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Old 08-03-2007, 10:23 AM   #141
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Originally Posted by afdave View Post
I hear a lot of erroneous criticism of the Bible ... "it's a Bronze Age myth ... it's full of errors ... it's totally implausible ..." ... etc. etc.

But I am curious about something ... how many of you have actually READ the Bible?

The whole thing? If not the whole thing, please specify what parts you have read.

I am particularly interested in hearing from my "fans" who have followed me for the past year or so, but anyone is welcome to chime in.
Which one in particular?

I've read about four different versions plus the non-canonical texts and much of the other material from that period.

Amen-Moses
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Old 08-03-2007, 10:41 AM   #142
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Read it several times through

Read it weekly

Read all manner of text crit / commentary (Price, Ehrman, Crossan, Wright, Fredericksen, Mack, Friedman, Finkelstein, Eisemann, Koester, MacDonald, Wise, etc.)

Go to church every Sunday.

Every. Sunday.

. have for 20 years

. . . to a Baptist Church

. . . . . . a Southern Baptist Church

. . . . . . . . located in Texas

. . . . . . . . . . . . wherein I've heard Carl Baugh at other similar folks preach on YEC

I think I've considered the other side. YEC is bunk. Inerrancy is bunk. Divine authorship is bunk.
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Old 08-03-2007, 10:45 AM   #143
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Some have asked if I have read other religious texts.

ANSWER: Koran ... small parts. Book of Mormon ... small parts. That's about it. Darwin's Origin ... small parts.

But if someone could give me a compelling reason why I should read ALL of these books or any others, I would consider it.

If someone wonders why I'm partial to the Bible and why I've read it through several times, but not read other religious texts through all the way, the answer is this ...

The Bible is in a class by itself when comparing it to other books.

1) It is far and away the best selling book in the history of the planet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_books

2) It is unique in it predictive prophecy which has been fulfilled

3) It is unique in its accurate description of the human condition

4) It is unique in its astonishingly accurate historical memory

... among other things.

As for my purpose for asking the question ...

I want to know if there are any of my critics who have not read the Bible. If I find a critic who has NOT read it, I would challenge him or her to read it.
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Old 08-03-2007, 10:53 AM   #144
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Quote:
Originally Posted by afdave View Post
Some have asked if I have read other religious texts.

ANSWER: Koran ... small parts. Book of Mormon ... small parts. That's about it. Darwin's Origin ... small parts.

But if someone could give me a compelling reason why I should read ALL of these books or any others, I would consider it.

If someone wonders why I'm partial to the Bible and why I've read it through several times, but not read other religious texts through all the way, the answer is this ...

The Bible is in a class by itself when comparing it to other books.

1) It is far and away the best selling book in the history of the planet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_books
So if Harry Potter takes over as best seller, that would mean you'd give that precedence.

Quote:
2) It is unique in it predictive prophecy which has been fulfilled
I have not seen one prophecy that has unambiguously been fulfilled.

Quote:
3) It is unique in its accurate description of the human condition
Please explain how?

Quote:
4) It is unique in its astonishingly accurate historical memory
Since it contains some accounts which are incompatible with historical, archaeological, genetic, geological......fact, this is clearly not the case.

Quote:

... among other things.

As for my purpose for asking the question ...

I want to know if there are any of my critics who have not read the Bible. If I find a critic who has NOT read it, I would challenge him or her to read it.

Well I've read most of it. I got fed up with all the begats. And the insanity of some of the rules of Leviticus

I've read enough to have an informed opinion.

David B
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Old 08-03-2007, 10:53 AM   #145
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Quote:
Originally Posted by afdave View Post
Some have asked if I have read other religious texts.

ANSWER: Koran ... small parts. Book of Mormon ... small parts. That's about it. Darwin's Origin ... small parts.

But if someone could give me a compelling reason why I should read ALL of these books or any others, I would consider it.

If someone wonders why I'm partial to the Bible and why I've read it through several times, but not read other religious texts through all the way, the answer is this ...
that you're afraid your fragile beliefs will get shattered?
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Old 08-03-2007, 10:56 AM   #146
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Absurd dave, totally absurd.
Your point 1 is irrelevent - and what will you do when it is replaced by the Koran. Or Harry Potter?
Your points 2 thru 4 are demonstrably false. Entirely, completely, irredeemably false. And it is clear that you do not believe these things to be true because of any evidence other than power figures in your life have insisted that they are. That is hardly adequate, now is it?
And as to why you should read other works, as to religion, beats me, it's all excrement (demonstrably so).
As to why you should read Darwin, Dawkins, et al, well, don't you think you should know something about that which you reject?
Well, clearly, no you don't think so.
One would wonder why if one did not alredy possess quite sufficient insight into your "character".

no hugs for thugs,
Shirley Knott
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Old 08-03-2007, 11:02 AM   #147
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If Harry Potter passes the Bible as the best seller, you can be sure I will read it.
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Old 08-03-2007, 11:25 AM   #148
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I'm not sure you could, Dave, given what I've seen.
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Old 08-03-2007, 11:28 AM   #149
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Quote:
Originally Posted by afdave View Post
Some have asked if I have read other religious texts.

ANSWER: Koran ... small parts. Book of Mormon ... small parts. That's about it. Darwin's Origin ... small parts.

But if someone could give me a compelling reason why I should read ALL of these books or any others, I would consider it.
Basic education. Your ignorance of other religious beliefs blinds you to the fact that yours are neither unique nor - in many respects - particularly subtle. One might as well ask why any education is of value. Apparently you don't value education in the slightest.

Quote:
If someone wonders why I'm partial to the Bible and why I've read it through several times, but not read other religious texts through all the way, the answer is this ...

The Bible is in a class by itself when comparing it to other books.
Absolutely false. Only someone ignorant of other comparable works would make such a claim.

Quote:
1) It is far and away the best selling book in the history of the planet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_books
Logical fallacy: argument ad populem

Quote:
2) It is unique in it predictive prophecy which has been fulfilled
Absolutely false.

Quote:
3) It is unique in its accurate description of the human condition
Absolutely false.

Quote:
4) It is unique in its astonishingly accurate historical memory
Absolutely false.

Had you ever bothered to read other works, you would know that these are all 100% wrong.

This is what galls me about other Christians, such as Dave, here - their total and absolute ignorance about the Bible and their own faith.


Quote:
As for my purpose for asking the question ...

I want to know if there are any of my critics who have not read the Bible. If I find a critic who has NOT read it, I would challenge him or her to read it.
Why? As you can see, reading the Bible turns as many folks to atheism as it turns folks to theism. Reading the Bible is a stupid way to proselytize, Dave - and that is something forbidden on these forums.

Learn something about the Bible, Dave. Then you might be dangerous to atheism. As it is, you've got nothing to present to them that they haven't already seen. And refuted.
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Old 08-03-2007, 11:38 AM   #150
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Quote:
Originally Posted by afdave View Post
The Bible is in a class by itself when comparing it to other books.

1) It is far and away the best selling book in the history of the planet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_books

2) It is unique in it predictive prophecy which has been fulfilled

3) It is unique in its accurate description of the human condition

4) It is unique in its astonishingly accurate historical memory
:rolling: :rolling: :rolling: :rolling:

Thank you! I needed a good belly laugh today.

Tell me: How can you know the bible is unique among other books when you haven't read them?
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