I read that some early Christians were called “Followers of The Way”. I also know that The Tao (of Taoism) is often translated as “The Way”. Is there any connection either etymologically or in the roots of the two systems? *I thought of this because I have heard theories that Jesus may have traveled eastward during his mostly unaccounted-for younger years (his twenties I think it would be roughly).*

Recently, I met members of a group called Iglesia ni Cristo (Tagalog for "Church of Christ"). After I looked them up and watched some debates between them and other Christian churches, I observed that while English speakers in their group support their teachings using a number of Bible translations, the Lamsa Bible seems to be the one they most often reference. What are the main reasons Iglesia ni Cristo uses the Lamsa Bible and how is this translation viewed by "mainstream" scholars with a traditional approach to biblical scholarship?

Please provide a link to an official document on the rules of Lent for Filipino Roman Catholics (or non-Filipino Roman Catholics who are in the Philippines for Lent or something) specifically and where the rules aren't mentioned only in passing or in an FAQ. Last night, my parent told me that my parent heard the only days of abstinence are ash wednesday and good friday, even though I've been practicing every friday of lent (plus ash wed and good fri) for over a decade. I have spent over an hour on this but could not find such reference. What I've gathered so far: 1. According to this website , the US Roman Catholic law of not having meat on all Fridays of Lent is not necessarily applicable to Roman Catholics who aren't American (or who aren't in the US). It says > If you are outside the United States, check with the bishops' conference for your country for specific fasting rules. And this is really under the Roman Catholic section and not the Eastern Catholic section. 2. I notice phjesuits.org mentions in number 5 but not in number 2 . What's up with that? Additionally - 2.1. It's only an FAQ, so, ostensibly, this isn't quite a primary source. - 2.2. It doesn't seem to specify Filipino Roman Catholics. Is the article implying this is applicable to all Roman Catholics (eg even in Ireland on St. Patrick's Day and in Hong Kong on Chinese New Year, whenever either of those two holidays fall on a day of abstinence - Ah well, maybe that's what 'solemnity' covers, in which case 'solemnity' is local)? 3. I was able to find A SINGLE BUT ONLY A SINGLE official reference from the CBCP saying that this applies to Filipino Roman Catholics but mentions only in passing as part of an article about love and stuff. - 3.1. Note that there's no mention of 'solemnity' here. Happy Lent!

I have this sneaking suspicion that the Asia listed in Acts is not the continent of Asia. > **Acts 19:9-10 ESV** But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of **Asia** heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. > > **Acts 20:16 ESV** For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in **Asia**, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. If that's the case, then what is the Asia of the Bible?

The following passage relates the "Great Commission" that Jesus gave to 11 disciples: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2028:16-20 But Paul, a man who never met Jesus during his life, seems to have taken up the mantle all by himself: > 13I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the > Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry 14in the hope that I may somehow > arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15For if their > rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their > acceptance be but life from the dead? 16If the part of the dough > offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the > root is holy, so are the branches. In Acts 10, Cornelius comes to Peter, and he is already following God. And then Peter baptizes him. OK, but that's hardly "going out and making disciples of all the nations". In Acts 15, Peter seems to recall that he (alone?) was supposed to be apostle to the Gentiles. He concludes by saying: > 19“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult > for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20Instead we should write to > them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual > immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21For > the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest > times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.” So it was only then decided what the gentiles should do. Which means that this whole time, it was mostly Paul converting the gentiles. What happened to the 11 apostles? Where are their epistles? Who were they converting among the gentiles? According to the Great Commission, they should be baptizing them in the name of the trinity. Why was Paul given the job? Is part of the explanation that the Great Commission was added later to the Gospel of Matthew?

As long as I've been a fairly globally aware Catholic, I'd always projected G.K. Chesterton's > We should thank God for Beer and Burgundy by not drinking too much of them as a universal maxim enjoyed by the whole church towards temperance, but not "extreme temperance". But [this article](http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/indian-state-okays-prohibition/) in the National Catholic Register struck me as odd. Apparently Bishops in India are lobbying against all sales of hard liquor, and winning (probably because of the combined support of Islam against all alcohol?). I wasn't aware that there was anything eviler in rum than in wine or beer. But is this just a local cause for a local purpose or, given the opportunity would Bishops everywhere be likely to oppose the sale of hard liquor?