The "Circle of the Earth"

arachnophilia,I think you're taking passage 40:22 to literal. The points to ch.40 are listed below:Let the people know the fight is over.
Let the people know the Lord is coming.
Exalting the Lord.Edited by trossthree, : errorEdited by trossthree, : correction

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trossthree

Chiroptera,I always find it hilarious when a Bible literalist uses passages from the Bible to prove absurd points, like Isaiah's understanding of the universe. It is my belief that the spirit/s took billions of years, if not longer, just to reveal some information on how things came to be. It is very possible Isaiah had little to no understanding of the universe. In anycase Isaiah's understanding of the universe is irrelavant because it does not support or deny that he was a prophet of God. However, we are all entitled to our own beliefs. I only ask that people be more willing to bend what they believe instead of always being so absolute on topics like EVC. Things of the spirit and of natural Science are not in any reality absolute untill the end.Edited by trossthree, : errEdited by trossthree, : No reason given.

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trossthree

that's not the first time i've been accused of being overliteral.the thing is, we cannot simply make the text say whatever we want it to. we have to start with what it says on the page, and the meaning comes from that. this particular verse is a very common theme in the prophets: the power of god, and god as a protector. look at the earlier verse too, for context, if you like. this one sums it up well:

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Even as a shepherd that feedeth his flock, that gathereth the lambs in his arm, and carrieth them in his bosom, and gently leadeth those that give suck

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Isaiah 40:11

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but we can learn other things from the imagery used. and we can argue against inappropriate interpretations or misrepresentations of that imagery, quotemined to serve an ulterior purpose. using this verse to back up the accuracy of the bible is an inappropriate use. not only does not support that, but the usage doesn't actually make much sense.the intent of the verse relies upon the imagery of the flat earth, with the dome of the heavens, and god watching over all. it relies on the imagery of the tabernacle in the wilderness. by changing around the literal qualities of the text, one can rob it of its meaning and significance, trading in a powerful message for a consolation prize of a little supposed accuracy that doesn't even make sense in the verse.all meaning and symbolism must be drawn from what the text literally says, first and foremost. all exegesis (midrash) is founded on the simple meaning of the text (pshat).

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arachnophilia,I am not sure exactly what we are arguing. Are we arguing over what the verse says? or is translated to say? or are we arguing over Isaiah's understanding of the universe? or the earth?Edited by trossthree, : er

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trossthree

before you editted it out: personally, i don't think belief should have any impact on how the text is read. i am a person of faith, but i do frequently argue against fundamentalism. specifically of their mistreatment of the bible. well, this thread is in reply to people who insist that this verse indicates that isaiah had a correct (supernatural) understanding of the universe, and the shape of the earth. he very plainly did not.

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arachnophilia,I removed the comment because it was irrelavant to the topic we are discussing. Now, I will agree that if we take verse 40:22 out of context that we can learn that Isaiah's understanding of the universe seems to be different then our own(if the translations are correct).Edited by trossthree, : spell erEdited by trossthree, : another correctionEdited by trossthree, : No reason given.

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trossthree

then we agree. the whole is made from the sum of the parts. in this case, the particular misunderstanding of the universe is actually a very important image and concept in this verse, and works into the whole context of the chapter.

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arachnophilia,

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the whole is made from the sum of the parts.

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I agree.

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in this case, the particular misunderstanding of the universe is actually a very important image and concept in this verse, and works into the whole context of the chapter.

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However, I disagree with this.

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trossthree

i think the details matter. all of the details.the kind of image that isaiah wishes to portray -- god literally watching and towering over everyone, and god forming the heavens like a protective tend similar to his own house of worship -- aren't particularly as salient if we fudge the details to make it describe a round planet without a solid division just outside our own atmosphere. the cosmology is important to the image isaiah is trying to paint.

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bump....Edited by trossthree, : errEdited by trossthree, : error

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trossthree

i think i elaborated on that fairly well above?

bump..Edited by trossthree, : correction

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trossthree

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trossthree, for technical reasons (and because it seems to be a good idea) we close threads off at 300 posts.Please do not waste those with contentless posts. They should all be thought out and contribute to the discussion. (well mostly).