K
k5thbeatle
Guest
I’ll try to make this as short as possible. I think I know the answer but am having trouble putting it into words, which is why I am here. (and to be honest may even have trouble putting my question into the exact words I need to get my question across)
How should we explain the following regarding the bible; We believe the bible is the word of God and not meant as a science book but there are some that point out examples that do not necessarily coincide with science as a reason to refute the bible. For example, we believe that God is the creator of all including man. This may or may not have occurred via evolution but regardless God created man. That is essentially the point of the beginning of the book of Genesis. So the story of the creation of man is maybe not an actual blow by blow detailing of how we came to be but quite accurate in that God created all regardless of whether it took 4,500 years or a billion years. Likewise the story of Noah may or may not be telling an exact timeline of the details of floods but is another story regarding our relationship with God. We accept many stories of the old testament as not necessarily hard science based events but know that the point of the story is divine in inspiration although there are also actual events that we know are “scientifically” based on fact too.
So here is where I really need help. My “critic” friend will then argue, “You (meaning Christians) always do that. When a story is not in line with scientifically accepted thinking you will always play the ‘it is an allegory’ card or say that it is not a true event necessarily as written but the point is of God…” He is inferring that we change things based on convenience and then takes his point farther, “So many things in the bible (especially the OT ) are not true events so how do you know anything is true like events in the NT?” Again what I am having trouble answering is how or why we determine some stories as true events (and also trouble explaining why that is not always as important as the point made) and some as allegories and that we are not just picking and choosing so as to always be right in saying the bible is the Word of God.
Hope I haven’t confused too many with this question!
How should we explain the following regarding the bible; We believe the bible is the word of God and not meant as a science book but there are some that point out examples that do not necessarily coincide with science as a reason to refute the bible. For example, we believe that God is the creator of all including man. This may or may not have occurred via evolution but regardless God created man. That is essentially the point of the beginning of the book of Genesis. So the story of the creation of man is maybe not an actual blow by blow detailing of how we came to be but quite accurate in that God created all regardless of whether it took 4,500 years or a billion years. Likewise the story of Noah may or may not be telling an exact timeline of the details of floods but is another story regarding our relationship with God. We accept many stories of the old testament as not necessarily hard science based events but know that the point of the story is divine in inspiration although there are also actual events that we know are “scientifically” based on fact too.
So here is where I really need help. My “critic” friend will then argue, “You (meaning Christians) always do that. When a story is not in line with scientifically accepted thinking you will always play the ‘it is an allegory’ card or say that it is not a true event necessarily as written but the point is of God…” He is inferring that we change things based on convenience and then takes his point farther, “So many things in the bible (especially the OT ) are not true events so how do you know anything is true like events in the NT?” Again what I am having trouble answering is how or why we determine some stories as true events (and also trouble explaining why that is not always as important as the point made) and some as allegories and that we are not just picking and choosing so as to always be right in saying the bible is the Word of God.
Hope I haven’t confused too many with this question!