Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Peter Kirby · 05-03-2003, 11:50 PM

Hatred or fondness of Christianity is off topic. Please take it to General Religious Discussions.

best,
Peter Kirby

Vinnie · 05-03-2003, 11:58 PM

Why is "inspiration" on topic to being with? Inspiration (arguments pro and con) is a theological subject. It is not "biblical criticism".

Anyways, G, if you answer the question in another forum let me know. If not, no big deal.

Vinnie

Peter Kirby · 05-04-2003, 12:24 AM

My working definition of "on topic" is whatever relates to our understanding of the Bible or Jewish/Christian religion in antiquity. Since we have many debates over whether the Bible is the Word of God, it seems on-topic to discuss what that would mean, i.e. a theory of inspiration, which is a theory of what happened when the biblical writers put pen to papyrus so long ago. I welcome further clarification of what is "on topic" from my fellow moderators, as I don't think we have hammered out a constitution of what is on topic.

best,
Peter Kirby

RED DAVE · 05-04-2003, 04:26 AM

From Tercel:

Quote:

I would remind you that if there is objective truth out there, and God really does exist, then some systems of religion are going to come closer to accurately describing him than others. Nothing to do with 'superiority complex's.

Big "if," especially since you think that Christianity, which has been oppressing and torturing for thousands of years, is some closer.

RED DAVE

Fred · 05-04-2003, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tercel
Postmodernism at its finest I see...

I would remind you that if there is objective truth out there, and God really does exist, then some systems of religion are going to come closer to accurately describing him than others. Nothing to do with 'superiority complex's.

Science could be characterised similarly: It doesn't make it bad or wrong or inferior.

As usual, the fact that someone might actually dare to say that not all people are equally right is politically incorrect and bigoted...

You have failed to answer any question I posed.

Vinnie · 05-04-2003, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Peter Kirby
My working definition of "on topic" is whatever relates to our understanding of the Bible or Jewish/Christian religion in antiquity. Since we have many debates over whether the Bible is the Word of God, it seems on-topic to discuss what that would mean, i.e. a theory of inspiration, which is a theory of what happened when the biblical writers put pen to papyrus so long ago. I welcome further clarification of what is "on topic" from my fellow moderators, as I don't think we have hammered out a constitution of what is on topic.

best,
Peter Kirby

I have no problems with this nor do I think it should be changed but I will say that the definition is flawed. Technically that is not "biblical criticism". I understand biblical criticism as "the application of the principles of textual, literary, and historical criticism to the books of the Bible."

Quote:

a theory of inspiration, which is a theory of what happened when the biblical writers put pen to papyrus so long ago.

That is an ill attempt at turning a theological question into a historical one. it might be hard to catch it but history is not "what happened in the past" in a naive sense.

Inspiration has nothing to do with historical reconstruction or biblical criticism. The historian must assume the text was written like all other texts from the outset. Without those "naturalist assumptions" all history is lost. Biblical criticism falls outside of the purview of prophetic amanuenses, inspiring deities or redacting archangels. Inspiration is a theological concept, not a [i]historical/i] one. If we find ancient Roman documents we do not entertain the notion that apes, aliens or angels wrote them. We assume that ancient Romans did.

Vinnie

Peter Kirby · 05-04-2003, 08:48 AM

As I said, I haven't conferred with the other moderators in forming my concept of what is on topic. It is true that we have frequently permitted discussion of the stories of the Bible in a way that includes theological or atheological considerations; some discussions have concerned Christian theology or apologetics in ways that are not even tied to the Bible. I would welcome the second opinion of another moderator on whether hatred of Christianity is on topic.

best,
Peter Kirby

Vinnie · 05-04-2003, 09:22 AM

Quote:

I would welcome the second opinion of another moderator on whether hatred of Christianity is on topic.

It doesnt take a mod to tell you that this has nothing to do with BC&A either.

Vinnie

Peter Kirby · 05-04-2003, 09:30 AM

I move that we rename the forum "Biblical Criticism & Hatred of Christianity."

best,
Peter Kirby

Vinnie · 05-04-2003, 09:41 AM

LOL

Vinnie

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05-03-2003, 11:50 PM	#61
Peter Kirby Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: the reliquary of Ockham's razor Posts: 4,035	Hatred or fondness of Christianity is off topic. Please take it to General Religious Discussions. best, Peter Kirby

05-03-2003, 11:58 PM	#62
Vinnie Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Waterbury, Ct, Usa Posts: 6,523	Why is "inspiration" on topic to being with? Inspiration (arguments pro and con) is a theological subject. It is not "biblical criticism". Anyways, G, if you answer the question in another forum let me know. If not, no big deal. Vinnie

05-04-2003, 12:24 AM	#63
Peter Kirby Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: the reliquary of Ockham's razor Posts: 4,035	My working definition of "on topic" is whatever relates to our understanding of the Bible or Jewish/Christian religion in antiquity. Since we have many debates over whether the Bible is the Word of God, it seems on-topic to discuss what that would mean, i.e. a theory of inspiration, which is a theory of what happened when the biblical writers put pen to papyrus so long ago. I welcome further clarification of what is "on topic" from my fellow moderators, as I don't think we have hammered out a constitution of what is on topic. best, Peter Kirby

05-04-2003, 08:48 AM	#67
Peter Kirby Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: the reliquary of Ockham's razor Posts: 4,035	As I said, I haven't conferred with the other moderators in forming my concept of what is on topic. It is true that we have frequently permitted discussion of the stories of the Bible in a way that includes theological or atheological considerations; some discussions have concerned Christian theology or apologetics in ways that are not even tied to the Bible. I would welcome the second opinion of another moderator on whether hatred of Christianity is on topic. best, Peter Kirby

05-04-2003, 09:30 AM	#69
Peter Kirby Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: the reliquary of Ockham's razor Posts: 4,035	I move that we rename the forum "Biblical Criticism & Hatred of Christianity." best, Peter Kirby

05-04-2003, 09:41 AM	#70
Vinnie Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Waterbury, Ct, Usa Posts: 6,523	LOL Vinnie

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