I must take a moment to point out that you do not commit the error of circular reasoning when you use the Bible to prove the Bible. The reason is very simple. You see, the Bible is not one book! It is a collection of 66 books written by more than 40 authors over a period of 1,600 years. Therefore, if you quote Jeremiah or Isaiah to substantiate Daniel, or if you quote Daniel to verify Revelation, you are not involved in circular reasoning. Instead, you are quoting altogether independent sources who happen to be bound together between the covers of the same book.
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66 books and 1600 years. God damn the the number 666 shows up in that after getting rid of the numbers nobody cares about! It must mean the Bible is the word of Satan, otherwise it couldn't have any connection to 666! Dumbass, I'm surpised some haven't thought of that already.
well, based on catholic doctrine, the bible was written by God. It's just that he had to use people as scribes, i.e. those "inspired" by the holy spirit. It is then established that the entire bible is from one author. Therefore, circular logic is reestablished.
So, I can use The Order of the Phoenix to prove The Philosopher's Stone? Or The Return of the King to prove The Fellowship of the Ring. The last two ARE bound together between the covers of the same book.
The 40 different authors might explain why there are so many contradictions in the Bible. But, if they were all "inspired" by "the Lord", he must be schizofrenic or bipolar or something.
Edit. Damn, Angua beat me to it...
I love how they always seem to forget that the books of the Bible, at least in the New Testament, were not actually assembled as a single text and made canon until the 4th and 5th centuries by various councils, and that prior to this many different texts which did not make it into the "final cut" were used by various groups of early Christians.
Maybe I'm just being a moron, but does the fact that the Bible is compiled of several books rather than just one not change the fact it is circular reasoning? I mean, isn't using the "the Bible is true because it says it is true" argument still defeated (and stupid) despite the Bible being made up of many books over a long period of time?
"You see, the Bible is not one book! It is a collection of 66 books written by more than 40 authors over a period of 1,600 years."
- We know. That is why the blatant contradictions between the various books, such as the differing dates of the crucifixion between John and the other gospels, are perfectly reasonable to detractors but a serious problem for biblical literalists. It opens the question of which of those 40+ authors had it right.
But no matter how many authors are involved, it’s still one document, approved by committee, and the product of some serious editing.
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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