history of the Bible? A lot of their myths don't make sense and they're used to seeing those criticized.
But the myth of the unbroken tradition?
Moses did not write the first five books of the Bible. Fact.
There was, in fact, no Bible, until the Catholic Church said there was one. (You had scripture but no Bible). Fact.
Certain decisions had to be made on the inclusion of books. Some books made it into canon by ONE vote. One HUMAN vote. Fact.
As far the XVIth century, the wisdom of including Revelation in Canon was still being discussed and the book is the most contentious of the whole canon. Fact.
Early Christianity was LESS unified than it is today and it took a Church with a political authority to unify the Churches. Fact.
Jewish scripture and Christian Old Testament are NOT identical. In fact, Jewish theologians often have accused Christian translations to be on the "generous" side in according with their view of the Messiah. Fact.
To even claim a "true text" of the Bible is nonsense, one has to select a preferred source, because there is no unbroken text from 2000 B.C. to today. You have to choose a version at a certain point. (More likely a compromise of versions, but still...) Fact.
Etc, etc...
But of all the doctrines of Christianity... oh... goodness have mercy on you if you bring any of this up.
They are adamant on thinking the Bible was just zapped from the sky one sunny day.
This seems to take precedence over any article of theology. They don't get half this upset at people denying the divinity of Jesus, or even denying the existence of God.
Are they worshipping a number of pages bound together in a particular order? Is that what this faith is truly about?
But the myth of the unbroken tradition?
Moses did not write the first five books of the Bible. Fact.
There was, in fact, no Bible, until the Catholic Church said there was one. (You had scripture but no Bible). Fact.
Certain decisions had to be made on the inclusion of books. Some books made it into canon by ONE vote. One HUMAN vote. Fact.
As far the XVIth century, the wisdom of including Revelation in Canon was still being discussed and the book is the most contentious of the whole canon. Fact.
Early Christianity was LESS unified than it is today and it took a Church with a political authority to unify the Churches. Fact.
Jewish scripture and Christian Old Testament are NOT identical. In fact, Jewish theologians often have accused Christian translations to be on the "generous" side in according with their view of the Messiah. Fact.
To even claim a "true text" of the Bible is nonsense, one has to select a preferred source, because there is no unbroken text from 2000 B.C. to today. You have to choose a version at a certain point. (More likely a compromise of versions, but still...) Fact.
Etc, etc...
But of all the doctrines of Christianity... oh... goodness have mercy on you if you bring any of this up.
They are adamant on thinking the Bible was just zapped from the sky one sunny day.
This seems to take precedence over any article of theology. They don't get half this upset at people denying the divinity of Jesus, or even denying the existence of God.
Are they worshipping a number of pages bound together in a particular order? Is that what this faith is truly about?