Bede

Absolutely not! If he was really an omnipotent God he would have rearranged the universe to make it a non-Euclidean space so that pi really did equal three. The fact he hasn't means he can't possibly exist.

B

Goliath

Yes, I suppose that dismissing me as a "village atheist" would be much easier than actually discussing the issues at hand, wouldn't it?

Not my problem. I'm not a xian, remember?

Sincerely,

Goliath

Goliath

And the bible is allegedly perfect and therefore is to have no approximations.

It is a readily verifiable objection against the bible, so I have no idea how it can be called absurd.

Why do I not believe you?

Sincerely,

Goliath

PS On a somewhat related note, even Archimedes had a better approximation for pi than 3.

Goliath

True. But the author of the verse in question didn't even state that it was an approximation. If the verse had said that the circumference of the pool was approximately three times its diameter, then we wouldn't be having this conversation now.

Sincerely,

Goliath

GakuseiDon

Well, I didn't call you a "village atheist", but I'm certainly willing to discuss the issues.

In this case, it doesn't matter. Your argument is a theological one, not a logical one. It is a statement of belief, which I'm usually not interested in arguing about. Still... You said:

"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."

I will grant that the word of God should be accurate, but why is rounding inexcusable for God? Is your objection based on logic or theology, e.g. Do you mean God is incapable of rounding? What if He wanted to round a number - would He be able to?

Goliath

Then why did you concede in the "Favorite biblical contradictions" thread?

No. Although it has to do with things in theology, it's still logical.

Certainly your god (if it exists) could round. However, since the bible is the instruction manual written by said god, it must be perfect. Therefore saying that pi is rational is inexcusable.

Amazing. I learned this stuff early in sunday school. You're a xian, why don't you know this stuff?

Sincerely,

Goliath

Vinnie

My favorite comment (by myself) was this one:

"This person wouldn't know critical history if the entire Anchor Bible Reference Library were insterted into their kiester! But hey, maybe Christians did interpolate those, about 50 texts that we have from the time period...." :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy

Firts, just so its noted, I did not dimiss your argument as such. I addressed it.

This ignorance is elementary. All measurements by default are approximations. Its implicit in the statement itself.

If you define inspiration as free from numerical approximation you'd be correct. Unfortunately, your definition is not the accepted one.

That question is not for me to answer.

Vinnie

GakuseiDon

Because (IMHO) you had moved to theological, rather than logical grounds, by saying that God wouldn't round.


OK.

You see, God can either round, or not round.

God (if He exists) is perfect, so everything He does is an expression of His perfection. Thus, if God can round... then doesn't it follow that "rounding" is part of that perfection?

I must have went to the wrong Sunday School... yours sounds like it was more fun!

Goliath

But approximation is not perfection. The bible is supposed to be the perfect word of a perfect god, remember?

Just as well, I suppose. I really didn't expect you to try to answer it. I guess I have a hard time believing that your "village idiot"--erm, excuse me--"village atheist" page is in jest is because I have rarely seen you act even slightly civil towards me.

Sincerely,

Goliath

Goliath

Okay...then why did you say:

....? You seem to be filled with contradictions.

Correct.

No. Approximation is not perfection. Calling pi rational is not correct. Therefore, the bible is errant.

It wasn't. I wasted far too many years of my life as a xian. When I think back to my days in that hate-filled religion, I honestly want to puke.

Sincerely,

Goliath