Always something new

to learn and challenge me. I just went through that study on Genesis about Creation. The study really focused on young earth vs old earth. I never really have studied in depth that same issue in regards to evolution. I have read about it, compared it.. And have learned a lot about it. But there is no way I could debate it with someone. As much as I am 'in the sciences' I do not have the debating skills to take on that issue! Butthereare some very strong evolutionists on the forums and they are very knowledgeable in their area. It seems some are more Theistic than others. but whichever, they are blowing the creationists out of the water. :grin: It's not a personal issue to me. I really like all of then personally. And it's not really that I feel I need to change their minds. I just want to be able to explain my mind, my beliefs, and know the difference from fact, theory, and faith in this issue. Of course, they are college age young people debating creation with teens.. and I am no help. Sooo... onto the next challenge~!
Me *julie* at  # 7:33 AM

Monica and I were discussing how real the flogging

was in the movie The Passion. And so I looked up some info on our friendly google engine. This is some of what I found from someone who has studied the Shoud of Jesus. The Turin Shroud :

History : Brutal flogging was normal before any crucifixion, except maybe in the case of mass crucifixion when the number to be killed each day allowed no time for the whips. For example, at one time, after the beginning of the general rebellion of the Jews against Roman tyrany after 66 AD and before the expulsion from the Holy Land of thousands of the more prominent survivors, the rate of crucifixion was reported to be as high as 500 per day, men women and children.

The whip :
The flagrum was a whip with a short handle and generally two or three long thick thongs, each weighted at some distance from their extremity with lead balls or mutton bones. In action, the thongs cut the skin, while the balls or bones created deep contusions. The result was significant hemorrhage and considerable weakening of the vital resistance of the victim. In compensation, if one may call it that, this weakening shortened their agony on the cross
Hebrew law was strict on this, limiting it to 40. The Pharisees, in order to make sure that they never broke the law, gave only 39 lashes. The Romans had no limit, except for the fact that the victims should be left with just enough strength to carry their crosses to the place of execution. As the man who condemned Jesus to be flogged was Pilate, the Roman Proconsul, the number of lashes could be unlimited. The Gospels report that Jesus could not carry his cross without calling to an onlooker for help. This suggests a very severe beating. Those who have studied the traces of the flogging on the Shroud have identified over 100 lash marks. The victims were tied to columns with their hands above their heads, so we seldom find lash wounds on the arms or forearms.
Examination of wounds :


The marks are all over the trunk of the body, head, shoulders, and upper legs.

Most are on the back of the body indicating that the victim was tied so that he faced the column.

There are no traces on the forearms which must have been raised above the head

There are many traces on the chest, indicating the victim was not tied to a wide column but most probably to a thin one, for example a post, so the lashes could wrap around the body.

The number was between 100 and 120, mostly in groups of two or three.

They are in a fan shape, spreading out from two origins, one on each side of the body. The centre of the wounds inflicted from the right are a little higher than those inflicted from the left. The probable explanation is that the executioner standing on the right was taller than the one standing on the left. One of them showed a tendency to lacerate the legs. There is no doubt that the body wrapped in the shroud suffered severe flogging with weighted whips.


We can calculate the amount of destructive energy that was transferred to the body during the flogging, i.e. the total kinetic energy in all those swinging lashes, which was converted on impact into destructive force.

We know :

The number of lashes was 100 to 120, so let's calculate with 110 as an average.
The weights at the end of each thong or lash were two lead balls, each 1 centimeter in diameter, having a total weight of about 18 grammes. To this we can add 2 grammes for the weight of the leather (assuming that at least 5 centimeters of leather hit the target at the same time as the lead weights); so the total weight was about 20 grammes.
There's a lot more there about the flogging and the crucifixion as well.



Me *julie* at  # 7:20 PM

"The more I learn, the more I learn how little I know." -- Socrates

I keep thinking 'growing pains' are for people under 30.. That once you pass that stage even though things don't fall exactly into place, that at least your wisdom and life experiences would make them less volatile. But feelings still get hurt, changes still have to happen, and you still have to learn over and over again how to walk with God. In fact the more I live.. The more experiences I have.. The more I walk with God.. The more I realize I really haven't lived yet.. I really have more to experience.. And I really do not know enough about walking with God.
So, for you who like to pray, please pray me through this next 'growing pain'. I'm not quite sure how to walk through it.

Me *julie* at  # 5:34 PM