are somehow retarded and unable to understand or comprehend? Like those who disagree are the retarded step-children of humanity or something? I don't mean any disrespect by this question, but there was a question a little while ago where someone stated that people who pointed out inconsistancies in the bible just didn't "understand" it.
If anything, I think people who point out inconsistancies in religious texts not only read very closely, but bring up interesting points and those who use the "You just don't understand" argument are trying to get out of explaining it. If someone doesn't understand, why don't you explain it rather than just saying, "You just don't understand..."
2007-02-11 14:24:38 · 9 answers · asked by swordarkeereon 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Excellent point. "You just don't understand" is, of course, just another cheap cop out like "you gotta have faith" and "god works in mysterious ways" What they are really saying is "I can't explain it logically either, but my mind is not open to the possibility that my investment in religion is in error, so I'll just blow you off with the standard vague, meaningless response that my religion has taught me to give for that particular observation and not give it any serious thought."
2007-02-11 14:41:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Most of the 'contradictions' in the Bible are based on misunderstandings, and not a careful reading of the text. Most Bible contradictions are based on the assumption that the Bible was hand-written by God, and so should be above all ambiguity. A carfeul reading of the text would allow for the Documentary Hypothesis, multiple sources, differences of opinion among the authors, textual criticism, original languages, commentaries by outside sources, the opinion of scholars, etc. But you won't generally see that kind of approach to Bible contradictions. And if someone points out a contradiction that has already been resolved by paleographers using a variant reading from an older manuscript, then the answer really is, "You don't understand."
2007-02-11 14:43:20 · answer #2 · answered by NONAME 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ah, they say we don't understand because THEY don't understand. Divinity is by no means inconsistent, this is why basing -everything- you believe on a book that's been rewritten many many times is a BIG problem. If your book contradicts itself, there is a flaw. Yes, the original texts may very well have been the Inspired Word of God, but it only takes a few mistranslations to change everything. Ich bin ein Berliner.
Divinity = Perfection
Humanity = Imperfection
2007-02-11 14:31:44 · answer #3 · answered by gimmenamenow 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree. I get that all the time...and I have read the bible cover to cover and have attended numerous bible study classes debating those inconsistancies. Got into trouble quite a bit for it, too. Funny thing is those I debated couldn't come up with any answers to the inconsistancies either.
2007-02-11 14:29:49 · answer #4 · answered by Stormilutionist Chasealogist 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think that the person probably did not mean to belittle you by saying this. Some of the things in the Bible are Spiritually discerned, requiring God's Spirit to be within you to clearly see and understand it's revelations. I do not know what question you may of had, but you can e-mail it to me and I would be glad to try explaining it to you. Same goes to anyone reading this question who has had similar fustrations. Hope that I can be of help to you.
2007-02-11 14:34:43 · answer #5 · answered by Bill Mac 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are no inconsistencies. Only misunderstanding. You try to point them out but we understand that foolishness sometimes prevails. The problem is your understanding this. Your so called inconsistencies just don't hold water.
2007-02-11 14:32:20 · answer #6 · answered by JohnFromNC 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Maybe their "being right" is just more crucial for their being accepted into existance than saving the sake of the rest of humankind who might go to hell because they didn't catch a cartain way God was trying to teach a lesson to them.
Yeah I see what you're saying. And I too find it quite sad that they are too stubborn to listen and learn and leave with ther persona intact. Oh well, maybe if they hang themselves tight enough they might realize that the pursuit of God in most religions (scince you used the Bible) is not supposed to be one-sidded and selfish. ^^
2007-02-11 14:45:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
When people base there whole lives around something, its hard to accept a different point of view. I think they have been brainwashed. Ive always thought the bible was self defeating..How are you going to believe something that was written by man, but says all man/women are sinners. Oh the irony.
2007-02-11 14:31:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I never called anyone retarded for not believing.I wonder how many times some of these experts read the bible even once.
I have several times (no contradictions yet).
2007-02-11 14:30:58 · answer #9 · answered by robert p 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋