The bible

[ExpressLane]

I don't think Jonah actually lived in the belly of a whale or that Noah built a boat that could hold every animal species in the world

More likely, these are stories intended to impart some lesson or wisdom like the rest of the literature of the ancient world, aka Gilgamesh was probably based on a real historical king, but the story was obviously literary in it's intent.

Perhaps there were fish/whale that existed in Jonah's day that do not live in ours. And perhaps animals have become more diverse after the flood?

[ExpressLane]

why?......it would be more logical to believe he never mentioned it because he didn't hear about it.....I expect in those days there were many things that people didn't hear about in other lands........for example, the wise men didn't show up in Jerusalem until three years later......strange way to start your attack on the bible......do you have anything with a little more meat on it than your silly assumptions......

You mean they didn't watch Fox News ?

[Cypress]

Perhaps there were fish/whale that existed in Jonah's day that do not live in ours. And perhaps animals have become more diverse after the flood?

A guess which is not supported by anything in the fossil record or from genetic evidence.

[BartenderElite]

It should also be noted that Bible translations that are with us today come from the medieval church. This is an organization that was corrupt to its core.

The Bible, like other religious tomes, has also been the root cause of an almost incomprehensible amount of violence over the centuries. I believe in God (though don't use that word much, because there are so many connotations). I think the idea that this timeless entity would just be okay w/ that is pretty hard to believe.

It almost reminds me of what people said about Trump - don't take him literally.

[ExpressLane]

It should also be noted that Bible translations that are with us today come from the medieval church. This is an organization that was corrupt to its core.

An all powerful God that is speaking to us by his Word the Bible would protect that Word by making sure it survived. Have you ever wondered why prophesy is written in such cryptic terms. I believe it was to make sure that the message in that prophesy would be passed through the medieval church down to the church at the end of time. I believe had the Medieval Church known what those encrypted scriptures meant they probably would not have survived to be included in the scriptures. Can it be correctly decoded yes it can by using the Bible to provide the answers.

[Cypress]

It should also be noted that Bible translations that are with us today come from the medieval church. This is an organization that was corrupt to its core.

The Bible, like other religious tomes, has also been the root cause of an almost incomprehensible amount of violence over the centuries. I believe in God (though don't use that word much, because there are so many connotations). I think the idea that this timeless entity would just be okay w/ that is pretty hard to believe.

It almost reminds me of what people said about Trump - don't take him literally.

The oldest extant bibles come from late antiquity, fourth and fifth century.

I get the impression that any embellishments added to the New Testament occurred during the first centuries of Christianity in late antiquity, the era of the Church fathers.

There were a lot of corrupt popes and bishops in the Middle Ages, but the scribes who were charged with making hand copies of the bible were seemingly diligent about doing a good job for the most part. By the high Middle Ages it would be hard to sneak some new narrative into the bible without other people finding out about it.

[PostmodernProphet]

It should also be noted that Bible translations that are with us today come from the medieval church. This is an organization that was corrupt to its core.

the truth is, the translations we have TODAY are based on texts that predate medieval translations by as much as 800 years and are much more reliable than they have ever been......

[Melchizedek = Michael]

Agamemnon, Abraham, Gilgamesh were probably real kings or chieftains, but the mythology and stories of Genesis and the rest of the Pentateuch are stories that evolved as a literary device based on centuries of oral tradition.

You don't know that.

[Melchizedek = Michael]

It should also be noted that Bible translations that are with us today come from the medieval church. This is an organization that was corrupt to its core.

The Bible, like other religious tomes, has also been the root cause of an almost incomprehensible amount of violence over the centuries. I believe in God (though don't use that word much, because there are so many connotations). I think the idea that this timeless entity would just be okay w/ that is pretty hard to believe.

It almost reminds me of what people said about Trump - don't take him literally.

Yet another that forgets the Holy Spirit is available to translate.

[Melchizedek = Michael]

the truth is, the translations we have TODAY are based on texts that predate medieval translations by as much as 800 years and are much more reliable than they have ever been......

Non believers think they are Bible experts.

[ExpressLane]

The oldest extant bibles come from late antiquity, fourth and fifth century.

I get the impression that any embellishments added to the New Testament occurred during the first centuries of Christianity in late antiquity, the era of the Church fathers.

There were a lot of corrupt popes and bishops in the Middle Ages, but the scribes who were charged with making hand copies of the bible were seemingly diligent about doing a good job for the most part. By the high Middle Ages it would be hard to sneak some new narrative into the bible without other people finding out about it.

See a problem?

Act 12:4

And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

[saltydancin]

What makes you think I like Islam? I hate all religion.

[QUOTE = America]1. I'm certain I know more about theology than you. In my youth, I was planning to become an Orthodox priest. ] QUOTE

Since it was some 600 - 700 years AD later before Islam chose to write about fabricated human reproduction medical pseudoscience virgin Mary misnomer immaculate son of Allah Jesus the Christ conception it's fairly obvious reasoning.

[Melchizedek = Michael]

See a problem?

Act 12:4

And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

It doesn't say " Easter" it says Passover!

[ExpressLane]

It doesn't say " Easter" it says Passover!

Yep . King James had them interpret it that way. But at least we do have the original language. I tend to look at verses in several different versions.

[ExpressLane]

Does anyone here know the origins of Preterism and Futurism?