Re: This Is Why Non-Christians Hate Us
 

Sad.

Re: This Is Why Non-Christians Hate Us
 

Right. And my statement was correcting an earlier statement that seemed to imply the opposite.

Errancy means the Bible is unreliable, incorrect. Allegory is a literary genre. Allegory is most definitely employed in the Bible. Some just choose to employ it as a genre in places where they don't understand.

Re: This Is Why Non-Christians Hate Us
 

Absolutely!!! If ANY of the Old Testament stories were an allegory, it wouldn't change my faith in Jesus. In fact, it may clear up a lot of my questions!

Re: This Is Why Non-Christians Hate Us
 

Why?

Re: This Is Why Non-Christians Hate Us
 

I think the whistle was just blown at an awkward moment. NoW had just opened up about an experience that sparked faith, and was sharing that. Then all of a sudden - WHAAM! lol

@NoW, I still think we need to be careful what we assume to be allegory. There are some solid reasons many don't think Job to be an allegory. But if there's a book where it could be, there's some equally strong arguments out there in favor of Job being allegorical.

There are some hermeneutic steps to take before ruling the literary genre of a book or letter. This would rule out plenty right off the bat.

Re: This Is Why Non-Christians Hate Us
 

BTW did anyone suggest a good reason for non-Christians hating us?

Why do non-Christians hate us in Sudan? Why do they hate us in Malaysia?

Re: This Is Why Non-Christians Hate Us
 

First of all, arguing whether or not a passage is allegorical is not the same as arguing that it is erroneous. Secondly, I don't see what is possibly sad about a stated purpose for this forum, and expecting to a reasonable point that people stay within those boundaries. Sure, there are aberrations from time to time, and they aren't always caught--and often it's because no one really cared about them. Or maybe because the point wasn't made so strongly, and no one noticed. The rules are still the rules and if ADMIN catches something and corrects it there's nothing wrong with that.

Obviously we have members here who don't stand firm on what most of us would call The Basics. That doesn't bother me one bit. However, I'm not personally here to wrangle over those basics, and I find such conversations fruitless and tiresome. I've been around enough debate forums (and back in the day, LIVE debates) to know that arguing rarely changes anyone's mind, and usually ends with at least one person angry, and perhaps hurt. Discussion and argument aren't the same thing. Discussion takes place when you have some agreed upon foundation, IMO. Argument when there is no common foundation (of faith) is what I consider to be pointless.

There are forums where they have heated arguments over the existence of God, the fallibility of His Word, etc., and I'm glad this forum isn't one of those. I also can appreciate that we do have a debate section where some things are allowed, and I avoid those threads--not because I'm afraid of the conversation, but just because I feel that they're a waste of time. People aren't won to Christ with heated arguments. I don't mind having discussions with fellow believers, but I don't believe we should interact with unbelievers in that way.

Re: This Is Why Non-Christians Hate Us
 

:lolI don't think I can answer the question. That train has left the station in the form of an official "Stop that doubt talk". But I'll say this....5% of American teens polled in 2009 confessed faith in Christ. Of that 5% that go to college, 75% walk away from their faith. SO MANY of them are angry that Christianity won't allow any doubts, any questions, won't discuss of potential historical problems.....and I'll just leave it at that.

THAT is sad.

Re: This Is Why Non-Christians Hate Us
 

Oh, I see. You think I'm one of those people who is afraid of doubts and questions, and if my children ask something prickly I shoo them into a corner and make them recite Leviticus! :toofunny

Well, I'll leave you with your assumptions, since they make you so happy. :rolleyes2

Again, this forum isn't representative necessarily of how we interact with the WORLD--this is where we interact with fellow believers. Some boundaries were placed around that interaction, and personally, I think they're reasonable. Not sad in the least.

Re: This Is Why Non-Christians Hate Us
 

No wait.....I have a better answer:

DON'T YOU DARE QUESTION ME!!!!! :lol