Sheshbazzar

Certainly the description was not intended to be a method for determining the ratio of Pi, though many error in an attempt to read into the description a mathematical formula that is NOT therein present.
The problem begins with a neglect of comprehending the significance of the Bible's myrid, even obsessively detailed measurements of all manner of simple rectilinear objects, a theme common from Genesis through Revelation.

Some thirty years ago, after years of zealously 'keeping' the Biblically commanded Holy Days (commonly called the 'Jewish Holidays') I gained an awareness of how the Biblical system of linear measurement was based upon measurements of time and the cycles (circles) of time as calculated and accounted for by employing the digits, that is the 'fingers', of the hands, these also forming the common small unit of all Biblical linear measures, the handbreath, the span (of the fingers), the arm ('cubit') and of the three lengths of Biblical measuring 'reeds'.

Not easy to explain all of this in great detail to persons who have not devoted much thought or effort to the matter_ particularly when there is an ready inclination to dismiss out of hand such abstract, incomprehensible or seemingly useless portions of The Scriptures.
But a little joke, a little play upon words here for whom will fathom the matter let him fathom it with a measuring line; Acts 27:27-28 How deep is that water? and what is the sum? and what is the difference? Can you at all fathom it?

Ready for a paradigm shift?

Look at your digits 'fingers'. If you are whole you will have five digits on your right hand and five more digits on your left hand.
If you were a Seventh Day Sabbath observer you would readily hold dear a cycle (circle) that continuously repeats itself each seven days, the evenings and mornings in their time and in their order.
Assigning each of your fingers ('etzebaoth') a value of .7 (seven tenths), thus upon your right hand a sum of 3.5 consisting of seven equal divisions of 1/2 (one half) and on the other, the left hand, an equal measure, the whole number of your ten digits then being the Holy number of seven, answering to the seven day cycle, with seven evenings and seven mornings, fourteen halves in all.
Now a 'cubit' contains a certain number of 'fingers', accounting for both a linear distance and an accounting of time, and the three lengths of measuring 'reed's each contains six cubits, each according to its total number of fingers, with the finger being the common unit of these measures.

IBelieveInHymn

The Writers of the bible used their forearm as a measuring tool. I can't believe people expect them to round about the exact figure. This is lunacy.

PI=3.

No error.

Deus Ex

I actually have to agree that the pi thing is a little silly to argue over. There are plenty of better contradictions and errors contained within the books of the bible.

Dark Virtue

I agree as well...this is stupid to argue over.

How accurate do you want them to have been? If the bible had claimed pi was 3.14, would you argue it was only still incorrect because it was only written to two significant figures?

Pick your battles, this one isn't worth fighting.

IBelieveInHymn

Exactly. PI=3 was not a message or a sign from God.. It was ancient man using his arm as a tool.

:banghead:

I would have to conclude this argument is beating a dead horse.. and then coming back 2 days later and beating it some more.. :grin:

Deus Ex

http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/donald_morgan/

There are plenty more errors and contradictions that we can be discussing.

I believe that most Christian churches-including evangelical ones- have abandoned the doctrine of strict biblical inerrancy. The weight of evidence is against inerrancy. Further, the bible itself never claims to be inerrant.

Dark Virtue

As you said, the bible does not make that claim...it couldn't since it wasn't conceived as a singular work.

That doesn't stop Christians, like IBIH, from making that claim though.

Sai

Oh, its not really how accurate I want it to be. Its how accurate the inerrantities want it to be. 40 days and 40 nights might not be calculated to the nanosecond either. Its just funny how for some, to admit the tiniest deviation from precise literal translation threatens the whole rigid structure with collapse.

i wasnt raised in a Christian home or in a christian society, so its kind of like anthropology for me to study how they act.

graymouser

To me, the really interesting question is Dan Barker's Easter Challenge. Let's focus on one question from the Easter Challenge for now, specifically:

Mark is quite clear, the full passage (NASB) goes: "They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid."

Yet reading the description of the exact same event in Matthew, Luke and John, one gets an exactly opposite effect. How can those be reconciled?

Sheshbazzar

Ten digits upon your hands. I present you with yet another simple little exercise.

1x2x3x4x5x6x7x8x9x10= ?


Employing these factors
What is the number of the product?
Quite large is it not ?
Can your calculation ever derive a different product?
Can you change the position or alter the value of a single digit within the product?

Does this number hold any significance to you?
Perhaps it might help if you were to sub-divide it into smaller units?
Try a few from the DISCIPLINES of geometry, and from the divisions and measures of time.

Wheels within wheels, circles within circles, gears within gears, cubes within cubes, perfect time and measure.