The Bible itself has some redundancy and contradictions. Although I’ve read only about 2/3 of it, I have enough knowledge of it to make a few arguments. Psalms 53:1 says, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that does good.” This is a very questionable premise. It is obviously not the case that all atheists do nothing but bad deeds. The statement is invalidated easily by a single example of an atheist doing a single charitable act.
Psalm 53 is inconsistent with other arguments within the same context. In the Bible, Jesus commands against the attack in Psalms 53:1, warning that, “whoever says ‘You fool!’ shall be liable to the hell of fire,” in Matthew 5:22. Psalm 53 is also identical to Psalm 14 – redundancy.
What do you think?
2007-01-14 13:40:03 · 23 answers · asked by farley101us 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Two thumbs up!
2007-01-14 13:43:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
I read it all twice and it does have redundancy and contradictions. It was written by several people(All inspired by God). Each Story has a meaning. You should interpret the meaning of the story and not follow all the characters. Each person teaches in his own way as each writer writes also if we all look at the same thing we will describe it differently.
There is very good poetry in the Bible and several Great Stories well worth the read. The overall all meaning has a happy ending. I personally dislike books that end in the negative.
Everything has wholes and gaps and contradictions. Spending your whole life looking for them and pointing them out is rather boring. Just my opinion.
2007-01-14 21:52:06 · answer #2 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are countless contradictions in the Bible. You can also find many ideas and concepts in the Bible in the many mythologies of the cultures that preceded Biblical times. The trinity, the virgin birth, the flood and many others. And you will find that Bible scholars have found that many passages in the Bible were translated to corroborate the message that the early church wanted to promote to the people. Try reading Bart Ehrman's Misquoting Jesus if you want a real opener.
2007-01-14 21:56:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Psalm 53 isn't addressing "athiests" exclusively, but rather all humankind. Consistently, throughout the scriptures, the Bible says that all people are sinful. And it's hard to make any other case. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That's what this passage in Psalms is getting to. Not that athiests are especially rotten. Just that humankind, for the most part, has rejected God.
2007-01-14 21:46:54 · answer #4 · answered by Jim 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I wish this whole "contradiction" complaint would just stop and move on to other question. It is easily explained but if you don't want to except an answer other than one that discredits the bible then why even ask. Look at it this way. Imagine you witness a car accident. The police ask you what happened. You explain that a child ran in front of the car and the car swerved to avoid hitting him. Then the police ask another eye witness and they say the car swerved because the driver was talking on a cell phone. Both answers could be right but seen from different points of view. They don't contradict each other they compliment each other.
2007-01-14 21:48:08 · answer #5 · answered by gtahvfaith 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes I really agree with you that the Bible has many redundancy and contradictions.I read a book in Indonesia called "Islam Claimed" written by Irene Handono formerly a Catholic,she had a reserch that almost 90 % of the content of Bible are false.She converted her religion to Islam because according to her the holy book of Al Qur'an is logic,more complete and has no contradic- tion.
2007-01-14 21:58:12 · answer #6 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At least you are trying. The Bible says that even our good works are like filthy rags so your Psalm 53 statement is partly answered answered. Redundancy probably means there is something really important to learn. The fool statement is refering to Christians concerning other Christians.
2007-01-14 21:48:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You cannot get to heaven thru good works. You must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and ask forgiveness of your sins. This does not make you perfect but it does make you a child of God and once a child of God always a child of God. Once you are truly saved you feel a renewing of your mind. Meaning you won't have the urge to do wrong anymore. You will be given the Holy Spirit to guide you. Jesus meant that we should call no one a fool.
2007-01-14 21:51:39 · answer #8 · answered by rose v 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One explanation for the Contradictions in the Bible is that it might not be meant to be read literally.
The other is that it is pasted together from various ancient texts.
I guess I buy both explanations.
2007-01-14 21:49:54 · answer #9 · answered by Mr. Bad Day 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read it in its original " The Fool has said in his heart .No God " / it does not say "There is no God" because its totally impossible not to believe in God but it is possible to say No to him
2007-01-14 21:49:41 · answer #10 · answered by Terry S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like all atheists you insist on forgetting the absurdities in the Bible and always blather on about the contradictions and inconsistencies.
2007-01-14 21:44:30 · answer #11 · answered by Michael da Man 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋