Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site pyramid.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!lll-crg!dual!pyramid!csg From: csg@pyramid.UUCP (Carl S. Gutekunst) Newsgroups: net.religion.christian Subject: Re: About Literalism: The authors of Scripture. Message-ID: <240@pyramid.UUCP> Date: Tue, 13-Aug-85 13:47:57 EDT Article-I.D.: pyramid.240 Posted: Tue Aug 13 13:47:57 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 17-Aug-85 06:46:10 EDT Organization: Pyramid Technology Lines: 54 Summary: Do we really need a debate about inerrancy? (LONG!) Expires: References: <2194@sdcrdcf.UUCP> <1050@umcp-cs.UUCP> <2222@sdcrdcf.UUCP> <498@utastro.UUCP> <275@ihlpl.UUCP> <526@utastro.UUCP> Sender: Reply-To: csg@pyramid.UUCP (Carl S. Gutekunst) Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: Pyramid Technology Keywords: >> > There is a third theory that is convincing to me: Scripture was written >> > by men, and like all things written by men, it contains errors.... >> >> I guess the writer of Hebrews didn't quite agree with that theory.... >> >I see. So if I have a book, and it says clearly in this book that it >was not written by men, then that proves that it was not written by men.... Since the purpose of this group is to generate light, rather than heat, may I suggest that this long rambling discussion not degenerate into a point-counter- point debate on Biblical inerrancy? This is a meta-religious issue: a religious issue that people are religious about :-) When all the dust settles, the inerrancy debate can be summarized as follows: Backers of inerrancy believe that the Bible was written by the Holy Spirit, with men as the tools. If it was written by God, it follows that the Bible has no errors. Apparent contradictions or dichotomies are not errors, but a case of our sin-blinded minds not being able to comprehend God's wonderful truths. Those unwilling to believe this demonstrate their lack of faith, since they believe more in the scholarship of modern men than in the writings of God himself. Opponents of inerrancy note the extensive work of researchers and historical critics that conclude that the Bible evolved of thousands of years, with many different sources from many different times and places. They also observe that the Bible contradicts itself and other historical sources. Those who insist on trying to "prove" inerrancy have closed their minds and cling to tradition, rather than to God. They demonstrate that their faith is weak because it depends on the Bible's accuracy rather than Jesus' love. So you reach an impasse, with everyone having weak faith (an interesting state- ment in itself :-)) I'm open to discussion on controversial Christian issues, but using the net to argue personal beliefs only results in hurt feelings. In practice, when the discussion involves EYIP theory or the authorship of the Gospels, PLEASE no flames accusing the group of heresy for denying single authorship or denying inerrancy. Similarly, a discussion about a particularly difficult or apparently contradictory passage should not be dismissed with statements that the discussion is irrelevant because the Bible has errors. -- -m------- Carl S. Gutekunst, Software R&D, Pyramid Technology ---mmm----- P.O. Box 7295, Mountain View, CA 94039 415/965-7200 -----mmmmm--- UUCP: {allegra,decwrl,dual,Shasta,sun,topaz}!pyramid!csg -------mmmmmmm- ARPA: pyramid!csg@sri-unix.ARPA