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Author Topic:   A Problem With the Literal Interpretation of Scripture
vimesey
Member
Posts: 1398
From: Birmingham, England
Joined: 09-21-2011


Message 105 of 304 (645887)
12-31-2011 3:37 AM
Reply to: Message 104 by GDR
12-30-2011 11:10 AM


A thought
Hi guys,
I hope you don't mind me weighing in to this. I am at best an agnostic, and have no faith which would be recognised as such by a Christian, and I hope that that doesn't make me too presumptuous.
What I find difficult is that because DB sees the Bible as the inerrant word of God, (s)he views faith in God and faith in the Bible as one and the same thing - a single Faith, with a capital F. Consequently, when a Christian with faith in God questions the literal (or indeed the non-literal) accuracy of elements of the Bible, they are told that they have no Faith.
Quite clearly this must be a provocative statement to any Christian, and I think that it moves the debate away from a robust and healthy discussion, into something much more personal and perhaps wounding.
What GDR has been asking you to state, for some time DB, is whether you acknowledge and agree that your Faith is in a God who, whilst He is loving, gentle and kind, is also one who commits and orders genocide, and orders someone stoned to death for picking up wood on a Sunday ? Is that your Faith ?
(Please note - I don't object if that is your Faith, but I would like to know if it is).

This message is a reply to:
 Message 104 by GDR, posted 12-30-2011 11:10 AM GDR has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 106 by Chuck77, posted 12-31-2011 3:51 AM vimesey has replied

  
vimesey
Member
Posts: 1398
From: Birmingham, England
Joined: 09-21-2011


Message 107 of 304 (645889)
12-31-2011 4:14 AM
Reply to: Message 106 by Chuck77
12-31-2011 3:51 AM


Re: A thought
You can characterise it as a loaded question if you wish, but it would help me to understand more fully what is the faith of someone who believes the Bible is inerrant.
I think that is is safe to say that the majority of modern views of morality (of whatever basis) would see it as immoral to stone somebody to death for any crime (much less picking up wood on a Sunday). What I want to know is whether it is ackowledged and agreed by DB that his Faith is in a God who orders that.
If it is, then I can come to a better understanding of Faith in the inerrancy of the Bible. And likewise, if it isn't I will still come to that better understanding.
DB has said that it is not open for a Christian to pick and choose what is true and what is not true in the Bible. I am therefore repeating the request that has been made to DB to confirm his/her belief in one of the more difficult passages.
If the question is loaded, DB put the bullet in the gun.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 106 by Chuck77, posted 12-31-2011 3:51 AM Chuck77 has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 108 by Chuck77, posted 12-31-2011 4:25 AM vimesey has replied
 Message 112 by Dawn Bertot, posted 12-31-2011 6:10 PM vimesey has not replied
 Message 124 by foreveryoung, posted 01-03-2012 7:59 PM vimesey has not replied

  
vimesey
Member
Posts: 1398
From: Birmingham, England
Joined: 09-21-2011


Message 109 of 304 (645891)
12-31-2011 4:54 AM
Reply to: Message 108 by Chuck77
12-31-2011 4:25 AM


Re: A thought
Ah right - my apologies Chuck77.
That is correct - I do not believe in the God of the Bible.
I do not dismiss the idea that there is some form deeper meaning to existence than random chance, but to characterise that as some form of belief or faith on my part would be very wrong.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 108 by Chuck77, posted 12-31-2011 4:25 AM Chuck77 has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 110 by Chuck77, posted 12-31-2011 6:31 AM vimesey has not replied

  
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