Xref: utzoo soc.singles:13087 talk.religion.misc:4159 alt.flame:1393 Path: utzoo!hoptoad!amdahl!ames!think!bloom-beacon!gatech!udel!burdvax!sdcrdcf!trwrb!trwind.TRW.COM!nrcvax!nrc-ut!uplherc!sp7040!dale From: dale@sp7040.UUCP (Dale Clark) Newsgroups: soc.singles,talk.religion.misc,alt.flame Subject: Re: Christmas parties Summary: If you don't agree - You're OUT OF CONTEXT!!!!!! Keywords: Jesus, history, blindness Message-ID: <237@sp7040.UUCP> Date: 18 Jan 88 21:18:28 GMT References: <8712231623.AA24882@decwrl.dec.com> <1340@vaxwaller.UUCP> <6565@jade.BERKELEY.EDU> Organization: Unisys, Salt Lake City, UT Lines: 77 Mark Ritchie sez: >that YOU are the one avioiding the intellectual discussion. >that I raised were, and you have mentioned none of them. >is quite clear to me that you were more than willing to ignore the rest >the alleged contradictions, what translation you were using, had you >investigated the cultural and literary context etc. You apparently have not. Quit trying to tell me what I have done and didn't do! You have no idea the extent to which I have examined anything. Simply because I haven't read and re-read the Bible until I have hypnotized myself that it's true you make me out to be ignorant. To answer your question, I am doing a great deal of researching nearly every evening. I am looking at several Bibles, translations and contexts, and yes I do have a Greek and Hebrew/English dictionary. The trouble with some people is that when they are confronted with a direct, inexplicable contradiction they say "Oh that's an allegory" or "that's a parable" or "that's an anecdote." Fortunately for these people there is no way to actually say when something is fact and when it's poetry. If it don't fit - it's poetry! When do you get off the bus, Bubba? >Take for instance the Genesis account of creation in 6 days. IF you go back >to the original language, and compare that passage to other secular texts >written at the same time, it becomes clear that the passage is written as ...compare to other secular texts? Like what? >allegorical poetry. In addition,if you analize the cultural/historical context >out of which this passage comes, you discover that each of the days mentioned >correspondes to a diety or pantheon of a rival cultural/ethnic group. The Oh? Sounds like you are evading the issue to me. Show evidence please. Where in the Bible does it say that the days are not equal to a normal day? >Taken in its proper context, the contradictions that you assert >exist disappear. You mean "Taken in YOUR proper context" they do. > As to the origins of the universe, personally >I do believe in evolution, that the earth is billions of years old etc. The >Genesis passage in no way contradicts that, if you take the time to understand >it on its OWN terms. You mean "YOUR own terms." Genesis in no way contradicts the age of the earth? What does your Bible say in the inner margin at the first chapter of Genesis? Something about 4004 B.C. ring a bell? Wake up and smell the coffee. >of there beliefs are. Most do not study their religion in depth. If you are >going to attack it however, it would be good to go to the same effort that >others have in trying to understand it, and not simply attack what at first >glance seem to be contradictions. Not only are they contradictions at first glance - they continue to be. Again you presume the extent of my research. You have an annoying habit of immediately declaring anyone who disagrees with you to be "out of context." Just what the hell is that supposed to mean anyway? Out of context with what? Your original posting called me that too: >yes. Please do. I would be interested in seeing how you have taken the >citations out of context. Hell, Bubba, you said I was out of context before you even heard anything. I believe you are right - we CAN'T have an intellectual discussion. You have made up your mind already - there's no point in discussing anything. You've got the answers. There's no need. -- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- !{ihnp4!hpda!seismo!utah-cs!uplherc}!sp7040!dale BLASPHEMY IS A VICTIMLESS CRIME.