In the sixth century, a Christian monk named Cosmas wrote a book, titled Topographia Christiana, describing the structure of the physical world. I would never expected quotes from God or Jesus claiming only some ethnic groups were saved or that some were superior to others. 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). And the graveyards are full of people who prayed to him for health. And there has never been a king like him since. Those teachings led the early church leaders to promote the idea that demonic activity is the primary cause of disease. .” But 11 chapters later, the Lord’s own act proved his prediction to be wrong. See also Draper, John W., History of the Conflict Between Religion and Science (New York and London: D. Appleton and Company, 1919), pp. . Demean your value;2. If you looked at the world today, you’d probably say that there is a lot of skepticism, cynicism, and yes, negativism. God created the earth (including the day he rested) in seven days ( Genesis 1-2 ). Passages that are a waste of brain space and paper. The biblical contradictions therefore prove that the book has many false statements and is not infallible. Our experience is that the natural world operates according to principles of regularity – which are never violated. 62, 63, 161. I'll limit myself to a couple tantalizing tidbits of each kind, and the curious reader who wants more can go to the Skeptic's Annotated Bible or simply dig out the old family tome and start reading at Genesis, Chapter I. Humanists also repudiate the Bible because of its mistaken ideas about the structure of the physical world. 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. No one whose testicles are crushed or whose penis is cut off shall be admitted to the assembly of the LORD. [57], The book of Daniel also says one “Darius the Mede” captured Babylon in the sixth century B.C.E. . God, by contrast, professes his undying love, kindness and mercy, but then commands his minions to commit brutal atrocities when he isn't up for it himself. And there are other instances where the biblical God’s punishments are shockingly harsh compared to the acts committed. For over 75 years, the AHA has proudly served as the leading progressive voice in America on behalf of humanists, atheists, agnostics, and freethinkers. 59 Helms, Randal, Gospel Fictions (Buffalo: Prometheus Books, 1989), pp. Matthew lists 26 generations between Jesus and King David, whereas Luke records 41. But in some cases, the errors caused by the Bible have been corrected and the harms have been stopped. Everything negative - pressure, challenges - is all an opportunity for me to rise. Prophecies in the Bible further strengthen the Humanist view. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys. Ye shall not round the corners of your heads. Awkwardly useless commandments. The Bible’s false statements about history also bolster the Humanist position. [34] Even 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 major source of opposition to him. Hint: You probably qualify. Genesis 2:17 says the Lord warned Adam and Eve about the fruit contained on the tree of knowledge. The Bible doesn’t have middle ground on same-sex relationships, monogamous or not. When it suits their purposes, they treat it like the literally perfect word of God. And Humanists esteem highly those who study this world and provide a better understanding of it. 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. 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). [52] 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. Yet the Bible teaches that God repeatedly violated this moral precept by harming innocent people. She lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses. These verses reflect the belief of the ancient Hebrews that the earth rests upon pillars. [6]. [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). 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. [30], The Bible supports the primitive notion of a flat earth. We should reject the views of those who say the Bible has infallible answers to today’s problems. Instead of being inerrant, the Bible has far more errors and immoral teachings than most other books. The Lord will afflict your knees and legs with painful boils that cannot be cured, spreading from the soles of your feet to the top of your head. . 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. 1 Timothy 5:8. As a result, the Bible discourages a scientific approach to problems. Associated Press articles: Copyright © 2016 The Associated Press. [3] Gallup 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. 11. Isaiah 17:1-2 prophesies that Damascus would cease to be a city, become a heap of ruins, and remain forever desolate. According to Acts 22:9, however, the men saw a light but didn’t hear the voice speaking to Paul. Because of such Bible teachings, most of the early church fathers thought the earth is flat. Get the latest on AHA news & actions in your inbox, Defending Nontheists and Promoting Humanism, Longtime Executive Director of the American Humanist Association to Step Down, Calls for New Leadership, Humanists Demand Maryland City Council End Legislative Prayers, 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 . Thousands of other religious and political leaders throughout the U.S. promote the Bible. – Proverbs 13:20 [Bible] You shall not follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice; (Exodus 23:2) My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. For instance, President Ronald Reagan signed into law an Act of Congress proclaiming 1983 to be the “Year of the Bible.” The law described the Bible as the “Word of God” and said there is “a national need to study and apply its teachings.” [2]. . With a finite number of pages to set the course of human history, this was the best He could do? According to paleontologist Stephen J. Gould, this uniformity or constancy of natural laws is the “methodological assumption” making science practicable.[15]. According to II Samuel 24:1, the Lord had caused David to take the census – which makes the punishment appear even more nonsensical. they said. The contradictions start in the opening chapters of the Bible, where inconsistent creation stories are told. (Altadena, California: Millennium Press, 1997), pp. Historians have long known that the biblical story of a worldwide flood is a myth. 325, 326. An erroneous Bible teaching caused Christian theologians to oppose Galileo’s proof that the earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the sun. But historians tell us Belshazzar was not the son of Nebuchadnezzar and was never king. You have fattened your hearts in … Both genealogies begin with Jesus’ father, who is identified as Joseph (which is curious, given that Mary was supposedly impregnated by the Holy Ghost). 58 McKay, John; Hill, Bennett; and Buckler, John; A History of Western Society, Vol. 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). Overwhelming evidence shows that physical events occur according to immutable natural laws. They are convinced the book was written solely by humans in an ignorant, superstitious, and cruel age. 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). Basing his views on the Bible, Cosmas said the earth is flat and surrounded by four seas. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. The story of Jesus’ birth is also contradictory. Thus, the Babylonian captivity lasted about 48 years.[50]. As a final example of a New Testament contradiction, the conflicting accounts of Paul’s conversion can be cited. But Mark 15:21-23 disagrees by saying a man called Simon carried the cross. Positive thinking has many benefits including increased confidence, lower stress […] In describing Jesus being led to his execution, John 19:17 recounts that he carried his own cross. Quotes from the Bible . Historians and other scholars have exposed many of the Bible’s claims as historically inaccurate. to 100 C.E. I, pp. . Weird insults and curses. SALON ® is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a trademark of Salon.com, LLC. Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. The Hebrew word translated as firmament is raqia, which means “hammered metal.”[37]. 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. [38] Based on the Bible, most of the early church fathers accepted the notion of the firmament. 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. Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. 34 White Vol. There is no denying that music can influence you in a negative or positive way. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die. You will build a house, but you will not live in it. Your ox will be slaughtered before your eyes, but you will eat none of it. 3. . … [35], As for the question of what holds the flat earth in place, the Bible indicates the answer is “pillars.” The pillars of the earth are mentioned in several verses in the Old Testament (I Samuel 2:8; Psalm 75:3; Job 9:6). As for the crucifixion, Matthew 27:44 tells us Jesus was taunted by both criminals who were being crucified with him. 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). Some of the stories are so bad even Hollywood, with its passion for glorious biblical sex and violence, won't touch them, especially the plentiful Bible stories about sexual slavery and human sacrifice. God, or the Bible writers, is hung up about sexual anatomy in a way many modern Christians, fortunately, are not. All Rights Reserved. 59, 60. Top 10 Negative Quotes 10. Not only will it hinder how we live our lives, but it will also alter our view of God. Either way, the amount of time was less than three nights. Finally, the previously discussed contradictions can be cited as examples of historical inaccuracies. [59] Likewise, in Asimov’s Guide to the Bible, Isaac Asimov affirms that the Romans would certainly arrange no such census.[60]. 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. 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. It’s not uncommon to see media reports about Bible believers committing bizarre, injurious, and sometimes deadly acts. Jesus promises: “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 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. 341 quotes have been tagged as negative: Israelmore Ayivor: ‘7 things negative people will do to you. When his wife finds out what those laws actually are, she gives him the middle finger by sitting on every chair in the house. I, pp. Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom? Bible verses about positive thinking The way that we think can either be beneficial on our walk with Christ or it can become an extreme hindrance. People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong. And so does the dog who belongs to your kinky neighbor. Romans 12:21 - Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. [25], 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. 67 “The Christian Religion,” Ingersoll, Vol. I would have thought the Bible of all books would be about love and peace for the whole world. Luke claims that every person had to travel to the town of his ancestors for the census to be taken. . We work tirelessly in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend civil liberties, secular governance, and scientific integrity. [5], Such views about the Bible are surely responsible, at least in part, for Gallup’s finding that over two-thirds of Americans belong to churches or synagogues, and 40% attend services on a weekly basis. Humanists therefore accept the scientific view that this world operates under unvarying natural laws that cannot be suspended by religious rituals or other means. 32 “The Ghosts,” Ingersoll, Vol. Cutting off negative people is a big challenge but it’s not easy. . 52 Harris, Stephen L., Understanding the Bible, 2d ed. The reality is that the Bible says much more in support of slavery than against it. The materials promote the idea that, as televangelist Pat Robertson has said, “The Bible . May these verses encourage you to cultivate a lifestyle of meeting God in His Word and expectantly desiring to grow in your relationship with Him. In most communities, an opposing view is rarely, if ever, heard. Had John Cleese or William Shakespeare lived in the Iron Age, though, some of the Bible writers might have given him a run for his money. 20 BIBLE VERSES ABOUT CLEANING OF NEGATIVE ENERGY1. He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. But that is exactly what I … The foregoing examples are just a few of the hundreds of contradictions contained in the Old and New Testaments. They will... 1. Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them. Seven, for instance, also means completeness; as does number 3. 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. The early Hebrews probably didn't have an obesity epidemic like the one that has spread around the globe today. There are many verses in the Bible that proclaim the supremacy of God’s Word. V, p. 261. He stated: “[I]n the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” According to Genesis chapter 3, however, Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and didn’t die on that day. V (New York: Dresden, 1901), p. 483. . . 6. The very next verse, however, says the mountaintops could not be seen until the tenth month. 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. In the sixteenth century, Copernicus proposed this theory about the double motion of the earth. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 15 Berggen, W.A., and Van Couvering, John A., Catastrophes and Earth History: The New Uniformitarianism (New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1984), p. 11. Television and radio carry religious programs praising the Bible as the holy and infallible word of God. If a man has sex with an animal, he must be put to death, and the animal must be killed. Through winning lawsuits, active lobbying, and effective media campaigns, your contribution can go a long way. . You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 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. Most numbers carry a symbolic purpose in the Bible. Science involves relying on reason, observation, experience, and compassion – rather than blindly accepting religious or secular dogma. and their wives ravished. 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. 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. 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. 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