Introduction: Skeptic who's happy to have a discussion

[Randy B]

I guess the story of my faith and later falling out of faith is a long one, but I will try to summarize. My wife is a devout Christian and I was a believer when we got married. For years, we attended a PCA church who professed every week that the Bible was the "inerrant" and "infallible" word of God. Having said that, I had some lingering questions in terms of reconciling a literal belief in the Bible with what science tells us. Basic stuff, like, "where did the dinosaurs come in?" and so on. So, at around 38 yo, I went out confirm that there were good explanations for how to reconcile the accuracy of the Bible with what science has proven. The evidence I got did quite the opposite, and ultimately I fell out of faith. This is very upsetting to my wife, and she acknowledges that I have good questions. She asked me to participate in this forum to engage with apologists who might be better-equipped than her to address my concerns. So, that's my hope. I look forward to the discussion. Thanks for having me...

 

[Andrewn]

Welcome to the Christian Forums. You've come to the right place. Hope you enjoy the fellowship and discussions here. You can post your questions and participate in the Outreach section or the Discussion & Debate section.

 

[Pavel Mosko]

I guess the story of my faith and later falling out of faith is a long one, but I will try to summarize. My wife is a devout Christian and I was a believer when we got married. For years, we attended a PCA church who professed every week that the Bible was the "inerrant" and "infallible" word of God.

I can imagine. I think various fundamentalist Christians can paint themselves into a corner based on terms like that. It is one thing to believe the Bible is inspired, but some of those labels are very impressive sounding, to the point of almost making the Bible itself a kind of god etc.

This guy gives a good survey of various views of scripture from traditional Christians.

 

[Randy B]

Thanks for welcoming me. For some reason, my current permissions won't allow me to post in the outreach section...any ideas?

 

[Pavel Mosko]

Thanks for welcoming me. For some reason, my current permissions won't allow me to post in the outreach section...any ideas?

Yes check various boards your interested in. Some of them you got to request access from the folks that run the given board, and often you need to post that you agree that you have read and understand the terms of service/ specific area rules in a specific thread that is thumb tacked.

 

[Randy B]

Thanks. I saw that, but I'm not able to post in the thread to agree to the terms...

 

[Pavel Mosko]

Thanks. I saw that, but I'm not able to post in the thread to agree to the terms...

You get certain permissions granted via number of posts etc. so you may need to rack up a few of those. You got certain security things like that, that are designed to deal with bots, spammers and so on. So just hang in there, and post where you can.

 

[Randy B]

Sounds good. Thanks, Pavel.

 

[Andrewn]

Thanks for welcoming me. For some reason, my current permissions won't allow me to post in the outreach section...any ideas?

The Outreach section has several forums. Have you tried to post in Exploring Christianity Forum? Also there are several forums in the Discussion & Debate section. The Statements of Purpose for the forums help to select the appropriate forum. Your question would be suitable for the Physical & Life Sciences Forum. If you still have problems you can send a ticket by selecting Support from the top menu.

 

[redleghunter]

I can imagine. I think various fundamentalist Christians can paint themselves into a corner based on terms like that. It is one thing to believe the Bible is inspired, but some of those labels are very impressive sounding, to the point of almost making the Bible itself a kind of god etc.

This guy gives a good survey of various views of scripture from traditional Christians.

The PCA is not a fundamentalist church.

 

[Hopeful37]

I guess the story of my faith and later falling out of faith is a long one, but I will try to summarize. My wife is a devout Christian and I was a believer when we got married. For years, we attended a PCA church who professed every week that the Bible was the "inerrant" and "infallible" word of God. Having said that, I had some lingering questions in terms of reconciling a literal belief in the Bible with what science tells us. Basic stuff, like, "where did the dinosaurs come in?" and so on. So, at around 38 yo, I went out confirm that there were good explanations for how to reconcile the accuracy of the Bible with what science has proven. The evidence I got did quite the opposite, and ultimately I fell out of faith. This is very upsetting to my wife, and she acknowledges that I have good questions. She asked me to participate in this forum to engage with apologists who might be better-equipped than her to address my concerns. So, that's my hope. I look forward to the discussion. Thanks for having me...

Hello Flanders,

(I see you're a Simpson's fan)

They did find the remnants of Noah's ark with science technology and the chariots that was destroyed in the red sea...the same sea that God parted and caused the Israelites to walk thru.

I hope u find the answers you're looking for. I'm not an apologist but I used to watch alot of th Discovery and History channels growing up.

As for the Dinosaurs...hmmm
God created animals before man and also the Bible says one day is as a 1000 yrs...we could speculate that God took a week to bring creation into being or maybe several thousand years? The issue here for me is God is real and the minor details shouldn't skew our belief and love for Him.

Do u know God plays with a Leviathan as a bird? Amazing huh!? That's in Job. There is a vast majority of the sea undiscovered. We dont have the technology to go to great depths. God is no fable and neither are the stories. It was placed in the Bible to help us understand Him.

But what do i know. I don't claim to be wise. I'm no apologist. Again Hope u don't find me rude. I'm not trying to be.

Hope someone else might just answer your questions.

God speed!

 

[eleos1954]

I guess the story of my faith and later falling out of faith is a long one, but I will try to summarize. My wife is a devout Christian and I was a believer when we got married. For years, we attended a PCA church who professed every week that the Bible was the "inerrant" and "infallible" word of God. Having said that, I had some lingering questions in terms of reconciling a literal belief in the Bible with what science tells us. Basic stuff, like, "where did the dinosaurs come in?" and so on. So, at around 38 yo, I went out confirm that there were good explanations for how to reconcile the accuracy of the Bible with what science has proven. The evidence I got did quite the opposite, and ultimately I fell out of faith. This is very upsetting to my wife, and she acknowledges that I have good questions. She asked me to participate in this forum to engage with apologists who might be better-equipped than her to address my concerns. So, that's my hope. I look forward to the discussion. Thanks for having me...

Hello and welcome to the forum ... may you make many friends.

so you state you fell out of the faith ... so ... that's meaning you believe now in evolution? Based on what science theorizes, in that regard (ie how life began).

Anyway ... welcome ... and look foreword to your posts ... as you spend time here you will gain more access.

 

[Randy B]

Thanks for all of your replies.

Hopeful37,
Can you please site your source on Noah's ark having been found? That would be very helpful.
Where in the Bible does it say one day is a thousand years? Furthermore, a few thousand years does not account for the difference between a 6,000-10,000 year old earth (as young earth creationists believe) to a 4.5 billion year old earth as is the general consensus in modern science.

eloes1954,
Yes, I absolutely believe evolution took place. There is abundant evidence for it. The word "theory" as it is used in science should not be confused with way it's used in modern vernacular. A scientific theory is tested, peer-reviewed, and proven, i.e. the theory of gravity and the germ theory.

From Wikipedia:
A scientific theory is an explanation of an aspect of the natural world that can be repeatedly tested and verified in accordance with the scientific method, using accepted protocols of observation, measurement, and evaluation of results

 

[gentlejah]

Hello Randy, it's very nice to meet you

 

[Radagast]

For years, we attended a PCA church who professed every week that the Bible was the "inerrant" and "infallible" word of God. Having said that, I had some lingering questions in terms of reconciling a literal belief in the Bible with what science tells us. Basic stuff, like, "where did the dinosaurs come in?" and so on.

The PCA, to the best of my knowledge, includes both 6-day creationists and theistic evolutionists. It has no official position one way or the other.

 

[klutedavid]

I guess the story of my faith and later falling out of faith is a long one, but I will try to summarize. My wife is a devout Christian and I was a believer when we got married. For years, we attended a PCA church who professed every week that the Bible was the "inerrant" and "infallible" word of God. Having said that, I had some lingering questions in terms of reconciling a literal belief in the Bible with what science tells us. Basic stuff, like, "where did the dinosaurs come in?" and so on. So, at around 38 yo, I went out confirm that there were good explanations for how to reconcile the accuracy of the Bible with what science has proven. The evidence I got did quite the opposite, and ultimately I fell out of faith. This is very upsetting to my wife, and she acknowledges that I have good questions. She asked me to participate in this forum to engage with apologists who might be better-equipped than her to address my concerns. So, that's my hope. I look forward to the discussion. Thanks for having me...

Welcome Randy B.

 

[Michie]

Welcome. Here are the forums you are probably looking for.

Physical & Life Sciences

 

[Randy B]

Thanks again for the welcomes from everyone. Just to mention, beyond the science questions, my research has resulted in some significant philosophical questions as well...

 

[Michie]

Thanks again for the welcomes from everyone. Just to mention, beyond the science questions, my research has resulted in some significant philosophical questions as well...

There’s a forum for that too.

 

[Radagast]

Thanks again for the welcomes from everyone. Just to mention, beyond the science questions, my research has resulted in some significant philosophical questions as well...

There are several forums to ask questions.

If you want to tell us Christians how wrong we are, there are options too, but they're not open to brand-new members.