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To: tjd1454
No problem. When it comes to creation of the universe, the writing of the Bible and the rest I'm looking at the how, not the if. I'm, as should be obvious, not a literalist when it comes to Genesis. I have to ask the questions, if that makes me a bad Christian, so be it. But I have always thought it better to express a doubt, it might get answered.

As for my use of the word illiterate, it was not in the condescending, but literal use. There was a time before writing was available. If you tell something someone who can't write you are limited to their memory and ability to communicate the thought. The original post dealt with errors of translation and transmission. If such errors exist, the part of the Bible which was of necessity an oral traditon would be the most likely spot to find them. Does this contribute to my doubts, sure. But details, not the big message.

And if God wants to judge me on that, well his universe, his call.
62 posted on 03/07/2012 12:20:25 PM PST by GonzoGOP (There are millions of paranoid people in the world and they are all out to get me.)
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To: GonzoGOP
Appreciate your forebearance. As alluded to in another post, the so-called late dating of the Hebrew Bible was required to "fit" into a hypothesis regarding the formation of the text that dates to the 19th century, and which has increasingly proved to be untenable. There existed numerous cultures in the ANE which possessed some form of writing in the third millennium BC. The assumption that a "minor" nomadic and pastoral people such as the Israelites lacked writing is an assumption which to my mind at least is unwarranted.

I would also make one observation regarding Creationism versus Evolution. I do not claim to know how "old" the Earth is. It is evident that there has been a degree of "development" within species. However, for me it comes down to a question of authority. The modern age has bestowed absolute authority upon "Science" in place of medieval ecclesiastical authority.

As a Christian I believe that to the extent that Science is truly objective (and not governed by anti-supernatural bias), there is no conflict with Scripture. However, "Science" is composed of scientists, with their own prejudices, e.g., either for or against the possibility of the miraculous.

In short, while there is room for disagreement regarding the "how" of Creation, Christians are bound to affirm God as Creator, as confessed in prologue of the Apostles Creed: "I believe in God the Father, Maker of heaven and Earth..."

67 posted on 03/07/2012 12:40:32 PM PST by tjd1454
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