[Dog Gone]

Defending Genesis as literal truth is a pretty hard challenge for any Christian. I no longer do it.

I can no longer even argue that the Hebrews were ever enslaved in Egypt. There's not a shred of credible evidence to support it, and the Egyptians documented everything. And the timing is all wrong. Their Golden Age occurred during the time when they were reported to be brought to their knees by Moses and the ten plagues. It just never happened.

Once I realized that, it shook my faith. I mean, if that's not true, what else is not true?

But the bottom line is that Christianity is not based, nor either passes or fails, on the prehistoric accounts in the books contained in the bible. What does it matter whether there was a Noah's Flood or not? It doesn't.

There was no Noah's Ark. Not in the sense that it's being sought by the ark hunters. The story may have its origins in some local event, but the account was never recorded in the book of Genesis until a thousand years later. It's like King Arthur or Robin Hood. The account was not recorded until the story got retold enough times to get really good.

That's my opinion, and everyone else's mileage may vary.

[Sopater]

Defending Genesis as literal truth is a pretty hard challenge for any Christian. I no longer do it.

Absolutely. However, its not because the evidence doesn't support it, its because those who wish for it not to be true have a very loud and forceful voice. They attempt to tear down our beliefs while they prop up their own. The evidence that is presented doesn't support beliefs unless you first assume that the bible is not true. It actaully takes just as much faith (if not more) to blelieve the stories that are put forth by those that wish to destroy the truth of Genesis.

I can no longer even argue that the Hebrews were ever enslaved in Egypt. There's not a shred of credible evidence to support it, and the Egyptians documented everything.

Contraire: Wikipedia "Exodus Decoded" and Archaeology uncovers the history of the land of Rameses

Once I realized that, it shook my faith. I mean, if that's not true, what else is not true?

You didn't realize this, you were convinced of this. Lack of evidence never proves anything. I'm sorry that you were so easily convinced that your faith was without basis, but it's simply not true. However, if we require proof in order to believe, then its not really faith. I don't say this as an excuse to not look for answers or truth, only to point out that in the absence of evidence, faith must fill the void. There is no evidence that proves many of things that scientists try to put forth as an alternative explaination for things, so it too is based on faith.

But the bottom line is that Christianity is not based, nor either passes or fails, on the prehistoric accounts in the books contained in the bible. What does it matter whether there was a Noah's Flood or not? It doesn't.

Jesus quoted from the OT extensively, including Genesis. The danger that I see in believing this statement is, how do you know where to stop? How do you know what is true and what is a lie in the bible? You reduce the Christian faith to nothing more than any other faith on the planet. For Christianity to have any real meaning, we must put our faith in the revealed truth that God has given us through His word.

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

-2 Timothy 3:16-17

I pray that you reconsider your position on these issues. Don't put your faith in the fallible wisdom of men. Apologetics can be a dangerous game for Christians. It forces us to try and take the illogical and miraculous aspects of a God who operates outside of our physical and spectural limitations and then somehow logically defend our faith in His existance. The beauty of it all is that it is just as impossible to ligically defend the belief that He does not exist. Thankfully, we have His inspired word, and all of the evidence that does exist, supports His word, regardless of what others tell you.

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

-Romans 1:20

God bless you, Dog Gone.