From: George Murphy (gmurphy@raex.com)
Date: Thu May 15 2003 - 10:41:55 EDT
Ted Davis wrote:
>
> I thank Bob for providing the larger context for Augustine's comments. This
> is pretty much what I thought Augustine meant: that our human notion of
> limits on divine acts are simply our human notions, and God isn't bound by
> those. I'm on the same page with Augustine.
>
> I'm also on the same page with Bob. I agree that the historical and
> astronomical evidence (indeed there is no such in the latter case, our
> records not encompassing Joshua's day) do not support a "literal"
> interpretation of the Joshua story, and I'm not inclined to accept that
> story as a genuine miracle. I also doubt that it had redemptive
> purpose--killing the enemy doesn't seem to fit that category.
Ted -
On your last point, note that in the central salvific event of the OT, the
Exodus, "The LORD saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians
dead on the seashore" (Ex.14:30).
At a certain point in the Passover meal a drop of wine is to be spilled on the
floor because Israel's celebration is diminished, no matter how slightly, because of the
Egyptians. It is an important insight, but the Egyptians still died.
Shalom,
George
George L. Murphy
gmurphy@raex.com
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
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