A New and Growing Flat-Earth Movement among Christians? (Gospel, myths, church)
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It recently came to my attention that while there have always been people who believe the earth is flat, there is a new and growing flat-earth movement among Christians.
In a recent book, Dr. Michael Heiser who is an Old Testament scholar and an expert in ancient Semitic languages wrote;
Recently, I've had the dispiriting experience of fielding several emails asking me to inject some sanity into the new flat earth movement circulating among Christians. Yes---you read that correctly: there's a growing cadre of ''Bible teachers'' busily contending for the faith by teaching their followers (in church and online) that the Bible requires us to believe the earth is flat. This idea is related to another ''Bible fact'' that is experiencing a revival: geocentrism, the idea that the earth is the center of our solar system, not the sun.¹ ''Biblical geocentrism'' is based on the hyper-literal interpretation of verses like Psalm 104:5 (the sun and other planets must revolve around the earth since the earth cannot be moved).
1. See, for example, Karl Keating, The New Geocentrists (El Cajon, CA: Rasselas House, 2015).
The Bible Unfiltered, Approaching Scripture on its Own Terms, Michael Heiser, 2015, pp 27-28.
So I decided to google 'a new flat-earth movement' and sure enough, entries came up such as;
I don't know how many flat-earther's are flat-earthers because of the Bible, or because of other reasons. The fourth article I posted, from LiveScience mentioned three reasons why conspiracy theories are appealing to people. But there have been Christians on this forum who believe the earth is flat.
It's true that the Biblical writers did believe that the earth is flat. A flat earth was part of the cosmic geography view that existed in the Ancient Near East.
The link below contains an image of the Biblical view of the three tiered cosmos.
But we know better today. We know that the earth is not flat. So if you are a Christian and if you are among those who believe that the earth is flat despite the incontestable proof that the earth is a sphere, how can you hold to a flat-earth view? How?
^ The world is filled with flaky people. This is nothing new. There has been and always will be people who will believe in anything no matter how far-fetched and wacky. This isn't just in the area religion, but is applicable to all realms of society. For example, have you taken a look at politics lately?!? There are tons of wacko ideas and conspiracy theories what we could blush at, and yet also an audience of brain-dead goons ready to embrace the ideas. Singling out Christians makes this thread suspect and even prejudicial.
The only difference these days compared to the past is that we now give the wackos and their ideas attention and put them in the spotlight, like this tread. In the past, people just chuckled and went on about their business. The nonsense was effectively dumped in the trash. That tended to limit and discourage it's growth. Now, we give these goons a place on the Internet, and time and consideration that they don't deserve. That's why this crap proliferates. Sensationalizing matters too by pitting groups against each other doesn't help either, such is the level we've descended to.
If Christians start believing in a flat-earth, it won't be the Bible or God's fault. It will be due to the foolishness of individuals and culture's irresponsibility, pure and simple.
P.S. Where is the proof of your statement "It's true that the Biblical writers did believe that the earth is flat". What scripture or scriptures in the Bible back that up? It appears you're firing off numerous unfounded anti-Christian statements.
Last edited by Thoreau424; 04-16-2018 at 02:15 PM..
It recently came to my attention that while there have always been people who believe the earth is flat, there is a new and growing flat-earth movement among Christians.
In a recent book, Dr. Michael Heiser who is an Old Testament scholar and an expert in ancient Semitic languages wrote;
Recently, I've had the dispiriting experience of fielding several emails asking me to inject some sanity into the new flat earth movement circulating among Christians. Yes---you read that correctly: there's a growing cadre of ''Bible teachers'' busily contending for the faith by teaching their followers (in church and online) that the Bible requires us to believe the earth is flat. This idea is related to another ''Bible fact'' that is experiencing a revival: geocentrism, the idea that the earth is the center of our solar system, not the sun.¹ ''Biblical geocentrism'' is based on the hyper-literal interpretation of verses like Psalm 104:5 (the sun and other planets must revolve around the earth since the earth cannot be moved).
1. See, for example, Karl Keating, The New Geocentrists (El Cajon, CA: Rasselas House, 2015).
The Bible Unfiltered, Approaching Scripture on its Own Terms, Michael Heiser, 2015, pp 27-28.
So I decided to google 'a new flat-earth movement' and sure enough, entries came up such as;
I don't know how many flat-earther's are flat-earthers because of the Bible, or because of other reasons. The fourth article I posted, from LiveScience mentioned three reasons why conspiracy theories are appealing to people. But there have been Christians on this forum who believe the earth is flat.
It's true that the Biblical writers did believe that the earth is flat. A flat earth was part of the cosmic geography view that existed in the Ancient Near East.
The link below contains an image of the Biblical view of the three tiered cosmos.
But we know better today. We know that the earth is not flat. So if you are a Christian and if you are among those who believe that the earth is flat despite the incontestable proof that the earth is a sphere, how can you hold to a flat-earth view? How?
I don’t think that biblical writers necessarily believed that, but merely used poetic liscence as they wrote...
^ The world is filled with flaky people. This is nothing new. There has been and always will be people who will believe in anything no matter how far-fetched and wacky. This isn't just in the area religion, but is applicable to all realms of society. For example, have you taken a look at politics lately?!? There are tons of wacko ideas and conspiracy theories what we could blush at, and yet also an audience of brain-dead goons ready to embrace the ideas. Singling out Christians makes this thread suspect and even prejudicial.
The only difference these days compared to the past is that we now give the wackos and their ideas attention and put them in the spotlight, like this tread. In the past, people just chuckled and went on about their business. The nonsense was effectively dumped in the trash. That tended to limit and discourage it's growth. Now, we give these goons a place on the Internet, and time and consideration that they don't deserve. That's why this crap proliferates. Sensationalizing matters too by pitting groups against each other doesn't help either.
If Christians start believing in a flat-earth, it won't be the Bible or God's fault. It will be due to the foolishness of individuals and culture's irresponsibility, pure and simple.
P.S. Where is the proof of your statement "It's true that the Biblical writers did believe that the earth is flat". What scripture or scriptures in the Bible back that up? It appears you're firing off numerous unfounded anti-Christian statements.
Scholars have long known that the Bible depicts a flat earth view. And in fact I provided a link in the OP of this thread by Dr. Peter Enns who addresses the ancient Biblical view of the cosmos.
It recently came to my attention that while there have always been people who believe the earth is flat, there is a new and growing flat-earth movement among Christians.
In a recent book, Dr. Michael Heiser who is an Old Testament scholar and an expert in ancient Semitic languages wrote;
Recently, I've had the dispiriting experience of fielding several emails asking me to inject some sanity into the new flat earth movement circulating among Christians. Yes---you read that correctly: there's a growing cadre of ''Bible teachers'' busily contending for the faith by teaching their followers (in church and online) that the Bible requires us to believe the earth is flat. This idea is related to another ''Bible fact'' that is experiencing a revival: geocentrism, the idea that the earth is the center of our solar system, not the sun.¹ ''Biblical geocentrism'' is based on the hyper-literal interpretation of verses like Psalm 104:5 (the sun and other planets must revolve around the earth since the earth cannot be moved).
1. See, for example, Karl Keating, The New Geocentrists (El Cajon, CA: Rasselas House, 2015).
The Bible Unfiltered, Approaching Scripture on its Own Terms, Michael Heiser, 2015, pp 27-28.
So I decided to google 'a new flat-earth movement' and sure enough, entries came up such as;
I don't know how many flat-earther's are flat-earthers because of the Bible, or because of other reasons. The fourth article I posted, from LiveScience mentioned three reasons why conspiracy theories are appealing to people. But there have been Christians on this forum who believe the earth is flat.
It's true that the Biblical writers did believe that the earth is flat. A flat earth was part of the cosmic geography view that existed in the Ancient Near East.
The link below contains an image of the Biblical view of the three tiered cosmos.
But we know better today. We know that the earth is not flat. So if you are a Christian and if you are among those who believe that the earth is flat despite the incontestable proof that the earth is a sphere, how can you hold to a flat-earth view? How?
not everyone can visualize in multiple dimensions.
i ts possible that the flat earth scenario or presentation is easiest for them understand at the moment.
as for the obvious errors of actual reality
The individuals who continuously propagate the nonsense are just as liable as a gossip!
Scholars have long known that the Bible depicts a flat earth view. And in fact I provided a link in the OP of this thread by Dr. Peter Enns who addresses the ancient Biblical view of the cosmos.
No, that won't cut it. Again, where in the Bible does scripture support a "flat-earth theory"? The Bible is the foundation for Christianity. If there no scripture that states that, then you have no basis for your allegations against Christianity.
People can say any kind of nonsense they want, but that's just people. People have never been the litmus test for God's/Jesus' thoughts and directions. It's as if you're treating something acting on gravity - like a rock - being gravity itself. No, gravity is the force, the rock is the acted-upon object. Get your sources straight. You've got it reversed. People don't make the gospel and God; God and his word (scripture) do that. Whether or not people follow the directions and teachings doesn't change the Bible itself and what it says.
You're having people 'run the show'. No wonder you're reaching crazy conclusions!
not everyone can visualize in multiple dimensions.
i ts possible that the flat earth scenario or presentation is easiest for them understand at the moment.
as for the obvious errors of actual reality
The individuals who continuously propagate the nonsense are just as liable as a gossip!
Did you just compare me with a gossip for posting this thread?
No, where in the Bible does it support a "flat-earth theory"? The Bible is the foundation for Christianity. If there no scripture that states that, then you have no basis for your allegations against Christianity.
People can say any kind of nonsense, but that is just people. People have never been the litmus test for God's/Jesus' thoughts and directions. It's as if you're treating something acting on gravity - like a rock - being gravity itself. No, gravity is the force, the rock is the acted-upon object. Get your sources straight. You've got it reversed. People don't make the gospel and God; only God and his word (scripture) can do that.
This is the usual denial that many Christians make in defense of the Bible. As I told you, in the other thread I provided a number of scriptures which depict a flat earth.
You can choose not to listen to what scholars have to say on the subject. You can simply dismiss it. But why be afraid of how the Biblical writers viewed the cosmos?
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