Discussion with Xian on biblical contradictions.
The discussion veered towards contradictions in the Bible which she denies exist, as she believes that every word is literally true. I've been researching a few contradictions this evening an have come up with three which I think are indisputable.
I narrowed down the list of hundreds, based on the following three rules.
1. Keep it limited to the new testament and specifically to the gospels as they are supposedly accurate accounts of the same events.
2. Ignore those which are simply ommisions of facts, for example "Mary was there at the opening of the tomb" and "Both Mary & the other Mary were there at the opening of the tomb". Both could possibly be true.
3. It must specifically be a statement of fact or a description of an unambiguous time or event.
The three I've come up with are as follows:
1. What were the last words of Jesus before dying on the cross?
MAT 27:46,50: "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, eli, lama sabachthani?" that is to say, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" ...Jesus, when he cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost."
LUK 23:46: "And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, "Father, unto thy hands I commend my spirit:" and having said thus, he gave up the ghost."
JOH 19:30: "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished:" and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."
2. What did Jesus instruct his Disciples to Bring with them?
MAT 10:10 Jesus instructed them not to take a staff, not to wear sandals.
MARK 6:8-9 Jesus instructed his disciples to wear sandals and take a staff on their journey.
3, Who was the father of Joseph?
MAT 1:16 The father of Joseph was Jacob.
LUK 3 :23 The father of Joseph was Heli
Are these good ones to choose?
What excuses will she come up with?
Are there better ones?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gareth Edwards on -
I know exactly what you mean, and debating is probably not the best word for these discussions as it would indicate that both parties are using some sort of logical argument, however these exchanges do entertain me to some extent in a boring office job.
I did a quick google for "biblical contradictions" and chose these three out of the multitude of possibile options as being most apt to cause this nutcase to possibly slightly have the remote possibility of sowing a seed in the back of her tiny mind that not every word in her silly book of superstitious nonsense is not entirely true.
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Permalink Reply by The Rock Collector on -
You're a great resource, Glen. Thank you I love shoving this stuff right up xtion arses! I too have a nut at work I love to debate with. He's just as deaf as the rest of them and unable to acknowledge facts. I just love this site! Brian.
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Permalink Reply by Christy Gonzalez on -
You know, Glen, you'd think that'd work, wouldn't you? I had a similar conversation with my mother recently, though admittedly I did not have the verses to back me up. Her response was simply that god gives everyone free will and already knows who will and who won't accept him. Therefore, it's okay that he kills these people (or sends them to hell, or punishes them or whatever), because they never would have CHOSEN to accept him. I know, I know, just typing this is making me feel crazy.
I wonder why god would create a group of people (like citizens of a particular country, perhaps China, like you suggested), who were less likely to accept him, based solely on geographical location. Of course, there are examples of Chinese people who have converted, so these are the exceptions they use to prove their rule. Unless they think god examines every soul before placing it in a body and decides to place the ones who he knows won't accept him predominantly in a country that is not generally exposed to Christianity. Obviously that's all very circular logic, and not really logical at all, but this is what I run into when using this tactic. After a round of debate like this with my mother, it is clear why I avoid another debate for a while.
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Permalink Reply by Dave Rogers on -
When it comes to contradictions in the bible, you'll find 440 of them here.
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Permalink Reply by Johnsky on -
From the way I read the bible, and that was some time ago, it seemed like each "book" was written by a different author... and that they didn't cross-reference with each other... (and because many of them weren't alive at the same time).
This notion that there are people out there who believe such blatant contradictions are infallible is beyond me.
To me, that's a deal breaker right there. If a source contradicts itself... even once... it loses credibility. The bible has more contradictions from book to book than most comic-book turned hollywood movies do.
A trait very common when you hire someone new to write the next script.
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Permalink Reply by Hiram on -
One of the funniest episodes between Jehovah and Moses is when Jehovah flashed him. Have you shared this with your Xtian friends? There's a point in the Bible where Jehovah (who is elsewhere supposed to be invisible and didn't want people to imagine his appearance) allowed Moses to see his resplandent ass for a split second. It's Exodus 33:21-23.
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Permalink Reply by Ryan on -
Go over how herod died in 4bc, supposedly 4 years before the jesus character was born.
Herod and Pilate weren't even alive at the same time.
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Permalink Reply by Louis on -
3, Who was the father of Joseph?
MAT 1:16 The father of Joseph was Jacob.
LUK 3 :23 The father of Joseph was Heli
Joseph had two daddies.
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Permalink Reply by Jason Spicer on -
Not that there's anything wrong with that. It might be a good idea to bring up Joseph's gay co-daddies the next time some Christer objects to homosexuality. Jesus had 3 grandpas!
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Moore on -
The usual reply to the two different lineages is that Matthew cites the lineage of Joseph, and Luke cites the lineage of Mary. How Apologists can make such a claim is, quite frankly, absurd. As is plain to read from the text, Luke 3:23-38 is explicit in referring to a male lineage.
How can one honestly claim (L3:23) And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, (24) Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son... is a description of Mary's lineage?
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Moore on
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Permalink Reply by Louis Davout on -
You tube play list from ProfMTH has some short humorous ones
Dialogue with a Christian Proselytizer by Todd Allen Gates mentions several good ones. Such as how does one receive salvation? By deed or by faith alone?
John Armstrong discusses that one and other here.
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