Taking the Bible Seriously

I should have made this video long ago, because it orients my audience to the position that I take regarding the Bible. I'm interested in what the Bible claims, not what someone else claims the Bible claims. Audience members who watched my video series on Genesis, or my take on AaronK1994's 2 King apologetic, for example, have already seen this approach.

It's important to understand that I'm not arguing in this video that the Bible is an impeachable record of human history. I do not believe it was inspired by an omniscient deity. What I'm stating here merely grants, for argument's sake, that the Judeo-Christian assertion that the Bible IS the so-called "Word of God" and that this god is supposed to be omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent and omnibenevolent is true. With that assumption, the Bible we have must be the Bible this god wants us to have and we have no need for competing apologists who create arguments rewriting Scripture. My main point here is that when the Bible states something it states it plainly and we need little help (outside a general cultural and/or historical context) in understanding what the Bible is saying. Certainly we don't need the help of an apologist with a particular axe to grind. When I read the Bible I read it for what it says, and if what it says embarrasses the text, so be it. The last thing I need is a presumptuous, pompous apologist with an eye to rewrite the text in order to save it from embarrassment. In fact, it should be the apologist who is embarrassed, having to concoct some fanciful yarn in order to set straight what his or her god could not. For me, the Bible stands or falls on its own merits.

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[mousaey]

If it did happen, it probably was an algal bloom. The whole blood thing was probably a human misunderstanding of the event, hence we can assume that the bible was written by humans.

[brettppalmer]

@mousaey IF the event happened at all (or is a story based upon something like an algal bloom that was witnessed without any connection to an "exodus"), I completely agree with you. THIS is the conclusion one should draw from reading such stories in the Bible.

[MARI0LAND]

I really enjoyed a lot of your videos, but not this one.

It takes you 7 minutes to say that you take the bible literally (without believing in it). If you ignore any other interpretation as "not serious" you may be missing out on a lot of things... Even if you don't believe it is inspired by god.

[brettppalmer]

@MARI0LAND Yes, I understand where you're coming from and certainly there are a number of ways in which one can approach the Scriptures. However, my point here is of rewriting the Bible in order to make it align with certain worldviews. For example, not taking the Bible seriously when it says "blood" filled the Nile and assert instead that it was an algal bloom in order to try and "explain" what the story "really meant." Under who's authority do such apologists operate? Largely, their own.

[redbloodsales]

Excellent video!

[thordurinn]

indeed I do believe this is the most noble and honest way to treat the bible.

[flexbrat]

AH WELL THE BIBLE SILLY FAIRY TALES THAT NEED TO BE TRASHED !

[mikefromwa]

The bible is "true" because it says so? Really? And that's the extent of your critical reasoning skills?

[TheAsymmetrical]

@QaraahFilms The observation of our death can be related subconsciously in our mind loosely through the Scientific Method through Observation and Understanding. Even if Scientists didn't exist; It would not give any more credulity to the claims of the bible. Postulating something that is unproven and not based in reality is not a good enough explanation.

For years we didn't understand what a Rainbow was, so people just said "God did it" Yet is this a good enough answer?

Of course it isn't.

[QaraahFilms]

The Scriptures are Truth. You are Esau from the Caucasians=Cave Dwellers.

The Negroes are the Israelites=Judah of Jacob seed. and there are 11 more tribes of Jacob whom share the seed of Jacob. It's your right to believe how you well please, but know this Giants where of the world, You want science to give you proof. We know we die right? do you need a scientist to give you evidence on death ? Scriptures are coming to pass your findings are not! However you believe in Wealth??? Bye ESAU.

[albusai]

love it !!! keep it up !! is what we need now days more than ever, thru soldiers of God

[FluctuatingThought]

Quite an enjoyable video.

[apeek7]

@JWHurwitz Defending a position is quite different from explaining away errors and inconsistencies... Either bats are birds or the Bible is in error. Either the mustard is the smallest of seeds or Jesus (God) doesn’t know what he is talking about. Either you should kill a disrespectful child (Leviticus 20:9) or you should kill a disrespectful child per Jesus (Mark 7:9-13)…