WCH

What do you think is the best "trouble passage" in the Bible, in the sense of one for which there is no stock answer? I've seen at least flimsy rationalizations for most passages, but are there any you can think of that Xians read and just think "Wow, I have no idea "?

thegdin

i guess it really depends on how literal someone takes the bible. if someone believes that the bible is just a rough estimate of the word of god im sure there are a lot of passages that they would say "wow, i have no idea" to. on the other hand, if someone believes that every single word in the bible is from gods mouth to our ears then there is nothing theyll say "wow, i have no idea" to. for the hard core believer, god is literally the answer to all questions. if the statement "a genetically superior blue dog cured cancer on saturn the day before a week from last tuesday" a fundi could just simply say, "i dont understand it but its true because god said it.


(edited to add a comma. ooops)

WCH

Well, it's those passages I'm talking about. The ones that they admit to not understanding.

Take the law about rapists marrying their victims. I've heard Christians justify it by saying that it forces him to take care of her and, since virginity was so highly prized back then, helps her with some of the shame of no longer being a virgin. This is obviously not going to sit well with skeptics who say that it's still a cruel law, but it's an explanation that the fundies are happy with. What are the passages for which there is no such explanation?

thegdin

well, i must admit that i cant think of any passages that fit your criteria. maybe a Moderator can move this thread to the Biblical Criticism & History forum. it might get more attention from people who are more conversant in the buy-bull.

Answerer

Revealation 10:4 - And when the seven thunder spoke. I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write them down."

Magus55

Care to elaborate?

Cynthia of Syracuse

Off to BC&H.

CX

As Xian apologists have had nearly 2000 years to study the bible and workout the uncomfortable bits I doubt there are any questions that have not already been asked an answered numerous times already, yet.

Dave Roberts

How about the ONE 18 inch square window on the ark? Not that I believe a cubit to be as long as it is made out by Christians, for if the measurement was determined by a length of body parts, keep in mind that people were shorter back in those times, an 18" measurement would be the same as if taken from me, and most males today are shorter than I.
Point is they would have all choked to death from the lack of ventilation

Toto

I think that the most troubling passages for Christians are those in which Jesus tells people to turn the other cheek, resist not evil, and live without possessions. This would seem to require that a true Christian be a pacifist and a socialist, which only the Catholic Workers commune even tries. I have never heard a modern Republican Christian reconcile these clear statements with the modern American state, built on war and capitalism.