Freethought & Rationalism Archive

DanBZ · 10-01-2006, 01:40 PM

This might go better in Secular Lifestyle, but the subject matter has a lot to do with BC&H, so here goes...

The pastor at my school gave a lecture on the reliability of the Bible, and he used arguments I could easily see through. However, I probably would not have seen through them if I had not spent so much time on this website.

When I knew the subject material of the lecture, i was thinking that he might have a lot to say that was true. That thought was immediately dispelled when he brought up Josh McDowell. The lecture was basically about how the Bible has passed all of the tests of a historical document better than any document in history.

His argument basically consisted of this:
1. the Bible is inspired by God (proven by that pathetic circular argument involving 2 Timothy)
2. Many things in the Bible have been shown to be true (e.g. many of the cities mentioned have been found)

Thus, since we have shown externally that parts of the Bible can be corroborated, and it is inspired by God, the rest of the Bible is true.

he even brought up stuff like the Hindu scripture claiming that the Earth stood on the backs of elephants (I'm not surte this is exactly what he said. feel free to correct me).

Thanks to all of the stuff I have read here, I saw through his arguments pretty quickly.

Camio · 10-01-2006, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanBZ

he even brought up stuff like the Hindu scripture claiming that the Earth stood on the backs of elephants (I'm not surte this is exactly what he said. feel free to correct me).

Probably something like this:

Clivedurdle · 10-01-2006, 03:41 PM

Your doomed! Thinking for yourself! Slippery slopes!

And I thought it was Atlas holding it up, Hercules gave him a rest for a while! Actually what holds it up according to the Bible? Hell, God's palm? And what is hell or God standing on?

Quote:

"When I was asked to choose a myth to write about, I realized I had chosen already. The story of Atlas holding up the world was in my mind before the telephone call had ended. If the call had not come, perhaps I would never have written the story, but when the call did come, that story was waiting to be written. Rewritten. The recurring language motif of Weight is ‘I want to tell the story again.’ My work is full of cover versions. I like to take stories we think we know and record them differently. In the retelling comes a new emphasis or bias, and the new arrangement of the key elements demands that fresh material be injected into the existing text. Weight moves far away from the simple story of Atlas’s punishment and his temporary relief when Heracles takes the world off his shoulders. I wanted to explore loneliness, isolation, responsibility, burden, and freedom, too, because my version has a very particular end not found elsewhere." -- from Jeanette Winterson’s Foreword to Weight

Jeanette Winterson Weight.

DanBZ · 10-01-2006, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clivedurdle

And I thought it was Atlas holding it up, Hercules gave him a rest for a while! Actually what holds it up according to the Bible? Hell, God's palm? And what is hell or God standing on?

The Bible says (in either Psalms or isaiah) that the earth is a flat disc that stands still in space.

Clivedurdle · 10-01-2006, 04:25 PM

Quote:

"Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;

Isiaih 49 16

David B · 10-01-2006, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clivedurdle

And what is hell or God standing on?

Turtles, all the way down.

Obviously!

David B

Clivedurdle · 10-02-2006, 12:06 AM

Na, a scribe wrote it wrong in the fourth century, should be durdles all the way down!

Actually, I wonder if I am influenced by a hymn - he holds the whole world in his hands - what is the influence of hymns - and preachers - on theology? (oops sorry, mythology!)

Quote:

My work is full of cover versions. I like to take stories we think we know and record them differently. In the retelling comes a new emphasis or bias, and the new arrangement of the key elements demands that fresh material be injected into the existing text.

Sounds familiar?

Alf · 10-02-2006, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanBZ

This might go better in Secular Lifestyle, but the subject matter has a lot to do with BC&H, so here goes...

The pastor at my school gave a lecture on the reliability of the Bible, and he used arguments I could easily see through. However, I probably would not have seen through them if I had not spent so much time on this website.

When I knew the subject material of the lecture, i was thinking that he might have a lot to say that was true. That thought was immediately dispelled when he brought up Josh McDowell. The lecture was basically about how the Bible has passed all of the tests of a historical document better than any document in history.

His argument basically consisted of this:
1. the Bible is inspired by God (proven by that pathetic circular argument involving 2 Timothy)
2. Many things in the Bible have been shown to be true (e.g. many of the cities mentioned have been found)

Thus, since we have shown externally that parts of the Bible can be corroborated, and it is inspired by God, the rest of the Bible is true.

he even brought up stuff like the Hindu scripture claiming that the Earth stood on the backs of elephants (I'm not surte this is exactly what he said. feel free to correct me).

Thanks to all of the stuff I have read here, I saw through his arguments pretty quickly.

To mention the hindu view of world on the backs of elephants is dishonest all the while he doesn't mention the biblical view of the world on pillars etc. All the ancient cultures had "odd" views of the world in those days. The Judeo-christian was no better than any other.

And yes, referring to Josh McDowell does render his argumentation somewhat unconvincing to most of us here.

Alf

10-01-2006, 01:40 PM	#1
DanBZ Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 245	I'm glad I have this site to learn from This might go better in Secular Lifestyle, but the subject matter has a lot to do with BC&H, so here goes... The pastor at my school gave a lecture on the reliability of the Bible, and he used arguments I could easily see through. However, I probably would not have seen through them if I had not spent so much time on this website. When I knew the subject material of the lecture, i was thinking that he might have a lot to say that was true. That thought was immediately dispelled when he brought up Josh McDowell. The lecture was basically about how the Bible has passed all of the tests of a historical document better than any document in history. His argument basically consisted of this: 1. the Bible is inspired by God (proven by that pathetic circular argument involving 2 Timothy) 2. Many things in the Bible have been shown to be true (e.g. many of the cities mentioned have been found) Thus, since we have shown externally that parts of the Bible can be corroborated, and it is inspired by God, the rest of the Bible is true. he even brought up stuff like the Hindu scripture claiming that the Earth stood on the backs of elephants (I'm not surte this is exactly what he said. feel free to correct me). Thanks to all of the stuff I have read here, I saw through his arguments pretty quickly.

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