Skeptic Tank Text Archive File

Back Page: spring 1993

GOD...
which it thrives, it isn't very comforting to think that social progress in our 
country will continue to be impeded by those who seek to impose their 
interpretations of "God's inspired word" upon us all. Something that rational-
ists can do that might  hasten the demise of Bible fundamentalism is to get 
involved in teaching people how to think.  A regrettable characteristic of our 
society is the emphasis that we put on teaching what to think.  Certain ideas 
and attitudes become socially, politically, and religiously correct, and children 
in particular are indoctrinated in them with little or no attention to logical 
analysis to determine if they are indeed the most suitable and beneficial ideas 
and attitudes to espouse.  For this reason, people grow up to believe that 
God exists, that Jesus of Nazareth was his son, that the Bible is his inspired 
word, that God is responsible for the apparently fortuitous events that hap-
pen to us, etc., etc., etc.  They believe these things not for sound rational 
and well thought-out reasons but simply because these ideas represent what 
they have been taught to believe.

     In this publication, we have identified and discussed more than enough 
problems to convince rational thinkers that the Bible just cannot be "the 
inspired word of God."  We will continue to publish articles with that inten-
tion in mind, but perhaps it is time to devote at least some space to articles 
that discuss how to think and how to apply logical thought processes to the 
biblical text.  Some of the articles in this issues have been written and se-
lected with that intention in mind.  Similar ones will follow in later issues. 

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VIRGIN...
but in fairness, note that most Jewish scholars (who should know better than 
evangelicals) insist it is an ode praising Hezekiah, Ahaz's righteous son (2 
Chron. 29), who came to the throne in 720 B.C. and centralized the worship 
of Jehovah at Jerusalem.  The various titles ascribed to him, such as "Prince 
of Peace" and "Everlasting Father," were apparently honorifics used by  the 
ancient Jews for favorite kings.  (You find the same sort of bread-buttering 
in Egyptian hymns to the pharaoh and in Babylonian royal eulogies.)  Hebrew 
scholars also remind us, gently, that the key Hebrew verbs in Isaiah 9:6 are 
in the past tense.

     A moot point. For reasons stated earlier, we cannot use the child in 
Isaiah 9:6  as a bridge connecting Immanuel to Jesus.  As Old Testament 
prophecies of the Christian Messiah go, this one, like so many others, has 
been overrated.

     (Kenneth E. Nahigian's address is 2411 Tyrolean Way, Sacramento, CA 
95821-4809.)

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    A CHALLENGE TO JOSH McDOWELL 

     In discussing Bible inerrancy with lay believers, I am often asked if I 
have read Josh McDowell's book Evidence That Demands a Verdict.  As a 
matter of fact, I did read it, long ago, and found it to be incredibly simplis-
tic, as are most books of its type.  McDowell's name has come up so often 
that finally, on February 6th, I wrote to him and proposed a debate.  As this 
edition goes to press, he has not yet responded to the challenge.  I predict 
that he will be no different from other fundamentalist champions who like the 
security of partisan audiences, but I will keep you posted (FT).

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