10 laughably erroneous claims of the bible

whirlingmerc · Jun 15, 2019

Hubert Farnsworth said:
The Bible contains numerous scientific errors, including (but of course not limited to) the following:

You are dealing with a lot of literary form language issues not math and science issues

1. It says the earth is flat:

Isaiah 40:22: "He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in."

2. It says that the earth rests upon pillars:

1 Samuel 2:8 "..for the pillars of the Earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them...."

Job 9:6 "...and the pillars thereof tremble..."
Psalm 75:3 "...I bear up the pillars of it ..."

3. It claims that the sky is a solid firmament and that water is above it:

Genesis 1:6 "....and God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the
waters from the waters."

4. It claims the stars are small enough to fall to the earth without destroying the earth:

Revelation 6:13: "and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind."

Revelation 8:10:
"And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;"

5. It claims that the earth does not move:

Pslam 96:10 "...the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved."

6. It claims that the sun revolves around the earth, rather than the other way around:

Psalm 19:6: "It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth."

7. It claims that insects have four legs:

Leviticus 11:20-23: "All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be detestable to you. There are, however, some winged creatures that walk on all fours that you may eat: those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground. Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket or grasshopper. But all other winged creatures that have four legs you are to detest."

8. It claims that the mustard seed is the smallest seed, when in fact, the orchid seed, among others, are smaller than the mustard seed:

Matthew 13:32:1 "Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof."

9. It claims that ants have no rulers, when in fact, ant colonies have a hierarchical structure with a queen (ruler) and worker ants:

Proverbs 6:6-7: "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,"

10. It claims that pi is equal to 3.

2 Chronicles 4:2: "He made the Sea of cast metal, circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim and five cubits high. It took a line of thirty cubits to measure around it."

1. Why in the world, to coin a phrase, is calling the circle of the earth saying it's flat? a sphere projects to a circle and why in the world, to use the phrase again, does the Bible say 'you make the earth to hang on nothing' It does not make your point

2. the "Pillars" of the earth are figurative
The universe is run by and preserved by God and as Colosians says 'he holds all things together'

3. Waters above can be in the original but can also refer to clouds

4. Stars are more general than the modern usage in the sky including planets meteors or even angels

5. In a relative sense the earth is fixed compared to civilizations and other events

6. physicists use accelerating frames of reference and in an accelerating frame of reference the sun is seen from the vantage of the earth as rising and falling and we speak in modern times as sunrise and sunset frequently

7. some insects use 2 of the legs for other purpose nominatively

8. the smallest of seeds in their experience, figuratively a very small seed

9. insects are driven by instinct rather than forming strategies on the fly

10. The Bible uses estimation and rounding however in the cases cited it could be also an inner diameter vs ouster diameter issue

Skwim · Jun 15, 2019

The Reverend Bob said:
Figurative Language - Definition and Examples | LitCharts

As was the language describing the crucifixion and resurrection.

.

shmogie · Jun 15, 2019

Hubert Farnsworth said:
A ball is spherical, not circular. A circle is two-dimensional (flat), and a sphere is three-dimensional.

You assume they are allegorical, but how are we to decide which parts of the bible are literal and which are allegory? It seems as though Christians often dismiss all of the *clear errors* as being "allegory", yet insist that the teachings/doctrines of the bible are not allegory, simply because they cannot be proven to be errors.

Incorrect. The firmament clearly is a reference to the sky, and here we see a claim that the sky is solid and that there is water above the sky
Genesis 1:7-8:
"And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day."

And yet, the verse still says that the "stars" will fall to the earth. Again, how are we to assess what is literal and what is allegory? It seems you are arbitrarily deciding that the obvious errors are metaphorical rather than literal, yet we should somehow take the other ideas in the bible as literal truth.

If you stand and do a 360 degree turn, and can always see the horizon during your turn, have you completed a circle or a sphere ? How would you describe what you just did to someone, and what is the conclusion of your description ?

Determining what the Bible says and why is based upon exegesis. One must consider context, the translation from the original, the historical place and time, and the intent of the verse, paragraph, chapter and book. You must understand the audience if the words were spoken, or the primary then secondary readers of the written word.

This is how you understand what is allegorical or literal.

You do understand that there are a number of words translated as heaven with different meanings, don´t you ? How could water be in heaven ? Where does rain come from and where is evaporated water in the finite amount of water ¨stored" ?

The verses you quoted in Revelation are not allegorical, they are literal. You missed my point. If something happens you have never experienced before and have no knowledge about how do you describe it ? You must use the words of the language you speak. If something looks a lot like a star, and you don´t know exactly what it is, is using star a giant error ? You are trying to describe to others what you have seen in the language you speak.

John was given a vision and was literally told to write it down. He did using his vocabulary.

Skwim · Jun 15, 2019

Katzpur said:
Well, I'll be damned. And all this time, I'd been using it as a scientific textbook. Now that I know the truth, I guess I'm just going to have to denounce my belief in God and everything that goes along with a belief in Him.

If nothing else it will be a good start.

.

shmogie · Jun 15, 2019

Skwim said:
As was the language describing the crucifixion and resurrection.

.

You have exegeted the verses, paragraphs, chapters and books to come to this conclusion. Or, as the case is, you simply believe what you say ?

Subduction Zone · Jun 15, 2019

shmogie said:
If you stand and do a 360 degree turn, and can always see the horizon during your turn, have you completed a circle or a sphere ? How would you describe what you just did to someone, and what is the conclusion of your description ?

Determining what the Bible says and why is based upon exegesis. One must consider context, the translation from the original, the historical place and time, and the intent of the verse, paragraph, chapter and book. You must understand the audience if the words were spoken, or the primary then secondary readers of the written word.

This is how you understand what is allegorical or literal.

You do understand that there are a number of words translated as heaven with different meanings, don´t you ? How could water be in heaven ? Where does rain come from and where is evaporated water in the finite amount of water ¨stored" ?

The verses you quoted in Revelation are not allegorical, they are literal. You missed my point. If something happens you have never experienced before and have no knowledge about how do you describe it ? You must use the words of the language you speak. If something looks a lot like a star, and you don´t know exactly what it is, is using star a giant error ? You are trying to describe to others what you have seen in the language you speak.

John was given a vision and was literally told to write it down. He did using his vocabulary.

What @shmogie does not appear to understand is that the people of that time and place thought that the world was flat and wrote of it as if it were. The Bible declares the world to be flat in word and deed which is why the Flat Earth believers are mostly extreme literalists when it comes to the Bible. They are only a small step removed from the YEC's which are only a small step removed from the OEC's.

Subduction Zone · Jun 15, 2019

shmogie said:
You have exegeted the verses, paragraphs, chapters and books to come to this conclusion. Or, as the case is, you simply believe what you say ?

And once again, you do not seem to realize that this is the problem with a literal approach to the Bible. Where does not decide what is literal and what is allegory, morality tales, parables, etc.

sooda · Jun 15, 2019

Subduction Zone said:
And once again, you do not seem to realize that this is the problem with a literal approach to the Bible. Where does not decide what is literal and what is allegory, morality tales, parables, etc.

THE EXAGGERATED ABUNDANCE OF THE “PROMISED LAND”

In the year 1553 Michael Servetus was on trial for his life in Geneva, Switzerland on the charge of heresy. One point raised by the prosecution was Servetus’s edition of Ptolemy’s Geography, in which Judea (the “promised land” of the Jews), was spoken of, not as “a land flowing with milk and honey,” but mainly meagre, barren, and inhospitable. In his trial this simple statement of geographical fact was used against him by Protestant Refomer, John Calvin, with fearful power. In vain did Servetus plead that he had simply drawn the words from a previous edition of Ptolemy; in vain did he declare that this statement was a simple geographical truth of which there were ample proofs; it was answered that such language “necessarily inculpated Moses, and grievously outraged the Holy Ghost.”

A. D. White, A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom, Vol. 1

Lots and lots of exaggerations in the Bible.

Exaggerations of Biblical Proportions

The Reverend Bob · Jun 15, 2019

Skwim said:
As was the language describing the crucifixion and resurrection.

.

I highly doubt that the crucifixion itself was figurative. The Romans had a habit of crucifying upstart Jews just as much as the White supremacist terrorists had a habit of lynching "uppity negroes".So the event we call the crucifixion is likely to be factual

Rational Agnostic · Jun 15, 2019

Subduction Zone said:
What @shmogie does not appear to understand is that the people of that time and place thought that the world was flat and wrote of it as if it were. The Bible declares the world to be flat in word and deed which is why the Flat Earth believers are mostly extreme literalists when it comes to the Bible. They are only a small step removed from the YEC's which are only a small step removed from the OEC's.

True. In fact, many of the Christians have accused me of copy pasting from anti-Christian sites when in reality, the majority of the verses I got directly from a Christian apologetic site that uses the bible to argue for a flat earth among other scientifically inaccurate claims.

viole · Jun 15, 2019

Hubert Farnsworth said:
Isaiah 40:22: "He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers.

Incidentally, if its people are like grasshoppers, then by triangulation, we could calculate its distance from the surface of the earth.
Not too far. For sure closer than the moon. I am not aware of any throne being seen in that area.

Ciao

- viole

The Reverend Bob · Jun 15, 2019

I

Hubert Farnsworth said:
True. In fact, many of the Christians have accused me of copy pasting from anti-Christian sites when in reality, the majority of the verses I got directly from a Christian apologetic site that uses the bible to argue for a flat earth among other scientifically inaccurate claims.

I ran your OP through 4 different plagiarism checkers and all of them suggest that there is significant plagiarism in your post. What do you have to say about that in your defense?

Skwim · Jun 15, 2019

SugarOcean said:
Not to go over your entire post but just a couple of brief points concerning your "yawn" observations.
Flying insects can have four legs. Grasshoppers, Locust, and beetles have four legs.

So it would be equally valid to say they can have five legs, three legs, or two legs, or one leg.

Truth of the matter is that grasshoppers, and locusts, which are actually several species of grasshopper, and beetles all have a total of six legs.

.............

.

Dan From Smithville · Jun 15, 2019

Skwim said:
So it would be equally valid to say they can have five legs, three legs, or two legs, or one leg. Truth of the matter is that grasshoppers, and locusts, which are actually a species of grasshopper, and beetles all have a total of six legs.

............. View attachment 30029

.

All insects have six legs. There are no exceptions. The front legs of many species have evolved with modifications adapting them to different lifestyles, but that does not change the genetic and developmental origin of those appendages as legs.

Dan From Smithville · Jun 15, 2019

The Reverend Bob said:
I

I ran your OP through 4 different plagiarism checkers and all of them suggest that there is significant plagiarism in your post. What do you have to say about that in your defense?

If the post does not fit, you must acquit?

Quagmire · Jun 15, 2019

Koldo said:
I have been telling people for ages: I am always correct, if for some odd reason you think I am not then you are just not interpreting me metaphorically enough.

Sometimes things are hard to understand because the symbolism is complex.
Sometime, things are hard to understand because the author is babbling.

shmogie · Jun 15, 2019

Right,

sooda said:
THE EXAGGERATED ABUNDANCE OF THE “PROMISED LAND”

In the year 1553 Michael Servetus was on trial for his life in Geneva, Switzerland on the charge of heresy. One point raised by the prosecution was Servetus’s edition of Ptolemy’s Geography, in which Judea (the “promised land” of the Jews), was spoken of, not as “a land flowing with milk and honey,” but mainly meagre, barren, and inhospitable. In his trial this simple statement of geographical fact was used against him by Protestant Refomer, John Calvin, with fearful power. In vain did Servetus plead that he had simply drawn the words from a previous edition of Ptolemy; in vain did he declare that this statement was a simple geographical truth of which there were ample proofs; it was answered that such language “necessarily inculpated Moses, and grievously outraged the Holy Ghost.”

A. D. White, A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom, Vol. 1

Lots and lots of exaggerations in the Bible.

Exaggerations of Biblical Proportions

right, and wrong. Servetus held religious beliefs contrary to that of Calvin and his followers, i.e. free will as opposed to pre destination. He had been preaching this in Geneva, was tipped off that the authorities were coming for him, so he fled.

After some time he was lured back o Geneva on a safe pass, then arrested, Many outside of Geneva demanded he be freed. Calvin knew that Servetus would continue to be a thorn in his side, so a trumped up charge with physical evidence was created and he was executed.

To this day those denominations that are pre destination in nature ala Calvin, can be shamed by this. They truly don´t like to hear about it. Usually it is brought up in theological debate when they attack Luther.

Quagmire · Jun 15, 2019

Subduction Zone said:
That is because there are no actual prophecies. As much as we would like it people really cannot see the future. Those conditions were reasonable since various religions will always claim those flaws for the prophecies of other religions.

Ah I see, a "properly written prophecy' is actually an acedemac term specific to TitFotTatology.

sooda · Jun 15, 2019

shmogie said:
If you stand and do a 360 degree turn, and can always see the horizon during your turn, have you completed a circle or a sphere ? How would you describe what you just did to someone, and what is the conclusion of your description ?

Determining what the Bible says and why is based upon exegesis. One must consider context, the translation from the original, the historical place and time, and the intent of the verse, paragraph, chapter and book. You must understand the audience if the words were spoken, or the primary then secondary readers of the written word.

This is how you understand what is allegorical or literal.

You do understand that there are a number of words translated as heaven with different meanings, don´t you ? How could water be in heaven ? Where does rain come from and where is evaporated water in the finite amount of water ¨stored" ?

The verses you quoted in Revelation are not allegorical, they are literal. You missed my point. If something happens you have never experienced before and have no knowledge about how do you describe it ? You must use the words of the language you speak. If something looks a lot like a star, and you don´t know exactly what it is, is using star a giant error ? You are trying to describe to others what you have seen in the language you speak.

John was given a vision and was literally told to write it down. He did using his vocabulary.

Revelation of John, the original Jewish version ...
historical-jesus.info/rjohn.html
The Jewish original version of Revelation (or Apocalypse) of John, much more coherent than the final one, was written very likely (in Greek) late 70 or 71 C.E. in Syrian Antioch by a temple of Jerusalem ex-priest named John. This work offered an explanation for the holocaust of 70 C.E., with the destruction of Jerusalem & its temple, all of that at the hands of the Romans, and also a badly needed hope for the …

shmogie · Jun 15, 2019

Hubert Farnsworth said:
True. In fact, many of the Christians have accused me of copy pasting from anti-Christian sites when in reality, the majority of the verses I got directly from a Christian apologetic site that uses the bible to argue for a flat earth among other scientifically inaccurate claims.

Hmmmm, a fringe group, no doubt. I know of a well organized group of atheists who believe in UFOś, go figure.

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