The Bible and Bad Science

[Skwim]

From Freethoughtpedia

"Biblical "Science"--The question of whether or not the Bible is scientifically valid has been debated for hundreds of years by critics and supporters alike. Biblicists have contended the book not only supports science but contains many statements that are ahead of their time. The Bible supposedly has great scientific wisdom and only now are we beginning to realize as much.

However many critics believe the Bible is its own worst enemy. From this perspective there are more than enough statements contained therein to forestall any claims to scientific precision. Indeed, many statements clearly belong in the realm of mythology and folklore, while others are simply false. Some are so vague it's difficult to know what is meant, so naturally, biblicists choose the more scientifically oriented interpretation.

Those believing the Bible to be scientifically precise and wise beyond its years should read, digest, and remember the following assertions contained within its covers:"
source

​

Looking over the list, I feel some of them are honestly debatable so I'm presenting only those I feel have reasonable merit. If you feel any of them are truly not mistakes or can be readily explained away, I'm all ears.

Please note, I realize that many Christians will excuse some of them as analogies or metaphors, which is fine, but then I expect and reasonable explanation as to why they're presented in such a misleading manner.


The abbreviated list of Biblical mistakes:

1) The bat is a bird (Lev. 11:19, Deut. 14:11, 18);
Lev. 11: 13 &19
13 “And these you shall detest among the birds; they shall not be eaten; they are detestable: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture, . . .
19 the stork, the heron of any kind, the hoopoe, and the bat.

2) Some fowls are four-footed (Lev. 11:20);
Lev. 11:20
“‘All fowls that creep, going upon all fours, shall be an abomination unto you.

3) Some creeping insects have four legs. (Lev. 11:23);
Lev. 11:23
23 But any other winged insect that has four legs is detestable for you

4) Conies chew the cud (Lev. 11:5);
Lev. 11:5
5 and the coney, because he cheweth the cud but divideth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you;

5) Hares chew the cud (Lev. 11:6);
Lev.11:6
6 And the hare, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you.

6) The earth was formed out of and by means of water (2 Peter 3:5);
2 Peter 3:5
5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God,

7) The earth rest on pillars (1 Sam. 2:8);
1 Sam. 2:8
8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes and to make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’S, and He hath set the world upon them.

8) The earth won't be moved (1Chron. 16:30);
1 Chron. 16:30
30 tremble before him, all the earth; yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.

9) The rainbow is not as old as rain and sunshine (Gen. 9:13);
Gen.9:13
I am putting a rainbow in the clouds as proof of the agreement between me and the earth.

10) A mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds and grows into the greatest of all shrubs (Matt. 13:31-32);
Matt. 13:31-32
31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

11) The earth has ends or edges (Job 37:3);
Job 37:3
3 He looses it under the whole sky, his lightning on earth’s edges.

12) The earth has four corners (Isa. 11:12, Rev. 7:1);
Isa. 11:12,
12He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

13) Some 4-legged animals fly (Lev. 11:21);
Lev. 11:21
21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;

14) The world's language didn't evolve but appeared suddenly (Gen. 11:6-9)
Gen. 11:6-9
6 The Lord said, “These people all speak the same language. And I see that they are joined together to do this work. This is only the beginning of what they can do. Soon they will be able to do anything they want. 7 Let’s go down and confuse their language. Then they will not understand each other.” 8 So people stopped building the city, and the Lord scattered them all over the earth. 9 That is the place where the Lord confused the language of the whole world. That is why it is called Babel.a]">[a] And it was from there that the Lord caused the people to spread out to all the other places on earth.

same source​

.

 

[Rational Agnostic]

Nice list. I'm sure there are many more erroneous verses as well.

 

[tayla]

The Bible and Bad Science

This is easy to explain. The Bible is fiction, and that explains it.

 

[paarsurrey]

From Freethoughtpedia

"Biblical "Science"--The question of whether or not the Bible is scientifically valid has been debated for hundreds of years by critics and supporters alike. Biblicists have contended the book not only supports science but contains many statements that are ahead of their time. The Bible supposedly has great scientific wisdom and only now are we beginning to realize as much.

However many critics believe the Bible is its own worst enemy. From this perspective there are more than enough statements contained therein to forestall any claims to scientific precision. Indeed, many statements clearly belong in the realm of mythology and folklore, while others are simply false. Some are so vague it's difficult to know what is meant, so naturally, biblicists choose the more scientifically oriented interpretation.

Those believing the Bible to be scientifically precise and wise beyond its years should read, digest, and remember the following assertions contained within its covers:"
source

​

Looking over the list, I feel some of them are honestly debatable so I'm presenting only those I feel have reasonable merit. If you feel any of them are truly not mistakes or can be readily explained away, I'm all ears.

Please note, I realize that many Christians will excuse some of them as analogies or metaphors, which is fine, but then I expect and reasonable explanation as to why they're presented in such a misleading manner.


The abbreviated list of Biblical mistakes:

1) The bat is a bird (Lev. 11:19, Deut. 14:11, 18);
Lev. 11: 13 &19
13 “And these you shall detest among the birds; they shall not be eaten; they are detestable: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture, . . .
19 the stork, the heron of any kind, the hoopoe, and the bat.

2) Some fowls are four-footed (Lev. 11:20);
Lev. 11:20
“‘All fowls that creep, going upon all fours, shall be an abomination unto you.

3) Some creeping insects have four legs. (Lev. 11:23);
Lev. 11:23
23 But any other winged insect that has four legs is detestable for you

4) Conies chew the cud (Lev. 11:5);
Lev. 11:5
5 and the coney, because he cheweth the cud but divideth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you;

5) Hares chew the cud (Lev. 11:6);
Lev.11:6
6 And the hare, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you.

6) The earth was formed out of and by means of water (2 Peter 3:5);
2 Peter 3:5
5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God,

7) The earth rest on pillars (1 Sam. 2:8);
1 Sam. 2:8
8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes and to make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’S, and He hath set the world upon them.

8) The earth won't be moved (1Chron. 16:30);
1 Chron. 16:30
30 tremble before him, all the earth; yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.

9) The rainbow is not as old as rain and sunshine (Gen. 9:13);
Gen.9:13
I am putting a rainbow in the clouds as proof of the agreement between me and the earth.

10) A mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds and grows into the greatest of all shrubs (Matt. 13:31-32);
Matt. 13:31-32
31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

11) The earth has ends or edges (Job 37:3);
Job 37:3
3 He looses it under the whole sky, his lightning on earth’s edges.

12) The earth has four corners (Isa. 11:12, Rev. 7:1);
Isa. 11:12,
12He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

13) Some 4-legged animals fly (Lev. 11:21);
Lev. 11:21
21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;

14) The world's language didn't evolve but appeared suddenly (Gen. 11:6-9)
Gen. 11:6-9
6 The Lord said, “These people all speak the same language. And I see that they are joined together to do this work. This is only the beginning of what they can do. Soon they will be able to do anything they want. 7 Let’s go down and confuse their language. Then they will not understand each other.” 8 So people stopped building the city, and the Lord scattered them all over the earth. 9 That is the place where the Lord confused the language of the whole world. That is why it is called Babel.a]">[a] And it was from there that the Lord caused the people to spread out to all the other places on earth.

same source​

.

This is because Authors of the Bible and or the Clergy have not been able to convey the exact words of G-d down to the generations. Please
Regards

 

[Yokefellow]

OP. These so called 'errors' have been debunked over and over. A quick search can bring them up. I'm not sure why you would post here knowing that the responses would be purely ignorant and childish. Maybe that's what you really seek?

 

[Subduction Zone]

OP. These so called 'errors' have been debunked over and over. A quick search can bring them up. I'm not sure why you would post here knowing that the responses would be purely ignorant and childish. Maybe that's what you really seek?

Nope, they are still errors. Would you care to try to support any of those? Are you going to claim that bats are birds? That should be interesting.

 

[Augustus]

10 & 12 are almost certainly rhetorical flourishes: hyperbole and metaphor.

 

[cladking]

OP. These so called 'errors' have been debunked over and over. A quick search can bring them up. I'm not sure why you would post here knowing that the responses would be purely ignorant and childish. Maybe that's what you really seek?

Even if they hadn't been debunked the fact remains that the language changed; it became confused. There is no evidence the language ever changed back so the exact meaning of each of these statements is impossible to know.

 

[Revoltingest]

From Freethoughtpedia

"Biblical "Science"--The question of whether or not the Bible is scientifically valid has been debated for hundreds of years by critics and supporters alike. Biblicists have contended the book not only supports science but contains many statements that are ahead of their time. The Bible supposedly has great scientific wisdom and only now are we beginning to realize as much.

However many critics believe the Bible is its own worst enemy. From this perspective there are more than enough statements contained therein to forestall any claims to scientific precision. Indeed, many statements clearly belong in the realm of mythology and folklore, while others are simply false. Some are so vague it's difficult to know what is meant, so naturally, biblicists choose the more scientifically oriented interpretation.

Those believing the Bible to be scientifically precise and wise beyond its years should read, digest, and remember the following assertions contained within its covers:"
source

​

Looking over the list, I feel some of them are honestly debatable so I'm presenting only those I feel have reasonable merit. If you feel any of them are truly not mistakes or can be readily explained away, I'm all ears.

Please note, I realize that many Christians will excuse some of them as analogies or metaphors, which is fine, but then I expect and reasonable explanation as to why they're presented in such a misleading manner.


The abbreviated list of Biblical mistakes:

1) The bat is a bird (Lev. 11:19, Deut. 14:11, 18);
Lev. 11: 13 &19
13 “And these you shall detest among the birds; they shall not be eaten; they are detestable: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture, . . .
19 the stork, the heron of any kind, the hoopoe, and the bat.

2) Some fowls are four-footed (Lev. 11:20);
Lev. 11:20
“‘All fowls that creep, going upon all fours, shall be an abomination unto you.

3) Some creeping insects have four legs. (Lev. 11:23);
Lev. 11:23
23 But any other winged insect that has four legs is detestable for you

4) Conies chew the cud (Lev. 11:5);
Lev. 11:5
5 and the coney, because he cheweth the cud but divideth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you;

5) Hares chew the cud (Lev. 11:6);
Lev.11:6
6 And the hare, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you.

6) The earth was formed out of and by means of water (2 Peter 3:5);
2 Peter 3:5
5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God,

7) The earth rest on pillars (1 Sam. 2:8);
1 Sam. 2:8
8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes and to make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’S, and He hath set the world upon them.

8) The earth won't be moved (1Chron. 16:30);
1 Chron. 16:30
30 tremble before him, all the earth; yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.

9) The rainbow is not as old as rain and sunshine (Gen. 9:13);
Gen.9:13
I am putting a rainbow in the clouds as proof of the agreement between me and the earth.

10) A mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds and grows into the greatest of all shrubs (Matt. 13:31-32);
Matt. 13:31-32
31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

11) The earth has ends or edges (Job 37:3);
Job 37:3
3 He looses it under the whole sky, his lightning on earth’s edges.

12) The earth has four corners (Isa. 11:12, Rev. 7:1);
Isa. 11:12,
12He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

13) Some 4-legged animals fly (Lev. 11:21);
Lev. 11:21
21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;

14) The world's language didn't evolve but appeared suddenly (Gen. 11:6-9)
Gen. 11:6-9
6 The Lord said, “These people all speak the same language. And I see that they are joined together to do this work. This is only the beginning of what they can do. Soon they will be able to do anything they want. 7 Let’s go down and confuse their language. Then they will not understand each other.” 8 So people stopped building the city, and the Lord scattered them all over the earth. 9 That is the place where the Lord confused the language of the whole world. That is why it is called Babel.a]">[a] And it was from there that the Lord caused the people to spread out to all the other places on earth.

same source​

.

#1: "Bird" is a modern word. Could this be a translation issue? Perhaps the word used to include both bats & birds wasn't about some clade, but rather just "things which fly".
#13: Flying squirrels fly (after a fashion).

 

[Yokefellow]

Lol... See what I mean?

Why would anyone waste their precious time explaining these passages when no one here really wants to know the answer?

In fact, a kindergartener could answer one of these which means either...

A) no one here is as smart as a kindergartener (which is obviously not true) or
B) You are here to spread lies about the Bible and spam this forum with garbage posts

You know what would really be impressive is if one of you actually took the time to research and answered one of these questions in an honest manner.

 

[Yokefellow]

OK... just in case...

Go find the nearest kindergartener and ask them where Santa lives.

When they tell you the North Pole (as in the North Pillar of the Earth) you will have half the mystery solved.

Try not to strain yourself solving the rest of this unfathomably difficult riddle.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Lol... See what I mean?

Why would anyone waste their precious time explaining these passages when no one here really wants to know the answer?

In fact, a kindergartener could answer one of these which means either...

A) no one here is as smart as a kindergartener (which is obviously not true) or
B) You are here to spread lies about the Bible and spam this forum with garbage posts

You know what would really be impressive is if one of you actually took the time to research and answered one of these questions in an honest manner.

Some of them may be merely poetic, the problem is that Bible literalists will try to claim that even the obviously mythical parts of the Bible are true. Such as Genesis and Exodus.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Nice list. I'm sure there are many more erroneous verses as well.

Notably more. For instance, while you can use a star to help determine direction, it's impossible for a star to pinpoint a specific geographical location.

 

[pearl]

"Biblical "Science"--

Is a contradiction in terms. The Bibles is a statement of faith, that all that exists is created by God, since it cannot surpass the human knowledge/experience that produced it, the 'how' is presented in myth.

 

[Skwim]

#1: "Bird" is a modern word. Could this be a translation issue? Perhaps the word used to include both bats & birds wasn't about some clade, but rather just "things which fly".

Don't know what you consider to be modern, but looking it up,

"bird" is an Old English word, "the language of the Anglo-Saxons (up to about 1150), a highly inflected language with a largely Germanic vocabulary, very different from modern English."
source​

and about Old English.

"Old English was the West Germanic language spoken in the area now known as England between the 5th and 11th centuries. Speakers of Old English called their language Englisc, themselves Angle, Angelcynn or Angelfolc and their home Angelcynn or Englaland."
source
​

Furthermore:

"Here is a list of the 'closest' Bible translations in English:

1) NASB - New American Standard Bible

The New American Standard Bible holds the reputation of being the most accurate Bible translation in English. It is a 'literal' translation, holding to the formal equivalence school of thought that the translation should be as literal as possible. Most Bible scholars agree, as the NASB is generally agreed to be the most literal of the English translations, reflecting Hebrew and Greek grammar and style the best."
source
​

And from New American Standard Bible we read:

Leviticus 11:19 (NASB)
19 and the stork, the heron in its kinds, and the hoopoe, and the bat.

Deut. 14:11, 18) (NASB)
11 “You may eat any clean bird. 12 But these are the ones which you shall not eat: the eagle and the vulture and the buzzard,. . . .
18 the stork, and the heron in their kinds, and the hoopoe and the bat.​

#13: Flying squirrels fly (after a fashion).

You may consider gliding to be flying, but in all the sources I checked, where animals are cited in conjunction with flying wings are always mentioned.

BTW, "fly, as to" move through the air with wings, is Old English fleogan "to fly, take flight, rise into the air"
source

 

[Revoltingest]

Don't know what you consider to be modern, but looking it up,

"bird" is an Old English word, "the language of the Anglo-Saxons (up to about 1150), a highly inflected language with a largely Germanic vocabulary, very different from modern English."
source​

and about Old English.

"Old English was the West Germanic language spoken in the area now known as England between the 5th and 11th centuries. Speakers of Old English called their language Englisc, themselves Angle, Angelcynn or Angelfolc and their home Angelcynn or Englaland."
source
​

Furthermore:

"Here is a list of the 'closest' Bible translations in English:

1) NASB - New American Standard Bible

The New American Standard Bible holds the reputation of being the most accurate Bible translation in English. It is a 'literal' translation, holding to the formal equivalence school of thought that the translation should be as literal as possible. Most Bible scholars agree, as the NASB is generally agreed to be the most literal of the English translations, reflecting Hebrew and Greek grammar and style the best."
source
​

And from New American Standard Bible we read:

Leviticus 11:19 (NASB)
19 and the stork, the heron in its kinds, and the hoopoe, and the bat.

Deut. 14:11, 18) (NASB)
11 “You may eat any clean bird. 12 But these are the ones which you shall not eat: the eagle and the vulture and the buzzard,. . . .
18 the stork, and the heron in their kinds, and the hoopoe and the bat.​

You may consider gliding to be flying, but in all the sources I checked, where animals are cited in conjunction with flying wings are always mentioned.

BTW, "fly, as to" move through the air with wings, is Old English fleogan "to fly, take flight, rise into the air"
source

A mythology over 2 millennia old shouldn't be read with undue precision.
This applies to both fans & critics of the Bible.

 

[Skwim]

Is a contradiction in terms.

That, you'd have to take up with the source.

The Bibles is a statement of faith, that all that exists is created by God, since it cannot surpass the human knowledge/experience that produced it, the 'how' is presented in myth.

What 'how' is presented in myth? And why does it have to be presented as myth instead of some other form?

.




.

 

[Subduction Zone]

A mythology over 2 millennia old shouldn't be read with undue precision.
This applies to both fans & critics of the Bible.

I agree, I only use this sort of argument when someone has already tipped their hand that they read the Bible literally. It is of no use to use against more reasonable Christians.

 

[Skwim]

A mythology over 2 millennia old shouldn't be read with undue precision.
This applies to both fans & critics of the Bible.

I agree, but I must point out that my OP was a matter of presenting the findings of Freethoughtpedia, which addressed the issue of

"Those believing the Bible to be scientifically precise and wise beyond its years. . . ."​

That neither you nor Subduction Zone regard yourselves as such is

.

 

[Revoltingest]

That neither you nor Subduction Zone regard yourselves as such is

Woohoo!
Frubalworthy!
I've actually had one poster repeatedly insist that I'm a fundie Christian.