Do you know what the most important invention in the
history of the world was?
It wasn’t the computer. And it sure wasn’t the light bulb
or the telephone. (Or even the electronic voting machine.)
It was the printing press.
In 1445, Johannes Gutenberg invented the world’s first movable
type printing press. He didn’t know it, but he was unleashing a
revolution that continues to this day. Even the mighty Internet
in the 21st century is just an extension of Gutenberg’s original,
revolutionary machine.
The first book he printed was the Bible. And that led
to controversy, too, because Luther translated it into
German, the people’s language, instead of Latin, the
lingo of the religious elite.
Suddenly, ordinary folks could not only afford a copy,
but they could read it for themselves instead of getting
some guy’s self-serving interpretation. Soon the cat was
out of the bag–there were copies scattered all over Europe.
When people started to read it, they were alarmed at what
they saw, because between the covers of this book was an
amazing story that had seemingly little to do with the politics
and shell games they saw in some corners the church.
Luther wrote a list of 95 accusations against the church –
priests taking bribes and granting ‘indulgences’, an
institution setting itself up as a ‘middleman’ between
man and God.
He argued that God didn’t need a middleman, or a
distributor, or an agent, or a bureaucracy. People
could go direct to the source.
This little ’schism’ in Worms Germany unleashed a
firestorm of protest and permanently changed the way people
approached education. No longer was a big, faceless institution
responsible for your spiritual progress — YOU were. Now that
you had the knowledge in your hands, you were accountable
before God to do something about it.
I’m not trying to attack the Catholic church, by the
way. The problem is not institutions per se; it’s just
that it’s always easier for us to mindlessly follow someone
else than to listen to God and use the minds He gave us.
It’s no coincidence that the scientific enlightenment and
industrial revolution began in earnest within 50 years of this.
Not that it wasn’t already underway (it had already gathered
considerable momentum) but now that ordinary folks had access
to knowledge and the freedom to pursue it, the possiblities
were limitless.
The printing press took the handcuffs off of knowledge and
spirituality, and the world has never been the same. Equal
access to knowledge empowered people everywhere, and it
was only natural that the Renaissance, and in time, democracy
too would follow.
What’s troubling now is that most people still don’t do anything
with the knowledge that’s available to them. Why would you accept
a ‘canned’ answer or empty platitude when you can open the book
and read about it for yourself?
People have debates about Jesus, but most have never read the
real story–they just believe what they’re told. How sad.
If you want a ‘Just the facts ma’am’ version of what really
happened, grab a Bible (please — a modern English version that’s
easy to read, not something from the 1600’s) and read the book of
Luke. A truly fascinating story will unfold.
I dare you to read for one hour and then stop!
And you know what? Nobody will need to tell you what it means.
You’ll be quite able to figure it out for yourself.
You can get the book of Luke free online by clicking here:
Print it out and take it with you. (I like this NLT translation a lot, btw.)
Or, you can listen in MP3 by clicking this link:
You might like to burn the MP3 onto a CD and listen to it in
your car, or listen on your ipod.
Tomorrow I’m going to attack Lie #4:
‘Women are spiritually inferior and must submit to the
authority of men.’
Talk to you tomorrow!
Respectfully Submitted,
Perry Marshall
P.S.: Speaking of scientific revolutions, you may enjoy my
other 5-day email course, “Where Did The Universe Come From?”
I explore the Big Bang, the wonders of DNA, and the
relationship between science and spirituality:
CosmicFingerprints.com
I am really interested in this site. Im 17 and have very strong views on religion—–to be honest i want to vandalise every church i see, i havent done it yet, and never will… but the point is I’m glad that some people out there perhaps feel the same. I have come to the conclusion that ‘religion is the cause of all evil’ and would like to argue with anyone who tihnks otherwise. However I live in England and can’t make ur meetings so would be very thankfull if u could send me minutes of your meetings or keep me updated. I know this is alot to ask
Thankyou for reading this and if its not to mutch trouble i look forward to hearing from you thanks
Stefan,
Thanks for your note. Sometimes I myself have been so mad that I was ready to put my fist through the ceiling. I might have some idea how you feel.
My father was a minister and he suffered humiliating, unjust disgraces at the hand of some very “over-principled,” hypocritical religious people. (Suffice it to say this was some very ugly ‘church politics.’) It was a horrible time in his life. I remember him coming home from work every day, sitting on the couch and sobbing over an impossible predicament he was put in. And to be completely truthful, I believe the trauma of the situation had something to do with him getting cancer one year later, when I was 14. He died from the disease when I was 17.
But I would like to suggest to you that you must be very careful not to label all spirituality, or all religious people, as evil or deluded. Nobody is perfect, as they say, but still there are some good and genuine people and groups who really do practice what they preach. To assume that all of them are scumbags would also be to believe yet a different lie.
Jesus and other great teachers were absolutely right when they say that the only way to work through these feelings is to pursue forgiveness. If you are angry at someone who has abused you in the name of God, forgiveness is the only path that will bring you peace.
My whole 7-lies email series is really about discerning the difference between religion run amok. vs. genuine spirituality. I hope you’ll be sensitive to the difference.
Sincerely,
Perry Marshall
Perry,
Is it true that if we put god first in everything we do,..
everything follows..?
I really like how you people believe in the existence of GOD, because I, myself, believe it to… Im thankful that somehow their are people like you,, that in everything we act have a purpose…
By the way, there are some blog that i don’t understand, I’m a filipino, and proudly saying that majority of people here is a believer too, depend their life to GOD as their savior..
Wish you to visit our country someday… ^_^
I guess it depends on what you mean by “everything follows”. Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you.”
ear Bro Perry,
I am a believer of Jesus Christ and happy to say that God has revealed some things through you. I am in India and used to read Bible in Tamil Version. so could you explain in which sense the following verse should be perceived.
Psalm ; 19.
The sun is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber. And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
Could you please explain this for me.
thanks and regards,
Lovingly yours,
D.Brilliant.
Tuticorin.
Tamilnadu – 628002
South India.
Mobile Ph. 09962495566
It’s a poetic, artistic description of the strength and goodness of the sun. It does its job, it is able and capable. It has its task set before it, just as a young husband being married has his task set before him. It has work to do and it does it as reliably and with as much joy as a young married man getting up in the morning after he has gotten married.
dear bro or pastor perry gd day how are there..I am really interested in this site. Im a pastor to be honest i want to teach endtimer in my church I’m glad that some pastor out there perhaps feel the same. However I live in philippines and can’t go there ur meetings so would be very thanks if u could send me of your meetings or keep me updated. any time
Thank you for reading this and god bless all of us in more power..ur web site
Reply pls asap….
Daniel,
Check back with this site as we make regular updates. Welcome-
Perry
my reply to lie 3:
the church as an institution tries to preserved that institution with its conservatism but as it is, there are also new voices that are proclaimed ( progressives) and they have an interplay. that is why in the world organizations the Catholic Church is the most successful organization because of the interplay.
and if you look deeply in the history of the catholic church you can find that in every age there are new voices ( like the 95 theses of Luther) that wakes the church in its abuses and misunderstanding. many saints did the same and the church continued on transforming itself. it is an ecclesia semper reformanda.
I read the first page of the book of Luke. I read that Zechariah thought for himself and thus doubted the Angel’s words. He was immediately punished. He shouldn’t question, doubt, think. Eva made a mistake like children make mistakes. But would a parent severely punish and abandon a child because it made a mistake thinking it can do without/better than the parent? Of course not. I don’t think God punished Eva. I think her suffering was a consequence of her actions, one that God couldn’t prevent.
I would never say to my child, “Well, if you eat that piece of fruit, I’ll let you die and suffer in a horrible world for the rest of your life, and then go to Hell.” And why did God give us a mind and then tell us not to use it? And according to the Bible, Hell is a real place, not just a state of mind. And besides, it was not Eve who could kill herself indirectly, it is Jesus who holds the keys of Death in the Book of Revelation. No one dies unless Jesus decides it. He murders every last person who ever lived or will live, and doesn’t even seem to feel guilty about it. Why was what seems so trivial and adolescent on the part of Eve so bad, and why should she have suffered so much from it? Yes, God did make her suffering: he created everything, including diseases and even Death itself. I wonder about Christians and how final their judgments on Wiccans are. Yes, they think about God and they make judgments all the time about pagans. And obviously their god was totally intolerant of what was probably no big deal for Eve or Adam, because they couldn’t have know about death anyway. If they had, they probably would have tossed all that fruit over the garden walls, and stayed inside. Because of silly things like this, I gave up Christianity to become Wiccan. The Bible can be so improbable.
Victoria,
Thanks for your note.
Clearly we live in a world where there is death and suffering. Where knowledge is tempting but it becomes a snare. There is disease and suffering in the world. Those are facts.
Genesis says how it got this way. Denying people fruit, isn’t that such a trivial test of obedience? Why should a fruit be so special you would risk dying for it?
But they did anyway.
And we all know, this story DOES describe human nature. People really are like this.
God warned them, but they ate it anyway. And in so doing lost their paradise.
Clearly it was God’s intention to give us a choice. And, apparently, to redeem us from it.
I think they did know about death, because animals died. They had some notion of it. But it was from a standpoint of innocence.
I think the Bible describes the world quite exactly as it is.
Are you really sure that Wicca rescues you from any of these realities?
Victoria, I have answers to all of your concerns. Yet, not I really, but the word of God.
“I would never say to my child, ‘Well, if you eat that piece of fruit, I’ll let you die and suffer in a horrible world for the rest of your life, and then go to Hell.’”
Sex and drugs are two types of ‘forbidden fruit’ that look desirable as food. I doubt that you would lock up your children to prevent them from experiencing either. Instead, just like God, you would warn them of the dire consequences of sticking needles in their arm or of having unprotected sex. Eve deciding for herself what to do is the same as a child not listening to her parent warning her of a danger.
“And why did God give us a mind and then tell us not to use it?”
God says, “Come now, and let us reason together…” (Isa.1:18) and (2Ti 1:7} “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” God very much wants you to use your mind.
“And according to the Bible, Hell is a real place, not just a state of mind. And besides, it was not Eve who could kill herself indirectly, it is Jesus who holds the keys of Death in the Book of Revelation. No one dies unless Jesus decides it. He murders every last person who ever lived or will live, and doesn’t even seem to feel guilty about it. Why was what seems so trivial and adolescent on the part of Eve so bad, and why should she have suffered so much from it? Yes, God did make her suffering: he created everything, including diseases and even Death itself.”
Hell is simply the grave (Sheol or Hades) except in the few places where it is translated from the word Gehenna, which is a lake of fire. Amazingly, this hellfire was prepared for the devil and his (fallen) angels, who have immortality (Mat. 25:41). Sinners WILL NOT be tormented eternally in hellfire (how can a mortal do anything other than die?) They will DIE (the Second Death) “leaving them neither root nor branch” and they will be “ashes”.
Mal 4:1 “Certainly the day is coming! It will burn like a furnace. All arrogant people and all evildoers will be like straw. The day that is coming will burn them up completely,” says the LORD of Armies. “It won’t leave a single root or branch.
Mal 4:2 “The Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings for you people who fear my name. You will go out and leap like calves let out of a stall.
Mal 4:3 You will trample on wicked people, because on the day I act they will be ashes under the soles of your feet,” says the LORD of Armies.
As far as suffering, we bring suffering upon ourselves when we make wrong choices. There is so much more to know, Victoria, but know this: the Bible doesn’t say what most people think it does. It does say this, however:
Rom 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
I suggest a website I am now working on about my struggle with Roman Catholicism and Wicca as riptide of faith I am going through:
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzezunbp/
I am a mess, but I know I would rather worship a Goddess to a God, or Satan, for that matter. I don’t really believe in absolute evil, and if he exists, I care about him just as I care about everyone and everything else.
I don’t want to have someone else deciding what I believe. So, I turned to Wicca for the freedom and it is intoxicating!
Suppose a gunman walks into a daycare and shoots 13 children dead.
Is that absolutely wrong, or just relatively wrong?
Well if some people does not belief in God they are like Animals that has brain of thinking, has anyone asked him or herself who made or created the air we breath in, who made or created the big oceans and seas, am sure this time any reasonable human been will agree with me that the fresh air is better than Oxygen made by human been, lol no body worship God and in truth and faith suffers long, and remember if the world or Satan or any Goddess makes your rich, there will be a sacrifice you will offer and it does not last long, but if God who created Heaven and Earth bless you with riches you live long in good health..Think about this, God does not ask for blood or any horrible sacrifice but the devil does. anyone have questions or comment…
Good day Sir,
If people has to rely solely on the scripture, would that mean that those who cannot read has less chance of salvation?
Thanks,
Bryan
Yes I think so. Being illiterate is a disadvantage in innumerable ways. There’s a reason why the Torah instructs parents to teach their children the scriptures. You have to be able to READ in order to do that :^>
Hello Sir/ madame,
The fundamentalist approach in making room inmy religion too but still it says that God is within you and you can find it yourself. Sikh religion also accords equal status to women but in practice, old practices still continue.there is female infanticide and male:female ratio is higher than average.
The religion preaches tolerance but intolerant view have always been there.
All have faults. Question is to find less sinful. Am I right? Or one has to find a path/ religion more aligned to his/her thoughts? After all my brain must accept what my religion ask me to do or follow.
If any modern translation is good, why do they differ?
i aint really understand about it…
but maybe i can give u info about Quran my holy book
in Quran…it is all written about 4 holly book that God gave them as an instruction how to live a life..
First book named Zabur was given to David or Daud Allaihissalam the prophet
Second book named Taurat was given to Moses or Musa Allaihisalam
Third book named bible was given to Yesoa or Isa Allaihisalam
Last book named Qur’an was given to Mohammed Sallalahualaihisalam the last prophet
All of these book teaches people to believe monotheisme, teaches us all the good thing
but Qur’an is the miracle that can be seen until now,because it’s the only holy book that cant be changed or rewrite
because it’s all written in arabic language with the same contents (u can read in english translation and compare it with other translation)…Qur’an is the latest holy book and it appears to complete those three other holly books
Everythin is written in Qur’an…from the way how evil come down to earth and affected people mind n heart
why God creates human as the most perfect creatures besides angel and evil, animal, or plants
why Isa or Yesoa is being cruisied why Mohammad has 9 wifes
and why woman has to obey man’s order
u can read all these answer in Qur’an
woman obey man’s order is not being inferior but, u can imagine if u have a wife…then your wife never obey ur order n cheat with other guy, what will u feel?…
woman is beauty, and as a treasure of a world….
Men will lost half of their mind with three things :
1. Treasury
2. Title
3. Woman
Adam himselfe was being punished because of Eve
that’s why moslem women must wear hijab is to protect her self from passion, being so much precious, and appriciate man, because it’s only his husband who can only see her without hijab
what do u feel when other men are seeing ur wife’s breast, and touching her soft skin…would u be proud n let her go?
or protect her because u love her?
i believe that u want her to be special just for u….
I’m really sorry i cant answer all of your questions here
but i just give u info that Qur’an will answer all of your questions completely..
thanx perry
peace n love
Nb: whatever it is i belive all religion is good, because it’s our control of life…so that we can life better and happy….we dont have to think about somebody else will be good or bad…
but we ourselves must be better…musnt it? ^_^v
Hmmm… I am new to this website and yet to really understand your disposition on the matters at hand. one quick question though…wht is your definition of GOD?
I will like to testify about my experience to back up the idea that we are not surposed to sit and fold our arms to gulp down everything we are given in the name of God’s Word or allow some one to do our religion for us. When i bought my first Bible and bent down on reading it from book to book,chapter to chapter, I was scandalised with what I was seeing and what the Bible was teaching. To me it was like night and day. I decided not to go to church anymore but the fire kept burning in my heart because I knew there is God and truth preached somewhere. This is how one night at about two am, I heared a voice quoting a Bible passage,Job 8:12. When i read the passge I did not understand until i asked one elder in one meeting that was grouping christians from various denominations who told me to look for a place of fellowship. I then joined a group that helped me a lot in my christian walk. This does not mean that when you are studying the Bible for yourself you shouldn’t have to listen to a leader. We need them but let the Lord confirms to your that he is a real servant because there are many self-proclaimed-men-of-God with no calling who will only want to impose their will, not God’s on people. Josue had to be with Moses, Elisha with Elija etc. Our God still speaks to those who are willing to listen.
God’s blessings.
Dear Perry,
Thank for your sites, they are great!
First of all excuse me if my ENglish is not perfect–it is not my mother tongue. I also hope I’m posting this in the right place.
I was raised Catholic in Europe, and have been away from religion or God for a while. Tried to live without Him–didn’t work
I did not realise until now that this was the cause for the ongoing lack of meaning and mild depression I’ve been dealing with these last few years. I’ve finally come back home to God after some struggles, but I have trouble going to Church on Sundays. I find the message of the Church so unappealing and superficial some times… As Christians, do we really have to go to Church once a week? Where is this established? Wouldn’t my time be better spent reading the Bible and trying to think for myself?
I hope you can shed light on this matter and help me, it is really bothering me lately and I certainly do not want to displease God. Thank you again for all the good work. You are so bright!
Kindly,
Christine
I think you should find a church that works for you. Lots of different styles and communities – the right one is a truly uplifting place to go. Blessings, Perry