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Author Topic:   Why read the Bible literally: take two
arachnophilia
Member (Idle past 1344 days)
Posts: 9069
From: god's waiting room
Joined: 05-21-2004


Message 301 of 306 (247538)
09-30-2005 5:03 AM
Reply to: Message 280 by Steve8
09-29-2005 2:38 PM


a priori
You see, you start with the a priori assumption that a global Flood didn't happen, you see all stories on this as being made up in some way...I, on the other hand, view it as an historical event, which other stories allude to, but which the Bible captures most accurately. We have different starting points, that's all.
you start with a few a priori assumptions too. for instance, the contents of the bible. everyone does it, and it's really hard to ignore sometimes.
for instance, we all know the fruit adam ate in the garden was an apple, we all know moses crossed the red sea on foot, and we all know that noah took exactly two of every animal on his boat. we've heard a lot ABOUT these stories from our own cultural tradition that when we actually read them we forget to actually pay attention and read them for what they say.
i'm not blameless here either -- i've been caught in an assumption or two myself. we all do it.
so here's the question. when the hebrew word for "country" is used to describe what got flooded, what context makes you think it was global? what translators say? what you've heard about the story in church? or something in the text? because i don't see any literal indication in the text.
don't get me wrong, i'd LIKE to read it as global. i just can't totally justify it.

אָרַח

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
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arachnophilia
Member (Idle past 1344 days)
Posts: 9069
From: god's waiting room
Joined: 05-21-2004


Message 302 of 306 (247540)
09-30-2005 5:09 AM
Reply to: Message 294 by ringo
09-29-2005 5:51 PM


Re: Flood
No offense, but it was people like you with the "vengeful God" bit that made me decide that's not the side I'm on.
maybe i'm missing something here, but isn't the flood story the one where god promises NOT to be vengeful? i mean, i don't see how it's possible to think it's about why we should fear a god who says "oops, sorry, i guess that was kind of overkill. i won't do that again."
i mean, i'm sure i can find lots of other instances general "deserved" nastiness...

אָרַח

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
 Message 304 by purpledawn, posted 09-30-2005 7:22 AM arachnophilia has not replied

purpledawn
Member (Idle past 3457 days)
Posts: 4453
From: Indiana
Joined: 04-25-2004


Message 303 of 306 (247569)
09-30-2005 7:06 AM
Reply to: Message 301 by arachnophilia
09-30-2005 5:03 AM


The Process
Steve8 writes:
You see, you start with the a priori assumption that a global Flood didn't happen, you see all stories on this as being made up in some way
I find it fascinating that Steve8 assumes that I start with an assumption that the flood didn't happen. Unfortunately his assumption fails since I grew up in the Christian Church. I accepted it as true. It wasn't until I started studying the Bible that the story lost ground.
quote:
so here's the question. when the hebrew word for "country" is used to describe what got flooded, what context makes you think it was global? what translators say? what you've heard about the story in church? or something in the text? because i don't see any literal indication in the text.
Thank you for comfirming my thoughts that the words didn't really present a global flood.
Good to see you are enjoying your Hebrew classes. I wish I was better with languages.
I'm disappointed that this thread will end before Steve8 actually deals with the process of how he comprehends the flood story.
Take care

"The average man does not know what to do with this life, yet wants another one which lasts forever." --Anatole France

This message is a reply to:
 Message 301 by arachnophilia, posted 09-30-2005 5:03 AM arachnophilia has not replied

purpledawn
Member (Idle past 3457 days)
Posts: 4453
From: Indiana
Joined: 04-25-2004


Message 304 of 306 (247573)
09-30-2005 7:22 AM
Reply to: Message 302 by arachnophilia
09-30-2005 5:09 AM


I Can Take You Out
The flood story reminds me of a Bill Cosby story about his wife or his mother. A comment she made to one of their children.
"I brought you into this world and I can take you out."
I think that sums up the flood story.

"The average man does not know what to do with this life, yet wants another one which lasts forever." --Anatole France

This message is a reply to:
 Message 302 by arachnophilia, posted 09-30-2005 5:09 AM arachnophilia has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 305 by Phat, posted 09-30-2005 9:53 AM purpledawn has not replied

Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 305 of 306 (247624)
09-30-2005 9:53 AM
Reply to: Message 304 by purpledawn
09-30-2005 7:22 AM


Parting Comments...Witching Hour approaches
Thats funny! Anyways, this thread is getting over 300 so we have to shut er down. As Jar would say: WITCHING HOUR FOLK!
Where do we go with a new topic?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 304 by purpledawn, posted 09-30-2005 7:22 AM purpledawn has not replied

AdminJar
Inactive Member


Message 306 of 306 (247671)
09-30-2005 1:28 PM


It's time good people.
Might I suggest that a continuation thread be started to explore this but with only one clear example to be discussed? Perhaps the A&E tale or Flood tale or Biblical cosmology could be the starting point and all discussion limited to that one tale?

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