Sunstarr,
Analogy would lead me one step further, namely, to the belief that all animals and plants have descended from some one prototype. But analogy may be a deceitful guide. Nevertheless all living things have much in common, in their chemical composition, their germinal vesicles, their cellular structure, and their laws of growth and reproduction. We see this even in so trifling a circumstance as that the same poison often similarly affects plants and animals; or that the poison secreted by the gall-fly produces monstrous growths on the wild rose or oak-tree. Therefore I should infer from analogy that probably all the organic beings which have ever lived on this earth have descended from some one primordial form, into which life was first breathed. - Charles Darwin
Sounds like Rod Serling to me. How many absurdities are required to change ones mind?
Im not sure how finding fault with Darwins work, is going to prove the Bible is true. Disbelief in the Bible does not require belief in evolution. Point out as many absurdities as you want, Darwin's work is not considered inspired.
Now back to the inspired absurdities.
12
Then spoke Joshua to Jehovah in the day when Jehovah gave up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand still upon Gibeon; And thou, moon, in the valley of Ajalon!
13
And the sun stood still, and the moon remained where it was, until the nation had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? And the sun remained standing in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a full day.
14
And there was no day like that before it or after it, that Jehovah hearkened to the voice of a man; for Jehovah fought for Israel.
Josh 10:12-14 (Darby's)
Absurd! Why didn't Jehovah just kill the Amorites? He certainly didn't have a problem killing the Sodomites. Maybe the God who created everything out of nothing, felt like doing things the hard way. He stopped or slowed down the rotation of the earth for 24 hours just so his beloved Israelites could slaughter the Amorites. Besides, this would help reinforce the idea that the sun revolved around the earth.
Abimelech lusts after an old woman.
1
And Abraham departed thence towards the south country, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned at Gerar.
2
And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister. And Abimelech the king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
Gen 20:1-2 (Darby's)
How old was Sarah? Read what was previously written concerning Sarah's age:
10
And he said, I will certainly return to thee at this time of the year, and behold, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah was listening at the tent-door, which was behind him.
11
Now Abraham and Sarah were old and advanced in age: it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
12
And Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am become old, shall I have pleasure, and my lord old?
13
And Jehovah said to Abraham, Why is this, that Sarah laughs, saying, Shall I indeed bear, when I am become old?
14
Is any matter too wonderful for Jehovah? At the time appointed I will return to thee, at this time of the year, and Sarah shall have a son.
Gen 18:10-15 (Darby's)
Of course Abraham knew what he was doing, because he had already used this trick before.
10
And there was a famine in the land. And Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was grievous in the land.
11
And it came to pass when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a woman fair to look upon.
12
And it will come to pass when the Egyptians see thee, that they will say, She is his wife; and they will slay me, and save thee alive.
13
Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister, that it may be well with me on thy account, and my soul may live because of thee.
14
And it came to pass when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
15
And the princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.
16
And he treated Abram well on her account; and he had sheep, and oxen, and he-asses, and bondmen, and bondwomen, and she-asses, and camels.
17
And Jehovah plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.
18
And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this thou hast done to me? Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?
19
Why didst thou say, She is my sister, so that I took her as my wife. And now, behold, there is thy wife: take her, and go away.
20
And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him, and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.
Gen 12:10-20 (Darby's)
Abimelech must be really stupid or really hard up. Abraham's son pulls the same trick on him.
6
And Isaac dwelt at Gerar.
7
And the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, She is my sister; for he feared to say, my wife, saying to himself, Lest the men of the place slay me on account of Rebecca--because she was fair in countenance.
8
And it came to pass when he had been there some time, that Abimelech the king of the Philistines looked out of the window, and saw, and behold, Isaac was dallying with Rebecca his wife.
9
Then Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, she is certainly thy wife; and how saidst thou, She is my sister? and Isaac said to him, Because I said, Lest I die on account of her.
10
And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done to us? But a little and one of the people might have lain with thy wife, and thou wouldest have brought a trespass on us.
11
And Abimelech charged all the people, saying, He that touches this man or his wife shall certainly be put to death.
Gen 26:6-11 (Darby's)
Absurd, or maybe Dittography is the proper term for this and the following narratives.
Lot says, "Have sex with my two virgin daughters, but don't mess with these men."
I'm Glad I'm not one of his kids.
1 And the two angels came to Sodom at even. And Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. And Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them; and he bowed down, the face toward the ground, 2 and he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and lodge, and wash your feet; and ye shall rise up early, and go on your way. And they said, No; but we will pass the night in the open place. 3 And he urged them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house. And he made them a repast, and baked unleavened cakes; and they ate. 4 Before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, from the youngest to the oldest--all the people from every quarter. 5 And they called to Lot, and said to him, Where are the men that have come in to thee to-night? bring them out to us that we may know them. 6 And Lot went out to them to the entrance, and shut the door after him, 7 and said, I pray you, my brethren, do not wickedly! 8 Behold now, I have two daughters who have not known a man: let me now bring them out to you; and do to them as is good in your sight: only, to these men do nothing; for therefore have they come under the shadow of my roof. 9 And they said, Back there! And they said again, This one came to sojourn, and he must be a judge? Now we will deal worse with thee than with them. And they pressed hard on the man--on Lot; and drew near to break the door. 10 And the men stretched out their hand, and brought Lot into the house to them, and shut the door. 11 And they smote the men that were at the entrance of the house with blindness, from the smallest to the greatest; and they wearied themselves to find the entrance. Ge n 19:1-11 (Darby's)
This guy must be one of Lots relatives.
Whats with the cutting the concubine into five pieces?
22
They were making their hearts merry, when behold, the men of the city,
sons of Belial, surrounded the house, beating at the door; and they spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thy house, that we may know him.
23
And the man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, No, my brethren, I pray you, do not wickedly; seeing that this man is come into my house, do not this villany.
24
Behold, my daughter, who is a virgin, and his concubine; let me bring them out, and humble ye them, and do to them as is good in your sight; but to this man do not so vile a thing.
25
But the men would not hearken to him; and the man took his concubine, and brought her forth to them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning; and let her go when the morning-dawn arose.
26
And the woman came at the dawning of the day, and fell down at the entrance of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.
27
And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the door of the house, and went out to go his way, and behold, there lay the woman his concubine at the entrance of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.
28
And he said to her, Up, and let us go; but no one answered. And he took her upon the ass; and the man rose up, and went to his place.
29
And when he was come into his house, he took the knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, according to her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the borders of Israel.
30
And it came to pass that every one that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came out of Egypt to this day. Think it over, advise, and speak.
Judges 19:22-30 (Darby's)
I could go on with the impossibilities of a worldwide flood, the problems with the authorship of the Pentateuch and the issues of the synoptic gospels, but this will do for now.
I once considered myself a Christian. I had always known that there were a few problems with the Bible but I didn't worry about it. The only reasonable explanation was that there was a God and the Bible was his inspired word. It was not until encountering the Witnesses and their messed up theology that I embarked upon an extensive study of the Bible. My intent was not to become an Atheist, but to find out what was really taught in the Bible. Fortunately I never bought into the Witnesses' twisted logic. But along the way my research began to reveal that there were more and more problems with the Word of God. These problems along with alternate explanations of how the Bible could have developed naturally as a work of man reached a point of critical mass. After months of denial I had to accept the fact, that for 30 years I had mistakenly believed what was forced upon me as a child. I did not want to give up the hope of an afterlife or the idea that there is a God and a purpose to this life. I did not want to be labeled with the term Atheist in a society that thinks that Atheists are idiots. I liked the feeling of fellowship and the thought that I was pleasing a higher power with my actions. I'm torn apart when my mom suggests that I should go to church, not because I fear God or feel guilt, but because I know that she has believed in God for 65 years and I have no right to cause her to doubt her beliefs. I had absolutely no intention of becoming an Atheist. But, I honestly cannot ignore the years of research that have brought me to this point. I really see no need to debate with the average Christian concerning their beliefs. If they are happy and religion is not overwhelming their lives then I will respect their beliefs. I will occasionally debate with Christians but only when they are willing to do so, or when it is obvious that they would be much better off without their religion (e.g. Witnesses).
I also will admit that I definitely do not know everything. I've been wrong before, so I could be wrong now. Do your best to convince me that I've missed something. I would really like to believe in an afterlife again.
pseudo
Edited by - pseudoxristos on 8 December 2002 6:39:36
