America is being besieged by Biblical illiteracy

[SlyPokerDog]

The Bible: So Misunderstood It's a Sin

They wave their Bibles at passersby, screaming their condemnations of homosexuals. They fall on their knees, worshipping at the base of granite monuments to the Ten Commandments while demanding prayer in school. They appeal to God to save America from their political opponents, mostly Democrats. They gather in football stadiums by the thousands to pray for the country’s salvation.

They are God’s frauds, cafeteria Christians who pick and choose which Bible verses they heed with less care than they exercise in selecting side orders for lunch. They are joined by religious rationalizers—fundamentalists who, unable to find Scripture supporting their biases and beliefs, twist phrases and modify translations to prove they are honoring the Bible’s words.

This is no longer a matter of personal or private faith. With politicians, social leaders and even some clergy invoking a book they seem to have never read and whose phrases they don’t understand, America is being besieged by Biblical illiteracy. Climate change is said to be impossible because of promises God made to Noah; Mosaic law from the Old Testament directs American government; creationism should be taught in schools; helping Syrians resist chemical weapons attacks is a sign of the end times—all of these arguments have been advanced by modern evangelical politicians and their brethren, yet none of them are supported in the Scriptures as they were originally written.

http://www.newsweek.com/2015/01/02/thats-not-what-bible-says-294018.html

 

[MARIS61]

 

[magnifier661]

I read the article. It was really good until he started trying to break down the contradictions. He was flip flopping between different translations, especially of genesis and John.

I do agree that many Christians don't know the slightest of the true message of Jesus Christ. I could picture him coming down just shaking his head.

And finally, the parts where he said middle age writers wrote in parts of the bible. I see no reference to where he got this information from. Are we just supposed to believe him because he writes for Newsweek?

 

[magnifier661]

And there it is.... Go figure

http://www.albertmohler.com/2014/12/29/newsweek-on-the-bible-so-misrepresented-its-a-sin/

So, when Newsweek, now back in print under new ownership, let loose its first issue of the New Year on the Bible, I held out the hope that the article would be fair, journalistically credible, and interesting, even if written from a more liberal perspective.
But Newsweek‘s cover story is nothing of the sort. It is an irresponsible screed of post-Christian invective leveled against the Bible and, even more to the point, against evangelical Christianity. It is one of the most irresponsible articles ever to appear in a journalistic guise.
The author of the massive essay is Kurt Eichenwald, who boasts an impressive reputation as a writer and reporter for newspapers like The New York Times and magazines including Vanity Fair. A two-time winner of the George Polk Award, he was also a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize. Eichenwald, however, has been primarily known for reporting and writing in a very different area of expertise. Most of his writing has been on business and financial matters, including business scandals.
When it comes to Newsweek‘s cover story, “The Bible: So Misunderstood It’s a Sin,” Eichenwald appears to be far outside his area of expertise and knowledge. More to the point, he really does not address the subject of the Bible like a reporter at all. His article is a hit-piece that lacks any journalistic balance or credibility. His only sources cited within the article are from severe critics of evangelical Christianity, and he does not even represent some of them accurately.

And another section

Newsweek’s cover story is exactly what happens when a writer fueled by open antipathy to evangelical Christianity tries to throw every argument he can think of against the Bible and its authority. To put the matter plainly, no honest historian would recognize the portrait of Christian history presented in this essay as accurate and no credible journalist would recognize this screed as balanced.

 

[Denny Crane]

 

[Denny Crane]

 

[Denny Crane]

 

[magnifier661]

What do those people have to do with this article? Oh wait I get it, because it's an excuse to make hits on Christianity?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

And there it is.... Go figure

http://www.albertmohler.com/2014/12/29/newsweek-on-the-bible-so-misrepresented-its-a-sin/


And another section

Attack the post, not the poster. LOL! j/k

Most of what the story covers I've read before from many accepted and credible authors. The premise of the article is true. There are many bad translations and more importantly, intentional reinterpretations of the new and old testament. Understanding and acknowledging this does not make you any less of a Christian.

That article is pretty much just a Cliff Note version of what Bart D. Ehrman has been talking about in many of his books.

What specifically are you disagreeing with in that article?

 

[Denny Crane]

They are God’s frauds, cafeteria Christians who pick and choose which Bible verses they heed with less care than they exercise in selecting side orders for lunch.

 

[magnifier661]

Attack the post, not the poster. LOL! j/k

Most of what the story covers I've read before from many accepted and credible authors. The premise of the article is true. There are many bad translations and more importantly, intentional reinterpretations of the new and old testament. Understanding and acknowledging this does not make you any less of a Christian.

That article is pretty much just a Cliff Note version of what Bart D. Ehrman has been talking about in many of his books.

What specifically are you disagreeing with in that article?

The disagreement is this "Is this journalism or the national enquirer?"

Bart D Ehrman has been debated and many historians laugh at his findings. He was even exposed by William Craig in a debate, which is probably why the OP wouldn't allow both side journalism.

And where did I attack you?!

http://www.philvaz.com/apologetics/p96.htm

 

[magnifier661]

They are God’s frauds, cafeteria Christians who pick and choose which Bible verses they heed with less care than they exercise in selecting side orders for lunch.

There are frauds in every political, personal and worldview. Picking 3 from millions is about as relevant as seeing one person steal and calling the entire race thieves.

Nice try Denny but you failed

 

[SlyPokerDog]

The disagreement is this "Is this journalism or the national enquirer?"

Bart D Ehrman has been debated and many historians laugh at his findings. He was even exposed by William Craig in a debate, which is probably why the OP wouldn't allow both side journalism.

And where did I attack you?!

http://www.philvaz.com/apologetics/p96.htm

You didn't attack me, you're posting quotes criticizing the author of the article and who he works for but not actually debating or taking issue with what he wrote.

 

[Denny Crane]

There are frauds in every political, personal and worldview. Picking 3 from millions is about as relevant as seeing one person steal and calling the entire race thieves.

Nice try Denny but you failed

I can pick more than 3 that's EASY

 

[magnifier661]

You didn't attack me, you're posting quotes criticizing the author of the article and who he works for but not actually debating or taking issue with what he wrote.

Not true, I questioned the references... Still searching for these historical references he's referring to. I can say Sly Poker Dog has been known to be a cock sucker, but if I don't have the evidence to support my statement, then it's just heresay Sly

 

[magnifier661]

I can pick more than 3 that's EASY

I can show you many more nationalities that steal too. Does that mean the race are thieves?

 

[Sinobas]

Jesus puts up to many mid range jump shots......

 

[Denny Crane]

I wasn't accusing them of being thieves.

They are God’s frauds, cafeteria Christians who pick and choose which Bible verses they heed with less care than they exercise in selecting side orders for lunch.

Frauds with gazillions of followers.

 

[Sinobas]

Denny, every christian picks and chooses which Bible verses to heed.

 

[Denny Crane]

Denny, every christian picks and chooses which Bible verses to heed.

That's why I said I could pick more than 3.

 

[magnifier661]

I wasn't accusing them of being thieves.

They are God’s frauds, cafeteria Christians who pick and choose which Bible verses they heed with less care than they exercise in selecting side orders for lunch.

Frauds with gazillions of followers.

And I responded once again, that generalizing an entire belief for the acts of the minority is about as responsible as calling an entire race thieves because you saw a minority steal.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Not true, I questioned the references... Still searching for these historical references he's referring to. I can say Sly Poker Dog has been known to be a cock sucker, but if I don't have the evidence to support my statement, then it's just heresay Sly

I have no idea what you mean by references. You want links to ancient Greek versions of the bible?

You don't believe in Constantine or Nicaea existed? References to what? You don't believe that the gospels tell vastly different stories and contradict each other? What exactly is the author claiming that you want references to?

 

[magnifier661]

I have no idea what you mean by references. You want links to ancient Greek versions of the bible?

You don't believe in Constantine or Nicaea existed? References to what? You don't believe that the gospels tell vastly different stories and contradict each other? What exactly is the author claiming that you want references to?

No, that any statement portrayed as fact needs references to solidify the statement or it's just an opinion.

 

[MarAzul]

Not true, I questioned the references... Still searching for these historical references he's referring to. I can say Sly Poker Dog has been known to be a cock sucker, but if I don't have the evidence to support my statement, then it's just heresay Sly

Sly will accept hearsay and repeat it. Perhaps he doesn't know the difference.

 

[BrianFromWA]

There is a ton of biblical illiteracy. Or if not illiteracy, omission/deletion/ignoring the Word to match what you would like to believe.

 

[MarAzul]

I didn't find anything particularly egregious in this article, it even started out fairly close to the mark.

" The Barna Group, a Christian polling firm, found in 2012 that evangelicals accepted the attitudes and beliefs of the Pharisees—religious leaders depicted throughout the New Testament as opposing Christ and his message—more than they accepted the teachings of Jesus."

I found it becoming a bit tedious though, lamenting about the Bible being put together some what like making sausage. The book, Who Wrote the Bible does a much better job.

However, None of these scholarly works gets to the point, the teachings of Jesus, whether you believe in him to be, a man or not, God or not, or a fabrication, had a profound effect on man that was good. Good compared to the teaching of Mosaic law or barbaric lack of law. It seems to me that the Bible was indeed constructed, however messy, to show the teachings Jesus as a great step forward for man to follow.

It just doesn't get through to many, and this is true in large part do to the continuous resistance campaign of the modern day pharisees, the Progressives and their henchmen the atheists.

 

[MARIS61]

Religion was invented by the ruling class to control, confuse, and otherwise occupy the gullible masses to prevent revolution.

And this thread is proof it works.

 

[MarAzul]

Religion was invented by the ruling class to control, confuse, and otherwise occupy the gullible masses to prevent revolution.

And this thread is proof it works.

Rather shallow take there MARIS. Well, perhaps you do feel confused. Sorry to hear it.

I don't.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Newsweek: The only magazine Time can still make fun of...

 

[Denny Crane]

Broken image... I bet it's good though