Bible
usage incorrect
In
the Oct. 25 edition of the Daily Forty-Niner,
in the column titled “Bible not
valid source for logical reasoning,” Sterling
Harris uses arguments in his editorial
on the Bible that were laced with typical,
unoriginal and ill-thought through slogans.
First, he reads the Bible superficially. I can’t deal with everything
here, but I will mention one thing. The “four corners” in
Acts 10:11 refers to a sheet knit “at the four corners” in Peter’s
vision, not flatness of the earth. Much of Revelation is highly symbollic;
7:1 is one example and therefore should not be read like technical literature. In
context, Revelation 7:1 refers to compass points, not flatness of the earth. Also,
we still talk like this. If I said, “I traveled to the four corners
of the earth,” I would be saying I traveled widely, no flat earth involved.
Secondly, he reflects an attitude of chronological snobbery. People in
ancient times weren’t dumb; they knew virgins didn’t ordinarily
get pregnant, and people didn’t normally rise from the dead. In
fact, the apostles were very skeptical of the resurrection at first. It
took some hefty evidence to convince them.
Also, Harris doesn’t acknowledge science originally flourished in a theistic
worldview. Many scientists who have made important contributions were
Christians or at least theists attempting to understand the complex order of
the designer’s handywork. Even today, many scientists, faced with
the fine-tuned specifications needed for life on earth, are theists.
What is most perplexing, though, is his “reasoning” backing up
his obvious emotional disdain for all things Christian. One howler is
this: “Ashlee Thomas has a right to believe whatever she wishes, but
she has no right to condemn others based upon her own personal faith.” Harris
criticizes Thomas for using her personal beliefs to correct others, but he
is doing the very same thing. Why is she intolerant when she corrects
others, but when Harris corrects others he is just right?
–Rich Bordner, English single subject credential
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