What do we make of apparent scriptural inconsistencies?

[dasilva94]

Just one question that's always bugged me on Genesis.

Since Cain and Abel are the only two children of Adam & Eve. Who did they mate with to propagate the human species?

[usenetposts]

@dasilva94 But Genesis explicitly states in gen 5, 4 that they were not the only children of Adam and Eve. The initial people lived 800 years doing little more than producing more people. Eve may have been direct mother to hundreds of people. Soon after creation, humans were incredibly strong and vigorous. I wouldn't necessarily take the events in Gen four with regard to the birth of Seth only when Cain and Abel had had their spat as meant to be in strict chronological order.

[dasilva94]

@usenetposts

Sorry for the late reply. I'm pretty ignorant of the Bible details in general (Catholic upbringing). Thanks for the further references. I intend to check them out.

[JeanKM1]

I am not trying to get into a discussion of religious beliefs here. However, I have always had a question about people who believe in a literal interpretion of their scriptures in their own language, when those works are translations of translations of translations, done in different times and at different places. Even the American English we speak here now is not the same as that we spoke 40 years ago. That would be an awful lot of literal interpretations, and quite a lot of inconsistancies!

[DrkAllanon]

oh man...this is a fun subject lol. it is confusing how the bible does say one thing then says something else, one thing that needs to be done though is make sure you grasp it's proper context. what is being discussed in the chapter or particular book can tell you a lot about some key things in the bible. a few things can be answered just by that.

[Codylangaugesblog]

There are no inconsistencies within the Qur'an.

[usenetposts]

@Codylangaugesblog But certainly Muslims seem do differ very widely on what they think it is saying. Some say that it is a religion of love and peace, whereas others say that it is OK to kill and eat the infidel. This last piece of information from Ed Husain's book "the Islamist" which blows the gaffe on what he heard when he was on the inside.

[Codylangaugesblog]

@usenetposts Misunderstanding of the scripture goes with any religion. The Muslims that would have you believe "that it is OK to kill and eat the infidel." are uneducated and ignorant and/or manipulating the religion for their own personal gains, which yet again can happen with any religion.

Islam is not what Muslims do, but what Muslims should do. After knowing the teachings of Islam, then you judge Muslims in accordance with what Islam is. Not to judge Islam by what Muslims do.

[usenetposts]

@Codylangaugesblog I see a blend of special pleading and also 'no true scotsman' intrinsic to that answer. The only way I can asses what a body of philosophy is worth is to look at the actions of those claiming to follow it. And the fact is that strife all around the world is being caused by people who think they are the best Muslims, and if you don't agree with them, then you're not such a good Muslim. Their Qur'an is exactly the same as yours and they can quote verses too.

[charlessmyth]

The Jews are God's chosen and a light onto nations, so why settle for less. Mohammed and L. Ron Hubbard, are a well matched pair.

[shanikuzai]

at the end you say "opportunity to learn more". learn what?

[usenetposts]

@shanikuzai learn why such apparent contradictions were allowed to be in the holy book even though they seem such glaring errors at times that humanly speaking they'd never have got through the proofread. They either are there for a reason, or the Bible would be a book put together far more shoddily than its whole allows me to give credence to. In PV#38, which is coming up in a week or so, I go into more detail about why this is.

[spacecowboy2k]

Are you saying Muslims have a weak faith?

[usenetposts]

@spacecowboy2k I say that it's indicative of weak faith when you are not allowed to translate your holy book into other world languages, when you are not allowed to be something other than a Muslim if born in a Muslim country without serious consequences, and also when they need to use force and coercion to make converts. I don't think Allah is impressed with any of those three aspects, and stronger faith would be shown by adopting contrary policies.

[spacecowboy2k]

@usenetposts right, so, you're criticizing the hard line of the Muslim faith, and I'd agree that those are not attractive qualities, but I would say there are plenty of these examples in other faiths, and moreover, I think any faith that compares itself to another, or puts itself above another is fundamentally flawed, and Christianity certainly falls into that category as well.

[usenetposts]

@spacecowboy2k I didn't say that there aren't weak faith Christians too. Of course there are, and there were times when the weak faith lot were the main ones dictating ecclesiastical policy. The problem is that in Islam it seems to be the rule rather than the exception, and they should do something about that.

[spacecowboy2k]

@usenetposts The problem I have with all organized religion is that it seeks to define itself and therefore segregate itself from other religions, creating some sort of ideological boundaries. Go team Jesus, or go team Allah. Its a purely human construct, its always been meant to control the hearts and minds of the masses with fear, explain away all inconsistencies (of which there are many) with silly ideas like "there must be a reason", and give people a sense of comfort about the unknown

[Codylangaugesblog]

@spacecowboy2k the way you define God, changes who god is. Its not necessarily that they are trying to separate themselves from everyone. In the Qur'an is says "believers, Jews, Christians and Sabaeans - whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and does what is right - shall be rewarded by their Lord; they have nothing to fear or regret." - Sura 2:62 (Al- Baqara)

I think rather that religion tries to bring people together. "agree to disagree." to be tolerant.

[spacecowboy2k]

@usenetposts In the end, my philosophy is this - choose no team, practice soundly the principles of selflessness and empathy towards others, and acknowledge remorse for mistakes, as well as granting forgiveness to others. I don't need a mascot, or beads, or communion, or a rug facing east, or a temple, or a call for offering. All I need is an open mind and heart, and a willingness to accept whatever might be coming on the other side.