Magus55

While i am new to apologetics Vinnie, and though i haven't done a good job at it, i'm trying and learning in the process.

And in terms of support, i could have the entire Bible memorized word for word and it wouldn't make a difference because everyone here says there is absolutely no scientific or believable evidence that lends to the Bible's validity - so scripture is really useless when debating with atheists.

Vinnie

Is that what he is saying? Or that it started off with "polytheism being acceptable"? I am not sure. The former is not really disputable. Its the latter that I have reservations with and some of your brief comments are why. I have not studied all the data in enough depth

Vinnie

Jayhawker Soule

How would the verse suggest monotheism rather than henotheism?
If Deuteronomy is not inspired, why would you put so much faith in a virgin birth based on a misunderstanding of Isaiah?

Jayhawker Soule

Orthodox Jews don't shave?

Haran

Maybe we'll hear from Celsus on what he meant. However, if he meant that the Israelites started out as polytheists, then I'd heartily disagree.

Vinnie

Understanding the contents, nature and role of the Bible will lead to better apologetics. That is all I am saying. And lots of unanswered questions, in the long run, may hurt your faith. That is not a rare syndrome for open-minded apologists by any means. I just don't want to see you get bad information because you aren't that well grounded in this stuff. That is the most important point for me. Basically, this isn't the best place to come if you are "new" into apologetics in my opinion. But I encourage you to keep styudying (including reading opposing points of view like htose here and in the library), learning and sharing your faith. I am just saying that this may not be the best enviroment given your level of understanding at the moment

God Bless,
Vinnie

Haran

I'm sure you've seen the beards on those guys!

Sorry 'bout the spelling of Ockham, Occam, Ochkam, or however you spell the name. I can never remember.

Vinnie

You have a faulty assumption here. In order to be inspired by God a work need not be 100% accurate in all details, scientific, historical, theological or otherwise. That is the view of verbal plenary inspiration but that is not the only form of inspiration acceptable within the Christian church.

For the basic of qualitative inspiration, go here:
http://www.acfaith.com/qualitative.html

From my understanding, "Centrism" is the position of most authors and teachers of the NT.

Also, I would see Metacrock's brief comments on the Bible here:

http://www.geocities.com/christianca...tualoffice.htm

And for a discussion on the infancy narratives specifically, see Raymond Brown's 'The Birth of the Messiah'

I have brief thoughts up on the infancy narrative:
http://www.acfaith.com/infancy.html

I didn't get into the worth or historicity of parts of the infancy accounts yet, however. Virgin birth discussion won't be for a while now.

Vinnie

Jayhawker Soule

I work for a company that produces a widget requiring a coin validator. My wondrous Marketing Department, in response to inquiries, guarantees "99.95% acceptance of all coins properly classified."

How do you define "Israelites" and to when would you date their emergence?

braces_for_impact

Submitted by Magus55

Now you're beginning to catch on!