Epilepsy = Demonic Possession!

[floo]

deleted

[Shaker]

"Men think epilepsy divine, merely because they do not understand it. We will one day understand what causes it, and then cease to call it divine. And so it is with everything in the universe." - Hippocrates

[floo]

"Men think epilepsy divine, merely because they do not understand it. We will one day understand what causes it, and then cease to call it divine. And so it is with everything in the universe." - Hippocrates

A guy who was well ahead of his time in his thinking.

[SteveH]

Don't judge all Christians by a few extreme knob-jobs.

[floo]

Don't judge all Christians by a few extreme knob-jobs.

I don't.

[DaveM]

Suggest you have a look at Matthew 4:23-25 to get a more balanced Biblical perspective.

[Shaker]

Suggest you have a look at Matthew 4:23-25 to get a more balanced Biblical perspective.

Nice try but no cigar, since the aforementioned verses don't actually touch upon the thread subject.

In other words, an alleged Jesus allegedly curing people of an alleged affliction doesn't really cut the mustard when said affliction is already held to be possession by demons (rather than the intermittent interruption of electro-chemical neural activity in brains that we now know it to be).

Always interesting to hear a two thousand year old view of medical science, though!

[DaveM]

Nice try but no cigar, since the aforementioned verses don't actually touch upon the thread subject.

They have a very direct and important bearing on the subject.  You are either using a poor translation, or you have chosen not to understand.

[floo]

They have a very direct and important bearing on the subject.  You are either using a poor translation, or you have chosen not to understand.

Those verses don't do Jesus any favours at all!

[Shaker]

They have a very direct and important bearing on the subject.

No, they don't. They really, really, really, really, really, really don't.

That is, not unless you think that a two thousand year ago obscure minor Jewish handyman who didn't know where the sun went at night knows more of brain activity than a 2017 neurologist.

Upon which I would put money that you actually do, given that on past showing you certainly seem the type.

You are either using a poor translation, or you have chosen not to understand.

Oh dear. You somehow didn't quote the rest of my post.

I wonder why. (He asked rhetorically)

[floo]

No, they don't. They really, really, really, really, really, really don't.

That is, not unless you think that a two thousand year ago obscure minor Jewish handyman who didn't know where the sun went at night knows more of brain activity than a 2017 neurologist.

Upon which I would put money that you actually do, given that on past showing you certainly seem the type.
Oh dear. You somehow didn't quote the rest of my post.

I wonder why. (He asked rhetorically)

Calm down dear, his posts are not worth you risking your BP hitting the roof!

[Walt Zingmatilder]

No, they don't. They really, really, really, really, really, really don't.

That is, not unless you think that a two thousand year ago obscure minor Jewish handyman who didn't know where the sun went at night knows more of brain activity than a 2017 neurologist.

Upon which I would put money that you actually do, given that on past showing you certainly seem the type.
Oh dear. You somehow didn't quote the rest of my post.

I wonder why. (He asked rhetorically)

You do know the difference between a psychiatrist and a neurologist I suppose.

In terms of humanity Jesus is the ultimate software specialist and a 2017 neurologist is more of a hardwear specialist.
Even Dawkins has had to admit to 'human softwear' hence memes. With a difference in vocab Dawkins and his wee wizards end up with it's own demons.....religion as bad memes or viruses.

[Shaker]

You do know the difference between a psychiatrist and a neurologist I suppose.

Yes I think I do.

In terms of humanity Jesus is the ultimate software specialist

Love to know the 'reasoning' behind that little gem.

[floo]

Yes I think I do.

Love to know the 'reasoning' behind that little gem.

How could you not know Jesus invented the first computer?

[Shaker]

Silly me 

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Love to know the 'reasoning' behind that little gem.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme

[Nearly Sane]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme

Blessed are the memes, for they shall inherit the earth?

[DaveM]

Going back to Floo’s original post where she says, ‘According to Matthew 17 v 14-17 it would appear Jesus believed those suffering from epilepsy were possessed by demons!’  I am interested to know on what basis Floo feels that this passage can be used to allow us to conclude that a) the young lad had epilepsy and b) that Jesus believed epilepsy to be a result of demon possession?

[floo]

Going back to Floo’s original post where she says, ‘According to Matthew 17 v 14-17 it would appear Jesus believed those suffering from epilepsy were possessed by demons!’  I am interested to know on what basis Floo feels that this passage can be used to allow us to conclude that a) the young lad had epilepsy and b) that Jesus believed epilepsy to be a result of demon possession?

Seizures usually indicate epilepsy.

14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. Matthew 17 v14-18 NIV

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Seizures usually indicate epilepsy.

14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. Matthew 17 v14-18 NIV

I guess you are building up to the abuses of certain self styled faith healers and you don't have to be a card carrying antitheist on that one to be concerned fake medical claims occur in all aspects of medicine or claimed therapy.

I note you are pushing for an interpretation of epilepsy and are therefore claiming a misdiagnosis on the part of Jesus and a false cure. Hindsight leads a Christian to believe that Jesus was spot on in cases like this and the healing was successful. The ''Has the age of miracles passed'' debate still rages.

I don't think a card carrying secular humanist fully trained up neuroscientist would have been available in first century Palestine. But maybe if Lawrence Krauss and Sam Harris, the father of neuroscience and religion? teamed up the lack of a time travelling antitheist neuroscientist might be overcome.

[floo]

I guess you are building up to the abuses of certain self styled faith healers and you don't have to be a card carrying antitheist on that one to be concerned fake medical claims occur in all aspects of medicine or claimed therapy.

I note you are pushing for an interpretation of epilepsy and are therefore claiming a misdiagnosis on the part of Jesus and a false cure. Hindsight leads a Christian to believe that Jesus was spot on in cases like this and the healing was successful. The ''Has the age of miracles passed'' debate still rages.

I don't think a card carrying secular humanist fully trained up neuroscientist would have been available in first century Palestine. But maybe if Lawrence Krauss and Sam Harris, the father of neuroscience and religion teamed up the lack of a time travelling antitheist neuroscientist might be overcome.

Maybe Jesus was the Benny Hinn of his day!

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Maybe Jesus was the Benny Hinn of his day!

or maybe he wasn't.

[floo]

or maybe he wasn't.

Or maybe everything the gospel writers claimed about Jesus was a work of fiction.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Or maybe everything the gospel writers claimed about Jesus was a work of fiction.

Or maybe it wasn't.
Or maybe someone who argues that Jesus misdiagnosed and did a bogus cure and then says, when challenged, that oh maybe the situation I've just analysed never happened looks as though they have an axe to grind.

[Shaker]

Going back to Floo’s original post where she says, ‘According to Matthew 17 v 14-17 it would appear Jesus believed those suffering from epilepsy were possessed by demons!’  I am interested to know on what basis Floo feels that this passage can be used to allow us to conclude that a) the young lad had epilepsy and b) that Jesus believed epilepsy to be a result of demon possession?

You have your answers