Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Jaybees · 12-12-2010, 09:46 PM

What's the latest explanation given by believers in biblical innerancy for Joshua's stopping of the sun?

Chili · 12-12-2010, 11:05 PM

Reference to the sun is made in regard to light rather then speed and so when the sun stopped it tells us nothing about speed but rather about light and then when we consider that we look with our eyes and see with our mind it just means that our mind quit generating sunrays into light, thats all.

thentian · 12-13-2010, 12:08 AM

Look, Gawd is all-powerful right? He just wiggled his fingers and spoke the magic words and it happened.

Steve Weiss · 12-13-2010, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaybees

What's the latest explanation given by believers in biblical innerancy for Joshua's stopping of the sun?

They just ignore the issue and hope that it will go away.

Jaybees · 12-13-2010, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chili

Reference to the sun is made in regard to light rather then speed and so when the sun stopped it tells us nothing about speed but rather about light and then when we consider that we look with our eyes and see with our mind it just means that our mind quit generating sunrays into light, thats all.

I have to admit that this one is different. I kinda like it. It compares favorably with the "Dome over Canaan" theory explaing that the phenomenon was completely localized, hence the reason that contemporary astronomers in Egypt, Babylonia, China, etc. didn't get to view it.

I'm tempted to make a collection of explanations.

John Kesler · 12-13-2010, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaybees

What's the latest explanation given by believers in biblical innerancy for Joshua's stopping of the sun?

See this thread.

semiopen · 12-13-2010, 06:54 AM

If one wishes to understand the bible, a necessary first step should be to read it, in this case, why not quote the relevent passages?

Quote:

Joshua 10:12 - Then Joshua spoke to Yahweh in the day when Yahweh delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel; and he said in the sight of Israel, "Sun, stand still on Gibeon! You, moon, stop in the valley of Aijalon!"

Quote:

Joshua 10:13 - The sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the nation had avenged themselves of their enemies. Isn't this written in the book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the midst of the sky, and didn't hurry to go down about a whole day.

The writer clearly says that he is basing the story on the book of Jashar. If the story turns out to be false (and the author sort of implies that it is outrageous and/or dubious) the problem is with the book of Jashar.

This passage is interesting, but isn't a real serious example of a terrible error.

Chili · 12-13-2010, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaybees

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chili

Reference to the sun is made in regard to light rather then speed and so when the sun stopped it tells us nothing about speed but rather about light and then when we consider that we look with our eyes and see with our mind it just means that our mind quit generating sunrays into light, thats all.

I have to admit that this one is different. I kinda like it. It compares favorably with the "Dome over Canaan" theory explaing that the phenomenon was completely localized, hence the reason that contemporary astronomers in Egypt, Babylonia, China, etc. didn't get to view it.

I'm tempted to make a collection of explanations.

It is just wireless transmission of power sir, or did you think they shove light through a powerline maybe, or do you think we have to be wired to think maybe . . . which is not necessarily the case as a wireless transmission is directly from God and there must be some science on this to confirm that, I would guess (and I swear that some people are so far out 'in left field' that they have to go 'left-right-left-right' as they walk so they do not go 'left-right-left-left' and trip).
.

Toto · 12-13-2010, 08:05 AM

Apologetics Press: Did the Sun Stand Still?

Quote:

Critics insist that such an event is impossible, and thereby impugn the veracity of the Scriptures. Various solutions to this alleged problem have been proposed. This article will consider four of them. First, some suggest that the text should be understood in a figurative sense and that the event did not involve a miracle. Hence, it is suggested that the Lord helped Israel win the battle in such an incredibly short time that she felt as though the day had been lengthened, when in fact it was not (Keil, 1980, 2:110). Second, some scholars take the language figuratively and attach a purely naturalistic explanation to the event. Donald Patten and his colleagues believe that the planet Mars passed by Earth in an unusually close orbit that caused the Earth to tilt on its axis (1973, pp. 172-198). Viewed from the right geographical location, the Sun actually would hang in the sky longer than normal. Third, others suggest that a local miracle took place. Hence, the Sun’s rays may have been refracted miraculously so that they gave every appearance of daylight-illumination in Palestine, when in reality the Sun had slipped below the horizon (Davis, 1980, p. 69). Fourth, still others take the language literally and accept that the Sun was indeed halted miraculously. Henry Morris explains that even more may have been involved: “Since the account says that the moon also stood still (Joshua 10:13), it may be that the entire solar system stopped in its tracks for a day, with all relative positions and motions simply suspended” (1971, p. 73).

Each of these solutions has met with criticism. Against the first it has been contended that a cardinal rule of interpretation is that a passage is to be considered literal until proven figurative. Joshua 10 reads like simple, historical narration. The Lord could have made the day “seem” long, but the text says that “the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies” (Joshua 10:13). The second has been challenged for lack of evidence. The notion that the Earth shifted on its axis in response to a fly-by of Mars is purely hypothetical. The third option is rejected out-of-hand by anyone who refuses to accept the possibility of miraculous occurrences. Against the literal reading, it is argued that since the Earth orbits the Sun, it would have been the Earth that ceased to rotate, rather than the Sun stopping, that lengthened the day. Also, if the Earth stopped it would experience incalculable global catastrophes.

If each solution has difficulties, what is one to make of the event? Primarily this: it was a miracle. Joshua prayed for divine assistance, and he received it. An omnipotent God could have helped in any way He chose. Before anyone can dismiss the Bible because it reports miracles as though they really happened, he must do two things. First, he must prove that there is no God Who has the ability to accomplish such tasks. ...

Christian Answers

Quote:

What really happened on that special day? As with all miracles, it is futile to speculate with scientific theories. The details are unclear, but we know that God could have refracted the light, or slowed the earth's rotation, or stopped the entire universe--all with equal ease!

Time stopped for Joshua, and it ran backwards for Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:9-11).

Bible and Science details the figurative language by showing that this was a common metaphor in ancient texts, including Homer and Akkadian literature.

There are Christian spammers who claim that NASA has discovered a lost day in its calculations, which can only be explained by this Biblical passages. Snopes has debunked this at www.snopes.com/religion/lostday.asp

James Brown · 12-13-2010, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

Apologetics Press: Did the Sun Stand Still?

Quote:

If each solution has difficulties, what is one to make of the event? Primarily this: it was a miracle.

12-12-2010, 09:46 PM	#1
Jaybees Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Hawaii Posts: 9,233	Sun stopping What's the latest explanation given by believers in biblical innerancy for Joshua's stopping of the sun?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

12-12-2010, 11:05 PM	#2
Chili Banned Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Alberta Posts: 11,885	Reference to the sun is made in regard to light rather then speed and so when the sun stopped it tells us nothing about speed but rather about light and then when we consider that we look with our eyes and see with our mind it just means that our mind quit generating sunrays into light, thats all.

12-13-2010, 12:08 AM	#3
thentian Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Norway Posts: 694	Look, Gawd is all-powerful right? He just wiggled his fingers and spoke the magic words and it happened.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.