Science And The Bible

[Darwinian]

Are you saying that the Bible is completely accurate about all its statements?

You mean, inerrant? No. In agreement with most of science, though not a science book? Yes. Vastly misunderstood by believers and unbelievers? Yes.

When the Bible uses terms like four corners of the earth it is misunderstood by most critics to have said the earth is flat. When it says the sun is rising theologians have misinterpreted it to mean the sun revolves around the earth. Things like that.

But surely that's just your own personal interpretation of what it says. You are reading it from the perspective of someone who knows that the Earth is not flat and the Sun doesn't revolve around the Earth.

And how is it then that a book, which is supposed to be the revealed word of the creator of all reality is so easy to misinterpret? What does that say about the success that God has had in getting, what must be considered a very important message, across to his creation.

It does, for example, quite clearly say that God created everything in 6 days. Either it means that or it doesn't. If it doesn't, why say it?

Surely it's much easier, more satisfying and sensible to concede that it was written by people who, desperately wanting answers to these important questions, simply didn't have the 'tools' at their disposal to discover the truth, and so just made it all up believing they where somehow being inspired by a supernatural force.

So, a challenge for you would be to clearly demonstrate that when it states 'four corners of the Earth' it actually doesn't assume a flat Earth.

I'll open with the following snippets that suggest that the Biblical authors thought the Earth was flat, or at least, certainly had no knowledge that it is a free floating sphere.

Chronicles 16:30: “He has fixed the earth firm, immovable.”

Psalm 93:1: “Thou hast fixed the earth immovable and firm ...”

Psalm 96:10: “He has fixed the earth firm, immovable ...”

Psalm 104:5: “Thou didst fix the earth on its foundation so that it never can be shaken.”

Isaiah 45:18: “...who made the earth and fashioned it, and himself fixed it fast...”

I went to the extreme ends of the earth and saw there huge beasts, each different from the other and different birds (also) differing from one another in appearance, beauty, and voice. And to the east of those beasts, I saw the ultimate ends of the earth which rests on the heaven. And the gates of heaven were open, and I saw how the stars of heaven come out...(1 Enoch 33:1-2)

I went in the direction of the north, to the extreme ends of the earth, and there at the extreme end of the whole world I saw a great and glorious seat. There (also) I saw three open gates of heaven; when it blows cold, hail, frost, snow, dew, and rain, through each one of the (gates) the winds proceed in the northwesterly direction (1 Enoch 34:1-2)

Revelations 7:1: And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.