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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Why Biblical Literalism is Wrong Part 5: New Testament

The Old Testament isn't alone with its errors, the New Testament has a fair share too. Though most of them are related to illnesses being caused by sin or by demons. Here is a short list of some of them.

Herod killed all young boys under 2, yet it is not mentioned by any historians, Josephus who wrote in great detail about Herod doesn't even mention it. Mat. 2:16
The devil shows Jesus the whole world from a mountaintop.. Flat earth? Mat. 4:8
If you have enough faith you never get sick. Mat. 9:22
The inability to speak is caused by demon-possession Mat. 9:32-33
Illness is caused by unclean spirits Mat. 10:1
Mustard seeds are not the smallest, and they do not grow into the greatest of all trees. Mat. 13:31-32
Jesus thought Noah's flood was an actual event Mat. 24:37
Jesus taught that Adam and Eve were there at the beginning of creation, though this is emphatically untrue. Mark 10:6
Epilepsy is caused by demon possession Luk 9:39
Angels cure disease John 5:4
Being crippled is a punishment for sin John 5:14
A blind man is cured by washing in a pool. John 9:7
Paul is bitten by a poisonous snake in Malta, yet there are no snakes on Malta or any evidence that there ever were. Acts 28:3-8
God is self-evident. Sorry, I don't see him. Rom 1:20
Only dead seeds germinate? Sorry Paul you're wrong. 1 Cor 15:36
Paul believed the creation myth 2 Cor 11:3, 1 Tim 2:13
Storms and droughts are caused by Satan Eph 2:2
The earth doesn't move, because it is set on a foundation. Heb 1:10 (geocentricism fail)
All beasts, birds serpents and sea creatures have been tamed by humans. James 3:7
All illness is curable by prayer. James 5:14-15
Author of 2 Peter believed the flood story 2 Pet. 2:4-5
There's a whole lot more in revelation, but anyone with 1/2 a brain knows that it is apocalyptic literature, and none of it is meant to be taken literally.

This series has the potential to carry on for a long time, but I've run out of categories to post about. I think I have made a fairly strong case for why the bible is not literally true, regardless of whether it is intended to be interpreted as such or not. In retrospect, I think I haven't really made a case for why Biblical Literalism is wrong as a theological approach, but rather argued for why I think that it is not correct. In summary, as a collection of texts, the Bible can not be taken as literal truth so long as it contains: Creation myths, contradictions, scientific errors, historical errors and anachronisms.

The Bible is not literally true, if anyone thinks they can give a reason why they think it is I would love to hear it.

Part 4: Errors
Part 3: Genesis
Part 2: Contradictions
Part 1: Creation Myths

4 comments:

  1. It's true because I say it is.

    Actually, I'm thinking of changing it slightly, think you can help me come up with some excuse as to why?

    ~Nami

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  2. "God is self-evident. Sorry, I don't see him. Rom 1:20" I LOL'D

    and i love how your page is full of christian ads

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  3. The Christian ads are freakin funny. Especially the ones that are like "THE FALL OF DARWNINISM!!!!1!111!!1!"

    ReplyDelete