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Replying to post 1 by Zzyzx]
Well, a couple things I gotta say about the Bible. IN defense of the allegedly "poor writers" as you claimed.
First, remember how old it is. The OT was written from between, what? Around 1500 BC till up to around 400 BC? And then the NT begins with Paul's letters which began around 50 AD. Going thru the Four Gospels, dating from around 60 AD with Mark up to about 95 AD with John.
Long time ago! Think about it: we are now closer to Middle Age Writings, like in the 13th to 15th Centuries than THEY were to Biblical times. The vast majority of the people in Palestine and those Near East areas in biblical times were illiterate.
Also, the Bible is NOT a cohesive work. It was compiled from many small scrolls (biblias)--ranging over a dozen or so centuries. Then it was cobbled together in the form we read now not until the 4th century AD or so.
And we have all those translations. First from the Hebrew of the OT writers, into the Greek. (The Pentateuch). And then the Aramaic and Greek NT into Latin. And then German. And then English.
SO it is no wonder about all those discrepancies. Like the differing genealogies; the different accounts of who exactly discovered JC's "empty tomb." Etc. Hell, even Genesis has two different Creation stories. (Of course that book was NEVER meant to be a literal Creation account of the Earth.) But that is another topic.
Also, most of the writers--both OT and NT--had their own personal agendas and Theology. The early Church Leaders also did a LOT of editing. This is why we are only offered a measly four Gospels about Jesus, when ya know there had to be dozens. If the Gospels did not dovetail into the Early Church's own personal dogma, well, they didn't make the cut! LOL
So with all this is it any wonder about all those factual errors? Also you have to remember that most of those stories are metaphorical and allegorical. NOT actual accounts. They are myths. Like my signature says: "The Bible is Not a book of literal truths, but rather, of ETERNAL ones." (Contrary to popular belief, a Myth does not have to be pure fiction.) Sometimes myths is used to convey larger and more profound truths than mere everyday parlance and words can convey.
Of course, though I do consider myself a Christian, I am NOT a biblical literalist. Like some. And I truly feel that people who share my view actually get MORE out of the bible then do the Literalists. This is of course very ironic!
Besides, I don't think all of the writing is that bad. Some of it is awesome! Psalms; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes; Song of Solomon. So are some of the OT stories. I love the stuff about Daniel; Judges; and some of the Genesis writings, like about Joseph. Again....allegory; metaphor. The Exodus tells us that for all of us, we usually live in "Egypt." LOL...that is: Slavery. But that there IS hope and a better place awaiting. But to get there is a long and often torturous Journey. We must go through our own Wilderness.
Again....Allegory. Larger truths. NOT literal. NOT inerrant word of God, certainly.
Inspired by God? Maybe. Some of it. I also think Paul had some damn fine Theology. I love the Gospel of John, though I think it might be the least accurate of the Gospels as far as accurately quoting Jesus. We must remember when it was written, and what the socio-political climate was like. And what the author was TRYING to say to his audience.
There is an old saying that tells us "You can never take a man out of his Time."
This is true with the Bible authors.
God Bless.