To doubt is to deny

[FireFromHeaven]

I have been having some doubts on certain things mostly related to the Old Testament. Here I will summarize them. I would love books or articles or just plain old discussion of the problems I have. Thanks for all help.

Moses’ and Abraham’s existence.

One thing I read whenever Ancuent Israel is mentioned is the lack of evidence for Abraham and Moses, specifically in Egyptian records. Both interacted with the Egyptians, who kept detailed records, especially Moses. Yet from what I know no evidence has been found for either of them. Some people have said that Jesus talking to both of them during the Transfiguration is good evidence. However it didn’t really help me.

The great flood

Another thing that there is a lack of evidence for is a giant flood. There were several local floods, some of which were quite huge, however the bible specifically says that all no aquatic life, excluding Noah’s ark, was destroyed.

Age of earth

In the bible earth is said to be 4-6 thousand years old. Science says this is not so. Anyone have anything on what this means. Patristic sources would be awesome.

Nephilim

This is more of a clarification. But what are the nephilim? And where did they all go?

Behemoth and leviathan

Where is this giant mega whale or that weird rhino thing?

Daniels dragon

In Bel an the dragon it is said that Daniel killed a dragon. This also ties in to a number of saints slaying or driving off dragons. Are dragons real?

Pagan “miracles”

The old pagan myths tell of events just as miraculous as what is in our bible. How can this be shown to be false lies or stories?

Why did god allow paganism to develop

According to the bible, Adam and his family worshipped God. Why then did Paganism develop and dominate between The Fall and Abraham? How did monotheism die so completely?

Jesus as a Mage

Finally a number of pagans claimed that Jesus was an Egyptian magician who controlled demons to start a “cult”. Can this be refuted?

Thanks again for all help. God bless.

 

[Methos]

I have been having some doubts on certain things mostly related to the Old Testament. Here I will summarize them. I would love books or articles or just plain old discussion of the problems I have. Thanks for all help.

Moses’ and Abraham’s existence.

One thing I read whenever Ancuent Israel is mentioned is the lack of evidence for Abraham and Moses, specifically in Egyptian records. Both interacted with the Egyptians, who kept detailed records, especially Moses. Yet from what I know no evidence has been found for either of them. Some people have said that Jesus talking to both of them during the Transfiguration is good evidence. However it didn’t really help me.

Actually, the Egyptians were known for deleting parts of their history they disliked. When Akhenaten died they tried to erase any trace of him and what they considered his heretical religion. His existence was unknown until the 18th century. A slave revolt they couldn’t quell seems along the lines of something they would have avoided recording.

Also, we haven’t found everything they’ve written. The architect Imhotep designed and built the Pyramid of Djoser, which was the first step pyramid and forerunner of the pyramids we’re familiar with, such as the Great Pyramid of Giza. You’d think there be some record of its construction, such as the methods used, or the equivalent of a blueprint. Nothing…unless someone find his tomb.

 

[thistle]

I have been having some doubts on certain things mostly related to the Old Testament. Here I will summarize them. I would love books or articles or just plain old discussion of the problems I have. Thanks for all help.

Moses’ and Abraham’s existence.

One thing I read whenever Ancuent Israel is mentioned is the lack of evidence for Abraham and Moses, specifically in Egyptian records. Both interacted with the Egyptians, who kept detailed records, especially Moses. Yet from what I know no evidence has been found for either of them. Some people have said that Jesus talking to both of them during the Transfiguration is good evidence. However it didn’t really help me.

The great flood

Another thing that there is a lack of evidence for is a giant flood. There were several local floods, some of which were quite huge, however the bible specifically says that all no aquatic life, excluding Noah’s ark, was destroyed.

Age of earth

In the bible earth is said to be 4-6 thousand years old. Science says this is not so. Anyone have anything on what this means. Patristic sources would be awesome.

Nephilim

This is more of a clarification. But what are the nephilim? And where did they all go?

Behemoth and leviathan

Where is this giant mega whale or that weird rhino thing?

Daniels dragon

In Bel an the dragon it is said that Daniel killed a dragon. This also ties in to a number of saints slaying or driving off dragons. Are dragons real?

Pagan “miracles”

The old pagan myths tell of events just as miraculous as what is in our bible. How can this be shown to be false lies or stories?

Why did god allow paganism to develop

According to the bible, Adam and his family worshipped God. Why then did Paganism develop and dominate between The Fall and Abraham? How did monotheism die so completely?

Jesus as a Mage

Finally a number of pagans claimed that Jesus was an Egyptian magician who controlled demons to start a “cult”. Can this be refuted?

Thanks again for all help. God bless.

A thread should only have one topic. You have asked too many things in one thread. Better to have a thread for each topic you are asking about.

 

[JohnMPhilomena]

Not everything in the bible is to be taken literally. For example, the church does not teach that the age of the earth is only 4-6 thousand years old. Such matters are left to science. What the church does teach us is that God created the universe - most likely in some Big Bang event (which is the prevailing scientific theory).

 

[fred_conty]

Just making a general observation of your questions.

It is never wrong to question something in the bible and to search for better understanding. But it is always wrong to doubt it is true in some way.

Your questions reflect reasonable questions with just a bit of tone of doubt in some. It is easy to believe, for we have God himself to back it up. He is truth itself. So whether we understand “why” or not, it may be something that escapes or is lost to our understanding for the time being. But then to still say “I believe” Lord, is to tell him we trust him in spite of anything to the contrary. And that is what he looks for.

Once you have all of these dozen or so questions settled, there will always be an other dozen or so new questions popping up. There is no end to the new questions as we delve into our faith over the course of our life. We only settle these fears that are so unsettling in only one way, and that is to say, “I believe Lord”. That not only brings peace into our life but Jesus as well. After saying that, then we look for answers guided by the Holy Spirit.

So we may ask any question as long as it is prefaced first with belief and not last.

May God bless and keep you. May God’s face shine on you. May God be kind to you and give you peace.

 

[FireFromHeaven]

Actually, the Egyptians were known for deleting parts of their history they disliked. When Akhenaten died they tried to erase any trace of him and what they considered his heretical religion. His existence was unknown until the 18th century. A slave revolt they couldn’t quell seems along the lines of something they would have avoided recording.

Also, we haven’t found everything they’ve written. The architect Imhotep designed and built the Pyramid of Djoser, which was the first step pyramid and forerunner of the pyramids we’re familiar with, such as the Great Pyramid of Giza. You’d think there be some record of its construction, such as the methods used, or the equivalent of a blueprint. Nothing…unless someone find his tomb.

That makes sense. After all it would be kind of embarrassing to lose your king to a small band of rebels who drowned him.

 

[FireFromHeaven]

Just making a general observation of your questions.

It is never wrong to question something in the bible and to search for better understanding. But it is always wrong to doubt it is true in some way.

Your questions reflect reasonable questions with just a bit of tone of doubt in some. It is easy to believe, for we have God himself to back it up. He is truth itself. So whether we understand “why” or not, it may be something that escapes or is lost to our understanding for the time being. But then to still say “I believe” Lord, is to tell him we trust him in spite of anything to the contrary. And that is what he looks for.

Once you have all of these dozen or so questions settled, there will always be an other dozen or so new questions popping up. There is no end to the new questions as we delve into our faith over the course of our life. We only settle these fears that are so unsettling in only one way, and that is to say, “I believe Lord”. That not only brings peace into our life but Jesus as well. After saying that, then we look for answers guided by the Holy Spirit.

So we may ask any question as long as it is prefaced first with belief and not last.

May God bless and keep you. May God’s face shine on you. May God be kind to you and give you peace.

Thanks for that advice. It does help.