Does the Bible Contradict Itself?

[spockrates]

The census would likely have taken several years to complete. Why could it not have taken place during the reign of both governors--beginning with one and ending with the other?

What's your basis for saying that it would have taken over ten years? Bearing in mind that ten years is the absolute MINIMUM amount of time, if it started just as Herod was about to cark it and ended just as Quirinus came into office.

This strikes at the heart of why people have been reluctant to participate in your thread. You're given an example and instead of thinking about it as a problem, you stick with your original position no matter what and try to find ways to shoehorn it any way you can, making unsupported assertions along the way.

It would take much time to have everyone in ancient Palestine (men and women) journey to the village or city in which their ancestors were born. The ancient world moved by a slower clock than our world does. We would need some documentation indicating when the census began and when it ended, or some indication of how long each person had to comply. It might have taken place in stages--one tribe of Israel every few years, or one area every few years. Making everyone move at the same time would stop the economy (and taxes paid to Rome). It would defeat the purpose of doing a census--which was to increase the money coming from the Roman occupied territory.

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Let's try a simple one. Who begat Salah?

Please be more specific.