The only fruit I refuse to eat.

[Xavier363]

By that logic one couldn’t believe in the virgin birth or the resurrection of Christ which is are most imperative beliefs for a Christian.

Um, yeah.

 

[Xavier363]

By that logic one couldn’t believe in the virgin birth or the resurrection of Christ which is are most imperative beliefs for a Christian.

Question: Do you care if what you believe is actually true?

 

[durangodawood]

So, lets not divert here and talk about whales - unless we are able to eat them?

The bible is incorrect on how to cure blindness and how to cure leprosy - correct? This is a simple yes / no question - I hope that you can give your answer and we can move on. Also, do you think that anything in the bible is "literally" true?

Its not about whales. Moby Dick is just an example to convey the legit reasons for the general principle of properly quoting works of fiction when you try to understand them.

Of course, its probably even more important when youre analyzing works of fact. But thats not my position on Genesis.

 

[BNR32FAN]

So, lets not divert here and talk about whales - unless we are able to eat them?

The bible is incorrect on how to cure blindness and how to cure leprosy - correct? This is a simple yes / no question - I hope that you can give your answer and we can move on. Also, do you think that anything in the bible is "literally" true?

I would say most true believers believe that the majority of the Bible is literal. The whole point of the miracles that were used to prove that God existed and had favor for certain individuals was that they were performing something that should be impossible to do. Miracles were used to bring glory to God and to bring unbelievers to repentance by performing an impossible act to remove any shadow of doubt from the witnesses.

 

[BNR32FAN]

Question: Do you care if what you believe is actually true?

If I didn’t then I wouldn’t really believe, would I? What your actually comparing is belief and agnosticism. If a person believes something that means they think it is true if they aren’t sure then that means they are agnostic.

 

[Xavier363]

Its not about whales. Moby Dick is just an example to convey the legit reasons for the general principle of properly quoting works of fiction when you try to understand them.

Of course, its probably even more important when youre analyzing works of fact. But thats not my position on Genesis.

Just so we can both be clear on your position:

The bible is incorrect on how to cure blindness and how to cure leprosy - correct? This is a simple yes / no question - I hope that you can give your answer and we can move on. Also, do you think that anything in the bible is "literally" true?

So, things written in the bible are literally true, or not? Assuming not, how would one go about determining which passages would be literally true, and which would not?

 

[BNR32FAN]

So, things written in the bible are literally true, or not? Assuming not, how would one go about determining which passages would be literally true, and which would not?

If the passages pertaining to miracles were not literal but instead were metaphorical they would fail to produce compelling evidence to persuade unbelievers to repent.

 

[durangodawood]

So, things written in the bible are literally true, or not? Assuming not, how would one go about determining which passages would be literally true, and which would not?

I thought I made my position on this thread topic crystal clear: if you want to contemplate Bible passages, you should read them correctly. This applies to any theory of Bible meaning: literal, mythical, a mixture.

As to which theory of Bible meaning is correct, I say its a mixture of myth, probably some literal history of the Hebrews and others, plus wisdom teachings and opinion.

 

[Xavier363]

I would say most true believers believe that the majority of the Bible is literal. The whole point of the miracles that were used to prove that God existed and had favor for certain individuals was that they were performing something that should be impossible to do. Miracles were used to bring glory to God and to bring unbelievers to repentance by performing an impossible act to remove any shadow of doubt from the witnesses.

I've seen magicians perform tricks that absolutely astound me. Even street magicians like David Blaine (sorry, spelling?) have performed tricks that have blown my mind. Great for these performers. Compare a performer like David Blaine (again, ...) to someone performing to an audience thousands of years ago - they would have seemed miraculous!! I have noticed that "miracles" never include the re-growing of the limbs of amputees. It seems like the one group of people that gods never help are those with definitive medical conditions. Weird, right?

 

[BNR32FAN]

I thought I made my position on this thread topic crystal clear: if you want to contemplate Bible passages, you should read them correctly. This applies to any theory of Bible meaning: literal, mythical, a mixture.

As to which theory of Bible meaning is correct, I say its a mixture of myth, probably some literal history of the Hebrews and others, plus wisdom teachings and opinion.

The only myths I’m aware of in the Bible would be pertaining to paganism. Myths are not true.

 

[Xavier363]

If I didn’t then I wouldn’t really believe, would I? What your actually comparing is belief and agnosticism. If a person believes something that means they think it is true if they aren’t sure then that means they are agnostic.

So, is that a Yes answer or a No answer?

 

[BNR32FAN]

I've seen magicians perform tricks that absolutely astound me. Even street magicians like David Blaine (sorry, spelling?) have performed tricks that have blown my mind. Great for these performers. Compare a performer like David Blaine (again, ...) to someone performing to an audience thousands of years ago - they would have seemed miraculous!! I have noticed that "miracles" never include the re-growing of the limbs of amputees. It seems like the one group of people that gods never help are those with definitive medical conditions. Weird, right?

You mean like blindness from birth of being dead for three days?

 

[durangodawood]

The only myths I’m aware of in the Bible would be pertaining to paganism. Myths are not true.

I see the creation story in Genesis as basically a myth. What do you think it is?

 

[BNR32FAN]

So, is that a Yes answer or a No answer?

Oh I’m 100% a believer I have no doubt that the Bible is true and in most cases literal. There are some passages that are not intended to be literal like for example Jesus saying that He is a door or saying whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood will have eternal life, the passages where miracles take place are absolutely intended to be literal otherwise they could not accomplish what they were intended to.

 

[Xavier363]

The only myths I’m aware of in the Bible would be pertaining to paganism. Myths are not true.

So, how about these myths:

The bible also says Jesus cured a blind man by spitting on the ground, scooping up the moist clay, and rubbing it into the blind man's eyes.

Also to cure leprosy:
Get two birds. Kill one. Dip the live bird in the blood of the dead one. Sprinkle the blood on the leper seven times, and then let the blood-soaked bird fly away. Next find a lamb and kill it. Wipe some of its blood on the patient’s right ear, thumb, and big toe. Sprinkle seven times with oil and wipe some of the oil on his right ear, thumb and big toe. Repeat. Finally find another pair of birds. Kill one and dip the live bird in the dead bird’s blood. Wipe some blood on the patient’s right ear, thumb, and big toe. Sprinkle the house with blood 7 times.
- Leviticus 14:2-52

Pretty solid myth stuff here.

 

[BNR32FAN]

I see the creation story in Genesis as basically a myth. What do you think it is?

I believe all of creation was created in 6 days and the earth is just over 6,000 years old.

Edit: Sorry everything is just over 6,000 years old.

 

[BNR32FAN]

So, how about these myths:


Pretty solid myth stuff here.

Those aren’t myths they’re facts.

 

[durangodawood]

I believe all of creation was created in 6 days and the earth is just over 6,000 years old.

Edit: Sorry everything is just over 6,000 years old.

Ah, I had you confused for a different agnostic/atheist person here.

 

[Xavier363]

Oh I’m 100% a believer I have no doubt that the Bible is true and in most cases literal. There are some passages that are not intended to be literal like for example Jesus saying that He is a door or saying whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood will have eternal life, the passages where miracles take place are absolutely intended to be literal otherwise they could not accomplish what they were intended to.

Sigh, so you are a 100% believer in the bible - that is sad to me. So, 100% what were the last words of Jesus? The 100% last words. The 100% not to be disputed, super duper literal last words of Jesus?

 

[Xavier363]

Those aren’t myths they’re facts.

Seems like there was a problem when you quoted. Perhaps you could try again? What were you referring to as myths, and what were you referring to as fact? That would be helpful