Help! Questions about Isaiah 43

[elly]

Hi all,
I'm new to this forum, but I recently encountered a verse in the bible that has thrown me for a loop. It says in Isaiah 43 that the the earth "hangs on nothing". A christian friend is using this as proof of a divine creator. At the moment, I'm not sure how to feel about it, as how would someone know this? Does that make sense? I'm a new atheist (less than a year), so I'm still learning, but does anyone have any thoughts on this?? I can't get it out of my head. Thanks for all responses.

[Cyberman]

Actually I think the verse to which you refer is Job 26:7 - "He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing." I'm sure others more knowledgeable than I can shed light on this, but I'd just like to mention that this verse, taken at face value, would seem to be at odds with other verses that mention the Earth resting on pillars as opposed to "nothing". Check out 1 Samuel 2:8 ("The pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and he hath set the world upon them.") and even Job 9:6 ("Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.") A divine creator ought to know the difference, don't you think?

[elly]

Actually I think the verse to which you refer is Job 26:7 - "He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing." I'm sure others more knowledgeable than I can shed light on this, but I'd just like to mention that this verse, taken at face value, would seem to be at odds with other verses that mention the Earth resting on pillars as opposed to "nothing". Check out 1 Samuel 2:8 ("The pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and he hath set the world upon them.") and even Job 9:6 ("Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.")

Whoops, sorry! I got the verse confused with the one talking about stars..thanks for the clarification.

[Cyberman]

No problem. Glad to help.

[Minimalist]

Of course....and more to the point there is this.....

[Justtristo]

Elly, both Proverbs 8:22 and Isaiah 40:22 talk about the earth being a circle which imply it is flat. Also there are numerous bible verses which talk about the sky being a dome, the stars being lights fixed to that dome, the earth being supported by pillars floating in a cosmic ocean and etc.

This an article I am posting below discusses about the cosmology of the writers of the Old Testament. This cosmology has been totally refuted by scientific discoveries.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/cosmo_bibl2.htm

[elly]

Elly, both Proverbs 8:22 and Isaiah 40:22 talk about the earth being a circle which imply it is flat. Also there are numerous bible verses which talk about the sky being a dome, the stars being lights fixed to that dome, the earth being supported by pillars floating in a cosmic ocean and etc.

This an article I am posting below discusses about the cosmology of the writers of the Old Testament. This cosmology has been totally refuted by scientific discoveries.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/cosmo_bibl2.htm

Thanks so much! The link is very helpful!