Glenn wrote:
<<Paul's book nearly caused me to leave the faith. It was a devastating
critique of Christianity as far as I was concerned. Of course he won't
appreciate or agree with this. His book sent me into such a tailspin that I
didn't even take the normal set of notes I normally take and unfortunately,
my copy is not in storage in Houston and unavailable.>>
My book is, I hope, a devastating critique; but, not of Christianity. It
neither touches upon or in any way calls into question the fundamental tenets
of Christianity, that is, those tenets which I certainly believe without
reservation and which are found in the Apostles' Creed. The book attempts to
show that the idea that inspiration guarantees the scientific inerrancy of
Scripture is not taught in Scripture (I examine all of the popular Bible
verses used to support the doctrine), is a human addition to Scripture, and
is falsified by the teachings of Jesus as well as by empirical data.
I might have added that as one reviews the history of the conflicts which the
Church has had with modern science and which the Church has inevitably lost
every time (because Scripture is accommodated to the science of its own
times), it is evident that the doctrine that God reveals scientific truth in
Scripture has done more to undermine the authority of the Church and
disgrace the gospel than any other doctrine the Church has ever held. If a
tree is known by its fruits, the tree of "scientific biblical inerrancy" is
rotten to the core.
I stand firmly upon Scripture in rejecting this doctrine as well as with
Calvin when he said (in the paragraphs commenting on Gen 1:16, 17) that if a
person wants to learn scientific truth, they should not come to the Bible but
go to the professional scientists. Amen.
Paul
PS If anyone wants a copy of my book, send a donation, as the Lord leads, to
Evangelical Reform, 1544 SE 34th Ave, Portland, OR 97214; and one will be
sent.
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