Job 32-34

[wolfpurplemoon]

Just read an appropriate post at Pharyngula: The idea that the Bible should be interpreted as a metaphor is a good one — because it melts the superstition away.. I guess I need to stop trying to take every word of the bible literally, not that I know how else to take it.

Elihu was showing respect for his elders by just listening while they squabbled, but now they've reached a dead end in their discussion he's decided to let them know he thinks their arguments were flawed. He is very sure that he knows better than them.

Comments

[vequenor.livejournal.com]

Germ theory did not, however, change the fact that indigenous peoples died out. Ill-advised religious assertions that had no theistic backing were shown to be false, but that has little to do with Luke.

I haven't been looking for miracles. I have heard and seen as much record for mircales as I have for the existence of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Victoria Falls, and all manner of things that I'm told actually exist. Of course, there are apparently theological explanations as to why miracles seem to be less prevalent, such as the fact that the church is now the chief instrument of God's activities, leaving little need for modern miracles. Really, it doesn't matter whether or not modern miracles have been observed or not; I haven't observed elephants crossing Alps, mounted combat, chariots, or anything of the like. That has little to do with their existence of such actions and objects in their proper historical setting.

I note that you seem to have no actual evidence against these two people, other than the fact that they seem ridiculous to you.

Luke's account has withstood all historical scrutiny that I am aware of. If you were aware of the circumstances surrounding Pilate's descision, I'm sure you would realise how necessary his descision to appease the mob and leaders of the Jewish people was. Did you know that Pilate was already in considerble trouble with his superiors due to a bit of a massacre earlier on in his tenure? Pilate was required to keep the peace to the best of his abilities, and random slaughtering the locals was forwned upon at this point. As such, a policy of appeasement was in order, particularly since Pilate knew from experience how tenacions Jewish mobs typically were. At no point have successful shown one bit of significant failure of Luke's to withstand historical scrutiny. As such, the Lukan account itself functions as evidence for these events. This evidence would seem to be quite satisfactory, particularly considering that miracles are not all that improbable.

Rational thought would seem to disagree.