Monday, August 01, 2011

Selena Gomez Arrives At The Airport With A Pillow and A Harley-Davidson Teddy Bear

Selena Gomez Arrives At The Airport With A Pillow and A Harley-Davidson Teddy Bear: "



Selena Gomez was photographed arriving at Fl. Lauderdale International Airport in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida yesterday. As she got off the plane Selena was seen holding a pillow and a Harley-Davidson teddy bear. We wonder if the bear was a gift from her boyfriend Justin Bieber to wish her luck on her summer concert tour!



Selena’s first “We Own The Night” concert will take place at the Minzer Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton, Florida on July 28th. Do you have tickets?

"


Does Taylor Swift Think Joe Jonas’ “See No More” Is About Her?

Does Taylor Swift Think Joe Jonas’ “See No More” Is About Her?: "



Taylor Swift spoke with Z100 radio host Elvis Duran about Joe Jonas‘ song “See No More” and the possibility of the song being about her. Taylor said Joe’s song isn’t the only one rumored to be about her, check it out:





There is one … two … three. Those are the ones that have been speculated. It’s all good fun though. It’s music going back and forth. It’s fueled by heartbreak and real stories and real things. That’s what keeps music authentic.



Do YOU think Joe Jonas’ song is about Taylor Swift?





"


Will Demi Lovato Perform At The 2011 Teen Choice Awards?

Will Demi Lovato Perform At The 2011 Teen Choice Awards?: "



Demi Lovato might be performing at the 2011 Teen Choice Awards, but we’re not 100% sure yet! All we know is that she is definitely on the list of celebs that will be showing up at the awards ceremony! The Teen Choice Awards Twitter @TeenChoiceGirl made the announcement, Tweeting:





Lovatics, have you heard? @ddlovato will be at Teen Choice. We have a special surprise planned. You don’t want to miss it!



What do YOU think Demi will be doing at the event? Maybe she’ll be presenting an award?

"


Vanessa Hudgens Yells At Paparazzi Who Takes Photo Of Her Smoking

Vanessa Hudgens Yells At Paparazzi Who Takes Photo Of Her Smoking: "



X17 Online has reported that Vanessa Hudgens was smoking a cigarette when a photographer took her photo. The paparazzi quickly got in his car and tried to get away quickly, but Vanessa ran after him and opened his car door before verbally attacking him. Yikes!







There are photos online of Vanessa smoking, so the story is true. What do you think about this? Is Vanessa setting a good example for her fans? Or, has her young fan base disappeared and stopped looking up to her so she doesn’t have to set a good example anymore?

"


60th Anniversary Of Disney’s “Alice In Wonderland”

60th Anniversary Of Disney’s “Alice In Wonderland”: "



Today, July 28th, marks the 60th anniversary of Disney’s “Alice In Wonderland” movie. The animated film arrived in 1951 and starred the voices of the following actors:



- Kathryn Beaumont as Alice

- Ed Wynn as Mad Hatter

- Richard Havdn as Caterpillar

- Sterling Holloway as Cheshire Cat

- Jerry Colonna as March Hare

- Verna Felton as Queen of Hearts

- J. Pat O’Malley as Tweedledee / Tweedledum / The Walrus / The Carpenter

- Bill Thompson as White Rabbit / Dodo

- Heather Angel as Alice’s sister

- Joseph Kearns as Doorknob

- Larry Grey as Bill

- Queenie Leonard as Bird in the Tree

- Dink Trout as King of Hearts

- Doris Lloyd as The Rose

- James MacDonald as Dormouse



We love the original “Alice In Wonderland” movie. What about you?

"


Selena Gomez Will Perform At The 2011 Teen Choice Awards

Selena Gomez Will Perform At The 2011 Teen Choice Awards: "



The 2011 Teen Choice Awards will air on FOX on August 7th at 8/7c and you’re going to want to tune in! The Teen Choice Awards Twitter account, @TeenChoiceGirl, revealed the following performers for the awards ceremony:





Good morning! I am happy to announce that @selenagomez and @OneRepublic will also be performing on Teen Choice!!!!!!



We’ll be watching to see Selena Gomez And The Scene perform! Will you?



Follow Disney Dreaming On Twitter!

"


How Would David Henrie Impress A Girl?

How Would David Henrie Impress A Girl?: "



When it comes to cooking David Henrie might not be a master chef, but he has some ideas about how he can impress a girl in the kitchen! When he was asked what type of food he would serve to impress a lady he said he would cook up a pasta dish and make sure to serve dessert afterward! Would David’s menu impress you if you were on a date with the “Wizards of Waverly Place” star?







What might also impress you is that David is a fan of planking!

"


Taylor Swift Covers Bruce Springsteen

Taylor Swift Covers Bruce Springsteen: "



At her concert on July 24th Taylor Swift covered a song by one of her favorite songwriters, Bruce Springsteen. The audience gets really excited when Taylor begins her cover of the track. Listen below and let us know what you think of Taylor’s performance!







Which other songs and artists would you like to see Taylor cover?

"


Character Movie Poster For Disney’s “The Muppets”

Character Movie Poster For Disney’s “The Muppets”: "



Here is yet another character movie poster for Disney’s upcoming film “The Muppets.” The movie stars Jason Segel, Amy Adams and Chris Cooper along with a cast full of celebrities and Muppets. The movie will arrive in theaters on November 23rd. What do you think of the new movie poster?



Here is one of our favorite Muppets videos:





"


Disney Junior “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” CD

Disney Junior “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” CD: "



On August 23rd Walt Disney Pictures will be releasing a “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” CD to stores will songs from and inspired by the hit television show. Here is the track listing for the CD:



1. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Theme

2. Mousekedoer

3. Mickey’s Countdown

4. Daisy Bo Peep Has Lost Her Sheep

5. Donald Went A-Courtin’

6. Your Library

7. A Mouse Like Me

8. Oh Where, Oh Where, Has My Little Dog Gone

9. A Bicycle Built for Two

10. Party At Mickey’s House

11. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

12. Beautiful Dreamer

13. Blow the Man Down

14. Muffin Man

15. Clubhouse Birthday Party

16. Technology

17. Mousercise

18. Hot Dog!



Let us know if you plan on picking up a copy of this Disney Junior CD when it arrives!





"


“Phineas And Ferb” 2GB USB Flash Drives From Walt Disney Records

“Phineas And Ferb” 2GB USB Flash Drives From Walt Disney Records: "



In honor of the “Phineas And Ferb Across The 1st and 2nd Dimensions” album, Walt Disney Records has created a limited collector’s edition set of “Phineas and Ferb” 2GB USB flash drives. The drives include a copy of the album as well as an exclusive desktop wallpaper for your computer. You can purchase all three of the flash drives for $75. Let us know if you pick these up!



“Phineas And Ferb Across The 1st And Second Dimensions” will be released on August 2nd.





"


“The Amazing Spider-Man” Movie Trailer

“The Amazing Spider-Man” Movie Trailer: "



Here is the movie trailer for “The Amazing Spider-Man” from Marvel. The movie is set to arrive in theaters nationwide on July 3, 2012 and stars Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone.



After you watch the trailer below be sure to let us know what you think. We think it seems pretty similar to the original “Spider-Man” movie with Tobey Maguire, but we’ll have to see the movie to find out what it’s really like!





"


“New Years Eve” Movie Trailer With Zac Efron

“New Years Eve” Movie Trailer With Zac Efron: "



Zac Efron is one of the lead stars in the upcoming film “New Years Eve.” The movie will arrive in theaters on December 9th. Watch the “New Years Eve” movie trailer below and let us know what you think!







Here is a list of the actors in the film:



- Ashton Kutcher

- Robert De Niro

- Katherine Heigl

- Josh Duhamel

- Carla Gugino

- Zac Efron

- Abigail Breslin

- Jessica Biel

- Sofia Vergara

- Alyssa Milano

- Lea Michele

- Michelle Pfeiffer

- Hilary Swank

- Sarah Jessica Parker

- Halle Berry

- Sara Paxton

- Sienna Miller

- Jake T. Austin

- Julie Andrews

- John Lithgow

- Frankie Muniz

- Ice Cube

- John Stamos

- Til Schweiger

- Ludacris

- Christine Lakin

- Jon Bon Jovi

- Ryan Seacrest

- Russell Peters

- Hector Elizondo

- Seth Meyers

- Katherine McNamara

- Terese Cilluffo

- Anna A. White

- Rob Nagle

- Nina Ruiz

- Marcia Miller

- Leroy S. Mobley

- Earl Rose

- Bob Weston

- Eddie D’vir

- Johnny Salami

- Robert Stephanek

"


ABC “Once Upon A Time” Premiering October 23, 2011

ABC “Once Upon A Time” Premiering October 23, 2011: "



Here are a bunch of posters for the upcoming ABC series “Once Upon A Time.” The show will premiere on the network on October 23rd, and stars a number of famous actors, including:



- Robert Carlyle as Mr. Gold

- Josh Dallas as John Doe

- Jared Gilmore as Henry Swan

- Ginnifer Goodwin as Sister Mary Margaret Blanchard

- Jennifer Morrison as Emma Swan

- Raphael Sbarge as Archie

- Jamie Dornan as Sheriff Graham



Out of all of the new shows coming to ABC this Fall, we are most excited for “Once Upon A Time,” and not just because it comes from two of the writers of ABC’s “LOST,” but also because it sounds like a story line that should be a movie, so we’re interested to see how it ends up being a TV show!









"


Debby Ryan Brings Her Dog Presley On The Set Of “The Suite Life On Deck” Movie

Debby Ryan Brings Her Dog Presley On The Set Of “The Suite Life On Deck” Movie: "



Debby Ryan shared this adorable photo of her dog Presley with her fans. The picture was taken on the set of the Disney Channel Original Movie “The Suite Life On Deck.” Here’s what Debby Tweeted along with the picture:





Debby Ryan Brings Her Dog Presley On The Set Of ‘The Suite Life On Deck’ Movie



Presley is just too cute!

"


Aly Michalka Guest Starring On “CSI: NY”

Aly Michalka Guest Starring On “CSI: NY”: "



Aly Michalka will be guest starring on “CSI: NY” in the fall. She will play a character named Miranda who is a rocker who becomes famous in New York’s biggest underground clubs. Miranda is investigated by the CSI team when the guy she has been dating is found murdered – yikes!



Not only is it cool that Aly will be on the show, but she will also be singing – awesome! Here’s what Aly Tweeted about the upcoming episode of “CSI: NY,”





I’ll be doing a guest star on CSI-NY. Very happy about this! xo Aly



Be sure to tune in for Aly’s episode on September 30th!

"


Watch The “Spy Kids: All the Time In The World 4D” Red Carpet Online!

Watch The “Spy Kids: All the Time In The World 4D” Red Carpet Online!: "



On Sunday, July 31st you can watch the “Spy Kids: All The Time In The World 4D” red carpet event live online. The movie premiere is being held at the Regal Cinemas, L.A. Live and a number of stars will be in attendance, including:



- Robert Rodriguez (Director)

- Jessica Alba

- Joel McHale

- Jeremy Piven

- Rowan Blanchard

- Mason Cook

- Alexa Vega

- Danny Trejo

- Elizabeth Avellan (Producer)

- Salma Hayek

- Joel and Harlow Madden

- Angela Bassett & Courtney B. Vance with twins

- Kiernan Shipka

- Charlotte Ross

- Melora Hardin

- And More!



Be sure to come back here on Sunday, and watch the event live in the video block below at 10am PST/1pm EST.





"


Miley Cyrus Wants To Be The Next Angelina Jolie

Miley Cyrus Wants To Be The Next Angelina Jolie: "



According to reports Miley Cyrus is looking to become the next Angelina Jolie in terms of her charity work. Not only does Miley want to start donating more of her time to efforts around the world, but a source has revealed that Miley hopes to spend a significant amount of time in Haiti later this year. We’re not sure how much time that means, but it’s more than a few days for sure!



Do you think Miley has what it takes to be as successful at raising money and helping others as Angelina Jolie?



Miley’s fellow Disney star Selena Gomez has also been compared to Angelia Jolie, and she has made clear that she also hopes to delve deeper into charity work by creating her own organization in the future.

"


Noah Cyrus And Brandi Cyrus Horse Riding

Noah Cyrus And Brandi Cyrus Horse Riding: "



Tish Cyrus posted the photos of her daughters Noah Cyrus and Brandi Cyrus and their horses at a competition. The sisters both have prize winning horses and look really happy with how their day turned out! We wonder if Miley Cyrus ever rides with her sisters?



Do you ride horses?



"


Free Shipping At The Disney Store With Any Back To School Item August 1, 2011

Free Shipping At The Disney Store With Any Back To School Item August 1, 2011: "



Until tomorrow you can get free shipping on your entire order at DisneyStore.com when you purchase any back to school item. All you have to do to receive the free shipping is enter the promo code SCHOOLSHIP at checkout.



The Disney Store has tons of fun back to school products. Be sure to let us know which ones you pick up for yourself!

"


Allstar Weekend’s Zach Porter Tweets About Selena Gomez’s “Who Says”

Allstar Weekend’s Zach Porter Tweets About Selena Gomez’s “Who Says”: "



Zach Porter from Allstar Weekend Tweeted about Selena Gomez’s hit single “Who Says,” which she has been performing on their We Own The Night concert tour. Here’s what Zach had to say about the song:





I got chills when Selena played Who Says tonight. There aren’t many things more moving than a giant crowd singing every word to something.



Wow! Have you been lucky enough to see Selena perform “Who Says” live?



Follow Disney Dreaming On Twitter!

"


A TRIBUTE TO AMY WINEHOUSE

A TRIBUTE TO AMY WINEHOUSE: "





"


Top Model HYE JUNG FOR VOGUE KOREA

Top Model HYE JUNG FOR VOGUE KOREA: "



"



Miley Cyrus Tweets About “The Lion King” Song “Circle Of Life”

Miley Cyrus Tweets About “The Lion King” Song “Circle Of Life”: "



It seems as though Miley Cyrus will always be a Disney girl at heart! She just Tweeted about the famous song “Circle of Life” from the popular animated Disney movie “The Lion King.” Here’s what Miley wrote:





Rocking out 2 ‘circle of life’ w/ @erin_lucas & the boys! I’m convinced that Floyd is the next Simba :) 1 of my favorite songs of all time!



What is YOUR favorite Disney song?



Follow Disney Dreaming On Twitter!

"


Hot Chelle Rae Brings Country To “Tonight Tonight” On Radio Disney With Jake Whetter

Hot Chelle Rae Brings Country To “Tonight Tonight” On Radio Disney With Jake Whetter: "



Hot Chelle Rae hung out with Radio Disney host Jake Whetter at the Radio Disney studio in California where they transformed their hit song “Tonight Tonight” into a country track! We think Jake’s country choice was a great one, although now we’d like to hear the guys’ rendition of the song in a number of different genres of music! Listen below and let us know what YOU think of the country version of “Tonight Tonight”!











Get ready because Hot Chelle Rae is coming to the Disney Channel Original Series “So Random”!

"


Gregg Sulkin Goes Racing For His 19th Birthday

Gregg Sulkin Goes Racing For His 19th Birthday: "



Gregg Sulkin turned 19 years old on May 29th and in order to celebrate his big day he went go kart racing with some of his friends and Disney co-stars! Below you can check out a video of the bday party!



“Popstar! helps Wizards of Waverly Place’s Gregg Sulkin celebrate his 19th birthday party at the racetrack! Guests include Debby Ryan, Hayley Kiyoko (Lemonade Mouth) and Jennifer Stone!”



David Henrie was also there!







We hope Gregg had an amazing birthday!

"


Rumor Alert: Ashley Tisdale And Scott Speer Are Fighting About Marriage And Children

Rumor Alert: Ashley Tisdale And Scott Speer Are Fighting About Marriage And Children: "



Star Magazine is reporting that Ashley Tisdale and her boyfriend Scott Speer are currently fighting about marriage and children. According to the magazine,





They’re arguing over marriage and kids. Ashley wants both soon but Scott isn’t ready.



What do you think about this rumor? True…or fale?

"


International “Spy Kids 4: All The Time In The World” Movie Poster

International “Spy Kids 4: All The Time In The World” Movie Poster: "



Here is an international movie poster for “Spy Kids 4: All The Time In The World.” The movie will arrive in theaters in the US on August 19th and stars the following actors:



- Jessica Alba as Marissa Cortez Wilson

- Danny Trejo as Machete

- Antonia Banderas as Gregorio Cortez

- Alexa Vega as Carmen Cortez

- Mason Cook as Cecil Wilson

- Jeremy Piven as Timekeeper

- Joel McHale as Wilur

- Daryl Sabara as Juni Cortez

- Melissa Cordero as OSS Agent

- Alcides Dias as OSS Agent Mathews

- Adam Moroz as Benji

- Kevin A. Green as OSS Agent

- Rowen Blanchard as Rebecca

- Tiger Darrow as OSS Agent

- Tony Bottorff as OSS Agent

- Roger Edwards as OSS Agent Adams



Are you planning on seeing the film?

"


Demi Lovato Bothered By Paparazzi As She Returns From Miami, Florida

Demi Lovato Bothered By Paparazzi As She Returns From Miami, Florida: "




Demi Lovato spent some time in Miami, Florida where she worked on promoting her music. When she returned to LAX airport in California she was bombarded by the paparazzi, and she didn’t seem too happy about it. Watch the video of Demi’s return to the airport below and let us know if you think she is bothered by the paparazzi, or if she is just doing her best to concentrate on getting out of the airport and to her car.










At least the paparazzi gave her tons of compliments! That must make being followed a little bit less annoying for Demi!

"

DISNEY & NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Justin Bieber Makes A Surprise Appearance At Selena Gomez’s Concert July 24, 2011

Justin Bieber Makes A Surprise Appearance At Selena Gomez’s Concert July 24, 2011: "



Last night concert goers got a surprise when they got to see Justin Bieber perform at Selena Gomez’s show! Justin came on the stage while the crowd went crazy and hugged his girlfriend before performing “Favorite Girl” and “Cry Me A River.” Justin posted this to Twitter about his surprise appearance:





Had a #greatnight and suprised the people. felt good to be on stage. nothing is changing that. #REAL



He then Tweeted words of encouragement for Selena:





@selenagomez u did great tonight. proud of u.



Aww! Check out Justin’s performance below.







Disney Channel star Bella Thorne was also at the concert! Here’s what she Tweeted about Justin’s surprise:





I was so lucky and happy to see @selenagomez perform! she was perfect! the guest appearance by @justinbieber was great too! u need 2 see her.

"


Selena Gomez’s Dream Out Loud Fall 2011 Collection Arrives

Selena Gomez’s Dream Out Loud Fall 2011 Collection Arrives: "




Selena Gomez’s Dream Out Loud Fall 2011 fashion collection has arrived! The Dream Out Loud Facebook page shared the news today along with the photo above.




“Get ready Dreamers….DOL’s new collection hits Kmart stores and Kmart.com!!”




Let us know if you pick up any of Selena’s new outfits at Kmart!

"

DISNEY & NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

Justin Bieber’s “Never Say Never” Arrives In The UK

Justin Bieber’s “Never Say Never” Arrives In The UK: "




Justin Bieber’s movie “Never Say Never” just arrived in the UK and in the video below you can check out the Biber fever that hit when fans were allowed to pick up a copy of the movie 24 hours before it’s official release date!




Here’s what Justin Tweeted along with the video when he linked to it:







My UK fans have #SWAG. Thank u! MUCH LOVE.










Have you picked up a copy of “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never” yet?













"



Vanessa Hudgens Candie’s Commercial Summer 2011

Vanessa Hudgens Candie’s Commercial Summer 2011: "




Here is the Candie’s commercial that is currently airing on TV. The spot stars “High School Musical” actress Vanessa Hudgens as she promotes the brand and the Candie’s lifestyle. Watch below and let us know if you think Vanessa is the perfect fit for the Candie’s brand!










Candie’s is sold exclusively at Kohl’s. Let us know if you pick up any of the currently collection at the store.

"

DISNEY & NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

Justin Bieber Will Not Surprise Guests Again At Selena Gomez’s Concerts This Summer

Justin Bieber Will Not Surprise Guests Again At Selena Gomez’s Concerts This Summer: "




Justin Bieber came out on stage to perform at Selena Gomez’s first concert of the summer, and fans went wild! Justin performed “Favorite Girl” and Justin Timberlake’s hit “Cry Me A River.” As much as it would rock for Justin to be touring the country with his girlfriend Selena and coming out at each of her shows, it turns out this was the one and only show of the summer that Justin would be a part of.




That’s okay though! Seeing Selena on tour is exciting enough!

"



Monday, July 25, 2011

The Bible: History or Myth ?





The Bible: History or Myth ?

When you hear the word 'myth' associated with the Bible, what is the first thought that comes to your mind?

Many use the term myth in a pejorative sense to mean that the stories described are not factually true. Others define myth as non-historical tales that contain a moral message. Both of these definitions miss the richness of the term. Mythology is a form of literature that expresses fundamental truths in a way that ordinary discourse is inadequate to describe. The stories that make up the myths are often anchored in some historical reality, but this need not be so. Mythology adds a richness of detail and a concreteness to metaphorical language. Reading Biblical stories as mythology gives me the freedom to understand their underlying meaning in a way I never did when I was taught as a child that these stories were factually true.

Why do most modern scholars reject a reading of the Bible as history much less as literal fact?

1. In an age of science and technology, too much of the Bible is simply unbelievable to today's mind and turns people away from the underlying messages. From a scientific standpoint, many of the 'facts' in the Bible are simply wrong. One of many examples: according to Genesis, the universe is just over 6000 years old. According to physics, the Big Bang occurred 13.7 billion years ago.

2. Many of the stories are also scientifically impossible, like the tale of Joshua stopping the sun moving across the sky. This story assumes (as was the thinking then) that the earth was flat and was at the center of the universe. We simply know this to be false. Second, for the sun to stop would mean that the earth would have to cease rotating on its axis -- an event which would destroy the planet.

3. For many of the miracle stories, natural explanations exist. The authors of these stories lived in an age when people believed that solar eclipses were divine omens, disease was divine punishment, and mental illness was caused by demon possession. In the case of Jesus, healing was an important part of his ministry. However, today we can find faith healers in Haiti who practice voodoo and in tribal Africa who practice witchcraft. Many of these modern-day faith healers have patients who are actually healed by these practices. Doctors call this the placebo effect, an effect so powerful that drugs must undergo double blind experiments.

4. Some of the mythological stories in the Bible are not original, but were borrowed from other traditions. The Epic of Gilgamesh -- a Sumerian poem detailing the creation of the universe that predates the writings of Genesis by many centuries -- contains a flood story whose plot points are almost identical to the story of Noah.

5. The other world religions also contain rich histories of mythology and fantastical sounding (to us) stories. On what basis can we Christians claim that our miracle stories are legitimate, yet theirs are flights of fancy? The mythology surrounding the Buddha, who lived 500 years before Jesus, includes tales of how he healed the sick, walked on water, and flew through the air. His birth was foretold by a spirit (a white elephant rather than the angel Gabriel) who then entered his mother's womb! At his birth, wise men predicted that he would become a great religious leader. Twentieth-century scholars Mircea Eliade and Joseph Campbell wrote that certain archetypal religious myths are found across cultures, histories, and religions. Examples include the Cosmic Tree, the Virgin BIrth, and The Resurrection.

6. The Bible itself is full of inconsistencies. How can it be an accurate historical record, when the various books contradict each other? Here is UNC Religion Professor Bart Ehrman: 'Just take the death of Jesus. What day did Jesus die on and what time of day? Did he die on the day before the Passover meal was eaten, as John explicitly says, or did he die after it was eaten, as Mark explicitly says? Did he die at noon, as in John, or at 9 a.m., as in Mark? Did Jesus carry his cross the entire way himself or did Simon of Cyrene carry his cross? It depends which Gospel you read. Did both robbers mock Jesus on the cross or did only one of them mock him and the other come to his defense? It depends which Gospel you read. Did the curtain in the temple rip in half before Jesus died or after he died? It depends which Gospel you read ... Or take the accounts of the resurrection. Who went to the tomb on the third day? Was it Mary alone or was it Mary with other women? If it was Mary with other women, how many other women were there, which ones were they, and what were their names? Was the stone rolled away before they got there or not? What did they see in the tomb? Did they see a man, did they see two men, or did they see an angel? It depends which account you read.'

7. Reading the Bible as a literal historical account of events from the past limits the power of these stories. Rather than expressing universal truths, a literal interpretation limits the actions of God to certain events in history. God's actions in the world become finite, confined to certain historical events: like the chess master making individual moves on a chessboard frozen in time two thousand years ago. Reading these same stories mythologically, however, can bring forth their universal qualities.

8. A literal reading of the Bible alienates much of our society. The stories were written in a different age with different views on social justice -- an age in which slavery was legitimate, an age when discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation was the norm. Too often because of this history, the Bible is used to justify intolerance today.

Reading the Bible as mythology is not a new concept. Two of the early Church Fathers, Origen (185-254 AD) and Augustine (354-430 AD), both interpreted Genesis metaphorically, rejecting literal interpretations. Early in the 20th century, German theologian Rudolf Bultmann called for a 'demythologizing' of the New Testament for many of the reasons given above. Rather, the movement in many fundamentalist circles today to read the Bible as inerrant (an extreme form of literalism, in which every word of Bible is viewed as true) is a late development from the 19th century as a response to the chipping away at the historicity of the stories since the Enlightenment.

I fear that an insistence on a literal or historical reading of the Bible will ultimately lead to the irrelevance of Christianity in our society. By throwing off the shackles of having to believe in the historicity of the Bible, we are free to interpret the stories as a testament to the religious experiences of people from a different age -- a testament that communicates a meaning about their experiences of Ultimate Reality, of God. I understand that their experiences of the divine ground in their lives were interpreted through the lens of a pre-modern view of the world, and my own religious experiences will take on a different form today.




"


USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS

Happy Birthday




Music or Songs, "Happy Birthday to You", a traditional song also known as "Happy Birthday" "Happy Birthday" ( Alternative song from Brazil by Nelio Guerson and Carlos Guerson ) "Happy Birthday" (Birthday Party song), by The Birthday Party)
Happy Birthday Happy Birthday To You 



Happy Birthday may refer to:
"Happy birthday", an expression of good will offered on a person's birthday
Contents
1 Music
1.1 Songs
1.2 Albums
2 Film, theatre and television
3 See also
==Music or Songs==
"Happy Birthday to You", a traditional song also known as "Happy Birthday"
"Happy Birthday" ( Alternative song from Brazil by Nelio Guerson and Carlos Guerson )
"Happy Birthday" (Birthday Party song), by The Birthday Party)
"Happy Birthday" (The Click Five song)
"Happy Birthday" (Flipsyde song)
"Happy Birthday" (NEWS song)
"Happy Birthday" (Stevie Wonder song)
"Happy Birthday", by Altered Images
"Happy Birthday", by B'z from Monster
"Happy Birthday", by The Birthday Massacre from Nothing and Nowhere
"Happy Birthday", by Concrete Blonde from Free
"Happy Birthday", by Carly Simon from Have You Seen Me Lately
"Happy Birthday", by Loretta Lynn from Songs from My Heart
"Happy Birthday", by Sufjan Stevens from A Sun Came
"Happy Birthday", by "Weird Al" Yankovic from "Weird Al" Yankovic
==Albums==
Happy Birthday (Pete Townshend album)
Happy Birthday (Altered Images album)
Happy Birthday (Sharon, Lois & Bram album)
Happy Birthday! ( by Modeselektor )
Happy Birthday (The Burning Hell album), by The Burning Hell
==Film, theatre and television==
Happy Birthday (1998 film), a Russian drama written and directed by Larisa Sadilova
Happy Birthday (2001 film), a comedy featuring John Goodman
Happy Birthday (2005 film), a short film featuring Casey Donovan
Happy Birthday (2007 film), a Hong Kong film featuring Richard Ng
Happy Birthday (2007 short film), a French film co-directed by Hichem Yacoubi
Happy Birthday (2008 film), a Thai film featuring Ananda Everingham
Happy Birthday (play), a 1946 Broadway play by Anita Loos
"Happy Birthday" (CSI: Miami), an episode of CSI: Miami
==See also==
Happy Birthday to You!, a book by Dr. Seuss
"Happy Birthday, Mr. President", a version of "Happy Birthday to You" sung by Marilyn Monroe for U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1962
"The Happy Birthday Song", a song by Andrew Bird from Andrew Bird & the Mysterious Production of Eggs



USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Where Did The Bible Come From?



Where Did The Bible Como From ?


Since the early years of Christianity, various myths, legends, and even conspiracy theories about the origins of the Bible have enjoyed wide circulation. The discovery in recent decades of many books that were not accepted into the Christian canon has only added to this speculation, spawning numerous best-sellers and television programs. Though the number of theories has grown, however, the three most popular are sufficiently well defined that we can consider them as we might various options on a multiple-choice quiz. So read carefully and then make your selection.

The Big Three

A: Holy Dictation. Promoted by conservative Christians, this view stresses the inerrancy -- that is, the factual accuracy in all matters of faith, history, and science -- of the Bible. Authors, in the grip of the Holy Spirit, received a divine revelation directly from God that they transcribed without error. So while the biblical authors may have written in their own voice and style, the contents of their compositions were nevertheless divinely inspired and controlled. For this reason, there are no errors of any kind in the Bible; hence, if the Bible says the world was created in seven days then, indeed, it was created in seven days.

B: Imperial Decree. Popularized by historical works like The Gnostic Gospels and fictional books like The Da Vinci Code, this view suggests that the official and final contents of the Bible were established by ecclesial councils ordered by Emperor Constantine and his successors. The intent of these councils was both to provide theological unity to the fledgling Christian empire and to stamp out the rise of feminism and other movements in the heavily patriarchal and increasingly orthodox early Christian church. According to Elaine Pagels, divergent theologies like Gnosticism were a threat to the unity and power of the imperial-backed ecclesial authorities, while for Dan Brown there existed a conspiracy to suppress the 'true' story of Jesus' romantic relationship with Mary Magdalene, their unrecognized child, and Mary Magdalene's significant influence in the early church.

C: Forgeries & Falsehoods. Who wrote the Bible? All too often, this view suggests, it wasn't who the actual authors purported to be. Rather, much of the New Testament was written either by persons whose identity remains irrecoverably anonymous or by frauds impersonating famous and powerful Christians of an earlier generation. While the gospels represent the former case, many of the letters attributed to the Apostle Paul as well as those attributed to Peter and others represent the latter. As Bart Ehrman has recently argued, the checkered history of the composition of these books undermines the integrity of the New Testament as a whole.

So what do you think -- did you find a satisfactory answer? If not, it will help to remember that multiple-choice tests often offer a fourth choice, 'D: None of the Above.' As it happens, that choice would be the better answer for this question, as each of the first three possibilities is flawed. For instance, while Mormons have a story that describes the divine transmission of their holy book, Christians by and large have rarely made such claims. In fact, the theory of inerrancy -- a word never used in the Bible -- was only coined only a century ago by fundamentalist Christians seeking to defend the Bible from recent discoveries about its historical origins and fallible conclusions in the realms of history and science.

Similarly, there was no council -- imperial or otherwise -- that established the Christian canon once and for all. In fact, lists describing the most commonly accepted Christian writings that correspond closely to the present Bible were circulating a century or more before Constantine had his famous conversation. Later councils, like that at Carthage (397 CE), affirmed those books that had already gained wide acceptance. While early church leaders clearly opposed theological stances that were later to be described as Gnosticism, many of those writings had already lost favor in Christian congregations apart from and often before their rejection by ecclesial authorities. Similarly, although there is no question that the role and importance of women was grossly underemphasized in some books of the Bible, this reflects as much a strong cultural bias as it does any conspiracy. Further, at significant places in the New Testament women emerge as strong central characters. Note, for instance, that the women are the only disciples to remain at Jesus' cross and are the first witnesses and heralds of the resurrection in all four gospels.

Finally, passing off your work as another's is a more complicated issue than it might first appear. While claiming to be someone else for the sake of profit was roundly criticized in the ancient world as it is today, claiming the authority of a teacher or earlier leader in order to extend the thought and spirit of that author was met with more mixed reviews. Often, the symbolic and traditional importance of the work outweighs correct authorial attribution. For example, while most Jewish and Christian scholars recognize that King David wrote few if any of the Psalms attributed to him, almost no one argues that those Psalms have no merit or should be barred from the canon. At other times, decisions about the value of disputed works are based less on impartial criteria than on the critic's own stance toward the writings in question. That is, scholars both ancient and modern tend to reject such writings as forgeries when they themselves disagree with the content, yet affirm them as worthwhile when the works in question align with their own convictions. For instance, earlier in his career in his book Lost Christianities, Bart Ehrman not only lamented the exclusion of some extra-canonical books but also invited modern readers to reconsider their devotional and spiritual value even though he acknowledges that every one of the books rejected by the Christian church for inclusion in the New Testament makes a false authorial claim.

A Grassroots Process

So then where did the Bible actually come from? Or, perhaps better, what process led to the development of the contents of the Bible as we know them today? Typically, historians suggest two standards that influenced how early Christians came to give priority to some books over others as the New Testament canon came into shape, though neither of these elements ever functioned with the precision of agreed-upon criteria.

First, biblical books were frequently associated with one of the original apostles. The Gospels of Matthew and John are named after original disciples (although the texts that bear their names make no such connection), while Mark was thought to be a student of Peter and Luke a companion to Paul. With other books, however -- the Letter to the Hebrews, for instance -- it was more difficult to make such an association.

Second, books accepted as canonical tended to conform to emerging orthodox teaching. The key word in that last sentence, however, is 'emerging.' During the period in which the New Testament canon solidified, there was as yet no broad consensus about what would later become central tenets of orthodox Christianity. Often, the books that Christian congregations read most frequently influenced the development of accepted teaching as much as orthodox teaching shaped the choice of what books to read. This helps to explain the distinct pictures of Jesus presented in the four canonical gospels -- think, for instance, how different Mark's suffering Jesus is from John's cosmic Christ -- as well as the presence of books as divergent as Romans and Revelation.

Ultimately, the most important factors influencing the final inclusion or exclusion of books into the Bible tended to be far more pedestrian and pragmatic than any of the three theories we considered above might suggest: longevity and utility. That is, the books that ended up in the New Testament were those that proved themselves over the long haul as most helpful in sustaining Christian faith. While apostolic authorship and concerns for orthodoxy exercised some influence, the dominant factor shaping decisions about canonical status was to note what books Christians consistently read when they gathered for worship and instruction.

This 'bottom-up' process was by no means simple or uniform. Some books came in and out of vogue, trendy for a time or in a particular place only later to lose favor. It's only in the fourth century that enough of a consensus on what books were consistently helpful had emerged so that a prominent bishop like Athanasius could name with confidence in a letter to his congregations those books that had been widely accepted (367 CE). Athanasius' testimony in the preface to his list is telling: 'I beseech you to bear patiently, if I also write, by way of remembrance, of matters with which you are acquainted.' To view Athanasius' recommendation as establishing, rather than recognizing, an emerging canon is therefore to overestimate the significance and authority of ecclesial authorities over local congregations, the places where these books were actually read week in and week out.

If this sounds uncomfortably similar to a popularity contest, perhaps we might view it instead as the long-term process by which the early Christians sorted and sifted through various reflections on the faith until a grassroots consensus emerged on what books proved most useful in sustaining faith. Looked at this way, one doesn't have to reach for conspiracy theories to understand why the gospels of Thomas and Judas and similar writings were ultimately rejected. More often than not, these documents contained little of the narratives of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection that Christians had come to know and cherish. They are, as even a casual reading will grant, often strikingly dissimilar from the other gospels and writings of the New Testament. Because these works were often absent sustained reflection on the cross, usually lacked a coherent narrative, and sometimes contained rather peculiar theological assertions, is not difficult to conceive that they rarely caught hold of the imagination of early Christian congregations.

Proposing that the composition of the New Testament was a long process of recognizing an emerging grassroots and congregational consensus certainly isn't as dramatic as either the religious myths or political and ecclesial conspiracy theories often ventured. Nevertheless, there is something both sensible and comforting in imagining that over time Christians would esteem most highly those writings that most ably encouraged them on their path as disciples of Jesus. After all, what better benchmark to employ than giving authority to those writings -- even writings as varied as those found in the Bible -- that had the capacity to create and nurture faith?




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USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS

Wrong Divorce Lawyer

Red Flags That You Hired The Wrong Divorce Lawyer: "



WRONG DIVORCE LAWER, Divorce cases are often won or lost because of the lawyer involved. Are there some obvious and not so obvious red flags that you hired the wrong lawyer?
Divorce


Divorce cases are often won or lost because of the lawyer involved. Are there some obvious and not so obvious red flags that you hired the wrong lawyer? Absolutely. Here, are some to consider:

Unresponsiveness. One obvious red flag waves when telephone messages or email are repeatedly ignored. If your lawyer doesn't respond within a reasonable time, you can assume one of two things. 1) The lawyer is too busy to give proper attention to your case, or 2) the lawyer does not care about you nor your case.

Excessive billing. Bills for legal services that seem unreasonably high may be a red flag that you are being overcharged or charged for services not actually performed. Signs of excessive billing include charging for attempted phone calls, charging for every contact regardless of the content or length of the communication. Some lawyers bill for time spent by support staff taking messages or making photo copies. Check billing statements for accuracy and reasonableness.

Clueless of the specifics of your case. While many divorce issues are similar, no two cases are identical. Lawyers have an ethical obligation to appreciate and understand the specifics of each case. When you are asked the same questions repeatedly, chances are your lawyer does not have a grasp on your individual needs.

Unversed about local court practices and procedures. Every jurisdiction has unique procedural nuances. Unfamiliarity with local practices and procedures suggests limited experience.

Lacks compassion. In all likelihood, your divorce is not the only matter your attorney is working on. However, you should be treated as more than a case file number. There should be a showing of compassion.

Inappropriate emotional investment. There is a fine line between empathy and becoming emotionally invested. Lawyers should never cross the line. Be wary if your lawyer behaves as though they are a party to the divorce.

Condescending. While you may be unfamiliar with the legalities of divorce, you should not be spoken to or treated in a condescending manner. Be aware of the manner in which your attorney interacts with you. Being treated in a rude or condescending manner is never appropriate.

Bullying. During the divorce process numerous life altering decisions are made. Many of these decisions will affect you for a very long time to come. Although improper and wrong, some unscrupulous divorce attorneys bully or shame clients into making decisions, decisions which are often wrong. Don't fall prey to this tactic, decisions you make during the divorce process will have long term affects and consequences.

Antagonistic toward opposing counsel. Opposing counsel will invariably disagree and often become quite contentious. However, when disagreements escalate and become personal between the lawyers the focus shifts away from the clients. Lawyer should put their personal differences aside and keep the focus on the clients.

Lacks candor. Lawyers are obligated to present and discuss all reasonable settlement proposals received from the opposition. As a way to drag the process out and keep fee clock ticking, some lawyers will without consulting the client, unilaterally refuse offers of settlement.

Your instincts are perhaps the biggest red flag of all. Trust that inner voice. If you think something is amiss, it probably is.


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USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS

Mila Kunis Panties GQ



Mila Kunis Panties GQ Magazine


As if you weren't well aware that her upcoming film, 'Friends with Benefits,' deals expressly with the sexual side of male-female relationships, Mila Kunis is giving an eye-opening reminder on the cover of this month's GQ.
It may not be by mistake that she forgot her pants on the way to the shoot.
But Kunis is far more than just a pretty face (and body), as she points out in the accompanying interview. A star since she was the hilariously bratty teenager Jackie on 'That 70's Show,' Kunis has impressive comedic chops, too, and laments that it is so often difficult for women to be taken seriously when it comes to funny in Hollywood.
Citing 'Bridesmaids' as an example of a film that showcases just how funny women can be, Kunis says, 'You have no idea how hard it is for a woman in this business. A lot of people don't even think women are funny. It's f*cked-up, but you have to deal with guys like that. I've learned to roll with it.'

Luckily for her, she's had plenty of opportunities to show off her ample humor skill-set; she's a longtime voice on the cartoon 'Family Guy,' and stars in 'Ted,' a bizarre romantic comedy written and directed by that show's creator, Seth MacFarlane. She's earned every opportunity, but given her looks, it's still a battle to beat back against stereotypes, as she notes that, 'people just take you as that: attractive. People aren't getting the opportunity to move beyond being attractive.'
She expressed similar sentiment when doing the rounds for her rom-com, 'Extract,' last year, telling About.com about women in LA, 'You have one that solely relies on their looks. And that's fine if that's what they have to get through life, so be it. And then you have the beautiful women that actually have something else to offer the world and are constantly fighting against the stereotype.'

Hope may be on the way, though, given the summer's plethora of successful lady comedies. Cameron Diaz's 'Bad Teacher,' in which she plays an unapologetically craven and raunchy derelict of a teacher has been a surprising box office success, beating expectations each week. And then, of course, is the 'Bridesmaids' factor.

The most successful R-rated female comedy, 'Bridesmaids,' as Kunis noted, was lauded for its nonstop laughs, not just its all-women ensemble cast. Co-written by and starring Kristen Wiig, the movie was a true message that women can lead with laughter in Hollywood (or, a reminder after Lucille Ball established the precedent so many years before).

'I've been thinking a lot recently, in talking about the movie, and it occurs to me that yeah, there have not been as many female ensemble comedies as there have been guys,' Ellie Kemper, one of the film's stars, told The Huffington Post in an interview back in May. 'But also, not many as there has been in television. It hasn't quite made the leap to the big screen. That's what so exciting to be part of, in addition to it being an extremely funny movie, you recognize its not as common to be in or to see a movie that is drive by female leads.'

There are a lot more photos, comedy and geekery where that came from on the pages of GQ -- click over to their site to read the rest.



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USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS