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The Old Testament begins with the six days of creation and the Adam and Eve story. Although this legend is portrayed as history, most today regard it as only allegorical.
Curiously though, doctrine/dogma is still based on this story such as "Original Sin." St Paul claims that death entered the world as a result of Adam's sin, a story which might be entertained if one accepts the six days of creation claim.
However, it is now recognized that the earth formed about 4.5 billion years ago. Early life forms appeared around 3.8 billion years ago. Man appeared ony around 2.5 million years ago.
So if death didn't come into the world until Adam sinned, the earth must have been terribly crowded.
Based on the Orignal Sin story, we get the doctrinal need for baptism and even the Immaculate Conception dogma.
All this is presented as historical (these things really happened). Obviously, they did not.
How does your faith's view establish that the Bible had any divine authorship? Is this only held by faith alone?
I admit I'm not sure I can give an easy or sufficient answer to this. However the canon of the Bible is established by the Church and the Church's divine connection extends from Christ, supported by centuries of miracles, clarified/supported by study, etc. I worry that's a bit off though.
It wasn't my best effort, but I'm not saying the Bible or the Church are proof of themselves. I'm more saying they're "proved", not in the sense a math theorem is proved though, by human experiences and study. By study I mean of humanity, life, etc.
I doubt I can "prove" to you revelations happened. More importantly I'm not here to convert anyone to anything so "proving" to you I'm right is not even really my goal. I'm one of the least proselytizing people here or I try to be anyway.
If you don't want to believe in God or Catholicism or what have you then don't. It's not my choice or even my business really.
Many posts seem to be indirectly dealing with this question but don't attack the question headon.
Perhaps we can debate the answer on this thread.
For openers, I'd suggest that the Bible is a collection of folklore.
I'd define folklore as:
"The traditional beliefs, myths, tales, and practices of a people....A popular but often unfounded belief."
In sum, the Bible contains traditional beliefs that may contain some historical truth mixed with myths and tales.
Thank you for bringing this up. I think it's important NOT to think of the Bible in either/or terms (as in it's ALL true or ALL false). Life is never that simple. I lean toward the belief that it has more historical basis than non-believers contend...but I most definitely am not a rigid fundamentalist who believes every single word in the Bible is true.
There was an interesting DVD put out by the History Channel about the story in Exodus and how historical proof of the Exodus is coming to light:
History channel? You mean the one that often has programs on UFOs, the occult, ghosts and such....More than half the stuff on the History channel is just entertainment, and nothing to do with history.
Many posts seem to be indirectly dealing with this question but don't attack the question headon.
Perhaps we can debate the answer on this thread.
For openers, I'd suggest that the Bible is a collection of folklore.
I'd define folklore as:
"The traditional beliefs, myths, tales, and practices of a people....A popular but often unfounded belief."
In sum, the Bible contains traditional beliefs that may contain some historical truth mixed with myths and tales.
Of course suggesting the Bible has historical truth mixed with myths is easily stated. Yet what do you base your opinion on? Can you prove that such myths are only that?
Of course suggesting the Bible has historical truth mixed with myths is easily stated. Yet what do you base your opinion on? Can you prove that such myths are only that?
Already been proven. Up to Deuteronomy, it's simply rehashed myths and stories from other cultures.
It isn't a question of reading Job, it's a question of which Job do you want to read, the Hebrew version are the dozens of other versions which predate the Hebrew version by as much as several thousand years?
Likewise for creation, the E.din, Ka'in and Abel, the Fall, the Deluge, the Tower etc are all stories the Hebrews borrowed, abridged and messed up.
Already been proven. Up to Deuteronomy, it's simply rehashed myths and stories from other cultures.
It isn't a question of reading Job, it's a question of which Job do you want to read, the Hebrew version are the dozens of other versions which predate the Hebrew version by as much as several thousand years?
Likewise for creation, the E.din, Ka'in and Abel, the Fall, the Deluge, the Tower etc are all stories the Hebrews borrowed, abridged and messed up.
Of course we all recall the story of that great passenger ship that sailed out into the Atlantic on an April night. A ship considered to be the largest in the world with a weight of around 45,000 tons and a speed of 25 knots. 800 hundred feet in length, and traveling way to fast for conditions and not having enought lifeboats. The ship struck an Iceberg. Sinking her to the bottom of the Atlantic with the loss of most of her officers and crew. Of course, the ships name was the Titan.
The story was a work of fiction which was written by Morgan Robertson in 1898. That was about 14 years before the sinking of the Titanic. Now, do you believe the story of the Titanic was just a myth and a rehash account from the real story written by Morgan Robertson?
The fact is, just because a similar account predates the real account, does not necessary make the second account a myth.
Already been proven. Up to Deuteronomy, it's simply rehashed myths and stories from other cultures.
It isn't a question of reading Job, it's a question of which Job do you want to read, the Hebrew version are the dozens of other versions which predate the Hebrew version by as much as several thousand years?
Likewise for creation, the E.din, Ka'in and Abel, the Fall, the Deluge, the Tower etc are all stories the Hebrews borrowed, abridged and messed up.
Fascinating. I suppose you wouldn't be so kind as to show where those were derived from? Apart from the Flood and ark (Mesopotamia) I've never seen any suggestion the Biblical stories were borrowed from elsewhere.
Fascinating. I suppose you wouldn't be so kind as to show where those were derived from? Apart from the Flood and ark (Mesopotamia) I've never seen any suggestion the Biblical stories were borrowed from elsewhere.
FYI
"Jewish Mythology. The ancient Israelites were a Semitic people who settled in Canaan. In time, they established the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, where the modern nation of Israel is today. In 722 B.C, the Assyrians gained control of the kingdom of Israel. The Babylonians conquered Judah in 586 B.C, destroying the city of Jerusalem and removing its inhabitants to Babylon for some years. Eventually the people of Judah came to be known as Jews. Moderator cut: posted article was reduced to comply with copyright rules Semitic Mythology - Myth Encyclopedia - Greek, god, story, legend, names, ancient, war, world, creation, life, hero, king, people, culture, warrior, strength
Last edited by Miss Blue; 11-06-2010 at 10:20 AM..
Reason: TOS calls for a snippet (about two sentences) and a link..
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