Freethought & Rationalism Archive

GakuseiDon · 12-17-2003, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Godless Wonder
It is clear that Matthew considers the colt and the ass to be 2 animals. In Zechariah, they are meant to mean one animal (according to what I have read.) Are you proposing that Matthew wrote his passage such that it matches Zechariah purely by accident, and that he didn't mean to imply that Jesus rode both the colt and the ass at once, and the introduction of the ass had nothing to do with Zechariah?

No, not by accident, but by design. I suggest that he included the ass to show that the colt hadn't been ridden (as per Mark), so was still with its parent.

Quote:

Even if Matthew didn't intend to have Jesus riding both animals at once, the introduction of the ass, and the asserted prophecy fulfillment reek of fabrication, considering Mark and Luke's descriptions lacking the ass. This, at the very least, puts biblical inerrancy in a bad place. (Not that I suppose you subscribe to biblical inerrancy, as Noah's flood is quite enough on that front.)

Well, I'm not an inerrantist. But what I don't like is the seemingly automatic acceptance of any interpretation as long as it leads to an error. Of course, apologists do the reverse. But in this case, reading Matt AS IS, shows no problems. There's only the assumption that Matt "got the Zech quote wrong".

Goliath · 12-17-2003, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GakuseiDon
As I said, you confuse accuracy with precision.

So, "Pi = 3" is wrong? I'll ask you again, Goliath, it's a perfectly straight-forward question: "Pi to 0 decimal places is 3". Is that a true statement or a false statement?

The latter is true, the first is wrong.

Until you point out where the bible mentions decimal places when discussing pi, your argument is irrelevant, and the bible continues to be errant.

Sincerely,

Goliath

Goliath · 12-17-2003, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tracer

If we assume that the folks writing Kings and Chronicles were rounding off the measurements to the nearest whole number -- the diameter could've been 9.7 cubits, which rounds to 10, and the circumference could've beel 30.47 cubits, which rounds to 30 -- then the authors were correct.

If this were any other ancient text, then such rounding would be acceptable, but this is the bible, whence rounding is absolutely inexcusable. Exact precision and accuracy is a must for the (alleged) word of an omnipotent, omniscient god.

Sincerely,

Goliath

Goliath · 12-17-2003, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vinnie
Does the Bible Get it Wrong.

\.........................../
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|..........................|
\________________/

Doesn't it depend on the shape of the thing? What if the cirumference was measured around the object while its length across on the top of an outward sloping edge?

The section across the top from rim to rim there may have been 10 cubits but what if below it the distance was only 9.55 cubits or around their ? If the two outward slopes equal about .45 cubits we would have an accurate measurement of pi to two decimal places.

This objection assumes a uniform shape of the object. Maybe they had them. I do not know. But it is very possible there was a rim to it.

Unless we know exactly what these things looked like (do we have any) this objection cannot be given. The bible is descirbing distances, not defining pi.

But the description must be perfect, since this is (allegedly) the perfect word of a perfect god. So if the bible gave an approximation of pi to the nth decimal place for any n, that would be unacceptable and inexcusable.

Sincerely,

Goliath

GakuseiDon · 12-17-2003, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Goliath
If this were any other ancient text, then such rounding would be acceptable, but this is the bible, whence rounding is absolutely inexcusable. Exact precision and accuracy is a must for the (alleged) word of an omnipotent, omniscient god.

Sincerely,

Goliath

In that case, I give up - you win!

Goliath · 12-17-2003, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GakuseiDon
In that case, I give up - you win!

Concession accepted.

Sincerely,

Goliath

tracer · 12-18-2003, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Godless Wonder
Matthew specifically inserts and asserts a prophecy fulfillment, but he's busted on insertion of the ass.

{ insert obvious joke here }

Godless Wonder · 12-18-2003, 06:21 PM

Good to see that someone's paying attention.

JGL53 · 12-19-2003, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Goliath
But the description must be perfect, since this is (allegedly) the perfect word of a perfect god. So if the bible gave an approximation of pi to the nth decimal place for any n, that would be unacceptable and inexcusable.

Sincerely,

Goliath

All perfectly irrelevant, as I previously demonstrated.

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12-18-2003, 06:21 PM	#58
Godless Wonder Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,197	Good to see that someone's paying attention.

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