BBC Home

Explore the BBC

h2g2
7th January 2010
Accessibility help
Text only

.

Conversation Forum


SEARCH h2g2
Edited Entries only
Search h2g2Advanced Search


New visitors: Create your membership
Returning members: Sign in
BBC Homepage
The Guide to Life, The Universe and Everything.

This is the Conversation Forum for Atheism
Contact Us


Like this page?
Send it to a friend!

 
Previous List | Next List | Postings 1-20Postings 21-40Postings 41-60Postings 61-80Postings 81-100Postings 101-120Postings 121-140Postings 141-160Postings 161-180Postings 181-200Postings 201-220Postings 221-240Postings 241-260Postings 261-280Postings 281-300Postings 301-320Conversation list
<< Atheism links
Truth in Christ >>

My take on this article
Post: 301
Posted Jun 2, 2005 by DA ; Simply Vicky: Don't get pithy with me!
<<The passage you sited seem to indicate that you're arguing that "The Bible" is a great work of literature. So was Lady Chatterly's Lover. I see no reason to disagree vociferously with this assertion, but I don't see how we can infer from this that it is "True" or "infallible" or whatever you're trying to argue that it is.>>

No, that's just a tiny part of it!

He has articles that cover all sorts of issues, and I couldn't possibly duplicate them without using as much time and bandwidth as he did. I posted the extract I did, as a (partial) answer to the "which Bible?" question.

Reply 

Previous PostNext Post
Click to Make a Complaint
The Parent Posting, to Which This is a Reply
An Older Reply to the Parent PostingThis PostingA Newer Reply to the Parent Posting
The First Reply to This Posting

My take on this article
Post: 302
Posted Jun 2, 2005 by Twophlag Gargleblap - NWO NOW
Yes, but posting a link doesn't duplicate or replace offering an opinion yourself, I'm afraid. For that matter, I'm afraid to say I found the link you did post to be a bit of a dud, or at least not terribly interesting or convincing.

I don't aim to be needlessly obtuse here, but did you have anything to say?


Reply 

Previous PostNext Post
Click to Make a Complaint
The Parent Posting, to Which This is a Reply
An Older Reply to the Parent PostingThis PostingA Newer Reply to the Parent Posting
The First Reply to This Posting

My take on this article
Post: 303
Posted Jun 3, 2005 by DA ; Simply Vicky: Don't get pithy with me!
<<but did you have anything to say?>>

Yes, but as it is pretty much along the lines of what David (the guy who posted those articles) would say, you'd find it not terribly interesting or convincing! smiley

Reply 

Previous PostNext Post
Click to Make a Complaint
The Parent Posting, to Which This is a Reply
An Older Reply to the Parent PostingThis PostingA Newer Reply to the Parent Posting
The First Reply to This Posting

My take on this article
Post: 304
Posted Jun 19, 2005 by Neil the Indefinite
'I happened by and saw this post and have been sort of itching for a chance to wade into debate with a theist.'
-Good, I hope your itch has been satisfied a little?

'So "truth" can be drawn or inferred from the text of "The Bible" if you "give it credit" or assume that it is true? That doesn't strike you as vaguely circular?'
-Well, the way I see it something can only be true two ways, either we give it credence and hold it to be true, or we deduce it from things which we hold to be true. Relying solely on things that can be deduced is what strikes me as vaguely circular.

'I thought you just said corroboration of "Biblical" accounts is what lends "The Bible" veracity, and now you're arguing the lack of corroboration for "Biblical" accounts is what lends it veracity. Seems like you should pick one.'
-There is a lack of eyewitnesses still living, the bible cannot therefore be corroborated by them, because they're not available. There are some historical accounts which do agree with the Bible, but I wouldn't say this lends it veracity, since we can't verify the historical accounts themselves. This depends on your point of view. If you believe history, then to you some parts of the bible are true. If you don't believe history then this kind of corroboration is useless to you anyway. If you believe eyewitnesses, then if you were born earlier you might have had the opportunity for things to be verified. The latter type of verification is to my mind the more conclusive type, but it's a bit late in the day for it.

Reply 

Previous PostNext Post
Click to Make a Complaint
The Parent Posting, to Which This is a Reply
An Older Reply to the Parent PostingThis PostingA Newer Reply to the Parent Posting
The First Reply to This Posting

My take on this article
Post: 305
Posted Jun 19, 2005 by Neil the Indefinite
'"So some of it is admittedly true."
Admitted by who? Corroboration or assimilation of other sources doesn't make a source 'true' or 'false', it makes it an assimilation or cocrroboration[sic] of another source.'
-You're right, it doesn't make it true or false. So what does make something true then? I think truth is a) ideas we hold to be true and b) things deducible from those we hold to be true.

I'm not saying you do, but one can keep a philsophy where one only keeps track of falsehoods and not truths. You can know something is false without even believing anything, those sentences which are contradictions in terms, are indisputably false because they cannot be true no matter what you believe. (You may need to add logical technicalities such as having a "consistent" system.) So, such a philosophy is perfectly correct but it still leaves you in the dark, because it only tells you what's not true. It does not account for truth, only for falsity.

So possibly it's more enlightening if you believe things, even though you can't prove them. The extent to which you believe the Bible will vary from person to person. If you need it proved before you accept it, then I think, for such a spiritual book, academic research is not the only (and possibly not even the best) avenue down which to persue this proof.

If so, it's really unfortunate because most of us would like to if we could.

Reply 

Previous PostNext Post
Click to Make a Complaint
The Parent Posting, to Which This is a Reply
An Older Reply to the Parent PostingThis PostingA Newer Reply to the Parent Posting
The First Reply to This Posting

My take on this article
Post: 306
Posted Jun 25, 2005 by R. Daneel Olivaw -- (User 201118) (Member FFFF, ARS, and DOS) ( -O- )
<<http://www.riverpower.org/answers/christianity_difference.htm
"The object of the Christian faith is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is what makes Christianity different than (sic) other religions. Described below are the specific differences:">>

And the first difference is that other religions claim that you have to follow the rules to be saved, Christianity says you're saved because God loves you. Except he only saves you if you follow his rules be believing in him.

Reply 

Previous PostNo Next Post
Click to Make a Complaint
The Parent Posting, to Which This is a Reply
An Older Reply to the Parent PostingThis PostingA Newer Reply to the Parent Posting
The First Reply to This Posting

Key
Navigation Example
A: An older reply to the parent Posting
B: The parent Posting, to which this is a reply
C: A newer reply to the parent posting
D: The first reply to this Posting
Click to Make a Complaint
 Click on this icon to make a complaint about a specific Posting
Previous List | Next List | Postings 1-20Postings 21-40Postings 41-60Postings 61-80Postings 81-100Postings 101-120Postings 121-140Postings 141-160Postings 161-180Postings 181-200Postings 201-220Postings 221-240Postings 241-260Postings 261-280Postings 281-300Postings 301-320Conversation list
<< Atheism links
Truth in Christ >>






Disclaimer

Most of the content on h2g2 is created by h2g2's Researchers, who are members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of the BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of any external sites referenced. In the event that you consider anything on this page to be in breach of the site's House Rules, please click here. For any other comments, please click on the Feedback button above.




About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy