My new book Conversations with My Inner Atheist features an extended conversation ranging over 25 chapters with my inner voice of questioning and doubt, My Inner Atheist (Mia). I have included chapter 6 below: “If the Bible includes immoral laws, how can it be inspired?” If you enjoy the chapter, consider buying the book. Mia: […]
bibliology
Atheists on the Bible
Here’s one big problem that atheists have with the Bible: they assume the Bible functions as a set of instructions for how to go to heaven. And then they predictably criticize the Bible because, well, it isn’t that. But don’t blame the atheists: they get that idea from many Christians. Here’s another problem: atheists expect […]
My Monday Morning Rant Against Evangelicals Who Undermine the Bible
This morning, a tweet from Fuz Rana got under my skin. I should begin by saying that he seems like a nice chap and Reasons to Believe is less bad than Answers in Genesis. However, being nice and less-bad cannot save one from the fundamental error of treating the Bible as a confirmatory textbook for […]
If the Bible is a map for how to get to heaven, it isn’t a very good one
We’re all familiar with the fire evacuation maps on the inside of a hotel room door. In a brief, succinct, and luminously clear manner, the map provides directions for evacuating the building in case of fire. Growing up, I was taught to think of the Bible as like God’s hotel fire evacuation map for the […]
Is the Exodus as important to Christian belief as Jesus’ resurrection?
When I was growing up, I learned to read biblical narratives as historically reliable accounts of past events. Whether the issue was the death and resurrection of Jesus, the curious maritime journey of Jonah, the Exodus from Egypt, Samson’s killing a thousand men with the jawbone of an ass, or Adam and Eve talking to […]
Should Protestants accept the Deuterocanon?
In response to my article “Should additions to the biblical texts be treated as canon?” Simon K posed the following question: “Did Protestants do the right thing by rejecting the deuterocanon? Should that decision be reconsidered? You are discussing here whether people should accept textual variants as inspired; but which books should be accepted in […]
87. From the Bible to Doctrine: A conversation with Stephen Holmes
Open up your trusty King James Bible, turn to 1 John 5:7, and read: “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” For many centuries this verse provided a powerful, eloquent, and theologically rich summary of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, […]
77. Kenton L. Sparks on the Bible as Sacred and Broken Word
According to historic Christianity, the Bible is the inspired Word of God. But what does it mean to confess the Bible as inspired, as “the Word of God”? Like many Christians, growing up in the Church I was taught that the various books of the Bible were produced by the Holy Spirit acting in history […]
53. Peter Enns Tells Me So: The Interview
When I was growing up, the Bible was viewed as the Word of God, revelation from above. And you could know this by confirming the Bible’s perfect moral teaching, its fulfilled biblical prophecies, its reliable scientific descriptions, its inerrant history, and its inexplicable unity: 66 books, three languages, two testaments written over one thousand years, and […]
On “Bible-haters”
I have been called many things. This week Steve Hays added yet another label: “Bible hater.” The charge came in his article “Bowdlerizing the Bible” published at Triablogue. This would be comical if it weren’t so sad. I accept the plenary inspiration of scripture. I accept meticulous superintending divine providential activity as the primary means […]
One Word in many, many words: A Review of Thom Stark’s “Human Faces” (Part 2)
Thom Stark. The Human Faces of God: What Scripture reveals when it gets God wrong (and Why Inerrancy Tries To Hide It). Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2011, 248 pp. ISBN: 13:978-1-60899-323-9. For Part 1 of this review click here. In the first chapter, “The Argument: In the Beginning was the words” Stark introduces us […]
The evangelical form of transubstantiation
Catholics believe that when the priest blesses the sacrament it becomes the body and blood of Christ. Most evangelicals have no time for such hokus pokus. They kicked the eucharist to the end of the service (if they celebrate it at all) so as to give pride of place to the Word preached. But that’s not […]
Inerrancy: how to save a lost concept by comparing the Bible to “Ulysses”
In my experience the person who stresses that inerrancy is an attribute of scripture does so thinking that this is the way to secure a high view of scripture. Inerrantists take the lofty position that the whole kit and kaboodle is error free. Once you start allowing errors into the text you’re on the road […]
