(September 25, 2012 at 9:11 pm)treshbond Wrote: I am not disagreeing with you so much as trying to think this through. Isn't there a big difference between translations and copies.
Yes I think it is plain that the Bible is not inerrant or infallible, however is this not the same for all ancient texts? I am merely making a comparison. It is generally not considered irrational to consider other ancient texts as containing accurate and factual records of history and yet in comparison (at least as far as I know) they have not been preserved as well as the Bible.
On the basis of what I know it seems that the Bible is more credible than many give it credit for (except for fundamentalist christians)
If I am in error there I am more than willing to be shown, I am simply trying to be fair and objective.
I was simply saying that the whole 'brainwashing' bit was common knowledge (to atheists, anyway). I can't vouch for the bible's accuracy compared to other ancient texts. Maybe it is more credible, but how much more, and is it still very credible at all? I don't think that everything in the bible is a lie...just the supernatural bits (most of it). Some theists are now interpreting the more ridiculous bible passages as metaphor. I have read on this forum that god 'is a metaphor but also real'. But if god is a metaphor, he doesn't need to be real. I think most take the ressurection literally, though. I'm not an expert on the bible, but I've seen various arguments against its validity on this forum (not to mention the numerous contradictions.)
John Adams Wrote:The Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.