Jan
8th
Evidence that demands a verdict
By Infidel
So I decided to read Josh McDowell's book Evidence That Demands
A Verdict.
Is he for real? I've read half way through chapter 2 (34 pages) and I can't believe he is making such absurd claims (I started to say "arguments" but he hasn't made an argument yet!). Is he serious about his claim that the number of copies of the new testament is proof of its authenticity? Please tell me that he's not serious (I know, I know. He is.).
He brags and brags how the bible influenced society, governments, history, etc. Well, of course it has! Well, since the 4th century, believers have been told that it is the WORD OF GOD (thunder, please). When people believe it is the word of god, they tend to let themselves be influenced by it. What's so amazing about that? Furthermore, how does that prove anything about the authenticity of the bible?
Is the rest of the book going to be like this?
Is he for real? I've read half way through chapter 2 (34 pages) and I can't believe he is making such absurd claims (I started to say "arguments" but he hasn't made an argument yet!). Is he serious about his claim that the number of copies of the new testament is proof of its authenticity? Please tell me that he's not serious (I know, I know. He is.).
He brags and brags how the bible influenced society, governments, history, etc. Well, of course it has! Well, since the 4th century, believers have been told that it is the WORD OF GOD (thunder, please). When people believe it is the word of god, they tend to let themselves be influenced by it. What's so amazing about that? Furthermore, how does that prove anything about the authenticity of the bible?
Is the rest of the book going to be like this?
Jan
7th
Didn't know it was so easy (conclusion)
By Infidel
Well, I finished the book after all.
I am speechless. At no time did Aling ever really try to validate the bible stories of Joseph, Moses or the exodus. He just took them as fact and moved on. In fact, he went so far as to disallow anything that disputed the bible and went with the bible. I thought about listing my 25 objections, but I think that would be preaching to the choir.
Two things come to mind:
1) This pretty well drives the nail in the coffin for me concerning the bible. I purposely read a book from a believer to see if he would reasonably prove what the bible claims. He didn't even try. In fact, as I have said, he admitted that there is no archeological nor historical data to back up the bible's claims. And this guy has a Phd in Egyptology!
2) This experience shows me the power of belief. I read this same book 25 years ago and accepted every excuse Aling offered. Now I just hang my head in shame that I did so. Did I really just take it all? Yes I did. I refused to listen to REASON! I attributed my doubts to the devil instead of realizing that they were from my BRAIN hollering, "Wake up, stupid! Wake up!"
It's funny, I am a skeptic by nature, but I wasn't here. I accepted the bible without real question. I accepted the lame-ass "proof of the infallibility" of the bible without question. Even though I was skeptical about various claims made by various people, various doctrines taught, etc, I never questioned the entire world-view!
Man, what an eye-opener! The emperor has no clothes. I'm just sorry it took me 30 years to see it.
I am speechless. At no time did Aling ever really try to validate the bible stories of Joseph, Moses or the exodus. He just took them as fact and moved on. In fact, he went so far as to disallow anything that disputed the bible and went with the bible. I thought about listing my 25 objections, but I think that would be preaching to the choir.
Two things come to mind:
1) This pretty well drives the nail in the coffin for me concerning the bible. I purposely read a book from a believer to see if he would reasonably prove what the bible claims. He didn't even try. In fact, as I have said, he admitted that there is no archeological nor historical data to back up the bible's claims. And this guy has a Phd in Egyptology!
2) This experience shows me the power of belief. I read this same book 25 years ago and accepted every excuse Aling offered. Now I just hang my head in shame that I did so. Did I really just take it all? Yes I did. I refused to listen to REASON! I attributed my doubts to the devil instead of realizing that they were from my BRAIN hollering, "Wake up, stupid! Wake up!"
It's funny, I am a skeptic by nature, but I wasn't here. I accepted the bible without real question. I accepted the lame-ass "proof of the infallibility" of the bible without question. Even though I was skeptical about various claims made by various people, various doctrines taught, etc, I never questioned the entire world-view!
Man, what an eye-opener! The emperor has no clothes. I'm just sorry it took me 30 years to see it.
Jan
5th
Didn't know it was so easy (cont.)
By Infidel
I'm not sure I'll finish Aling's book Egypt and Bible
History.
I read the first 4 chapters and I'm just dumbfounded. All I have read so far is a survey of pre-biblical history and the Joseph story. Thus far, I have 20+ objections to his arguments (I hesitate to call them arguments for they are really just assertions). Aling doesn't even make a genuine effort to prove his case. He simply states it as if it were fact (I guess I was right the other day) and goes about validating it. In every instance where there is a question of biblical accuracy, he manages (he thinks) to explain it away.
I've been keeping a journal of my notes and objections, but I am tired of not being able to read a single page of his book without having to stop to write something down.
Is the rest of the bible this false? Is it really this easy (if the village idiot can do it, anyone can!) to disprove the bible?
I have to share something from the last chapter I read.
I had never realized that there was a contradiction in the bible concerning how long the Israelites were in Egypt. I had always thought 430 years. Aling himself brings up the fact that the bible contradicts itself (although he doesn't call it that. We're just reading it wrong!) by pointing out that based on Galatians 3, the law was given 430 years after the promise was made to Abraham in Genesis 12. Since it was 215 years from Abraham's time to the time Jacob went into Egypt, then the longest the Israelites could have been in Egypt is 215 years to make the 430 years of Galations 3. BUT Exodus 12 says that they were in Egypt 430 years.
Who to believe? Was the law given 430 years after the promise to Abraham or were the Israelites actually in Egypt for 430 years? One way they were in Egypt 215 years, the other, it was 645 years from the giving of the promise until the law.
Does this bother Aling? Not in the least. You see the promise was to Abraham's seed. So, if we count from Abraham's seed (Jacob), we find that we can correct our obvious misunderstanding!
Problem solved. NEXT!
I just sat there thinking, "No he didn't." But, yes he did. If this had been the only discrepancy, I might be willing to give him a pass on this. But after the 20th objection, passes are a thing of the past.
I'm curious about how he adresses Moses, so I'll probably at least read the next couple of chapters.
I'll keep you posted!
I read the first 4 chapters and I'm just dumbfounded. All I have read so far is a survey of pre-biblical history and the Joseph story. Thus far, I have 20+ objections to his arguments (I hesitate to call them arguments for they are really just assertions). Aling doesn't even make a genuine effort to prove his case. He simply states it as if it were fact (I guess I was right the other day) and goes about validating it. In every instance where there is a question of biblical accuracy, he manages (he thinks) to explain it away.
I've been keeping a journal of my notes and objections, but I am tired of not being able to read a single page of his book without having to stop to write something down.
Is the rest of the bible this false? Is it really this easy (if the village idiot can do it, anyone can!) to disprove the bible?
I have to share something from the last chapter I read.
I had never realized that there was a contradiction in the bible concerning how long the Israelites were in Egypt. I had always thought 430 years. Aling himself brings up the fact that the bible contradicts itself (although he doesn't call it that. We're just reading it wrong!) by pointing out that based on Galatians 3, the law was given 430 years after the promise was made to Abraham in Genesis 12. Since it was 215 years from Abraham's time to the time Jacob went into Egypt, then the longest the Israelites could have been in Egypt is 215 years to make the 430 years of Galations 3. BUT Exodus 12 says that they were in Egypt 430 years.
Who to believe? Was the law given 430 years after the promise to Abraham or were the Israelites actually in Egypt for 430 years? One way they were in Egypt 215 years, the other, it was 645 years from the giving of the promise until the law.
Does this bother Aling? Not in the least. You see the promise was to Abraham's seed. So, if we count from Abraham's seed (Jacob), we find that we can correct our obvious misunderstanding!
Problem solved. NEXT!
I just sat there thinking, "No he didn't." But, yes he did. If this had been the only discrepancy, I might be willing to give him a pass on this. But after the 20th objection, passes are a thing of the past.
I'm curious about how he adresses Moses, so I'll probably at least read the next couple of chapters.
I'll keep you posted!
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