I've always thought making a big deal out of the pi=3 thing as being pretty bogus. While it would have been impressive if the Bible had used 3.1 or 3.14 etc., 3 is a pretty workable approximation (and yes, I came up with "pretty workable approximation" prior to re-tracking down the following).
From
http://fundiesvatheists.lefora.com/2009/01/14/arguments-about-...:
quote:
“YOUR Bible says that pi is equal to 3. How could they be so wrong! Obviously they were mistaken.” (This is one SlappyKinkade particularly dislikes)
Wanting the Bible to have a value of 3.14159 etc for pi again commits the error of granting the Bible status as a science text which ought to be precisely accurate. However, if you were building the sorts of things that were built in those days, 3 is a pretty workable approximation of the value of pi, which would allow you, for example, to calculate quickly the number of bricks to use in building the foundation level of a well head or other round structure. Incidentally, the Bible does not refer to this measurement as a constant, but mentions a round object with a breadith of 10 cubits and a line of 30 cubits which could enclose it. Refer back to the Intro 1 for the reason why, in the end, this doesn’t matter anyway.
The cited and quoted site is an outgrowth (abandonment?) of one of the old MSN EvC sites.
The above cited also covers “Well, YOUR Bible says that rabbits chew their cud?”, “YOUR Bible says bats are birds!!”, "Your Bible states that Whales and Birds were created before the land animals from whom they descend" (wrong). They file all these under "Arguments about the accuracy of the Bible that we should not make".
Moose
Professor, geology, Whatsamatta U
Evolution - Changes in the environment, caused by the interactions of the components of the environment.
"Do not meddle in the affairs of cats, for they are subtle and will piss on your computer." - Bruce Graham
"The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness." - John Kenneth Galbraith
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"I know a little about a lot of things, and a lot about a few things, but I'm highly ignorant about everything." - Moose