I still would like an answer to this question.

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If it was a non verbal communication, why take the physical form of a snake? What would be the point to shuch a thing?

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You see, the devil has never tempted me verbaly, but I have never physicaly seen him either.

I meant to add that the audible thing seems like an unnecessary diversion.

Jeff

Jeff, the problem is that we are the ones who have tried to make the Bible a final authority, then we pretend that it is not what it really is; a Jewish history. It tells a story from the perspective of those who wrote it. Some of it is factually correct and some of it is not. This does not take away from its overall usefulness. It certainly is duplicitous to pretend that you take the Bible as it is. There are many parts of the Bible you discount as binding on you. One example is Jesus' story of the rich man and Lazarus. You don't take that as being reflective of reality. You find your way around it.

Darius, your view of inspiration is nothing short of heresy and blasphemy. Please stop wasting our time and space on MSDAOL. Thank you.

MM, you don't know what inspiration is.

Paging Darius A. Lecointe!

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Originally posted by Dave Hoover:

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Originally posted by Dave Hoover:
That's a rather silly thing to say in light of verses like this:

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Most of all, you must understand this: No prophecy in the Scriptures ever comes from the prophet's own interpretation. No prophecy ever came from what a person wanted to say, but people led by the Holy Spirit spoke words from God.
2 Peter 1:20 - 21 NCV

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So, if "The writers of the Bible were wrong on many things," and the scripture never comes from what the authors wanted to say or their own interpretation, that would mean the Holy Spirit led the authors in the wrong way.

I can see why one would be so against religion with an outlook like that. Most confusing.

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I take it you have some extra "insperation" as to what insperation is?

I also take it you have no way of countering the questions I have posted. This conclusion has been reached by observing your normal practice of avoiding and word games

Dave, there are some discussions I don't have with my five year old. His level of sophistication demands it. Your questions are based on a total misinterpretation of the texts you posted so what is the use. I would have to correct those errors first. Given your mindset I see no value in it.

Or, in other words, I have no answers, so I will cop out! Sometimes plain language is more useful! You speak of sophistication and then try to belittle when asked serious questions. Obviously, sophistication is more of an issue for you than most. Seeing how you have never tried to correct the alleged errors that 99% of the users of this forum believe, one must conjecture that you have no real understanding and are just trying to avoid any serious questions. If any misrepresentation has taken place, one would probably conjecture that it takes place in your mind.

Be happy with what makes you happy, Dave. It will be no other way.

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Quote: posted by Darius

Jeff, the problem is that we are the ones who have tried to make the Bible a final authority, then we pretend that it is not what it really is; a Jewish history. It tells a story from the perspective of those who wrote it. Some of it is factually correct and some of it is not. This does not take away from its overall usefulness.

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Darius, so then what is your final authority regarding religion? How then do you find any reason to believe anything in Judeo-Christian based teaching? If you want to believe in a god, you can always go pagan…or, why not just go with a generic Deist. If it’s just Jewish history written by Jews, then it’s not inspired, and not authoritative. Why even believe there was a Jesus at all? If the Bible was just written by people from their own perspective, the miracles and claims of Jesus may have only been their best explanation for their experience.

So if the Bible is just a historical document, albeit a “useful” one, then why do you bother arguing points from it? Why argue from a basis that no one else accepts? Shouldn’t you first try to convince that your basis is true, that the Bible is just Jewish history? Otherwise you waste people’s time with the pretense that both sides at least have the same source in common. In reality your source is not the Bible at all, but your own whim. If you’re right, then of course our source is nothing but a whim either, so we’re both arguing your whim against mine. What a colossal waste of time.

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Quote: posted by Darius

It certainly is duplicitous to pretend that you take the Bible as it is. There are many parts of the Bible you discount as binding on you. One example is Jesus' story of the rich man and Lazarus. You don't take that as being reflective of reality. You find your way around it.

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Since we’ve wasted so much time already though, what’s another few minutes, eh? That I don’t take the parable of the rich man and Lazarus as laying down a doctrine that aims to define the nature of heaven, hell, life and death, does not mean that I don’t take it as binding for anything. The parable’s purpose is not to define life and death, heaven and hell, but in short to demonstrate wrong attitudes through a story that the locals would understand. So, there is no duplicity in the example you gave.

Since we’re talking about duplicity, how is it that the parts of the Bible that are “factual” are only factual when it makes a point that is convenient for you? If you get to pick and choose, why do you accuse others of picking and choosing?

Besides our mutual "duplicity", it seems we have something else in common. I've got a five year old as well.

Jeff

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