When siting a verse you at least need to understand the entire chapter. In some cases you may also need the chapters before and after it — hachit
That is not a journey of the mind, it is a journey of the heart. — Rank Amateur
And here is the most important part, than listen to what we are feeling - not thinking - feeling. — Rank Amateur
This is more an emotional journey, than a cerebral one. — Rank Amateur
This, as I have discovered in my investigations, is the kind of notion that leads to bias. In my opinion, the bible teachings demand both right feeling and right thinking. Not one or the other. — BrianW
Sermon over. — Rank Amateur
This is more an emotional journey, than a cerebral one. — Rank Amateur
Never mind about that. You know what to do, so go do it. Or admit that you're not.
And then the priest has to get another job, cause there's little market for getting down to business. — Jake
But as you can see, the Bible, all holy books, are just begging people to get lost in all this interpretation analysis. It's been going on for 3,000 years, it never ends, each new generation gets sucked in to it. — Jake
Never mind about that. You know what to do, so go do it. Or admit that you're not.
And then the priest has to get another job, cause there's little market for getting down to business. :smile: — Jake
@BrianWWhat are we looking to find in the scriptures. If it's the truth, then, amidst the many interpretations, which do you pick as truth? — BrianW
My unsupportable opinion is 99% of this is for human aggrandizement and 1% for the greater glory of God. — Rank Amateur
I wish. It's more like the priest keeps saying the same things over and over again until... — BrianW
There are many reasons why statements from different people would be contradicting, the better question would be, are their teachings in contrast? — Queen Cleopatra
sorry - got my threads mixed up - mea culpa and I slink back into my hole — Rank Amateur
Where do you want to go from there ? — Rank Amateur
What do you mean by "interpret"? And what, exactly, are you interpreting? — tim wood
The contradictions are fact. However, the bible is not a collection of historical or scientific facts. The main aim of the scriptures is to teach morality which it does to a very high degree of success. Other factors are at best 'filler material'. In fact, we could ignore the 'who said' and 'when it was said' part and the 'what was said' would still qualify as proper moral teachings.
I believe those who get stuck at the contradictions are the type who are inclined to believe God exists because the bible says so. They forget they have a duty to themselves to question everything and to analyse everything in order to extract what is significant and useful. So the question to ask is, "what significance do the contradictions have in light of the purpose of the bible and its narratives?" — BrianW
As you read, the words and sentences are being converted into a narrative in your mind by your understanding. That is what I mean by interpretation. — BrianW
Only those who wish to direct ridicule or scorn to God seem to dwell on them — BrianW
My primary question is how truth can exist with contradictions. — Andrew4Handel
Contradictions are most problematic for people who believe in Biblical infallibility. — Andrew4Handel
But then they claim their interpretation is true — Andrew4Handel
Contradictions in what? — BrianW
Why should the bible be infallible? — BrianW
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