Actually, folks,

Most of the Bible is now regarded by legitimate historians as myth. There are a large number of disagreements between archaeological evidence and Biblical "fact," including, for example, the existence of Moses himself.

It is presently unknown whether or not we'll ever "prove" the Bible right or wrong -- but it's safe to say that most new archaeological discoveries made today are more discouraging than encouraging.

And just because JonBoy is so certain that the Bible fits together so well, I'd like to inject, that, well, it doesn't. The Bible is littered with self-inconsistencies, math errors, and the like. Here's a non-exhaustive list:

No matter how you read it, it's incontrovertible that God promised Tyre would be 'erased from the map' and that never happened. And putting the New Testament in the order of the books as they were written would do nothing to 'fix' the inconsistencies there (Judas still explodes in a field AND hangs himself; Jesus' lineage is still different between Matthew and Luke; Different people show up at his tomb to find different scenarios, depending on the book you're reading; and Jesus appears in four different places after his 'resurrection,' depnding on the book you're reading.)

The Bible is so contorted, it often contradicts itself in the same section, sometimes in the same passage. Here are a few examples:

Man was created before the animals. Genesis 2:18-19
But: Man was created after the animals. Genesis 1:25-27

God is satisfied with his works; it is good. Genesis 1:31
Then: God is dissatisfied with his works, decides to destroy it all. Genesis 6:6

God punishes his chosen people (Israel) repeatedly for their wickedness, Numbers 11:1, 11:33, 16:35, 16:44-49, 21:5
Yet: God has not seen wickedness in Israel. Numbers 23:21

Robbery is forbidden by God. Exodus 20:15; Leviticus 19:13
And...Robbery is commanded by God. Exodus 3:21-22, 12:35-36

Making of graven images is forbidden. Exodus 20:4
Making of graven images is commanded. Exodus 25:18,20

God forbids Moses from counting the Levites in the Israeli census. Numbers 1:48
God commands Moses to count the Levites in the Israeli census. Numbers 3:15

Good works are to be seen of men. Matthew 5:16
Good works are NOT to be seen. Matthew 6:1

No one can ever see God, lest they die. Exodus 33:20, 34:20
Moses speaks face-to-face with God regularly. Exodus 33:11

Jesus states that if he ever witnesses himself, then his witness will be a false one. John 5:31
Jesus bears witness of himself. John 8:18

It was unlawful for the Jews to put Jesus to death. John 18:31
It was lawful for the Jews to put Jesus to death. John 19:7

Risen Jesus says 'Touch Me' John 20:27
Risen Jesus says 'Do Not Touch Me' John 20:17

And, my two favorites:

Jesus promises that he will build his church upon Peter and give him the keys to Heaven, whatever Peter decrees will be true in Heaven and on Earth. Matthew 16:18-19
Jesus calls Peter "Satan", describes him as offensive, accuses him of selfish, evil materialism, and demands that Peter get lost Matthew. 16:23

Anyone who calls another a fool is liable to Hell. Matthew 5:22
Jesus says that anyone who hears his words and does not do them is a fool. Matthew 7:26

Mathematical Blunders
---------------------
(1) I Chronicles 3:22 --> 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 6
(2) 1 Chronicles 25:3 --> 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 6
(3) Joshua 15:33-36 --> 15 cities = 16 cities
(4) 1 Kings 7:23, 2 Chronicles 4:2 --> 2 * pi * 5 cubits = 30 cubits
(5) 1 Chronicles 3:19-20 --> 7 males + 1 female = 5 persons
(6) Joshua 15:21-32 --> 29 cities = 36 cities
(7) 2 Chronicles 21:20, 22:1,2 --> Son is 2 years older than father!
(8) Ezra 1:9-11 --> 1000 + 29 + 30 + 410 + 1000 = 5400
(9) Joshua 19:2-6 --> 13 cities = 14 cities
(10) Ezra 2:3,64; Neh. 7:8,66 --> 42,360 = 29,818 = 31,089
(11) Numbers 3:17,22 --> 22,000 = 22,300

Disclaimer: I haven't checked all of these out on my own and I also don't
know if this applies to all translations.

Here are a couple more straight-forward errors:
1-Insects in fact have six legs and not four (Leviticus 11:20)
2-Bats are not birds (Lev 11:19)

And my favorite,

The Bible-Thumper's Quiz

1. There first came to the tomb on Sunday morning
a. one woman (John 20:1)
b. two women (Matt. 28:1)
c. three women (Mark 16:1)
d. more than three women (Luke 23:55-56; 24:1,10)

2. She (they) came
a. while it was still dark (Matt. 28:1; John 20:1)
b. after the sun had risen (Mark 16:2)

3. The woman (women) came to the tomb
a. to anoint the body of Jesus with spices (Mark 16:1-2; Luke 24:1)
b. Just to look at it (Matt. 28:1; John 20:1)

4. The women had obtained the spices
a. on Friday before sunset (Luke 23:54-56; 24:1)
a. after sunset on Saturday (Mark 16:1)

5. The first visitor(s) was/were greeted by
a. an angel (Matt. 28:2-5)
b. a young man (Mark 16:5)
c. two men (Luke 24:4)
d. no one (John 20:1-2)

6. The greeter(s)
a. was sitting on the stone outside the tomb (Matt 28:2)
b. was sitting inside the tomb (Mark 16:5)
c. were standing inside the tomb (Luke 24:3-4)

7. After finding the tomb empty, the woman/women
a. ran to tell the disciples (Matt. 28:7-8; Mark 16:10; Luke 24:9; John 20:2)
b. ran away and said nothing to anyone (Mark 16:8)

8. The risen Jesus first appeared to
a. Mary Magdalene alone (John 20:14; Mark 16:9)
b. Cleopas and another disciple (Luke 24:13,15,18)
c. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (Matt. 28:1,9)
d. Cephas (Peter) alone (1 Cor. 15:4-5; Luke 24:34)

9. Jesus first appeared
a. somewhere between the tomb and Jerusalem (Matt. 28:8-9)
b. Just outside the tomb (John 20:11-14)
c. in Galilee - some 80 miles (130 Km) north of Jerusalem (Mark 16:6-7)
d. on the road to Emmaus - Miles (11 Km) west of Jerusalem (Luke 24:13-15)
e. we are not told where (Mark 16:9; 1 Cor. 15:4-5)

10. The disciples were to see Jesus first
a. in Galilee (Mark 16:7; Matt. 28:7,10,16)
b. in Jerusalem (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:33,36; John 20:19; Acts 1:4)

11. the disciples were told that they would meet the risen
Jesus in Galilee
a. by the women, who had been told by an angel of the Lord, then by Jesus himself after the resurrection (Matt. 28:7-10; Mark 16:7)
b. by Jesus himself, before the crucifiction (Mark 26:32)

12. The risen Jesus
a. wanted to be touched (John 20:27)
b. did not want to be touched (John 20:17)
c. did not mind being touched (Matt. 28:9-10)

13. Jesus ascended to Heaven
a. the same day that he was resurrected (Mark 16:9,19; Luke 24:13,28-36,50-51)
b. forty days after the resurrection (Acts 1:3,9)
c. we are not told that he ascended to Heaven at all (Matt. 28:10, 16-20; John 21:25; the original Gospel of Mark ends at 16:8)

14. The disciples received the Holy Spirit
a. 50 days after the resurrection (Acts 1:3,9)
b. in the evening of the same day as the resurrection (John 20:19-22)

15. The risen Jesus
a. was recognized by those who saw him (Matt. 28:9; Mark 16:9-10)
b. was not always recognizable (Mark 16:12; Luke 24:15-16,31,36-37; John 20:14-15)

16. The risen Jesus
a. was physical (Matt. 28:9; Luke 24:41-43; John 20:27)
b. was not physical (Mark 16:9,12,14; Luke 24:15-16,31,36-37; John 20:19,26; 1 Cor. 15:5-8)

17. The risen Jesus was seen by the disciples
a. presumably only once (Matt. 28:16-17)
b. first by two of them, later by all eleven (Mark 16:12-14; Luke 24:13-15,33,36-51)
c. three times (John 20:19,26; 21:1,14)
d. many times (Acts 1:3)

18. When Jesus appeared to the disciples
a. there were eleven of them (Matt. 28:16-17; Luke 24:33,36)
b. twelve of them (1 Cor. 15:5)

Have fun. Think carefully, JonBoy.

- Warren

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Clark
[B]

Garyj,

I must be missing something here because this seems completely opposite of how I understand Christian teachings. I thought that all people were born with the stain of original sin upon them, making them guilty rather than innocent from the get-go. They are then given a sort of "stay of execution" through baptism until they are old enough to then learn the teachings of Christ and choose to believe in Christ and the salvation (confirmation) at which point they are then forgiven (however never innocent) so long as they have their faith.

Sorry for the paraphrasing here, but that's the jist as I understand it (and it varies a bit from church to church with regards to confirmation and all).

 

Mens interpretations. Nuff said.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JonBoy
[B]The interesting thing about the Bible is that it was written over a period of some 4000 to 6000 years by DIFFERENT people, yet it fits together perfectly.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by chroot
[B]Actually, folks,

Most of the Bible is now regarded by legitimate historians as myth.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ltweintz
[B]

Mens interpretations. Nuff said.

Or a con.

 

Don't know if what was posted was all true or not, but if I repeatedly contradicted myself would you always believe what I say? It would be really interesting to find out how many of those are true or false.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ltweintz
[B]

Don't know if what was posted was all true or not, but if I repeatedly contradicted myself would you always believe what I say?

 

Ditto

What do you think about the writings of Nostrodomous(sp?)?

Another thought....you mentioned how it would be hard for all these to dovetail properly, but the bible doesn't document rumors/stories floating around civiliazations at the time. I find it very easy to believe that rumors and stories could lead writers to develope similar stories that fit together. Remember - their was a time of mystery, magic, and superstition and it was very prominent in their lives.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JonBoy
[B]

Of course not.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ltweintz
[B]

Ditto