quote:
and the reason i asked you about jumping back and forth or ...how did you say it "performing these intellectual calisthenics" is because you did it..
When did I do this? Let's recall your original question:
"why is it that christians jump back and forth between interpreting the bible literaly,symbolic,and metaphysical to dispell the accusation of it being contradictory?"
Now, interestingly, you have removed the latter clause and replaced it with an ellipsis. Perhaps I should complain about intellectual dishonesty?
Interesting, too, that you should think I am seeking to
dispell the accusation of [the Bible] being contradictory when I specifically say
I am perfectly comfortable that the Bible contains contradictions.
Are you perhaps a tad confused?
quote:
but thanks for answering my question about jesus being cruxified...
i only wanted you to tell me that you took the act in the literal sense so i could pin you down...
An unfortunate turn of phrase under the circumstances, don't you think?
quote:
acts chapter 5 verse 30...it says that he was hanged from a tree. (no contexual,symbolic,or metaphysical meanings to hide behind...only the literal) it is two different accounts of how jesus died..and yes...i have reached an conclusion that this is a contrdiction...
With what is this a contradiction? I answered your question about Jesus being nailed to a cross. Are you saying that Acts 5:30 contradicts the wording of your own question? My, isn't that the break through in Biblical scholarship!
As an aside, you may be interested to know that "hanging from a tree" was a common description of crucifixion in the Roman world. The cross taking over the role of the "arbor infelix" was itself referred to, by Seneca for example, as "infelix lignum." And, indeed, the cross itself could be a tree, as described in Tertullian's Apologia. The "cross" being formed from an independent cross-beam (patibulum) carried by the convict to the scene, as Plutarch and Seutonius both describe.
Whatever, I'm sure there are far more glaring contradicitions in the Bible. Why not compare Acts 1:24 (
Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men) with say Deuteronomy 13:3 (
for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul)?
My own favourite is that God changes his mind about having created mankind, and destroys most of the species in a flood - that hardly demonstrates the piercing foresight one expects from an eternal, omniscient being, does it?
Come on, I'm sure you can do better than just a couple of synonyms.
btw, What is your point in all this?
[This message has been edited by Mister Pamboli, 04-03-2003]