(DAVE 1/14) Farrell: As you know, I don't subscribe to the concept of
"verbal inspiration" - at least the way I understand the theory. But I
agree that the logical consequence of verbal inspiration would (or should)
be inerrancy. However, inerrancy is possible without verbal inspiration as
well - it isn't exclusive to a document being verbally inspired.
Farrell
In that
posting I may have said something like this. I can recall before my
retirement that when I would come to essays in the stack I was grading,
which I recognized to be the works of certain students, I would immediately
know that I would be reading a paper that had few, if any, errors in it and
that would have a high level of well written supporting content. The
students had established their reputations as very intelligent students, who
usually made good grades in whatever courses they were taking. I
consistently found that if students had a good knowledge of grammar,
punctuation and spelling rules,and writing principles, it was always
reflected in the quality of their work.
I assume that you are a professor of mathematics at Cambridge University.
Let's suppose, for the sake of illustration, that you should have a student
enroll in one of your classes who knew everything there is to know about
math. In other words, you have a student who is mathematically omniscient.
How many incorrect answers would you expect to find on this person's math
papers?
Do you get my point?
(DAVE 1/14) Farrell: Yes, your point is clear. Where I don't agree with
you is in your equating a student writing a paper with, say, an apostle
writing a gospel. They are entirely different.
TILL
That's the whole point, Dave. An apostle writing a gospel through the
verbal inspiration of an omniscient, omnipotent deity would be infinitely
greater than a student with a high IQ and a thorough understanding of
grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, so if a student like this usually
makes only a few mistakes in a written work, an inspired apostle should be
able to do an infinitely better job. Zero mistakes of any kind. If not,
why not?
Farrell Till
Skepticism, Inc.
jftill@midwest.net
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