Some Reasons Why Humanists Reject the Bible
Introduction
Humanists reject the claim that the Bible is the word of God. They are
convinced the book was written solely by humans in an ignorant, superstitious,
and cruel age. They believe that because the writers of the Bible lived in an
unenlightened era, the book contains many errors and harmful teachings.
Humanists receive much criticism due to their position on the Bible. Some
critics even accuse them of being evil. This article attempts to clarify the
reasons why Humanists hold negative views about the Bible.
Importance of the Subject
In the United States, the Bible is often hailed as a divinely inspired book.Â
Television and radio carry religious programs praising the Bible as the holy
and infallible word of God. Religious groups also distribute vast amounts of
books, magazines, tapes, pamphlets, and other items. The materials promote
the idea that, as televangelist Pat Robertson has said, "The Bible . . . is a
workable guidebook for politics, business, families and all the affairs of
mankind."[1]
The Bible is also extolled by many politicians. For instance, President
Ronald Reagan signed into law an Act of Congress proclaiming 1983 to be the
"Year of the Bible."Â The law described the Bible as the "Word of God" and
said there is "a national need to study and apply its teachings."[2]
Thousands of other religious and political leaders throughout the U.S.
promote the Bible. In most communities, an opposing view is rarely, if ever,
heard.
The massive and incessant promotion of the Bible significantly influences the
beliefs of millions. A Gallup poll showed that over 30% of Americans believe
that the Bible is the word of God and its teachings should be taken
literally.[3]Â Gallop identified an additional 25% of Americans who consider
the Bible as inspired by God, but think some verses should be interpreted
symbolically rather than literally.[4]
Gallop says many other people, while having doubts about whether the entire
Bible is the word of God, still consider the book to be a source of moral
truths and regard its teachings as deserving great respect.[5]
Such views about the Bible are surely responsible, at least in part, for
Gallupâ’s finding that over two-thirds of Americans belong to churches or
synagogues, and 40% attend services on a weekly basis.[6]
If the Humanist view of the Bible is correct, millions of Bible-believers and
churchgoers are wasting much time, money, and energy. Humanity’s condition
could be greatly improved if those resources were used for solving the world's
problems instead of worshiping a nonexistent God.
Moreover, because so many people have been told the Bible is the "Good Book,"
biblical teachings shape the attitudes of millions on numerous subjects. When
the subjects involve governmental issues, all of society can be affected when
Bible-believers express their views in the political arena.
Anyone who becomes politically active can soon discover that Bible teachings
influence the opinions of many Americans on issues involving nuclear war,
overpopulation, conservation, women’s rights, gay rights, racial equality,
corporal punishment of children, church-state separation, sex education,
science, abortion, contraception, censorship, capital punishment, and other
subjects.
When people view the Bible as the word of a just and omniscient God, and
attempt to have society's laws and social practices reflect biblical teachings,
serious error and harm will occur if the Bible was actually written by fallible
humans who lived in an unenlightened era. Â
In that case, the Bible would not be a guidebook for attaining human
happiness and well-being. It would instead perpetuate the ideas of an
ignorant and superstitious past - and prevent humanity from rising to a higher
level.
Contradictions
The Bible is an unreliable authority because it contains numerous
contradictions. Logically, if two statements are contradictory, at least one
of them is false. The biblical contradictions therefore prove that the book
has many false statements and is not infallible.
Examples of Old Testament contradictions
The contradictions start in the opening chapters of the Bible, where
inconsistent creation stories are told. Genesis chapter 1 says the first man
and woman were made at the same time, and after the animals. But Genesis
chapter 2 gives a different order of creation: man, then the animals, and then
woman.
Genesis chapter 1 lists six days of creation, whereas chapter 2 refers to the
"day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens."Â Genesis 1:2-3 claims
that God created light and divided it from darkness on the first day; but
Genesis 1:14-19 tells us the sun, moon, and stars weren't made until the fourth
day. Â
Chapter 1 reports that the fruit trees were created before the man, while
chapter 2 indicates they were made after him. Genesis 1:20 says the fowl were
created out of the waters; Genesis 2:19 alleges they were formed from the
ground. Â
Contradictions are also seen in the biblical story of a worldwide flood.Â
According to Genesis 6:19-22, God ordered Noah to bring "of every living thing
of all flesh, two of every sort . . . into the ark."Â Nevertheless, Genesis
7:2-3 relates that the Lord ordered Noah to take into the ark the clean beasts
and the birds by sevens, and only the unclean beasts by twos.
Genesis 8:4 reports that, as the waters of the flood receded, Noah’s ark
rested on the mountains of Ararat in the seventh month. The very next verse,
however, says the mountaintops could not be seen until the tenth month. Â
Genesis 8:13 describes the earth as being dry on the first day of the first
month. But Genesis 8:14 informs us the earth was not dry until the
twenty-seventh day of the second month.
The Old Testament contains an interesting contradiction in the story of the
census taken by King David and the resulting punishment of the Israelites.Â
God was so angered by the census that he sent a plague that killed 70,000 men.Â
According to II Samuel 24:1, the Lord had caused David to take the census -
which makes the punishment appear even more nonsensical. But an attempt was
later made, at I Chronicles 21:1, to improve God’s image by claiming that
Satan incited the census.
Further, the Old Testament is contradictory as to whether the Lord commanded
the Israelites to sacrifice animals to him. At Jeremiah 7:22, God denies he
ever gave the Israelites commandments about animal sacrifices. In contrast,
Exodus 29:38-42 and many other verses depict God as requiring the Israelites to
offer animal sacrifices.
Examples of New Testament contradictions
In the New Testament, there are contradictions between the genealogies of
Jesus given in the first chapter of Matthew and the third chapter of Luke. Â
Both genealogies begin with Jesus’ father, who is identified as Joseph
(which is curious, given that Mary was supposedly impregnated by the Holy
Ghost). But Matthew says Joseph’s father was Jacob, while Luke claims he
was Heli. Matthew lists 26 generations between Jesus and King David, whereas
Luke records 41. Matthew runs Jesus’ line of descent through David’s son
Solomon, while Luke has it going through David’s son Nathan.
The story of Jesus' birth is also contradictory. Matthew 2:13-15 depicts
Joseph and Mary as fleeing to Egypt with the baby Jesus immediately after the
wise men from the east had brought gifts. Â
But Luke 2:22-40 claims that after the birth of Jesus, his parents remained
in Bethlehem for the time of Mary’s purification (which was 40 days, under
the Mosaic law). Afterwards, they brought Jesus to Jerusalem "to present him
to the Lord," and then returned to their home in Nazareth. Luke mentions no
journey into Egypt or visit by wise men from the east.
Concerning the death of Judas, the disloyal disciple, Matthew 27:5 states he
took the money he had received for betraying Jesus, threw it down in the
temple, and "went and hanged himself."Â To the contrary, Acts 1:18 claims
Judas used the money to purchase a field and "falling headlong, he burst
asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out."
In describing Jesus being led to his execution, John 19:17 recounts that he
carried his own cross. But Mark 15:21-23 disagrees by saying a man called
Simon carried the cross.
As for the crucifixion, Matthew 27:44 tells us Jesus was taunted by both
criminals who were being crucified with him. But Luke 23:39-43 relates that
only one of the criminals taunted Jesus, the other criminal rebuked the one who
was doing the taunting, and Jesus told the criminal who was defending him,
"Today shalt thou be with me in paradise."Â Â
Regarding the last words of Jesus while on the cross, Matthew 27:46 and Mark
15:34 quote Jesus as crying with a loud voice, "My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me?"Â Luke 23:46 gives his final words as, "Father, into thy hands I
commend my spirit."Â John 19:30 alleges the last words were, "It is finished."
There are even contradictions in the accounts of the resurrection – the
supposed event that is the very foundation of the Christian religion. Mark
16:2 states that on the day of the resurrection, certain women arrived at the
tomb at the rising of the sun. But John 20:1 informs us they arrived when it
was yet dark. Luke 24:2 describes the tomb as open when the women arrived,
whereas Matthew 28:1-2 indicates it was closed. Mark 16:5 declares that the
women saw a young man at the tomb, Luke 24:4 says they saw two men, Matthew
28:2 reports they saw an angel, and John 20:11-12 claims they saw two angels.
Also in the resurrection stories, there are contradictions as to the identity
of the women who came to the tomb,[7] whether the men or angels the women saw
were inside or outside the tomb,[8] whether the men or angels were standing or
sitting,[9] and whether Mary Magdalene recognized the risen Jesus when he first
appeared to her.[10]
As a final example of a New Testament contradiction, the conflicting accounts
of Paul’s conversion can be cited. Acts 9:7 states that when Jesus called
Paul to preach the gospel, the men who were with Paul heard a voice but saw no
man. According to Acts 22:9, however, the men saw a light but didn't hear the
voice speaking to Paul.
The foregoing examples are just a few of the hundreds of contradictions
contained in the Old and New Testaments. Each contradiction is an instance
where at least one of the verses is wrong. Thus, hundreds of contradictions
mean there are at least hundreds of incorrect statements in the Bible.
Cruelties
Humanists also reject the Bible because it approves of outrageous cruelty and
injustice. In civilized legal systems, a fundamental principle is that the
suffering of the innocent is the essence of injustice. Yet the Bible teaches
that God repeatedly violated this moral precept by harming innocent people.
Cruelty in basic Christian teachings
Instances of cruel and unjust behavior by the biblical God are seen in the
most basic Christian doctrines. Some of God’s acts that harmed the innocent
are as follows.Â
He damned the whole human race and cursed the entire creation because of the
acts of two people (Genesis 3:16-23; Romans 5:18); he drowned pregnant women
and innocent children and animals at the time of the Flood (Genesis 7:20-23);
he tormented the Egyptians and their animals with hail and disease because
pharaoh refused to let the Israelites leave Egypt (Exodus 9:8-11,25); and he
killed Egyptian babies at the time of the Passover (Exodus 12:29-30).
After the Exodus he ordered the Israelites to exterminate the men, women, and
children of seven nations and steal their land (Deuteronomy 7:1-2); he killed
King David’s baby because of David’s adultery with Bathsheba (II Samuel
12:13-18); he required the torture and murder of his own son (e.g., Romans
3:24-25); and he promised to send non-Christians to eternal torture (e.g.,
Revelation 21:8).
More slaughters ordered by the Lord
Besides the unfairness and heartlessness contained in many well-known
Christian teachings, the Bible has other violent tales that are opposed to
civilized standards of morality. Among the most shocking Bible passages are
those that portray God as ordering or approving the extermination of various
people, including children and the elderly. Here are examples:
· At I Samuel 15:3, the prophet Samuel gives King Saul this
commandment      from the Lord: "Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly
destroy all that they  have, and spare them not; but slay both man and
woman, infant and suckling,  ox and sheep, camel and ass."
· Ezekiel 9:4-7 has this harrowing account: "And the Lord said unto
him, Go through . . . the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads
of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the
midst thereof. And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him
through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay
utterly old and young, both maids and little children, and women: but come not
near any man upon whom is the mark. . . ."
· Hosea 13:16 describes a punishment from the Lord: "Samaria shall
become   desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall
by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with
child shall be ripped up."
· Deuteronomy 32:23-25 says that after the Israelites incited God's
jealousy by worshiping other gods, he vowed: "I will spend mine arrows upon
them. . . . The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the
young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs."
· In Numbers chapter 31, the Lord approves of these instructions that
Moses gave to the Israelite soldiers about how to treat certain women and
children captured in war: "Now therefore kill every male among the little ones,
and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. But all the women
children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for
yourselves."
· Isaiah 13:9,15-18 contains this message from God: "Behold, the day
of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger. . . . Every one
that is found shall be thrust through. . . . Their children also shall be
dashed to pieces before their eyes . . . and their wives ravished. Behold, I
will stir up the Medes against them. . . . [T]hey shall have no pity on the
fruit of the womb; their eyes will not spare children."
These verses expose the biblical God as having the morals of a sociopathic
mass murderer.
Examples of God’s other cruel methods
The God of the Bible displayed his sadistic tendencies by employing a variety
of other means to torment and kill people.
He caused the earth to open and swallow entire families (Numbers 16:37-32);
he used fire to devour people (e.g., Leviticus 10:1-2; Numbers 11:1-2); and he
punished the Israelites with wars, famines, and pestilences (e.g., Ezekiel
5:11-17).
He sent wild animals such as bears (II Kings 2:23-24), lions (II Kings
17:24-25), and serpents (Numbers 21:6) to attack people; he sanctioned slavery
(e.g., Leviticus 25:44-46); he ordered religious persecution (e.g., Deuteronomy
13:12-16); and he caused cannibalism (Jeremiah 19:9).
Disproportionate punishments by the Lord
The biblical God is also guilty of inflicting punishments that are grossly
disproportionate to the acts committed. In the American legal system, such
disproportion violates the U.S. Constitution’s Eighth Amendment, which
prohibits cruel and unusual punishments.
Obviously, to punish people who are completely innocent, as seen in the
preceding Bible verses, constitutes punishment that is horribly
disproportionate to the moral culpability of the recipients. And there are
other instances where the biblical God's punishments are shockingly harsh
compared to the acts committed.
For example, the Old Testament says the Lord prescribed execution for the
"crimes" of working on the Sabbath (Exodus 31:15); cursing one’s parents
(Leviticus 20:9); worshiping other gods (Deuteronomy 17:2-5); enticing a friend
or family member to worship other gods (Deuteronomy 13:6-10); being a witch,
medium, or wizard (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 20:27); engaging in homosexual acts
(Leviticus 20:13); and not being a virgin on one’s wedding night (Deuteronomy
22:20-21).
In the New Testament, God became far worse in regard to imposing excessively
severe punishments. It would be hard to imagine anything more cruel and
disproportionate than punishing people with eternal torture for mere disbelief
that Jesus was the son of God. Â
The inability to believe that proposition harms no one, and it has been
disbelieved by some of the greatest benefactors of humanity. Nonetheless, God
promises to punish them and all other nonbelievers with the most horrible pain
conceivable.
God’s violence incites human violence
A serious problem with the violence and injustice in the Bible is that, all
too often, the teachings and example of the biblical God have incited cruel
acts by his followers. Â
Many of them reasoned that since God, who is considered just and loving,
committed or approved of the most brutal acts, good Christians need not have
qualms about behaving likewise. Such logic led the American patriot Thomas
Paine to say, "The belief in a cruel god makes a cruel man."[11]
Joseph McCabe’s treatise The History of Torture illustrates the reasoning
process. McCabe reports that during the Middle Ages, there was more torture
used in Christian Europe than in any society in history.[12]Â Â
The main cause of this cruelty was the Christian doctrine of eternal
punishment. McCabe explains: "If, it was natural to reason, God punishes men
with eternal torment, it is surely lawful for men to use doses of it in a good
cause."[13]
Other historical examples of violent and unjust acts supported by biblical
teachings include: the Inquisition; the Crusades; the burning of witches;
religious wars; pogroms against Jews; persecution of homosexuals; forceful
conversions of heathens; slavery; beatings of children; brutal treatment of the
mentally ill; suppression of scientists; and whippings, mutilations, and
violent executions of persons convicted of crimes. Those acts were a regular
part of the Christian world for centuries.
Thomas Paine was entirely justified in saying about the Bible: "It is a
history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind; and,
for my part, I sincerely detest it as I detest everything that is cruel."[14]
Teachings Inconsistent with the Laws of Nature
Many of the Bible's claims are inconsistent with the laws of nature.Â
Humanists believe that those claims are both wrong and harmful.
Science and the laws of nature
As a result of human observation and experience, a fundamental principle of
science is that the laws of nature do not change, cannot be violated, and have
acted uniformly over time. According to paleontologist Stephen J. Gould, this
uniformity or constancy of natural laws is the "methodological assumption"
making science practicable.[15]
Indeed, without the assumption that the physical world operates according to
unchanging natural laws, there would be no use studying the world, conducting
experiments, or otherwise learning from experience. Â
In a world not operating under unvarying natural laws, those acts would be
useless because knowledge of past events would not provide guidance about what
will happen in similar situations in the future. There would always be the
possibility of supernatural forces intervening to alter outcomes from what
would otherwise be expected to occur based on past experience.
Overwhelming evidence shows that physical events occur according to immutable
natural laws. And an increasing knowledge of those laws enhances
humankind’s ability to predict future events and control human destiny.
The Bible and supernatural events
By claiming that supernatural beings intervene in the world, the Bible
opposes the scientific principle of natural laws operating uniformly and
unvaryingly. As a result, the Bible discourages a scientific approach to
problems.
The Bible has stories about a talking snake (Genesis 3:4-5); a tree bearing
fruit which, when eaten, gives knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17;
3:5-7); another tree whose fruit bestows immortality (Genesis 3:22); a voice
coming from a burning bush (Exodus 3:4); a talking donkey (Numbers 22:28); rods
turning into serpents (Exodus 7:10-12); water changing into blood (Exodus
7:19-22); water coming from a rock (Numbers 20:11); a dead man reviving when
his corpse touched the bones of a prophet (II Kings 13:21); and other people
rising from the dead (e.g., I Kings 17:21-22; II Kings 4:32-35; Acts 9:37-40).
There are also accounts of the sun standing still (Joshua 10:13); the parting
of a sea (Exodus 14:21-22); iron floating (II Kings 6:5-6); the sun’s shadow
going back ten degrees (II Kings 20:9-11); a witch bringing the ghost of Samuel
back from the dead (I Samuel 28:3-15); disembodied fingers writing on a wall
(Daniel 5:5); a man living for three days and nights in the belly of a fish
(Jonah 1:17); people walking on water (Matthew 14:26-29); a virgin impregnated
by God (Matthew 1:20); a pool of water that can cure ailments of those who dip
in it (John 5:2-4); and angels and demons influencing earthly affairs (e.g.,
Acts 5:19; Luke 11:24-26).
These biblical myths support the belief, which has been held by primitive and
illiterate people throughout history, that supernatural beings frequently and
arbitrarily intervene in this world.
When examined in the light of experience and reason, the Bible’s claims
about supernatural occurrences do not warrant belief. Our experience is that
the natural world operates according to principles of regularity - which are
never violated. We also know from experience that many people are often
mistaken or dishonest. Thus, it's far more likely the Bible writers either
erred or lied than the laws of nature were violated.
Harms of the supernatural outlook
Because of believing that supernatural beings control the world, people have
often misdirected their energies in attempting to solve problems. Instead of
studying the world to discover scientific solutions to problems, they performed
religious activities in an effort to obtain the assistance of benevolent
supernatural beings or thwart the influence of malicious ones.
This misdirection of energies is seen, for instance, in the history of the
attempts to prevent the outbreak and spread of diseases in Europe. The
historian Andrew White relates that, during many centuries in the Middle Ages,
the filthiness of European cities repeatedly caused great plagues that sent
multitudes to their graves.[16]
Based on biblical teachings, Christian theologians during those centuries
thought the plagues were caused by the anger of God or the malevolence of
Satan.[17] The Bible gave them ample support for their belief. It contains
numerous instances of God punishing people by means of pestilence (e.g., Exodus
32:35; Numbers 16:44-49; Jeremiah 21:6). And in describing Jesus’ healing
miracles, the New Testament attributes the following afflictions to demons:
blindness (Matthew 12:22); muteness (Matthew 9:32-33); lameness (Luke
13:11,16); epilepsy (Matthew 17:14-18); and insanity (Mark 5:1-13).
Those teachings led the early church leaders to promote the idea that demonic
activity is the primary cause of disease. For example, St. Augustine, whose
views strongly influenced Western thought for over a thousand years, said in
the fourth century: "All diseases of Christians are to be ascribed to these
demons. . . ."[18]
With the coming of the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, there
was little change in the Christian attitude toward the causes of disease.Â
Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism, repeatedly attributed his own
illnesses to "devils’ spells." He also stated: "Satan produces all the
maladies which afflict mankind, for he is the prince of death."[19]
As a result of believing in supernatural causes of disease, theologians
taught that plagues could be averted or stopped by seeking supernatural
assistance. And the way to obtain God's help, they thought, was to perform
religious acts. These included repenting from sin;[20] providing gifts to
churches, monasteries, and shrines;[21] participating in religious
processions;[22] attending church services (which often only increased the
spread of disease);[23] and killing Jews and witches (since it was thought
Satan used them as his agents in causing illness).[24]Â Religious leaders
largely ignored the possibility of physical causes and cures of diseases.[25]
Science bests supernaturalism
White states that despite all the prayers, rituals, and other religious
activities performed throughout the centuries, the frequency and severity of
plagues did not diminish until scientific hygiene made its appearance. In
regard to the hygienic improvements instituted during the second half of the
nineteenth century, White explains: "[T]he sanitary authorities have in half a
century done far more to reduce the rate of disease and death than has been
done in fifteen hundred years by all the fetiches which theological reasoning
could devise or ecclesiastical power enforce."[26]
The superior results of using science instead of religion can be seen in many
other fields. Humanists therefore accept the scientific view that this world
operates under unvarying natural laws that cannot be suspended by religious
rituals or other means. Â
And Humanists esteem highly those who study this world and provide a better
understanding of it. Unlike the theologians who focus on influencing supposed
supernatural powers, persons using a scientific outlook have enabled great
progress to be made in reducing misery and increasing happiness.
Incorrect Ideas About the Structure of the Physical World
Humanists also repudiate the Bible because of its mistaken ideas about the
structure of the physical world. As is the case with the Bible’s statements
opposing the laws of nature, the book’s views on this subject are similar to
beliefs held by primitive and illiterate people throughout history.
Stationary earth as the center of the universe
An erroneous Bible teaching caused Christian theologians to oppose
Galileo’s proof that the earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the
sun. In the sixteenth century, Copernicus proposed this theory about the
double motion of the earth. In the following century, Galileo’s telescope
proved that Copernicus had been right. Â
To oppose the Copernican doctrine and show that the earth remains stationary
while the sun moves around it, the Catholic Church pointed to the tenth chapter
of the book of Joshua.[27]Â There we are told that Joshua, in order to have a
longer period of daylight in which to carry out the Lord’s command to
slaughter the Amorites, ordered the sun to stand still – not the earth.
Other passages demonstrating that the earth remains stationary include Psalm
93:1 ("The world is [e]stablished, that it cannot be moved."); I Chronicles
16:30 ("[T]he world also shall be stable, that it be not moved."); and Psalm
104:5 (The Lord "laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be
removed forever.").
Because of Galileo’s support for the Copernican doctrine, the Inquisition
threatened him with torture, forced him to recant, and subjected him to
imprisonment.[28] Additionally, for nearly 200 years the Catholic Church’s
Index of Forbidden Books condemned all writings that affirmed the double motion
of the earth.[29]Â Â
Protestants weren't much better. For generations the major branches of
Protestantism – Lutheran, Calvinist, and Anglican – denounced the
Copernican doctrine as contrary to scripture.[30]
A flat earth resting on pillars
The Bible supports the primitive notion of a flat earth. In the sixth
century, a Christian monk named Cosmas wrote a book, titled Topographia
Christiana, describing the structure of the physical world. Basing his views
on the Bible, Cosmas said the earth is flat and surrounded by four seas.[31]
The prophecy at Revelation 1:7 was a basis for his conclusion. It states
that when Christ returns, "every eye shall see him."Â Cosmas reasoned that if
the earth were round, people on the other side would not see Christ’s second
coming.[32]
Further support for the idea of a flat earth is contained in the verses
mentioning the "four corners of the earth" (e.g., Isaiah 11:12; Revelation 7:1)
and the "ends of the earth" (e.g., Jeremiah 16:19; Acts 13:47).
Because of such Bible teachings, most of the early church fathers thought the
earth is flat.[33] In fact, the view of the world contained in Cosmas’ book
was accepted for several centuries as orthodox Christian doctrine.[34]Â
And, although a number of modern writers disagree with the statement, at
least one eminent nineteenth-century historian stated that in the fifteenth
century, when Christopher Columbus proposed to sail west from Spain to reach
the East Indies, the biblical notion of a flat earth was a source of opposition
to him.[35]
As for the question of what holds the flat earth in place, the Bible
indicates the answer is "pillars."Â The pillars of the earth are mentioned in
several verses in the Old Testament (I Samuel 2:8; Psalm 75:3; Job 9:6).Â
These verses reflect the belief of the ancient Hebrews that the earth rests
upon pillars.[36]
Sky a solid dome containing windows
The Bible promotes the idea that the sky is a solid dome covering the earth.Â
In the creation account given in the first chapter of Genesis, verse 17 says
the Lord set the sun and moon "in the firmament" to provide light for the
earth. The Hebrew word translated as firmament is raqia, which means
"hammered metal."[37]
More support for the notion of a domed earth is found at Job 37:18 (where the
sky is described as like a "molten lookingglass"); Isaiah 40:22 (God
"stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to
dwell in"); and Revelation 6:14 ("And the heaven departed as a scroll when it
is rolled together.").
This concept of the sky was common in the ancient Near East and taken for
granted by the Bible writers.[38]Â Based on the Bible, most of the early
church fathers accepted the notion of the firmament.[39]Â The same position
was supported by Cosmas, and thus was part of orthodox Christian doctrine for
several centuries.[40]
Orthodox doctrine also contained the related idea that the firmament has
windows - which are opened by angels when God wants to send rain upon the
earth. Cosmas believed that when the windows are opened, some of the waters
contained above the firmament (which are mentioned at Genesis 1:17) fall to the
earth. Cosmas’ basis for this belief was the statement, at Genesis 7:11-12,
that at the time of the Noachian flood the "windows of heaven were opened" and
the rain fell.[41]
Supernatural signs in the heavens
Bible stories led the Christian world to believe - for centuries - that God
sends humankind signs in the heavens. Â
Christians thought comets warn of divine anger and imminent punishment;[42]
stars and meteors portend beneficial events such as the birth of heroes and
great men;[43] eclipses signify divine distress in response to events on
earth;[44] and storms and other destructive weather result from the anger of
God or the malice of Satan.[45]
Additional errors about the physical world
The Bible has verses mentioning dragons (Jeremiah 51:34), unicorns (Isaiah
34:7), and cockatrices (Isaiah 11:8). These passages led many naturalists in
the Middle Ages to think such mythical creatures actually exist.[46]
The Bible is also incorrect in saying the bat is a bird (Leviticus 11:13,19),
the hare and rock badger chew the cud (Leviticus 11:5-6), and the mustard seed
"is the smallest of all seeds" (Matthew 13:32). Â
Finally, it's inconsistent with science - and ludicrous - to believe that God
confounded the language of humans because he was afraid they would build a
tower high enough to reach heaven (Genesis 11:1-9).
Overall effect of Bible science
White summarizes the historical results of relying on the Bible for answers
about the physical world. It's not a pretty sight: "[T]here were developed,
in every field, theological views of science which have never led to a single
truth – which, without exception, have forced mankind away from the truth,
and have caused Christendom to stumble for centuries into abysses of error and
sorrow."[47]
In view of the Bible’s numerous mistaken beliefs about the physical world,
there's no reason to think its writers were any more correct about unseen and
abstract matters. Being so greatly in error regarding the tangible and
observable universe, the Bible cannot be considered a reliable guide for
spiritual and ethical issues.
False Prophecies
Prophecies in the Bible further strengthen the Humanist view. Because many
of the prophecies turned out to be false, they prove the Bible is not inerrant.
The Bible itself contains a test for determining whether a prophecy was
inspired by God. Deuteronomy 18:22 explains: "When a prophet speaketh in the
name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing
which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously:
thou shalt not be afraid of him."Â Â
Applying this test to the Bible leads to one conclusion: the book contains
many statements that were not inspired by God.
Old Testament prophecies
Genesis 2:17 says the Lord warned Adam and Eve about the fruit contained on
the tree of knowledge. He stated: "[I]n the day that thou eatest thereof thou
shalt surely die."Â According to Genesis chapter 3, however, Adam and Eve ate
the forbidden fruit and didn't die on that day.
Genesis 35:10 claims that God told Jacob: "[T]hy name shall not be called any
more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name. . . ."Â But 11 chapters later, the
Lord’s own act proved his prediction to be wrong. Genesis 46:2 relates:
"God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob.Â
And he said, Here am I."
At II Chronicles 1:12, God promised Solomon: "Wisdom and knowledge is granted
unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of
the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after
thee have the like."Â Â
As Robert Ingersoll pointed out in the nineteenth century, there were several
kings in Solomon’s day who could have thrown away the value of Palestine
without missing the amount.[48]Â And the wealth of Solomon has been exceeded
by many later kings and is small by today’s standards.[49]
Isaiah 17:1-2 prophesies that Damascus would cease to be a city, become a
heap of ruins, and remain forever desolate. Yet some 27 centuries after the
prediction was made, Damascus is one of the oldest cities in the world and is
still going strong.
Jeremiah 25:11 predicts the Jews would be captives in Babylon for 70 years,
and II Chronicles 36:20-21 views the prophecy as fulfilled. Â But the Jews
were taken into captivity by the Chaldeans when Jerusalem fell in 586
B.C.E</font><font face="Arial" size="2">. And Cyrus of Persia issued an order
in 538 B.C.E. allowing them to return from Babylon to Judah. Thus, the
Babylonian captivity lasted about 48 years.[50]Â
Examples of other unfulfilled Old Testament prophecies include the following:
the Jews will occupy the land from the Nile to the Euphrates (Genesis 15:18);
they shall never lose their land and shall be disturbed no more (II Samuel
7:10); King David’s throne and kingdom shall be established forever (II
Samuel 7:16); no uncircumcised person will ever enter Jerusalem (Isaiah 52:1);
and the waters of Egypt will dry up (Isaiah 19:5-7).
New Testament prophecies
In applying the Bible’s test for identifying false prophets, the conclusion
is inescapable that Jesus was one of them. For example, he was wrong in
predicting the world would end within the lifetime of his followers. Â
At Matthew 16:28, Jesus tells his disciples: "There be some standing here,
which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his
kingdom."Â The people who were standing there all died eventually, and they
never saw Jesus return to establish a kingdom.
Similarly, Jesus is depicted at Mark 13:24-30 as listing signs that shall
accompany the end of the world. These include the sun becoming darkened, the
moon not giving any light, the stars of heaven falling, the son of man coming
in the clouds with great power and glory, and angels gathering the elect.Â
Then Jesus announces: "Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not
pass, till all these things be done."Â His generation passed away long ago
without the predicted events occurring.
Jesus also erred in predicting the amount of time he would be in the tomb.Â
At Matthew 12:40 he teaches: "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in
the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in
the heart of the earth."Â Mark 15:42-45 shows that Jesus died on a Friday
afternoon. But Mark 16:9 and Matthew 28:1 tell us he left the tomb sometime
on Saturday night or Sunday morning. Either way, the amount of time was less
than three nights.
Another significant false prophecy is at John 14:13-14. Jesus promises:
"Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be
glorified in the Son. If ye ask any thing in my name, I will do it."Â
Everyone knows there have been millions of instances where Jesus failed to
respond to Christians who asked for things in his name. And the graveyards
are full of people who prayed to him for health.
As is the case with other incorrect statements in the Bible, false prophecies
cast doubt on all biblical claims. If one verse in the Bible is wrong, it's
possible for many verses to be wrong.
Inaccurate Statements About History
The Bible's false statements about history also bolster the Humanist
position. Historians and other scholars have exposed many of the Bible's
claims as historically inaccurate.
History and the Old Testament
Historians have long known that the biblical story of a worldwide flood is a
myth. For instance, Andrew White says nineteenth-century Egyptologists found
that Egypt had a flourishing civilization long before Noah, and no flood had
ever interrupted it.[51]
The book of Exodus claims to contain a historical record of the escape of the
Israelites from slavery in Egypt. But historians and archaeologists have been
unable to verify any of the events described in the book. No known Egyptian
records refer to the biblical Moses, the devastating plagues God supposedly
inflicted on the country, the escape of the Hebrew slaves, or the drowning of
the Egyptian army.[52]Â Further, White tells us the records contained on
Egyptian monuments show that the pharaoh ruling at the time of the alleged
escape of the Jews was certainly not overwhelmed in the Red Sea.[53]
The book of Esther purports to describe how a young Jewish girl named Esther
was chosen by the Persian king Xerxes I to be queen after he had divorced
Vashti. Although historians know a great deal about Xerxes I, there is no
record that he had a Jewish queen named Esther or was married to Vashti.[54]
Additionally, the book of Esther describes the Persian empire as having 127
provinces, but historians maintain there was no such division of the
empire.[55]Â Also contrary to the book of Esther, historians assure us Xerxes
did not order Jews in his territories to attack his Persian subjects.[56]
The book of Daniel describes events that supposedly happened during the
Babylonian captivity of the Jews. The fifth chapter states that
Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, was succeeded on the throne by his son
Belshazzar. But historians tell us Belshazzar was not the son of
Nebuchadnezzar and was never king.[57]
The book of Daniel also says one "Darius the Mede" captured Babylon in the
sixth century B.C.E</font><font face="Arial" size="2">. In contrast,
historians know that Cyrus of Persia took Babylon.[58]
History and the New TestamentÂ
In the New Testament, the second chapter of Luke asserts that shortly before
the birth of Jesus, the emperor Augustus ordered a census throughout the Roman
world. Luke claims that every person had to travel to the town of his
ancestors for the census to be taken. He identifies the census as the reason
for Joseph and Mary traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where Jesus is said
to have been born.
In his book Gospel Fictions, Randall Helms says this type of census was never
taken in the history of the Roman Empire. He points out it's ridiculous to
think the practical Romans would require millions of people to travel enormous
distances - to towns of long-deceased ancestors - merely to sign a tax
form.[59] Likewise, in Asimov’s Guide to the Bible, Isaac Asimov affirms
that the Romans would certainly arrange no such census.[60]
The third chapter of Luke contains a genealogy tracing Christ’s ancestry
back only 76 generations to Adam. According to Genesis chapter 1, Adam was
created along with the rest of the universe during the course of one week. Â
The Bible thus views the human race and the universe as having existed for a
relatively short period, probably no more than several thousand years. In
fact, for many centuries the orthodox Christian position - to doubt which was
to risk damnation - was that the creation took place sometime between four and
six thousand years before Christ’s birth.[61]
Historians and scientists give a much longer historical record. They say
the universe is between 10 and 20 billion years old,[62] the earth’s age is
approximately 4.6 billion years,[63] and humans evolved from ape-like ancestors
during the last few million years.[64]
Matthew chapter 2 avers that shortly after the birth of Jesus, King Herod
ordered the massacre of all male children two years of age or under in
Bethlehem and its vicinity. In the book of Luke, which contains the only
other New Testament story of Jesus’ birth, there is no mention of this
horribly cruel order. It's also not recorded in any secular histories from
the time – not even by writers who carefully described many far less wicked
deeds of Herod.[65] The lack of corroboration means Matthew’s account was
fabricated.
Matthew 27:45 alleges that while Jesus was on the cross, there fell over the
whole land a darkness lasting from midday until three in the afternoon.Â
Andrew White explains that although Romans such as Seneca and Pliny carefully
described much less striking occurrences of the same sort in more remote
regions, they failed to note any such darkness occurring even in Judea.[66]
Robert Ingersoll wondered why the first-century Jewish historian Josephus,
"the best historian the Hebrews produced, said nothing about the life or death
of Christ; nothing about the massacre of the infants by Herod; not one word
about the wonderful star that visited the sky at the birth of Christ; nothing
about the darkness that fell upon the world for several hours in the midst of
day; and failed entirely to mention that hundreds of graves were opened, and
that multitudes of Jews rose from the dead, and visited the Holy City?"Â
Ingersoll also asked, "Is it not wonderful that no historian ever mentioned any
of these prodigies?"[67]
Ingersoll’s questions are even more forceful when one considers that there
still exist at least some of the works of more than 60 historians or
chroniclers who lived in the period from 10 C.E. to 100 C.E.[68]Â Those
writers were contemporaries of Jesus, if in fact he ever lived.
Finally, the previously discussed contradictions can be cited as examples of
historical inaccuracies. In each instance where the Bible contains a
contradiction about an alleged historical event, at least one of the accounts
is wrong.
The Bible writers were poor historians, let alone conveyers of messages from
an infallible God.
Other Problems with the Bible
There are other reasons why the Bible should not be considered the word of
God. They include, but are not limited to: the fact that we don't know who
wrote most of it;[69] the fact that much of it was written many years - and in
some cases many centuries – after the events it purports to describe;[70] its
obscene passages; and its promises of eternal rewards for the ignorant and
credulous and everlasting punishment for skeptics and investigators.
Finally, the harm that the Bible causes in people's personal lives should be
mentioned as a reason for rejecting the book. It's not uncommon to see media
reports about Bible believers committing bizarre, injurious, and sometimes
deadly acts. Â
Some people use Bible verses to justify beating children, withholding medical
treatment, handling snakes, drinking poison, chopping off body parts, plucking
out eyes, driving out demons, withdrawing from the affairs of this world,
renouncing the pleasures of life, and expecting the world to end. Â
If the Bible were not viewed as God's word, these acts would occur much less
often.
Conclusion
Many compelling and morally sound reasons support the Humanist position that
the Bible is not divinely inspired. Instead of being inerrant, the Bible has
far more errors and immoral teachings than most other books.
By treating this mistake-ridden book as the word of God, humanity has been
led down many paths of error and misery throughout history. In too many ways,
the Bible continues to produce such results.
But in some cases, the errors caused by the Bible have been corrected and the
harms have been stopped. This happened when a scientific approach was applied
to problems. Science involves relying on reason, observation, experience, and
compassion - rather than blindly accepting religious or secular dogma.
We should reject the views of those who say the Bible has infallible answers
to today’s problems. As Humanists know, science has proved to be a much
better source for answers.
Endnotes:
1 Ostling, Richard N., "Jerry Falwell’s Crusade," Time (September 2,
1985), p. 50. Similarly, Jerry Falwell has said: "The Bible is the inerrant
word of the living God. It is absolutely infallible, without error in all
matters pertaining to faith and practice, as well as in areas such as
geography, science, history, etc."Â McWilliams, Peter, Ain't Nobody's Business
If You Do: The Absurdity of Consensual Crimes in a Free Societ</i>y (Los
Angeles: Prelude Press, 1993), p. 322.
2Â "Interrogatories Served in Gaylor vs. Reagan," Freethought Today
(September  1983), p. 1.
3 George Gallop Jr. and Jim Castelli, The People’s Religion: American
Faith in the 90’s (New York: MacMillan, 1989), pp. 60, 61.
4Â Gallup and Castelli, p. 61.
5Â Gallup and Castelli, p. 60.
6Â Gallup and Castelli, p. 16.
7Â Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:10; and John 20:1
8Â Matthew 28:2 (outside) vs. Mark 16:5; Luke 24:3-4; and John 20:11-12
(inside)
9Â Luke 24:4 (standing) vs. Matthew 28:2; Mark 16:5; and John 20:12 (sitting)
10Â Matthew 28:9 and John 20:14
11Â Ingersoll, Robert G., "Vindication of Thomas Paine," The Works of
Ingersoll, Vol. V (New York: Dresden, 1901), p. 483.
12Â McCabe, Joseph, The History of Torture (Austin: American Atheist Press,
Reprinted 1982), pp. 12, 23.
13Â McCabe, pp. 20, 21.
14Â Paine, Thomas, The Age of Reason (New Jersey: Citadel Press, 1974), p.
60.
15Â Berggen, W.A., and Van Couvering, John A., Catastrophes and Earth
History: The New Uniformitarianism (New Jersey: Princeton University Press,
1984), p. 11.
16Â White, Andrew D., A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in
Christendom, Vol. II (New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1910), pp. 67, 68.
17Â White, Vol. II, p. 70.
18Â White, Vol. II, p. 27.
19Â White, Vol. II, p. 45.
20Â White, Vol. II, p. 68.
21Â White, Vol. II, p. 71.
22Â White, Vol., II, p. 71.
23Â White, Vol. II, pp. 86-88.
24Â White, Vol. II, pp. 72-75.
25Â White, Vol. II, p. 70.
26Â White, Vol. II, p. 92.
27Â White, Vol. I, p. 132.
28Â White, Vol. I, p. 142.
29Â White, Vol. I, p. 160.
30Â White, Vol. I, p. 126
31Â White, Vol. I, p. 93.
32Â "The Ghosts," Ingersoll, Vol. I, pp. 301, 302
33Â White, Vol. I, p. 91. See also Draper, John W., History of the Conflict
Between Religion and Science (New York and London: D. Appleton and Company,
1919), pp. 62, 63, 161.
34Â White Vol. I, pp. 325, 326. See also Draper, pp. 163, 294.
35Â Draper, pp. 160-161. Accord: Draper, John W., History of the
Intellectual Development of Europe, Vol. II (New York: Harper Brothers, 1876),
p. 173. A number of Internet sources, however, disagree with Draper's position
on this issue.
36Â The New English Bible with the Apocrypha, Oxford Study Edition (New
York: Oxford University Press, 1976), p. 1002.
37Â Ecker, Ronald L., Dictionary of Science and Creationism (Buffalo:
Prometheus Books, 1990), p. 56.
38Â Ecker, pp. 69, 70.
39Â White, Vol. I, pp. 114-115. See also Draper, pp. 62, 63.
40Â White, Vol. I, pp. 325, 326. See also Draper, p. 294.
41Â White, Vol. I, p. 325.
42Â White, Vol. I, p. 174, 175.
43Â White, Vol. I, pp. 171-173, 176.
44Â White, Vol. I, pp. 172, 173.
45Â White, Vol. I, pp. 331, 337.
46Â White, Vol. I, pp. 33-35.
47Â White, Vol. I, p. 325.
48Â "Interviews," Ingersoll, Vol. V, p. 261.
49Â McKinsey, C. Dennis, The Encyclopedia of Biblical Errancy (Amherst, New
York: Prometheus Books, 1995), p. 295.
50Â Callahan, Tim, Bible Prophecy: Failure or Fulfillment? (Altadena,
California: Millennium Press, 1997), pp. 84-85.
51Â White, Vol. I, p. 257.
52Â Harris, Stephen L., Understanding the Bible, 2d ed. (Palo Alto and
London: Mayfield Publishing, 1985), p. 61.
53Â White, Vol. II, p. 375.
54Â Harris, p. 178
55Â Harris, p. 178.
56Â Harris, p. 178.
57Â Harris, p. 184.
58Â McKay, John; Hill, Bennett; and Buckler, John; A History of Western
Society, Vol. I (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1983), p. 61.
59Â Helms, Randal, Gospel Fictions (Buffalo: Prometheus Books, 1989), pp.
59, 60.
60 Asimov, Isaac, Asimov’s Guide to the Bible (New York: Avenel Books,
1981), p. 929.
61Â White, Vol. I, p. 249-256.
62Â Ecker, pp. 31, 199.
63Â Ecker, p. 106.
64Â Ecker, pp. 122, 129-131.
65Â Asimov, p. 796, and Harris, p. 275.
66Â White, Vol. I, p. 173.
67Â "The Christian Religion," Ingersoll, Vol. VI, p. 84.
68Â Stein, Gordon, An Anthology of Atheism and Rationalism (Buffalo:
Prometheus Books, 1980), p. 178.
69Â Harris, p. 2.
70Â Harris, p. 2.
---------------------------------
Bergabunglah dengan orang-orang yang berwawasan, di bidang Anda di Yahoo!
Answers
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
