, and I don’t play favorites among My Children. Also, I hate to break it to you, but I don’t write. My longhand is awful, and I’ve always been more of a “doer” anyway. So all your books, including the bibles, were written by men and women. They were inspired men and women, remarkable people, but they also made mistakes here and there. I made sure of that, so that you would never trust a written word more than your own living Heart.

You see, one Human Being to me — even a Bum on the street — is worth more than all the holy books in the world. That’s just the kind of Guy I Am. My Spirit is not an historical thing, it is alive right here, right now, as fresh as your next breath.

Holy books and religious rites are sacred and powerful, but not more so than the least of You. They were only meant to steer you in the right direction, not to keep you arguing with each other, and certainly not to keep you from trusting your own personal connection with Me.

Which brings Me to My next point about your nonsense: You act like I need you and your religions to stick up for Me or “win souls” for My Sake. Please, don’t do Me any favors. I can stand quite well on my own, thank you. I don’t need you to defend Me, and I don’t need constant credit. I just want you to be good to each other.

And another thing: I don’t get all worked up over money or politics, so stop dragging My name into your dramas. For example, I swear to Me that I never threatened Oral Roberts. I never rode in any of Rajneesh’s Rolls Royces. I never told Pat Robertson to run for president, and I’ve never ever had a conversation with Jim Bakker, Jerry Falwell, or Jimmy Swaggart! Of course, come Judgement Day, I certainly intend to…

The thing is, I want you to stop thinking of religion as some sort of loyalty pledge to Me. The true purpose of your religions is so that you can become more aware of Me, not the other way around. Believe Me, I know you already. I know what’s in each of your hearts, and I love you anyway with no strings attached. Lighten up and enjoy Me. That’s what religion is best for.

What you seem to forget is how mysterious I Am. You look at the petty little differences in your scriptures and say, “Well, if this is the Truth, then that can’t be!” But instead of trying to figure out My Paradoxes and Unfathomable Nature — which, by the way, you never will — why not open your hearts to the simple common threads of every religion?

You know what I’m talking about: Play nice with one another. Love and respect everyone. Be kind. Even when life is scary or confusing, take courage and be of good cheer, for I Am always with you. Learn how to be quiet, so you can hear My Still, Small Voice (I don’t like to shout). Leave the world a better place by living your life with dignity and gracefulness, for you are My Own Child. Hold back nothing from life, for the parts of you that can die will, and the parts that can’t, won’t. So don’t worry, be happy (I stole that last line from Bobby McFerrin, but who gave it to him in the first place?)

Simple stuff. Why do you keep making it so complicated? It’s like you’re always looking for an excuse to be upset. And I’m very tired of being your main excuse. Do you think I care whether you call me God, Yahweh, Jehovah, Allah, Wakantonka, Brahma, Father, Mother, or even The Void or Nirvana? Do you think I care which of My Special Children you feel closest to — Jesus, Mary, Buddha, Krishna, Mohammed or any of the others? You can call Me and My Special Ones any name you choose, if only you would go about My business of loving one another as I love you. How can you keep neglecting something so simple?

No I’m not telling you to abandon your religions. Enjoy your reli­gions, honor them, learn from them, just as you should enjoy, honor, and learn from your parents. But do you walk around telling everyone that your parents are better than theirs? Your religion, like your parents, may always have the most special place in your heart; I don’t mind that at all. And I don’t want you to combine all the Great Traditions into One Big Mess. Each religion is unique for a reason. Each has a unique style so that people can find the best path for themselves.

But My Special Children — the ones your religions revolve around — all live in the same place (in My Heart) and they get along perfectly, I assure you. The clergy must stop creating a myth of sibling rivalry where there is none.

My Blessed Children of Earth, the world has grown too small for your pervasive religious bigotries and confusion. The whole planet is connected by air travel, satellite dishes, telephones, fax machines, rock concerts, diseases, and mutual needs and concerns. Get with the program! If you really want to help Me celebrate the birthday of My Son Jesus, then commit yourselves to figuring out how to feed your hungry, clothe your naked, protect your abused, and shelter your poor. And just as importantly, make your own everyday life a shining example of kindness and good humor. I’ve given you all the resources you need, if only you abandon your fear of each other and begin living, loving, and laughing together.

Finally, My Children everywhere, remember whose birth is honored on this day you call Christmas, December 25th, and the fearlessness with which He chose to live and die. As I love Him, so do I love each one of you. Now, I’m not really ticked off, I just wanted to grab your attention because I hate to see you suffer. But I gave you Free Will, so what can I do now other than to try to influence you through reason, persuasion, and a little old-fashioned guilt and manipulation? After all, I Am the original Jewish Mother. I just want you to be happy, and I’ll sit in The Dark. I really Am, indeed, I swear, with you always. Always. Trust In Me.

Your One and Only,

GOD 

According to the majority of biblical scholars and theologians, several controversies arise in this article:

1) God used evolution in creation. The critics point out the implication of evolution had nothing to do with God creating everything. Creation took days to complete, not years. (Exodus 31:17).

2) God didn't author the Bible and you can't trust it. The critics point out the apostles did not follow cunningly devised fables--they were eyewitnesses of the majesty of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 19:21).

3) Never trust any written word. The critics point out God made no mistakes in writing His word. It will endure forever. Jesus said that even the punctuation will not fail. (Matthew 5:18 & Mark 13:31)

4) God is a Father and a MOTHER. The critics point out that nowhere in any of the Abrahamic religious texts does it state that God was a "mother". They claim this theory stems from new age thoughts and goddess worship.

5) God doesn't want the gospel preached. The critics point out that Jesus himself commanded his apostles to spread the word of God to all who will listen. (Matthew 28:18-20).

While there are a few well pointed-out controversies in the article, the bigger picture portrays an author who had a somewhat innocently biased approach in his words, with a few humorous snippets thrown in to make a point. Mr. Lozoff was clearly uneducated when it came to the Word of God (aka: Bible, Tanakh, Quran) and wrote the letter as any unrefined simpleton would. But that does not mean the overall moral of the "letter" is stained with blasphemy and untruths, because the bigger picture paints a loving Creator who is getting fed up with the inhabitants of planet Earth and chastising His children as any father would.

Paul Harvey's Controversial Articles - Part One

Paul Harvey Aurandt (1918–2009) was an American radio broadcaster for ABC News Radio from 1951-2008. Paul Harvey's radio shows included: "News and Comment" and [his famous] "The Rest of the Story" segments, which reached over 24 million people per week. His news and commentaries were carried on 1,200 radio stations, on 400 American Forces Network station and in 300 newspapers.

During Mr. Harvey's radio career, he shared two controversial articles that shocked the nation:  If I Were The Devil and A Letter From God. In today's world, the former - which originally aired in 1964 - can almost be likened unto a prophecy.  The latter - which originally aired in 1989 - caused the most controversy, especially among the Christians. Both documents contain powerful words.

In Part One of this series, it would appear that what Paul Harvey said in 1964 has come to fruition ...

Part One: If I Were The Devil

If I were the devil … If I were the Prince of Darkness, I’d want to engulf the whole world in darkness. And I’d have a third of its real estate, and four-fifths of its population, but I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree — Thee.  So, I’d set about however necessary to take over the United States. 

I’d subvert the churches first — I’d begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: ‘Do as you please.’ 

“To the young, I would whisper that ‘The Bible is a myth.’ I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what’s bad is good, and what’s good is ‘square.’ And the old, I would teach to pray, after me, ‘Our Father, which art in Washington…’

“And then I’d get organized. I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting, so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies and vice versa. I’d pedal narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.

“If I were the devil I’d soon have families at war with themselves, churches at war with themselves, and nations at war with themselves; until each in its turn was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings, I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames. 

If I were the devil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions — just let those run wild, until before you knew it, you’d have to have drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.

“Within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing, I’d have judges promoting pornography — soon I could evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of Congress. And in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls, and church money. If I were the devil, I’d make the symbols of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.

“If I were the devil, I’d take from those who have, and give to those who want until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious.

And what do you bet I could get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich? I would caution against extremes and hard work in Patriotism, in moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun, that what you see on the TV is the way to be. And thus, I could undress you in public, and I could lure you into bed with diseases for which there is no cure. 

In other words, if I were the devil, I’d just keep right on doing what he’s doing... Paul Harvey, good day!”

Prophecy or coincidence? Either way, this article is noticeably in tune with events that began occurring in the mid-late 20th century and continues to happen in the 21st century. 

Paul Harvey's Controversial Articles - Part Two 

The most disturbing parts of the Bible

The following article was obtained through the website, Stars Insider.

The Bible is a fascinating book, but one that also has its fair share of horror stories. Some passages of the Bible are disturbing for a variety of reasons, including being really graphic when it comes to detailing a gruesome event. Of course, some of these stories can be interpreted in different ways, the use of allegories being one of them. Still, parts of the Bible can be truly shocking for some people.

The beheading of John the Baptist

King Herod attended to the sadistic desires of his stepdaughter, Salome, who during a party asked him for the head of John the Baptist. The gruesome story is detailed in Matthew 14:8-11: "And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, 'Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.' And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother."

The judgment of Solomon

King Solomon did not split a child in two, but he did find that to be the best course of action to find out who the real mother of a child was. Luckily there was no bloodshed, but it's still quite a scary story. 1 Kings 3:16-28 reads: "And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, 'Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.'"

Zombies

The vision of Ezekiel, as described in Ezekiel 37:7-8, is really creepy, akin to a zombie horror movie. He basically sees a valley filled with dry bones, and then they all come together and begin to form skeletons. The especially disturbing part is that they are like zombies: they remain dead. "So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them."

Cannibal mothers

2 Kings 6:28-29 tells the story of two starving women who agree to eat their own children. Though after eating the first child, the mother of the second child hides her son in an attempt to save him. This is the passage: "And the king said unto her, 'What aileth thee?' And she answered, 'This woman said unto me, 'Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.' So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, 'Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.'"

Job's boils

God strikes a weird deal with Satan to test Job's faith. Job not only loses everything, but he's afflicted with boils all over his body. The details can be found in Job 2:7-8: "So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes."

Child murder

Psalms has lots of uplifting verses, but Psalm 137:9 couldn't be darker. This is a response to the Babylonians, who enslaved the people of Jerusalem, but it's still disturbing. It reads: "Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones."

Stoning

Casting stones is mentioned in several parts of the Bible. Things such as being a rebellious son (Deuteronomy 21:18-21) or not being a virgin upon getting married (Deuteronomy 22:13-21) would be valid reasons for the punishment. 

Bears attacking children

2 Kings 2:23-24 tells the story of how God sent in bears to attack a group of children who mocked prophet Elisha. Though there are interpretations that say that the "children" could have been a group of young men. The passage goes like this: "And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, 'Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.' And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them."

Abraham sacrifices his son Isaac

The story of God asking Abraham to sacrifice his son as a test of faith is one of the most popular in the Bible, and quite a disturbing one. Though in the end, an angel stops him. Genesis 22:9-10 reads: "When they came to the place where God told them to go, Abraham built an altar. He carefully laid the wood on the altar. Then he tied up his son Isaac and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached for his knife to kill his son." 

Jephthah sacrifices his daughter

Jephthah swears to God that if he wins a battle, he'll sacrifice whatever comes out of the door when he gets home. It was his daughter. "After the two months, she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed. And she was a virgin. From this comes the Israelite tradition," (Judges 11:39).

Noah

Noah's story not only mentions genocide, but it also implies i n c e s t. After all, God tells Noah in Genesis 9:7: "As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.” Except, only Noah's family was alive...

Judas Iscariot death

Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, but he too suffered a not-so-peaceful death, as described in Acts 1:18: "With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out."

King Herod's death

King Herod also had quite a gruesome death, as described in Acts 12:23: "And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost."

Sodom and Gomorrah

Genesis 19:4-26 details what happened to the original sin cities: "Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven." Lot and his family managed to escape the devastation, except for Lot's wife, who disobeyed God's instruction to never look back. She did so, and as a result turned into a pillar of salt.

Lot

After Lot's wife was turned into a pillar of salt, God found a way to keep Lot's lineage alive. Lot's daughters got their father drunk and in the end both became pregnant, as described in Genesis 19:30–38. "Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father,” reads Genesis 19:32.

The fall of Samaria

Gomer is unfaithful to her husband, Hosea, and the adultery is used as an allegory for the people of Samaria not worshiping the one and only God. They do reconcile in the end, but the threat of God is a scary one. Hosea 13:16 reads: "Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up."

Circumcision

Moses' wife, Zipporah, circumcises her son while Moses travels to Egypt to warn them of the coming plagues. The graphic account is found in Exodus 4: 24-25: "And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, 'Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.'"

Slavery

Exodus 20-21 not only details the Ten Commandments, but it also talks about "masters" and "servants" and even goes as far as giving instruction on punishment of slaves. For instance: "And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished. Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money."

Women

There are numerous passages about women that can be found disturbing. From being "unclean" from having a period or a baby (Leviticus 12) to Deuteronomy 22:28–29, which reads: "If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay her father fifty shekels[a] of silver. He must marry the young woman, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives."

Levite and the concubine

A woman Levite called his "concubine" was murdered one night, but the most gruesome part comes next. Judges 19:29 details it: "When he reached home, he took a knife and cut up his concubine, limb by limb, into twelve parts and sent them into all the areas of Israel."

God threatened priests

God threatened priests who had become lazy in praising him. Malachi 2:3 details it: "Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it."

Division

People would speak the same language in the Tower of Babel, but God decided to punish humankind for their pride by dividing people through language. Genesis 11:7-9 reads: "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city.  Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth."

Sources: (Ranker) (Grunge) 

See also: Science confirms these parts of the Bible are true

Fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about Jesus

The following article was obtained through Stars Insider.

The Messiah is mentioned in several books of the Old Testament, but these were not just mere descriptions of a potential savior that would be sent by God. The Old Testament includes numerous prophecies about the Messiah. The fascinating thing is that many of these prophecies were fulfilled, and we can find evidence of this in several books of the New Testament. According to these biblical accounts, it looks like Jesus Christ was indeed the Messiah.

MESSIAH WOULD BE BORN OF A WOMAN

The prophecy that the Messiah would be born human can be found in Genesis 3:15. Matthew 1:20 and Galatians 4:4 confirm this. The latter reads "[...] God sent his Son, born of a woman [...]"

MESSIAH WOULD BE BORN IN BETHLEHEM

Bethlehem was the birthplace of Jesus, and this was prophesized in the Old Testament, more specifically in Micah 5:2, which reads: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans[a] of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." The location of Jesus' birthplace is then confirmed in Matthew 2:1 and Luke 2:4-6.

MESSIAH WOULD BE BORN OF A VIRGIN

Mary as a virgin and the mother of Jesus is described in the Old Testament in Isaiah 7:14, which reads "[...] The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son [...]." The prophecy is then fulfilled in Matthew 1:22-23 and Luke 1:26-31.

MESSIAN WOULD COME FROM THE LINE OF ABRAHAM

Both Genesis 12:3 and Genesis 22:18 mention this. The latter reads "and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” Matthew 1:1 then confirms this in the Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah. And so does Romans 9:5.

MESSIAH WOULD BE A DECENDENT OF ISAAC

Genesis 17:19 mentions that the descendants of Isaac will carry an everlasting covenant with God. Genesis 21:12 also touches on this subject. Luke 3:34 then confirms the ancestry of Jesus as "the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor."

MESSIAH WOULD BE A DECENDENT OF JACOB

Numbers 24:17 says that "A star will come out of Jacob." Matthew 1:2 gives us the fulfilment of the prophecy.

MESSIAH WOULD COME FROM THE TRIBE OF JUDAH

"The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his," reads Genesis 49:10. Luke 3:33 calls Jesus "the son of Judah," and Hebrews 7:14 confirms this.

MESSIAH WOULD BE HEIR TO KIND DAVID'S THRONE

2 Samuel 7:12-13 and Isaiah 9:7 prophesized this. The latter reads "[...] He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom [...]." Luke 1:32-33 says that "The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David," and Romans 1:3 confirms Jesus' ancestry to King David.

MESSIAH WOULD SPEND A SEASON IN EGYPT

"When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son," reads Hosea 11:1. Matthew 2:14-15 in the New Testament confirms it: "So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'Out of Egypt I called my son.'"

A MASSACRE OF CHILDREN WOULD HAPPEN AT MESSIAH'S BIRTHPLACE

Jeremiah 31:15 foresees the massacre of the innocents, and the fulfilment of the prophecy is then confirmed in Matthew 2:16-18. The prophecy was as follows: "A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."

A MESSENGER WOULD PREPARE THE WAY FOR MESSIAH

Isaiah 40:3-5 says that "the glory of the Lord will be revealed." And this indeed happened, as described in Luke 3:3-6: "He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet."

MESSIAH WOULD BE REJECTED BY HIS OWN PEOPLE

Both Psalm 69:8 and Isaiah 53:3 prophesized how Jesus would be "despised and rejected by mankind" (quoting the latter). Then, in the New Testament, John 7:5 states: "For even his own brothers did not believe in him."

MESSIAH WOULD BE A PROPHET

"The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him," reads Deuteronomy 18:15. A prophecy that was confirmed in Acts 3:20-22.

MESSIAH WOULD BE DECLARED THE SON OF GOD

Psalm 2:7 reads: "I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, 'You are my son; today I have become your father.'" Then in Matthew 3:16-17, following Jesus' baptism, God says: "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

MESSIAH WOULD BRING LIGHT TO GALILEE

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned," reads Isaiah 9:1-2; a prophecy confirmed in Matthew 4:13-16.

MESSIAH WOULD SPEAK IN PARABLES

Both Isaiah 6:9-10 and Psalm 78:2-4 ("I will open my mouth with a parable") mention this prophecy. The prophecy is confirmed in Matthew 13:34-35, and Jesus explains why he speaks in parables in Matthew 13:10-15.

MESSIAH WOULD BE SENT TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED

"He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted," can be read in Isaiah 61:1-2. The fulfillment of this prophecy is described in Luke 4:18-19.

MESSIAH WOULD BE A PRIEST AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK

While "Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest," (Hebrews 5:5-6) God's message was there in Psalm 110:4: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

MESSIAH WOULD BE BETRAYED

Psalm 41:9 reads: "Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned[a] against me." This topic is also covered in Zechariah 11:12-13. Both Luke 22:47-48 and Matthew 26:14-16 described the betrayal of Judas.

MESSIAH WOULD BE FALSELY ACCUSED

"Ruthless witnesses come forward; they question me on things I know nothing about," reads Psalm 35:11. And then we find "some stood up and gave this false testimony against him" in Mark 14:57-58.

MESSIAH WOULD BE SPAT UPON AND STRUCK

Isaiah 50:6 reads: "I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting." Then Matthew 26:67 confirms it: "They spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him."

MESSIAH WOULD BE HATED WITHOUT CAUSE

Both Psalm 35:19 and Psalm 69:4 confirm this. The latter reads: "Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head." John 15:24-25 details the fulfillment of the prophecy.

MESSIAH WOULD BE CRUCIFIED WITH CRIMINALS

Isaiah 53:12 mentions this, as well as Matthew 27:38 ("Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left,"). We see this again in Mark 15:27-28.

MESSIAH WOULD BE GIVEN VINEGAR TO DRINK

Psalm 69:21 reads, "They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst." Matthew 27:34 and John 19:28-30 confirm it: "A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips."

MESSIAH'S HANDS AND FEET WOULD BE PIERCED

"Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet (Psalm 22:16). Zechariah 12:10 also mention this prophecy. John 20:25-27 then confirms its fulfillment.

MESSIAH WOULD BE BURIED WITH THE RICH

Isaiah 53:9 mentions that Jesus was "assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death." Matthew 27:57-60 confirms it.

MESSIAH WOULD RESURRECT FROM THE DEAD

The resurrection of Jesus is mentioned in both Psalm 16:10 and Psalm 49:15. In the New Testament, this is confirmed in both Matthew 28:2-7 and Acts 2:22-32.

MESSIAH WOULD ASCEND TO HEAVEN

The ascension of Christ was prophesized in Psalm 24:7-10, and later confirmed in the New Testament in both Mark 16:19 and Luke 24:51, the latter which reads: "While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into Heaven."

MESSIAH WOULD BE SEATED AT GOD'S RIGHT HAND

Both Psalm 68:18 and Psalm 110:1 mention this prophecy. The latter reads: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” Then Mark 16:19 says: "After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into Heaven and he sat at the right hand of God." In addition, Matthew 22:44 also makes reference to this prophecy.

MESSIAH WOULD BE A SACRIFICE FOR SIN

The prophecy can be found in Isaiah 53:5-12, part of which reads: "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities." Romans 5:6-8 confirms the fulfilment of this prophecy. "Christ died for the ungodly [...] God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Sources: (Learn Religions) (Diocese of Westminster)

See also: The shockingly accurate predictions of Nostradamus