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Undertoad · 12-16-2002, 08:14 PM

Cairo, I have two separate points which require your attention.

1. Many times we must work out truth on our own, but more often facts are communicated to us via other people, and those people bring their point of view and frame of reference to the table. In order to truly understand what is going on, unless you are involved, you benefit from multiple points of view. Even though one or more of the points may well be wrong, except in the case of knowable, provable items, one is enlightened immeasurably by the addition of a second point of view. This is why it is a bad idea for the school to tell your son that they are dispensing the sole truth. But it is also why it is a bad idea for YOU to tell your son that YOU are the final arbiter of truth.

Otherwise, the first time he figures out something where you're wrong, the entire stack of cards will come tumbling down.

2. There are hundreds of points upon which the bible directly contradicts itself. For example, here's one list of 962 direct contradictions. Sure, some of them are nit-picky, but it's not that long a book and one would think He would be a stronger writer. If the bible is really meant to be instructions from a loving supreme being on how to avoid eternal torture, you'd think He could get His stuff together in a way that doesn't need much translation or interpretation and is understandable by all. It is, after all, rather important.

12-16-2002, 08:14 PM	#365
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Cairo, I have two separate points which require your attention. 1. Many times we must work out truth on our own, but more often facts are communicated to us via other people, and those people bring their point of view and frame of reference to the table. In order to truly understand what is going on, unless you are involved, you benefit from multiple points of view. Even though one or more of the points may well be wrong, except in the case of knowable, provable items, one is enlightened immeasurably by the addition of a second point of view. This is why it is a bad idea for the school to tell your son that they are dispensing the sole truth. But it is also why it is a bad idea for YOU to tell your son that YOU are the final arbiter of truth. Otherwise, the first time he figures out something where you're wrong, the entire stack of cards will come tumbling down. 2. There are hundreds of points upon which the bible directly contradicts itself. For example, here's one list of 962 direct contradictions. Sure, some of them are nit-picky, but it's not that long a book and one would think He would be a stronger writer. If the bible is really meant to be instructions from a loving supreme being on how to avoid eternal torture, you'd think He could get His stuff together in a way that doesn't need much translation or interpretation and is understandable by all. It is, after all, rather important.