Posted on 12/11/2009 4:56:40 PM PST by CondoleezzaProtege
Even though the Bible was completed 2,000 years ago, long before the invention of the microscope, the telescope, satellites, etc. it does not contain any scientific errors. This might be considered a miracle in itself. Without exception, every ancient religious writing has certain unscientific views of astronomy, medicine, hygiene, etc. The Qur’an says in Surah 18:86 that the sun sets in a muddy spring. Qur’an 18:86 “…when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring” The only exception to these kinds of errors, among ancient religious writings, is the Bible.
Not only is the Bible free from scientific errors, it miraculously makes known numerous, accurate scientific facts about the universe thousands of years before modern scientists caught up. There are lots of them. For time’s sake I will give you a few quick examples.
A. The Sun
In contrast to the Qur’an, the Bible teaches that the sun is actually on a circuit through space. Writing of the sun in Psalm 19:6, David said, “Its rising is from one end of heaven, and its circuit to the other end.” For many years critics scoffed at this verse, claiming that it taught that the sun revolves around the earth. Scientists at that time thought the sun was stationary. However, it has been discovered in recent years that the sun is in fact on a circuit through space, just like the Bible says.
B. The Shape of the Earth
When the rest of the world believed the earth was flat, Isaiah declared that the world was round… Isaiah 40:22 “It is He who sits above the circle of the earth." The Hebrew word there for circle [“chuwg”] literally means “sphere.” When did Isaiah write these words? Between 740 and 680 B.C. That was at least 300 years before Aristotle suggested, in his book On the Heavens, that the earth might be a sphere. Other verses are Proverbs 8:27 and Job 26:10. More than 2,000 years later some people still believed that Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) was going to sail off the edge of a flat planet in 1492!
C. The Suspension of the Earth
Before Isaac Newton discovered gravity Hindus believed that the earth rested on the back of an elephant who stood on the back of a turtle that was swimming in a great endless sea. The Greeks believed that the mythical god Atlas carried the earth on his shoulders. What did the Bible say? In one of the oldest books in the Bible, Job said in Job 26:7, “He [God] hangs the earth on nothing.” Scientists did not discover that the earth hangs on nothing until 1650. ... (EXCERPT for more click the link!)
Thanks!
Bah. If I tell you 2+2=4, do I also have to explain calculus to make the first statement valid?
That’s a pretty good list!
Actually, it didn't. When you actually read the full passage about the circumference and width of the brasen sea, you see that the number given for the circumference is the inner rim of the sea, but the diameter is given for the outer rim of the sea - which was two "hands" (about 1/4 of a cubit) wider than the inner diameter. When you subtract those two hands, and calculate from the inner diameter, you get a number amazingly close to pi.
What’s the value of pi?
For comparison sake, please give an exact value for pi. Decimal or fraction will work. Thanks!
Interesting on the “pi in the Bible thing”. First off, let me say that the Bible is NOT a science book. However, it is true, and so it will not contradict science - except of course for the various miracles! But I’ve always noticed the lack of goofy ideas such as the turtle caring the earth, etc. Sometimes of course they need to use the terminology that they have to work with such as “chariots of fire”. Of course we do that too if someone says they saw a “flying saucer”.
I did a quick search on the bowl in the temple and pi thing. Seems to me though that with the description in the text is describing the bowl based on measurements and not calculations. If you gave me a circle (or a bowl), or a picture of it, and I measured the diameter and the cicumference and told you what they were, there is nothing in there that says that I know what pi is. I could build the bowl as well without knowing what pi is. But of course, you could determine what the value of pi is using the formula and dimensions I gave to you.
I always found the story of Creation to be the most interesting. Sounds a lot like the “Big Bang” theory if you ask me!
Great posting! I think it’s important to state that, although the Bible is not on book about science, whenever it touches upon scientific areas, it is accurate.
The bible does not mention the human genome but it does say that blood is the source of life for animals and man. Lev. 17:11. Also, that the flesh of species are different from each other. 1 Corinthians 15:39 All flesh is not the same: Human beings have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. Maybe 50 or 60 years agao, if you hit someone with your car and drove away with flesh and blood on your car bumper, you could say you hit a deer and nobody had a way to know. Now they can.
The Bible has many such instances that state truths not known to men when it was written. God said he would speak to them things that were unknown or had not happened so that when they came to pass, we would know that the true God had spoken.
The big bang theory did originate from a vatican scientist. For the most part it makes sense but I’ve got a few issues with it as it currently stands.
When we say “Bible” we, of course, include Torah.
Moonman,
Do you ignore all references to science that do not include the periodic table of the elements? Perhaps you ignore all sources that predate the periodic table of elements.
Do you find that limits your research material?
To me, Hebrews 11:3 squares pretty well with the big bang theory:
(NIV) “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
That’s why we call it “Judeo/Christianity” brother.
Well not sure I totally agree with your statement. In Genesis 2:21 What is described as the first medical operation says something was removed from the Adam to form/create woman. The word the translators used 'rib' in the prime form means to 'curve'. And what is the shape of the human genome, it is a curve. So since the days of Genesis 2:21 the man has been missing half his 'curve'.
Take time and read the passage. You will see that the lip of the basin was flared out and 10 cubits across at the top. The thickness was one hand. The circumference was 30 cubits, this would naturally be down around the main part of the basin, not the lip. Lets throw some numbers. Generally a cubit is about 18 inches, and a hand about 4 inches. Since the top flares out, lets estimate that it does so by one hand (4 inches). Now what is pi? The circumference would be 540 inches (30 cubits x 18 inches) The diameter would need to be adjusted for the flare out of one hand on BOTH sides (8 inches) therefore the diameter at the circumference measuring point would be 180inches - 8 inches = 172 inches. Pi would be 540/172 = 3.1359 (rounded to 4 decimal points) with current pi rounded to same = 3.1416, less than 0.07% off from modern calculations, done with crude measuring techniques.
"In the Beginning...." A Catholic Understanding of the Story of Creation and the Fall - excerpts from Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI)
What is it that makes a person spend a lot of time figuring out how he can be fun at parties?
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