Skeptic Tank Text Archive File

Back Page: spring 1992

LIVING....
defend the theory of evolution, but to give our fundamentalist readers some-
thing to think about.  As long as there is a living to be made at something, 
there will always be enterprising life forms that will exploit it.  Is it possible 
that this fact of nature is at work in the religious affairs of men?  One would 
have to deny the obvious to say that it isn't. We have seen too many Jim 
Bakkers and Jimmy Swaggarts exploiting the gullibility of people to deny that 
some preachers are preaching only because they have found it an easy way to 
make a good living.

   "Oh, but that is Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart," some will say.  "My 
preacher would never do anything that dishonest."  Well, don't be too sure of 
it.  If the public suddenly stopped believing in Bible inerrancy, what would 
that do to the thousands of fundamentalist preachers in the land?  It would 
put them all out of work, so don't tell me that they don't have a vested 
interest in the outcome of the inerrancy controversy.  They have a lot of 
pressure on them to say that they believe in Bible inerrancy even if they 
don't.

   When I debate the inerrancy doctrine with fundamentalist preachers, I 
have no economic pressure at all on me.  If one of them should prove beyond 
question, so that no rational person in the world could deny it, that the 
Bible is the verbally inspired, inerrant word of God, all I would do is ac-
knowledge that I was wrong (which wouldn't be the first time I've admitted I 
was wrong), return home, go back to my job, and draw my salary as an 
English teacher. I would have to disband Skepticism, Inc., of course, but 
that would cause me no economic loss.  It is a nonprofit organization with a 
decided emphasis on the nonprofit.

   On the other hand, if I should prove beyond questioon, so that no ration-
al person in the world could deny it, that the Bible is not the verbally in-
spired, inerrant word of God, what would that do to my opponents?  They 
couldn't return to their jobs, because there would be no one for them to 
preach to, no one to put money into the collection baskets to keep their little 
empires going. Their livelihood would be gone with the public's loss of faith 
in Bible inerrancy.

   If you think that they don't know that, you must be very na‹ve.                   

                *********************************

              COMPUTER BULLETINS 

   We have received several requests for permission to use TSR materials in 
computer bulletins. Anyone wishing to do this need not write for permission. 
Nothing in TSR is copyrighted, specifically because we want the information 
to be spread as much as possible. We are already receiving subscription 
requests from those who have seen our articles in computer bulletins.

   We will even copy all TSR materials to high density disks in either Word-
star 6, WordPerfect 5.1, or ASCII format for anyone wishing to use them in 
computer bulletins.  For all 1990-1991 articles, please include a blank, high 
density disk and $1 for return postage.                                       

             ***************************************

                      BACK ISSUES

   All nine back issues of The Skeptical Review are still available at $1 each 
ppd.  Send orders to P. O. Box 617, Canton, IL 61520.     



                           1
           *******************************************

               CHANGE OF ADDRESS 

   To continue receiving The Skeptical Review, you must notify us of your 
new address when you move. Although you may file a change-of-address 
notice at the post office, bulk mail will not be forwarded.    


                 ********************************

     FREE SUBSCRIPTION: A free one-year subscription to The Skeptical 
Review can be obtained by writing to P. O. Box 617, Canton, IL 61520-0617.




















































                           2