Reason

Regulars here know this is old hat, but a number of uneducated newcomers have rekindled the debate about the inherent inaccuracy, contradictions, and just utter nonsense of the xtian bible, hence prompting this thread.

So, xtian theists, how do you defend with reason and logic that much of the bible is replete with geographical, historical, and scientific inaccuracies; contradictions; inconsistencies; and over-the-top nonsense (e.g., talking snakes and donkeys, gawdman cursing a fig tree, gawd killing people over a real estate deal--in the NT, no less--etc.)?

Toto

I don't think that there is any consensus among Christians as to how to handle these issues.

Would you at least narrow this down? Are you asking liberal or conservative or fundamentalist believers? Are you asking anyone to justify the 1646 Westminster Confession of Faith? The Affirmation of St. Louis of 1977? The Methodist modern affirmation? The UCC Testimonies, not tests of the faith? The modern Christian who treats the Bible like the I Ching?

Reason

You are, of course, quite correct. I had the niggling thought that this was too broad, but hit the "enter" key anyway.

Perhaps a discussion of contradictions alone would suffice? e.g.: gawd is unchangeable, yet he changes his behavior, his mind, his method of interacting with humans, etc. throughout the babble--in the latter case, most notably between the OT and NT.

dr lazer blast

I think if you actually knew the definitoin of a contradiction you would see that the bible doesn't have any contradictions in it, it seems to me that atheists have a different definition of contradiction then the rest of the world.

Reason

I am Reason, and I do not change my mind.

Wait, I changed my mind--I do change my mind. But my mind is unchangeable.

Contradiction? Do I or do I not change my mind?

dr lazer blast

With the evidence given to me here it is a contradiction, now how does this relate to the bible, and please back up your assertions with actual scripture.

thentian

In logic, a contradiction consists of a logical incompatibility between two or more propositions.

(Wikipedia)

(Mark 16:1) "When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices to go and anoint Jesus"

(Luke 23:56) "Then they went back and prepared spices and perfumes, and on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment."

bekaybe

Not sure how contradictory it is, but I don't understand how Christians can think Jesus was God given the following:

Malachi 3:6 "I the LORD do not change"

Luke 2:52 "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."

How can Jesus be God and not know everything that God knows? If Jesus knows everything God knows, what's this about increasing in wisdom?

There are other things Christians believe that I find contradictory as well, of course, but I'll leave it at the above for now.

Toto

Well, there you see how some Christians handle the accusation: total denial.

thentian

(Luke 3:23) "Jesus himself was about 30 years old when he began his ministry. He was (so it was thought) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli"

(Matthew 1:16) "Jacob fathered Joseph, the husband of Mary, who was the mother of Jesus, who is called the Messiah"