Biblical Errancy and Contradictions: An Atheist Perspective

The Bible is often claimed to be the word of God, the ultimate source of truth and morality, and the guide for salvation. However, a closer examination of the biblical texts reveals that they are riddled with errors and contradictions, both factual and logical, that undermine their credibility and authority. In this article, I will present some of the most glaring examples of biblical errancy and contradictions, and explain why they pose a serious challenge to the Christian faith.

Factual Errors

The Bible contains numerous factual errors that contradict scientific knowledge, historical evidence, and common sense. For instance:

- The Bible claims that the earth was created in six days, and that the sun, moon, and stars were made on the fourth day (Genesis 1:1-19). However, modern astronomy shows that the earth is about 4.5 billion years old, and that the sun and stars are much older than the earth. Moreover, the earth cannot exist without the sun, which provides heat and light for life.

- The Bible claims that a global flood covered the entire earth and killed all living things except those on Noah's ark (Genesis 6-9). However, there is no geological evidence for such a cataclysmic event, and it is impossible for a wooden boat to accommodate millions of animal species and their food for a year. Moreover, the genetic diversity of life on earth cannot be explained by a single pair of ancestors for each species.

- The Bible claims that the sun stood still for a day to help Joshua win a battle (Joshua 10:12-14). However, this would violate the laws of physics and cause catastrophic consequences for the earth's rotation, climate, and tides. Moreover, there is no historical or astronomical record of such a miraculous event.

- The Bible claims that Jesus was born during the reign of King Herod and the census of Quirinius (Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:1-7). However, historical sources show that Herod died in 4 BCE, while Quirinius became governor of Syria in 6 CE. Therefore, these two events cannot be reconciled chronologically.

Logical Contradictions

The Bible also contains numerous logical contradictions that make it impossible to accept its claims as coherent and consistent. For instance:

- The Bible claims that God is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnibenevolent (all-good) (Psalm 147:5; Jeremiah 32:17; 1 John 4:8). However, these attributes are incompatible with the existence of evil and suffering in the world. If God is omnipotent, he can prevent evil; if he is omniscient, he knows about evil; if he is omnibenevolent, he wants to prevent evil. Therefore, either God is not omnipotent, or not omniscient, or not omnibenevolent, or evil does not exist. But evil does exist, so God cannot be all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good at the same time.

- The Bible claims that God is unchanging and eternal (Malachi 3:6; Psalm 90:2). However, this contradicts the biblical narrative of God's actions and emotions. For example, God regrets making humans and decides to destroy them with a flood (Genesis 6:6-7); God changes his mind about punishing Israel after Moses intercedes for them (Exodus 32:14); God gets angry with his people and sends plagues and wars to punish them (Numbers 11:1; Judges 2:14); God becomes human in Jesus and suffers and dies on the cross (John 1:14; Philippians 2:8). These examples show that God is not unchanging or eternal, but mutable and temporal.

- The Bible claims that Jesus is fully God and fully human (John 1:1; Colossians 2:9). However, this contradicts the essential properties of both natures. For example, God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, immortal, and sinless; human is limited in power, knowledge, presence, mortal, and sinful. Therefore, Jesus cannot be both God and human at the same time. If he is God, he cannot be human; if he is human, he cannot be God.

Conclusion

The examples above are only a fraction of the many errors and contradictions that can be found in the Bible. They demonstrate that the Bible is not a reliable source of truth or morality, but a human product of various authors with different perspectives and agendas. They also show that the Christian faith is based on irrationality.

Why I Post "Black Stuff"

   I got a message from someone who asked me why I post "all that black stuff," and "all the anti-cop shit." Well, for one,  if they had to ask this question, then they are obviously part of the greater problem. Two, I have a conscience,  and seeing fellow humans treated in the way that they have been treated for hundreds of years, as chattel,  as some sort of subspecies, it angers me.

   White supremacist programming surrepetitiously teaches us,  as whites,  that those who don't share our skin color are really nothing more than talented apes.

   That never imprinted on me.

   That's why my dumb white ass moved to the Crenshaw district in LA,  shortly after the riots. I've always considered everyone to be my equal, regardless of their wrapper,  and so I expect the same from others. Mostly, that's what I got. There were instances of anger,  and even violence directed towards me because of my race.

   Some of you white folks reading this might be thinking "Well that's what you get for moving into a black neighborhood." The implication there is that they are savages, as you have been taught by media to believe they are.

   In Hollywood, for the longest time, and even today,  people of color only got the bad guy roles,  as bit part criminals,  dope addicts,  etcetera. It's getting better,  but media still portrays people of color essentially criminally insane.

   Yes, I've experienced hatred at the end of a fist, but it was only a fraction of the pain our society has dealt to a portion of its own. Lynching still happens. If hasn't gone away. Our society has been treating people of color as less than human since this nation began. That's why laws were enacted,  to try to break that cycle.

   Yet,  here we are,  still there.

   I post these things because I'm angry. You don't get to treat fellow humans this
way, not if I have anything to say about it.

    

On Police...

   Okay,  so some of my followers have noticed my posts on social media lately. Some of you may think I hate cops. Truth is,  I do not. I think cops can be the bravest and most noble among us.

   However...

   Lately,  there have been incidents recorded on video,  and in social media in which cops have definitely acted "above the law", as well as racially prejudiced. Whole departments of them.

   This goes beyond a few "bad apples."

   This is a culture.

   This is a problem because cops have the ability to either end your life or end your freedom on but a word,  and planted evidence. Yes,  as I've seen countless times on YouTube, cops can easily plant evidence,  and you are fucked if they do. They can also kill you and protect themselves by planting a weapon on you,  post-mortem. 

   They do these things to people of color on a daily basis,  just because. I've seen it,  personally.

   I don't want people like this running around with weapons.

   I would like more of the good cops bonding with their neighborhood. I also share many positive inspirational posts about cops.  It makes me happy to hear about the cops who help people on their beat.

   I like warm fuzzies.

   Let's make more of those.

Why This Doesn't Surprise Me

http://m.dailykos.com/story/2015/11/20/1452546/-Donald-Trump-Has-Gone-Full-Nazi-And-If-The-GOP-Doesn-t-Repudiate-It-They-Own-It?detail=facebook

I am not surprised by this, whatsoever.

I have seen people claiming that people of African descent are subhuman,  not actually human beings. I have seen this claim spouted in Christian groups and websites,  so numerous that I cannot count.

So,  it does not surprise me when someone like Trump comes along, and gives our nation's supposed Christians a rally point to stand against people who are not white "Christians".

I've said before, actions speak louder than words. At Trumps direction,  Nazi thugs,  beat a black protester at one of his rallies. Racist cops are coming out of their closets and openly espousing hatred of their fellow man,  and killing them. Racist congressmen and senators alike are openly making racially divisive statements.

It is long past time to put a stop to this.

These false Christians, waving the  American flag, have brought fascism, unchallenged throughout the years,  and now,  our nation finds itself in the middle of a economic downturn that has been obviously manufactured by these same people, whose bought and paid for politicians have shot down everything proposed that would help heal this nation, and,  in turn,  unify it.

This was done in order to divide us. To put "us" against "them"

People are waking up to this realization,  but will it be too little too late?

I hope not. For this nation's sake,  I hope not.

What a World and We Have Only One

So this world is going to Hell. Apparently in a handbasket.

This is why I am not religious.

Apparently,  Christianity is not about Jesus. Not one word, as far as I can see.

I'm talking about the loudest people on the planet who spout their rhetoric while completely ignoring the words of the the man they call themselves after. It is disgusting,  and they claim to have a morally superior stance on the world. They claim. Actions speak louder than words.

The world is tired of this rhetoric.

There is no need for it. We are too big as a planet to be like this anymore.

It is time for a change from the old method,  the old brand of government which protects the few at the expense of the many.

I hope I live to see this change.

On Captain Phil

I don't know if I can watch the Phil Harris tribute.

I came to respect and love the Harris Family and the Cornelia Marie.

RIP Phil.

Jocks Held In Too High a Regard?

This is a possible scandal brewing, and I think it underlines what I have been saying for years: Talented sports figures can get away with murder.

A college which is looking very likely as the one to win the Men's NCAA basketball championship has allegedly covered up a serious sexual harassment scandal involving one of it's star players.

According to a secondhand report, a certain NCAA basketball star was involved in an unnecessarily prolonged incident of sexual harassment of one of his female instructors. The female instructor become very distraught, and this basketball star was removed from the class, and the incident was covered up, leaving the instructor emotionally scarred. To date, as I spoke to a close friend of the instructor, the issue has not been addressed and is likely never to be addressed.

What makes a talented sports figure so special that they continue to avoid accountability for their actions? I've seen it since high school, where jocks usually got a passing grade in a class without really showing any work in the subject, merely because the ball team likely wouldn't fare so well without them. I've seen it where police have actually removed a star player from a situation quietly, while everyone else present get's the full measure of the law.

What kind of message does this send our children?

Hold athletes responsible for their actions. Why is a championship so important that we ignore gross criminal behavior of the participants?