“In like manner, if I let myself believe anything on insufficient evidence, there may be no great harm done by the mere belief; it may be true after all, or I may never have occasion to exhibit it in outward acts. But I cannot help doing this great wrong towards Man, that I make myself credulous. The danger to society is not merely that it should believe wrong things, though that is great enough; but that it should become credulous, and lose the habit of testing things and inquiring into them; for then it must sink back into savagery.” -William Kingdon Clifford, The Ethics of Belief (1877)
I present to you a challenge: demonstrate the power of prayer.
The Bible is clear: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Matt 7:7-8)
And: Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matt 18:19-20)
And again: For with God nothing shall be impossible. (Luke 1:37)
There are a host of Biblical assertions that a Christian can expect his or her prayers to be answered. So I ask you to demonstrate the truth of these statements. Can God answer your prayers? Can His answer be seen and verified?
I would like you who are Christians to choose a topic for the prayer. Please choose a prayer that is:
- Specific
- Verifiable
- Not a normal or expected occurrence
I would also like you to choose a reasonable time frame in which the prayer will be answered. I think we all may tend to lose interest or become forgetful if the target deadline is more than ten or twelve months in the future.
When several topic suggestions have been presented, I will give a chance for you who are Christians to choose by vote the one prayer that you will all pray. I will ask each of you to commit to pray for the selected topic as regularly as you see fit, and then we will wait for the result.
To avoid the possibility of manipulation, I suggest that we choose a public figure, location, or event to be a key component of the prayer, and that each participant pledge to limit his or her involvement to prayer.
Will you accept this simple challenge? Can you demonstrate the power of God through prayer?
Before engaging in a debate with an educated or intellectual opponent, there are a few questions you should consider asking:
1. Is knowledge accessible to someone without his degree/level of education?
2. Is knowledge accessible to persons of other faith or to persons of no faith? (If the opponent is religious.)
3. What would cause him to change his mind about his beliefs or ideas?
The answers to these questions will help you to know if discussion will be productive. If the answer to the first or second question is “no,” conversation will be futile if you do not hold the same title or degree as your opponent. He will attempt to teach you, but will not be open to a meaningful exchange of ideas.
If he does not provide at least one concrete, testable answer to the third question, conversation will be futile. A reasonable person will allow his mind to be changed by facts and truth. An ideologue will maintain his belief in spite of evidence to the contrary.
The third question is equally useful when beginning a dialog with an uneducated opponent. Discussion is meaningless unless each party recognizes the possibility of error and is willing to alter his position to fit the facts.
Finally, you should answer each question above for yourself. Do your answers reveal you to be a seeker of truth or an ideologue?
I owe many of you an apology. Over the last year or so, I have used my Facebook page and this website to attack the Christian faith under the guise of “seeking the truth.” I chose not to be persuaded by reason or facts and instead followed my own sinful desires for freedom and self-governance. I am sorry to those of you for whom my misguided ideas have been a stumbling block.
Things have been going badly with my family for the last couple of years. The children are not minding as they once did, and have been in poor health. My relationship to my wife has become strained almost to the point of breaking. I finally came to the realization last night that the source of all of these problems is me: I rejected my savior, Jesus Christ, and chose to follow my own selfish ways. In so doing, I brought great harm on my family.
I want to let each of you know that as of last night, I have rededicated my life to Jesus and I am ready to follow him. I am thankful for each of you that did not cease to pray for us during this time. God heard your prayers, and has worked a miracle in my heart and in my family.
I recognize now that all of the research and study that I have done have been in vain. There is no understanding apart from Jesus, and all the facts in the world cannot change the truth that the Bible is his Word and that he is Lord of all.
For those of you who have not yet given your hearts to Jesus, I ask you to turn to him today. He is waiting with open arms to receive you and to forgive your sins. Don’t be rebellious as I once was; it will only cause you pain. God will pursue you until you give in, or until you die and go to hell. He loves you. Trust him today!
In a continuing quest for the truth I have spent a great deal of time over the last several months discussing Biblical contradictions with Christians. During our conversations, the Biblical defenders adopt one of three positions. Some refuse to acknowledge that the Bible contains contradictions even when presented with proof. Others acknowledge contradictory passages as problematic and attempt to provide explanations to reconcile them. A third group acknowledges the contradiction but maintain that they do not affect their belief and are therefore irrelevant. It is this third group and their approach that I wish to examine today.
The Bible contains (at least) three different types of content:
- Statements of fact that can be tested.
- Statements of fact that cannot be tested.
- Statements of doctrine that are to be accepted and believed.
The first type includes historical events such as large-scale population events and the reigns of various kings. These events can be cross-checked using historical and archaeological data. Miracles and supernatural events are the second type of content, statements of fact that cannot be tested. Archaeological data cannot confirm such events, and there are no extant historical accounts that attest their historicity. Finally, statements regarding the existence of heaven and hell, the soul, and the eternal state of man are doctrinal statements that readers are expected to accept at face-value.
Most Biblical contradictions are found in the first category of content. They deal with natural events that can be tested and verified such as genealogies or the reigns of kings. Because these matters are usually unrelated to the bigger matters of faith, some Christians feel that they can be safely dismissed. One such believer put it this way:
“My thought is that we could all spend time going over every word over and over and miss our calling which is to Love God with all our heart soul and mind and love our neighbor as ourselves.” –Amy S., 6/19/09
This approach is flawed because it fails to verify the authenticity of the Bible. It accepts the Bible’s vaunted status as “God’s Word” without subjecting it to the type of reason that we apply to all claims of the supernatural. When we encounter a person claiming the ability to channel the dead or predict the future, we are naturally skeptical. We either reject their claims out-of-hand, or demand proof. By nature of the Bible’s claim to be the Word of God, it is reasonable to expect it to prove itself in the mundane matters of history. It is only by proving of the historical accuracy of the Bible that Christians are confident in its doctrinal predictions for the future.
Let me say that again: The only way a Christian can expect the Bible to be right about the future is by knowing it is right about the past.
It is for this reason that Biblical contradictions matter. Since the Bible has internal errors regarding matters of historicity, it cannot be regarded as authoritative in its future predictions. By choosing to ignore such problems, many Christians are trusting a house that lacks a firm foundation.
This post will provide a list of books that helped me remove the blinders of Christian fundamentalism and accept a more realistic view of the Bible.
The Bible
Preachers have often said that the Bible is its own best commentary, and I agree. I began to question my faith when I found unanswerable contradictions in the pages of the Bible itself. You can find the contradictions in many places, including:
- Matthew 1
- II Kings 8:25-26 vs. II Chronicles 22:1-2
- Matthew 10:10 vs. Mark 6:9
- I Chronicles 21:11-12 vs. II Samuel 24:13
- I Samuel 8:4 vs. I Chronicles 18:4
- Ezra 2:65 vs. Nehemiah 7:67
- Mark 14:12-Mark 15:25 vs. John 19:14-16
- Matthew 27:6-9 vs. Zechariah 11:12
Available at http://www.blueletterbible.org
How to Read the Bible
Author: James Kugel
This book explains the two primary methods of Biblical interpretation, and reveals how (and why) modern conservative Christians choose the wrong one. A great guide to understanding the minds and methods of the people who created and preserved the Bible.
Available at Amazon.com and Google Books
What Did the Bible Writers Know, and When Did They Know It
Author: William G. Dever
This book is heavy reading, but the result is worth the effort. Dever is a world-renowned archaeologist, and has been conducting digs in Palestine for many decades. His insights into the physical world of ancient Israel help to put the Biblical story in context.
Available at Amazon.com
Misquoting Jesus
Author: Bart D. Ehrman
The book’s subtitle says everything you need to know: “The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why.” This is a must-read book for those who want to know if the Bible is the preserved word of God.
Available at Amazon.com and Google Books
Biblical Archaeology Review
Publisher: Biblical Archaeology Society
BAR is a bi-monthly magazine written by archaeologist and scholars which attempts to “bring the ancient world to life.” The publication provides current information on the findings of modern archaeology and examines those findings against a background of scripture.
Available at http://www.bib-arch.org
A More Sure Word
Author: R. B. Ouellette
When I first began to discuss the Biblical contradictions with Bible believers, Pastor Jim Talbert of Derby, Kansas recommended this book to me. He said that I would find the answers to many Biblical contradictions within its pages. I purchased and read the book, and found that it contained not a single reference or answer to any Biblical contradiction. It did, however, help to reveal the mindset of the fundamentalist defenders of the faith.
The book is primarily a defense of the KJV-only position. The author writes: “The position of this book is simple: The King James Bible is the right translation for English-speaking Christians to use because it is a literal translation of the correct and pure Greek and Hebrew texts.”
Then, on the same page, he makes this stunning statement: “I must plead guilty to circular reasoning. My position on the Bible did not start with manuscript evidence, study of books written on the translation issue, or other scholarly offerings. It started with the Word of God.” (By which he means the King James version of the Bible.) He goes on to say: “I want a Bible that is available and trustworthy. I do not have the access nor the time to compare thousands of manuscripts to determine God’s Word. For that matter, neither does the rest of Christendom!”
These statements are eye-opening to me. R.B. Ouellette wrote an entire book dedicated to proving that the King James translation is better than the other English translations, but did not take the time to actually study any of the manuscripts on which the controversy is based. He clearly does not need facts to support his position. By using circular reasoning, his thinking can lead him to only one place: his original starting point. Finding the truth is not his primary goal; his focus is on defending his own position. I have found that this type of reasoning is commonly used by those who defend the accuracy of the Bible.
Available at: Amazon.com and Striving Together Publications
There are many, many more books that have been helpful to me. This list will provide a good starting point, and I will be happy to make specific recommendations if you need something different.
Joram had two sons, and both were named Ahaziah.
The two Ahaziahs had some pretty remarkable parallels in their lives. They were both crowned king when their father Joram died. Both were terrible kings, following in the footsteps of their most villainous predecessor.
Both Ahaziahs were close friends and allies of a neighboring king who we will call Joram II. Both went into battle with Joram II against a foreign king named Hazael. In each case, Joram II was fatally wounded in the battle, and went home to die. Both Ahaziahs went separately to see Joram I, and unexpectedly, both Ahaziahs were murdered during the visit. Even more shocking: They were both murdered by a man named Jehu.
In all the parallels between the two Ahaziahs, there is only one recorded difference between the two: One Ahaziah assumed the throne when he was 22 years old, and the other when he was 42 years old.
Same father. Same mother. Same name. Same throne. Same friend. Same battle. Same death. Yet two different people.
Make sense so far?
You see, the elements of this story are found in the Bible. In fact, the same story is told twice, in two different places. One account, in II Kings 8, describes the Ahaziah that began to reign when he was 22 years old. The other account, in II Chronicles 22, describes exactly the same story, with the exception that Ahaziah began to reign when he was 42 years old.
You may read the accounts and think that the Bible was describing the same Ahaziah, and that a simple mistake was made in his age (22 versus 42). In fact, the Bible itself gives no indication that there were two separate Ahaziahs. However, for a fundamentalist Christian, Biblical mistakes are an impossibility. Therefore, they are required to invent a story like the one above to explain away this obvious error. This story was given to me, in fact, by one such Christian. It makes far more sense for him that “Joram had two sons named Ahaziah” than to assume that his sacred book may have a minor typographical error.
As long as he applies this sort of nonsensical approach to the Bible, a believer will always feel secure in his belief. If, however, he decides to subject his belief to the type of reasonable analysis that is required in the rest of his life, perhaps he will begin to understand the error of his belief.
Over the past few years I have been involved in many discussions with Christians, many of whom at one time considered me a brother. As we discussed the path I have taken and as I presented my questions to them, one phrase was uttered again and again:
“You think too much.”
They feel that I have arrived at my present state of non-belief as a direct result of over-thinking the situation. They imply that if I would just think less and believe more, all the problems with the faith would go away.
Apparently, Christianity is best swallowed with as little thinking as possible.
Too much thinking and studying tends to reveal the “rough edges” of the system. Many Christians, when presented with evidence that would tend to prove their belief wrong, are content to ignore the facts and press on with a smile. In many of my conversations, I have come away with an overwhelming sensation that Christians tend to hold to the oft-clichéd position: “Don’t bother me with the facts; my mind is made up.”
I have collected some of the quotes I received, and I present them below for your consideration.
Learning can be harmful to your belief
“Once people decided they don’t need God and separate themselves from Him, that’s when people die. Learning has nothing to do with it.” Darveiye Flemming, 2/17/10
“In all of that reading and studying, you have become belligerent against the God who loves and saved you.” Heidi Drahos, 2/17/20
The facts are not very important
“In all honesty I wonder if God doesn’t allow a lot of these apparent numerical contradictions, just to see if we are willing to be obedient to him.” Bekah Keppel, 9/29/09
“I don’t think you have a problem with seven or three, I think you have a problem trusting God.” Bekah Keppel, 9/29/09, responding to an apparent contradiction between II Samuel 24 and I Chronicles 21.
“And if you have logical arguments based on human reason or science. Save them.” Darveiye Flemming, 2/16/10
“You have the idea God and the Bible just don’t line up with logic. Which is true.” Darveiye Flemming, 2/17/10
Non-believers wouldn’t understand
“As we well know, there is no understanding apart from Christ.” Lynn Snyder Capshaw, 2/17/10
If all else fails
“I must plead guilty to circular reasoning.” R.B. Ouillette, A More Sure Word
“You accuse me of circular reasoning – I confess. I believe God.” Pastor Jim Talbert, 9/23/09
The only thing I can conclude is that Christianity is not about truth, it’s about believing. “Just believe” they say, and the truth will be revealed to you. I say find the truth and don’t let your beliefs stand in the way.
This evening my daughter Kindness called to me from her bed, as she does on occasion: “Daddy, I’m scared.”
“What are you scared of?” I asked.
“Monsters,” she responded.
After consoling her and reminding her that there are no monsters, I took time to consider her fear. For her, the monsters are real. She can hear them. She can sense when they are close. In her mind, the monsters manifest themselves in very real ways.
Recalling my childhood fears of monsters and ghosts, I pondered the reason that those fears, which seemed so real at the time, are now gone. How could a strong and sincere understanding of such things be discarded?
As a child, I was required to take a lot on faith. I trusted that my dad would keep me from falling while I learned to ride a bike. I trusted that my mom was right when she said “Eat your beans. They’re good for you.” I trusted that the bus would take me home after school, that the earth was round, and that long division really would be useful someday.
I also trusted my friends who told ghost stories. I trusted my books that described monsters and goblins. I trusted the TV when it displayed vampires and werewolves. Since I lacked experience and knowledge of these matters, I believed.
Now I am grown. I can ride a bicycle without falling. I can see the consequence of eating more donuts than green beans. I can drive my car to my home, use a telescope to study the stars, and do my own taxes.
I have never seen a ghost or a vampire, and I know enough about the properties of the universe to recognize that they cannot exist. I know there are no monsters hiding in the shadows. I know these things because I have experienced life. I no longer need to accept such things on faith. True things can be experienced and accepted, and false things can be rejected.
In short, I have grown up. In time my daughter will grow up, and she will no longer believe in monsters. I look forward to that day, for her sake.
“If you were to ask how you might by rational discussion convince a committed fundamentalist of errors in his beliefs the answer would have to be that it is probably not possible. Any questioning of any detail of his dogma is an attack on God, on his sect, and on him personally. Show him blatantly obvious errors in the Bible and he will assume that a complete explanation exists; show him a conflict with observed fact and he will assume that the observations are in error, show him that a different interpretation of something is more logical, or better supported by facts, and he will just assume that you are wrong. If you urge him to check the facts out for himself he will say that there is no need, the Bible tells him the truth. The armour of dogma (which he will call faith) is impervious to fact or reason.”
Faith is belief in an idea when little or no evidence exists. Dogma is a belief held in spite of evidence. Which do you hold?
Reference:
http://www.users.bigpond.com/wyndkelm/Fundamentalism.html