Why is your window a globe?

[Queller]

Nobody said the earth was flat. I said it is described as flat.

No, it isn't. Nowhere in the Bible is the earth described as being flat.

As The Cadet pointed out, several scenarios are given in the Bible which are impossible if the earth is a sphere.

Now you can point out all you want that the Bible is simply using metaphorical language in these scenarios, but then you open up the argument that in other places (such as Genesis) the Bible is using metaphorical language there as well.

 

[durangodawood]

Since flat window glass is formed on a molten pool up to 1/2 a kilometer long
why would the Bible be wrong in suggesting the earth is flat?

What does the Bible mean when it says the earth is flat?
Is it talking about the shape of the planet?

 

[quatona]

Per my post above, there is every reason to doubt that the objective of the writers of the Bible was to provide "literal" truth. In short, and given the broad sweep of literary devices we see in the Bible, it is simply not credible to imagine that descriptions of a flat earth - whether explicit or implied - were ever intended to be taken literally.

I´m not a person who needs to be convinced that the bible isn´t (meant to be) the source of literal truths.
It´s a discussion you would have to have with the OP.

 

[Chesterton]

But the bible never explicitly says "the earth is flat". Instead, it provides scenarios (such as going to a mountaintop and seeing every kingdom on earth, or seeing the four corners of the earth, or draping the sky over the earth) which are simply impossible if the earth is spherical. Word games do not help you here. It doesn't matter if the earth is approximately flat; it cannot be more than a half-sphere in order for those passages to work. Assuming you don't consider them mere flowery language, that is.

Sorry but this is a pet peeve of mine. It should be obvious to any school kid that this is "flowery language".

1. If you went up on a mountain, unless it was near the border of Judah and Israel for example, you could not even see two kingdoms even if the earth was flat. I know some people like to think that ancient people were morons just because they were born a long time ago, but I'm sure their eyesight was limited to the horizon pretty much the same as ours.

2. The "four corners of the earth" is an expression still used to this day.

3. You can "drape" a sphere.

 

[SkyWriting]

What does the Bible mean when it says the earth is flat?
Is it talking about the shape of the planet?

You need to read it in it's context.

 

[SkyWriting]

As The Cadet pointed out, several scenarios are given in the Bible which are impossible if the earth is a sphere.

He didn't even point to one, which is less than several.

 

[seashale76]

Since flat window glass is formed on a molten pool up to 1/2 a kilometer long
why would the Bible be wrong in suggesting the earth is flat?

Would the Scriptures be correct in saying your bedroom window is globe shaped?

It's amazing to see English words strung together in such a way as to be rendered meaningless.

 

[SkyWriting]

It's amazing to see English words strung together in such a way as to be rendered meaningless.

That's not an answer or a question.

 

[seashale76]

That's not an answer or a question.

It's a statement.

 

[Queller]

He didn't even point to one, which is less than several.

Could you be any more wrong?

The Cadet most certainly did point out specific scenarios in the Bible which are impossible if the earth is a sphere:

1. going to a mountaintop and seeing every kingdom on earth
2. seeing the four corners of the earth
3. draping the sky over the earth

You might try actually reading the comments before inserting your foot in your mouth.

 

[SkyWriting]

Could you be any more wrong?

The Cadet most certainly did point out specific scenarios in the Bible which are impossible if the earth is a sphere:

1. going to a mountaintop and seeing every kingdom on earth
2. seeing the four corners of the earth
3. draping the sky over the earth

You might try actually reading the comments before inserting your foot in your mouth.

The first two of those would not be possible even if the earth was generally flat.
The third is not affected by the shape.
Got anything else?

 

[Chesterton]

Could you be any more wrong?

The Cadet most certainly did point out specific scenarios in the Bible which are impossible if the earth is a sphere:

1. going to a mountaintop and seeing every kingdom on earth
2. seeing the four corners of the earth
3. draping the sky over the earth

You might try actually reading the comments before inserting your foot in your mouth.

You might want to follow your own advice and read the comments - q.v. post #24.

 

[Queller]

The first two of those would not be possible even if the earth was generally flat.

Of course they would.

The third is not affected by the shape.

Yes, it is, when the object doing the draping is light or darkness.

Got anything else?

I thought you said he didn't point to even one? Can't admit you were wrong?

 

[Queller]

You might want to follow your own advice and read the comments - q.v. post #24.

1. I guess the Bible is wrong then because it claims you can see all the kingdoms of the earth.

2. Irrelevant.

3. You cannot drape a sphere in light for example and have all sides in light.

 

[SkyWriting]

Of course they would.

People can't see that far, nor behind any hill or dale.

 

[SkyWriting]

Yes, it is, when the object doing the draping is light or darkness.

Anything that can drape, can drape over anything.

 

[Dave-W]

going to a mountaintop and seeing every kingdom on earth

In a supernatural vision.

 

[SkyWriting]

I thought you said he didn't point to even one? Can't admit you were wrong?

I didn't recognize anything that suggested any physical shape to the earth
though the idea that one could see all the kingdoms from one vantage
point suggests there is one mountain, with villages around it's base.

 

[Jimmy D]

Could you be any more wrong?

The Cadet most certainly did point out specific scenarios in the Bible which are impossible if the earth is a sphere:

1. going to a mountaintop and seeing every kingdom on earth
2. seeing the four corners of the earth
3. draping the sky over the earth

You might try actually reading the comments before inserting your foot in your mouth.

Are they the only references to a flat Earth in the Bible? Why on Earth is anyone getting bent out of shape about that? Just sounds like a figure of speech to me.

 

[The Cadet]

Are they the only references to a flat Earth in the Bible? Why on Earth is anyone getting bent out of shape about that? Just sounds like a figure of speech to me.

They, plus a handful of others (which equally imply both flatness and immobility) are the only references of any kind to the shape or form of the earth in the bible. I think it's entirely fair to say that to the degree the bible describes the shape of the earth, it does not describe a sphere.