pro/anti prejudices and the bible (for VanHoose)
Ian & Pam Dorion dorioni@ipa.net
Sat, 31 Jan 1998 06:28:19 -0600 (00886271299, 199801311230.GAA03224@thunder.ipa.net)
JOHN
> > > Getting to the bible... you (I am assuming) believe that the bible is
a
> > > message from the creator of the universe. If that is true, it is the
> > > most super amazing thing ever... but can you give me a good reason to
> > > think that this book you have is *really* what christianity says it
is,
> > > rather than just some thing written by ordinary people?
> >
> > PAT
> > Dear John,
> > These are some of the facts about the Bible that seem to me to indicate
> > that it could not have simply been written by human beings:
> > 1. It was written over the course of 1600 years and 60 generations.
> > 2. It was written by more than 40 people. these people were, among
> > other things, kings, fishermen, scholars, and peasants.
> > 3. God, through the Holy Spirit, directed some authors to write his
> > message immediately and allowed others to pass on his message through
> > the generations.
> > 4. The Bible was written on three continents - Asia, Africa, and
> > Europe - and in many different types of places such as prisons,
palaces,
> > in the wilderness, and on the road.
> > 5. The Bible was written in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and
> > Greek.
> > 6. The Bible includes history, prayers, worship songs, poems,
> > prophecies, and letters.
> > 7. Biblical authors wrote about many controversial subjects yet
> > maintained one consistent theme: God loves us and forgives us for our
> > sins.
> >
> > This would be like having a book that was begun around 400 A.D. in the
> > "Dark Ages" and after having parts added on until the present, come up
> > with a volume that has the same theme running through the entire book.
JOHN
> > > And then one other question... what would it take for you to conclude
> > > that, in fact, the bible is *not* a message from the creator of the
> > > universe? I'm not saying that such evidence exists, I only want you
to
> > > really ask yourself if there is anything whatsoever that you could
find
> > > in there which would convince you that it is not 'god's word'.
> > > As I like to say: give me a reason to believe.
> > >
> > > peace,
> > > john phipps
IAN
Okay, I added John's name in caps twice to keep the post straight.
I'm still not sure what Pat is trying to say. She apparently is under the
impression that all these books were written as one consecutive
volume. I know she doesn't but this is the impression she wants ro
give. With this in mind, I suppose someone could put together 60
books, more or less, written over 1600 years and claim anything
they want. Do you believe in slavery, Pat? It is condoned by the Bible.
No place in the Bible does anyone speak out against it.