The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

[joecct]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Alfa

I believe you missed my point. Progressive will not permit debate or disagreement in those cited positions. If you disagree, you are a bible toting homophobic rascist who owns firearms to make up for some inadequacy.

[alfablue]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Alfa

I believe you missed my point. Progressive will not permit debate or disagreement in those cited positions. If you disagree, you are a bible toting homophobic rascist who owns firearms to make up for some inadequacy.

As opposed to the conservative who will not hear of any abortion being legal, must have the nativity scene for Chistmas at City Hall, never will allow same sex marriage, and will label anyone who disagrees an evil liberal? Or a god hating socialist?

Seriously?

Both sides do not permit debate equally as the other side does. Heck, IMHO, the right uses fear mongering as a more powerful tool than the left does. They certainly yell louder.

the fact that you point that out tells me that you are happy with the conflict and are willing to do something about it. Not about the issues, but about the conflict. Which is bad.

how about we just point out that we don't agree on stuff, and then start a HUGE fight over it. That's all this does.

[WisconsinWildcard]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

And while it's a small percentage of total abortions, the number is still quite sizable, over 15,000 annually.

Citation please. It is also important to define "Late term" as the definition can vary, even among medical societies.

[Kepler]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

No, it does show, however, that the right really isn't interested in reducing the number of abortions. Just because something is illegal (drugs) doesn't mean the numbers go down.

It's important to distinguish between voters and politicians. There are obviously many voters, liberal and conservative,who sincerely do wish to reduce the number of abortions. Liberals want to do it while still respecting the freedom of the individual, via preventative education and pregnancy prevention. Conservatives want to do it by government fiat through statist policies declaring certain activities illegal and pursuing prosecution if violated.

[Bob Gray]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Citation please. It is also important to define "Late term" as the definition can vary, even among medical societies.

Generally the definition I've seen is abortions past 20 weeks. Of course that can be dissected further. I don't think those sorts of stats are debated, but rather other aspects of late term abortions.

[WisconsinWildcard]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Generally the definition I've seen is abortions past 20 weeks. Of course that can be dissected further. I don't think those sorts of stats are debated, but rather other aspects of late term abortions.

It was a sincere question. Using that definition, the number you used is more realistic. Using the definition of the third trimester or when the fetus is viable (with medical intervention) outside of the womb, that number is much lower. I have usually heard around 1000 or so annually but it is difficult to estimate since it partly relies on dating, which is an imperfect science.

[FreshFish]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

My understanding (which is, as usual, tenuous at best) is that late term abortions happen when the mother's life is in danger. Banning them would essentially be saying to a woman that her life no longer matters because she's pregnant.

Nonsensical. You can remove the unborn child from the mother's womb to save the mother's life without killing the child in the process. Think "partial-birth abortion" except extract the child all the way instead of puncturing its skull when it is halfway out and then sucking out its brains with a vacuum cleaner.

[joecct]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Interesting contrast between the Greeks and the Jews
http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/lei...015/01/porneia

[unofan]

Nonsensical. You can remove the unborn child from the mother's womb to save the mother's life without killing the child in the process.

Objection. Assumes facts not in evidence.

[Bob Gray]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

It was a sincere question. Using that definition, the number you used is more realistic. Using the definition of the third trimester or when the fetus is viable (with medical intervention) outside of the womb, that number is much lower. I have usually heard around 1000 or so annually but it is difficult to estimate since it partly relies on dating, which is an imperfect science.

And it was a sincere response. Looking around, over 20 weeks was the common definition I saw used. Certainly as you move further out and into the third trimester, the numbers shrink, but are still substantive.

[Timothy A]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

Assuming everything in the Bible is true, as supposed by your WELS site, explain to me how the story of Jonah and the Whale is biologically possible. Where does a person find the space to live in a whale?

It's not biologically possible. The Bible is full of amazing things that defy human logic and understanding and this is one of them. God is God after all, God can make anything happen, there are no human limitations to what God can do.

[Timothy A]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

I respect your beliefs. But if I may be so impertinent to ask a question, which Bible? King James? The Catholic one which contains the extra books? The eastern orthodox one which contains even more books? Is there a specific translation that is the correct one?

We use the NIV, though no translation is perfect by any means. Our Pastors are taught Greek and Hebrew so they can go right to the text as it was recorded by the Authors (using this term loosely). Sometimes in their sermons and classes they will tell us that a word in the NIV is poorly translated and they'll tell us in more than a few words what is meant there.

There's new version of the NIV that came out I think in 2011, but our congregation decided to stay with the older NIV upon the recommendation of our Pastors.

[Foxton]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

God can make anything happen, there are no human limitations to what God can do.

Save being consistent, making sense, basic knowledge of reality, or having a decent proofreader to correct all the 'human' errors in his instruction booklet.

[Kepler]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

It's not biologically possible. The Bible is full of amazing things that defy human logic and understanding and this is one of them. God is God after all, God can make anything happen, there are no human limitations to what God can do.

“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”
-- Epicurus

[Spartanforlife4]

Re: The Bible: Real, Fiction, or somewhere in between?

“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”
-- Epicurus

Not to take this into the drudges of pop culture, but one of my favorite Simpsons scenes has something along the lines of this.

There's an episode where he tries to get weed legalized and sees Flanders when he's completely stoned.

Homer: Hey, I've got a question for you. Could Jesus microwave a burrito so hot that he himself could not eat it?
Ned: Well sure of course, he could, but then again… wow as melon scratchers go, that's a honey doodle.
Homer: Now you know what I've been going through.