Literal / Metaphor

[ViaCrucis]

The level of literacy in America must be truly appalling. They can manage to read the actual words, but the level of comprehension seems to be zilch. That is what unregulated home schooling does for you.

There's a significant dearth of theological literacy and religious formation among American churches. That much is true. I attribute it more to a an anti-intellectual mentality and a rather dogmatic rejection of formal theological teaching in favor of "me and my Bible".

-CryptoLutheran

 

[AV1611VET]

There's a significant dearth of theological literacy and religious formation among American churches. That much is true. I attribute it more to a an anti-intellectual mentality and a rather dogmatic rejection of formal theological teaching in favor of "me and my Bible".

Like getting the Bible kicked out of school?

And for the record, you scientific methodists aren't so innocent.

You [guys] think the Bible teaches: geocentrism, flat earth, genocide, justified crusading, witch hunting, and a host of other garbage.

I can't even talk to educatees here.

You talk to them about even basic doctrine, and you get blank stares.

They argue about Satan being a dragon, talking serpents (note the plural), talking mules (note the plural), Satan's angelic name, and even God's name.

They're so hung up on what the "original Hebrew" says (or doesn't say), you can't talk to them in English.

They want the Bible out of school and the Ten Commandments off public property, then wonder why we aren't marching off on some crusade against witches, while not embracing geocentrism and a flat earth cosmology.

They even pluto "child in the womb" to "fetus," then wonder why we think abortion is murder.

 

[lesliedellow]

Like getting the Bible kicked out of school?

Religious education is compulsory in Britain. In any case, where are the churches, when it comes to basic religious instruction? It is difficult to avoid the suspicion that their pastors are as devoid of theological education as their congregations.

You talk to them about even basic doctrine, and you get blank stares.

There is no shortage of fundamentalists peddling docetism, modalism, pelagianism, or the prosperity gospel, on here.

..... while not embracing geocentrist and a flat earth cosmology.

You think we can't find fundamentalists embracing both of those? I assure you that we can, and they are to be found on here. We start off absolutely convinced that they MUST be trolls, but then it is forced upon our realisation that they are being dead serious. That could only happen in the southern states of America.

 

[ViaCrucis]

That could only happen in the southern states of America.

I live in what is sometimes described as one of the least religious regions in the US, the Pacific Northwest, and while things are definitely different here than in the South/Bible Belt, there's no shortage of weird here and elsewhere in the States.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[AV1611VET]

Religious education is compulsory in Britain.

What does religious education have to do with the Bible?

In any case, where are the churches, when it comes to basic religious instruction?

As my pastor says, "We get children for two hours a week, after they've had 40 hours of indoctrination in a public school."

It is difficult to avoid the suspicion that their pastors are as devoid of theological education as their congregations.

No argument there.

There is no shortage of fundamentalists peddling docetism, modalism, pelagianism, or the prosperity gospel, on here.

How about the Bible?

You think we can't find fundamentalists embracing both of those?

I'm sure you guys can find a fundamentalist behind every tree.

I assure you that we can, and they are to be found on here.

Well, if by "fundamentalist," you mean anyone who disagrees with you, Darwin, or Linnaeus, I'm sure they are found on here.

We start off absolutely convinced that they MUST be trolls, but then it is forced upon our realisation that they are being dead serious.

Because they don't agree with flat earth, geocentrism, or witch hunting?

That could only happen in the southern states of America.

And just what do the "southern states of America" teach exactly?

Can you name six fundamentals of their faith, and why not believing them can get a person a trip to the Lake of Fire?

 

[AV1611VET]

I live in what is sometimes described as one of the least religious regions in the US,

The Bible Belt?

... the Pacific Northwest,

Oh.

The Green River Killer's stomping grounds.

Not to mention Rajneeshee.

 

[lesliedellow]

What does religious education have to do with the Bible?

Quite a bit, one would have thought.

As my pastor says, "We get children for two hours a week, after they've had 40 hours of indoctrination in a public school."

So public schools in America "indoctrinate" their pupils against the doctrine of the Trinity?

No argument there.How about the Bible?

How about the Bible? Every so often Christianity Today will run an article deploring the level of biblical illiteracy amongst self described evangelicals. Unbelievably, some of them can't even name the first book of the Bible.

Because they don't agree with flat earth, geocentrism, or witch hunting?

Because they DO agree with geocentrism and a flat Earth. I will admit that they are a minority, even amongst fundamentalist, but that they exist at all beggars belief.

And just what do the "southern states of America" teach exactly?

Precious little, if the stuff which gets posted on the Internet is anything to go by.

Can you name six fundamentals of their faith

I have read The Fundamentals, if that counts.

 

[AV1611VET]

How about the Bible? Every so often Christianity Today will run an article deploring the level of biblical illiteracy amongst self described evangelicals. Unbelievably, some of them can't even name the first book of the Bible.

Without looking, can you name the first chapter of Darwin's, Preservation of Favoured Races?

 

[lesliedellow]

Without looking, can you name the first chapter of Darwin's, Preservation of Favoured Races?

Why don't you try giving the book it's correct title?

I could name the first chapter, but that is beside the point. I am not claiming to be a biologist, but they ARE claiming to be "Bible believing" Christians.

 

[AV1611VET]

I am not claiming to be a biologist, but they ARE claiming to be "Bible believing" Christians.

Well excuuuse them!

What about the ones who can?

 

[lesliedellow]

Well excuuuse them!

What about the ones who can?

Well, again unbelievably, they are in the minority:

http://www.christianpost.com/news/b...-us-at-crisis-point-says-bible-expert-121626/

 

[SkyWriting]

Why don't you try giving the book it's correct title?

The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.
First Edition.
by Charles Darwin


Chapter I.
Variation under Domestication
Causes of Variability — Effects of Habit and the use or disuse of Parts — Correlated Variation — Inheritance — Character of Domestic Varieties — Difficulty of distinguishing between Varieties and Species — Origin of Domestic Varieties from one or more Species — Domestic Pigeon, their Differences and Origin — Principles of Selection, anciently followed, their Effects — Methodical and Unconscious Selection — Unknown Origin of our Domestic Productions — Circumstances favourable to Man's power of Selection 5-32

Chapter II.
Variation under Nature
Variability — Individual differences — Doubtful species — Wide-ranging, much diffused, and common species, vary most — Species of the larger genera in each country vary more frequently than the species of the smaller genera — Many of the species of the larger genera resemble varieties in being very closely, but unequally, related to each other, and in having restricted ranges 33-47

Chapter III.
Struggle for Existence
Its bearing on natural selection — The term used in a wide sense — Geometrical ratio of increase — Rapid increase of naturalised animals and plants — Nature of the checks to increase — Competition universal — Effects of climate — Protection from the number of individuals — Complex relations of all animals and plants throughout nature — Struggle for life most severe between individuals and varieties of the same species: often severe between species of the same genus — The relation of organism to organism the most important of all relations

 

[lesliedellow]

The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.
First Edition.
by Charles Darwin

"On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life"

They are not alternative titles. They are part of one and the same title.

 

[SkyWriting]

Because they DO agree with geocentrism and a flat Earth. I will admit that they are a minority, even amongst fundamentalist, but that they exist at all beggars belief.

A flat earth is the way practically all people life their lives. Even people who jet globally
feel that when the jet levels-off that it is flying flat. The only people who consider the
world is not flat, have been indoctrinated into that way of thinking. No person
would come to any other conclusion without being indoctrinated.

 

[SkyWriting]

On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection,
or
The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life

Either title is valid per Darwin.

 

[AV1611VET]

Well, again unbelievably, they are in the minority:

http://www.christianpost.com/news/b...-us-at-crisis-point-says-bible-expert-121626/

This Kenneth Berding guy in your link, is he bragging or complaining?

After all, aren't these kids in the right place then?

If they don't know the first five books of the Bible, then it's up to Biola to teach them ... isn't it?

What are they there for? to teach Backgammon?

And another thing, here's a quote from your link:

In his own experience, one student, Berding recalled, did not know that Saul in the New Testament was different from King Saul in the Old Testament. Another student thought the Old Testament figure Joshua was the son of "a nun," unaware that "Nun" was actually the name of the father and not a member of a Catholic community of women.

Let me ask you a question:

Colossians 4:15 [KJV] Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

Colossians 4:15 [NIV] Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

Is Nymphas a man or a woman?

If you can't answer that without standard rhetoric, is it any wonder kids today are confused?

This Kenneth Berding needs to quit complaining (or bragging) and do his job.

Oh, wait!

He's a professor of NEW TESTAMENT ... my bad.

That gives him license to ridicule Biola's students on what they don't know in the OLD TESTAMENT, doesn't it?

Biola can take a hike.

I wonder if evolutionists secretly hired this guy from the Antichrist Lovers Union?

Remember 1925?

 

[lesliedellow]

A flat earth is the way practically all people life their lives. Even people who jet globally
feel that when the jet levels-off that it is flying flat. The only people who consider the
world is not flat, have been indoctrinated into that way of thinking. No person
would come to any other conclusion without being indoctrinated.

Are you seriously seriously one of the flat earthers? If so, according to AV, you don't exist.

 

[AV1611VET]

Either title is valid per Darwin.

The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life

Isn't it ... ironic ... that Hitler named his book, My Struggles?

 

[AV1611VET]

If so, according to AV, you don't exist.

I beg your pardon?

 

[lesliedellow]

This Kenneth Berding guy in your link, is he bragging or complaining?

He is complaining, and he isn't the only one.

After all, aren't these kids in the right place then?

If they don't know the first five books of the Bible, then it's up to Biola to teach them ... isn't it?

It's like arriving at a university to do a maths degree, without so much as knowing that 2+2=4.

And another thing, here's a quote from your link:Let me ask you a question:

Colossians 4:15 [KJV] Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

Colossians 4:15 [NIV] Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

Is Nymphas a man or a woman?

The pronoun gives it away. No biblical literacy needed there; just a knowledge of the English language. It is to be hoped that even American evangelicals could manage that.

This Kenneth Berding needs to quit complaining (or bragging) and do his job.

You mean like a maths professor should have to teach first year university students simple arithmetic, or an English professor what an adjective is?