How can the bible prove stuff ?

Question

First off, I'm a Catholic seminarian (future priest), and my question is mainly for other Christians.
I noticed that a lot of people here answer questions about science, evolution, Big Bang and such and such by quoting from the bible. My question is this: how can you use the bible as a science book, when there are so many contradictions in it? For example, there are two explanations of how the earth and man was created, so which one should we believe? And how can it be that the Jews in Babylon knew how the universe began?

to REB: these arguments were all thaught to us in the seminary. The bible is a book about the relationship between man and God, not a science book. And Genesis 1 was a song that the jews made in Babylon to withstand the other religion, and it's mythical world view

IMPORTANT EDIT:

a lot of people are avoiding the question, so let me put it very clearly: did God create Adam and Eve together, or did he create Eve from the rib of Adam?

To clarify: Genesis 1 was written by the Jews in Babylon around 600 BC, they did this because they saw the Babylonic religion, and how it explained the creation of the earth in a mythical way, and so, to conserve their faith, they wrote an ode, describing how their God had created it, and describing how the relationship is between God and man

That's weird, now that I reformulated my question nobody is answering anymore...

Boonike, I think you are cofusing Bible knowledge with knowing what the Bible says. You are making a petitio principe error. You are using facts that you are trying to prove to prove them. Who do you think wrote the Bible?

to define "stuff": for example, intelligent design, creationism, ...

Answer 1

I am glad a Christian has the guts to ask this question. Keep questioning. You will find the truth.

EDIT: So you, as a future priest, are saying that Genesis is basically a story , made up by the Jewish people, to explain the creation of the Earth? Or do I misunderstand? It sounds like you may be on the verge of agnostisism. At least thats the impression I get.
Email me if you like.

Second edit: I tried to respond to your mail but it says that your email isnt confirmed, so Yahoo wont let me. If you confirm your email let me know, I will respond.

Answer 2

Below is a link to where you can find several scientific principles and the corresponding Bible passages.

Second, there are no contradictions in the Bible. There may be things you do not understand, since you are reading it centuries after it was first written. There may be mysteries that we cannot explain. But certainly you as a catholic seminarian should know that. If you do not, then you need to challenge your teachers and make them defend the Scriptures.

Finally, how did the Jews in Babylon know how the universe began? Because God told Moses who wrote it down in Genesis. I will grant you that God did not get into a lot of detail, but then again, do you really think Moses would have understood things like nuclear fusion, DNA, or vulcanology?

Answer 3

Because God told the ones that wrote the Bible, and as far as the whole deal of two different theories, well think about it, God spoke the world into existance and the moon, sun, stars, and everything else, the scientists think the world started as "spinning chemicals" or some junk like that, well how abou this, they are one in the same, when the "big bang" happened, that was when God dpoke the world into existance, and as far as us comming from little swimming creatures from the water, never happened, the scientists are looking for a total beginning, well God is the beginning and made the animals as we know them today, and as far as the other stuff such as the dino bones, he put them there to make them wonder how long the world has been spinning and what not, well God is mysterious in that way and doesn't want us to know such a detail, so we keep on beliving, and they keep on searching. and back to the jews who knew how the world began, you can't tell me that God didn't talk to his people during that time, he still does talk to us, just in different ways.

Answer 4

When the stuff it talks about is still coming true and happening today. I believe every word in the Holy Bible is true and God inspired. If it is 100% true it can't contradict itself. Pray about what the scriptures are actually saying and keep in mind a few words here and there could have been poorly chosen by the people whom were converting it to English or making an easier to read version, blueletterbible.org is a good website for stuff like that, Hope this helps! :)

Answer 5

Is this really what is taught in seminary?Who told you that the jews
in babylon wrote Genesis?If this is any example of what is taught in
Catholic seminars its no wonder Future priests are so lacking in
even rudimentary bible knowledge.Obviously their is neither room
or time or (inclination)to give you bible study lessons.However you
might sincerly consider trying to find the truth through other sources
than the catholics.you might read in your Bible at Rev.18:4 what is
written about (Babylon the Great)(The world empire of false Religion)
"Get out of her, my people,If you do not want to share with her,in
her sins,and if you do not want to recieve part of her plagues."

Answer 6

God told Abraham that his descendants would be as countless as the stars. Prior to the invention of the telescope, scientists believed there were only around 1,600 stars in the sky.

God was right and scientists were wrong. God was right thousands of years before the scientists.

Why in the heck will you preach something that you believe is contradictory? Oh, I get it. You aren't really going into the ministry.

Answer 7

You're right...the Bible is not a science text or a history text for that matter...rather a moral guide set against the backdrop of history. the problem is determining where the narrative is literal or metaphorical.

All of the Jewish commentators state in reference to Genesis ch1 that it is NOT to be understood literally.

That said, there are many historical and scientific truths to be gleaned from the OT...again, if you know how to read it properly.

Answer 8

The Bible is the only Holy Book that prophesied what would happen in future events and they came to pass and are being fulfilled even now.

The bible has science in it but it intent is to lead people to the creator and Christ.

Answer 9

For a seminary student you sure have a liberal view of the scriptures...

What Jews in Babylon... Daniel?

Answer 10

Christian arguments are often more powerful when secular sources are used. Nonetheless, the Bible as a reliable historical document and one (we believe) is full of truth sometimes has its place in an argument. I think Christians quote the Bible too much when discussing issues, hopefull more will learn to be better rhetoricians in time.