The ages of the patriarchs and the zodiac

[St.Roymond]

@Sabbathbreaker

Again, the ideas that Moses never existed and that the Jews believed it was ok to rape your neighbor’s virgin daughters, as long as you give the father some money afterwards, are 2 ideas which are both commonly held by the Biblical scholarship.

Commonly. In fact, I would go as far as to say that it’s a consensus.

Do you have any thoughts about that?

Yes – that you’re living in a fantasy world invented by atheists. I have known dozens of biblical scholars and not a one would agree with your slander.

[Bill_II]

@St.Roymond

I have known dozens of biblical scholars and not a one would agree with your slander.

And there are at least two seminaries near me that would not agree. I know some of the staff at one and have audited courses at the other.

[Sabbathbreaker]

Seminaries do not all teach the same thing. Technically, finishing seminary does not make one an academic bible scholar.

I’m sure it’s possible to meet dozens of Bible scholars in a lifetime who all agree that Moses existed. That does not change the fact that the consensus among academics is that Moses was at best a myth or a metaphor. And it’s academics who decide how these things are taught at the university level. Not your Sunday School teacher.

[Sabbathbreaker]

Here’s an example of what I am talking about. A Bible Scholar teaching that the Jews believed it was ok to rape your neighbor’s virgin daughter as long as you pay the father when you are done. He has a PhD and that’s how he was taught to read the Bible.

They are not hard to find. Not as common as Bible Scholars who believe Moses was myth/metaphor.. But still..

[Bill_II]

@Sabbathbreaker

Technically, finishing seminary does not make one an academic bible scholar.

I am sure the PhD’s who graduate from these seminaries would disagree. Or do you have a pecular definition of “academic bible scholar”?

@Sabbathbreaker

That does not change the fact that the consensus among academics is that Moses was at best a myth or a metaphor.

What percentage is required to reach consensus?

@Sabbathbreaker

And it’s academics who decide how these things are taught at the university level.

Most Christian universities hire professors with a range beliefs but most will align with the beliefs of the university. Heck I went to a state university and the teacher of the NT literature class was a YEC Baptist.

@Sabbathbreaker

Here’s an example of what I am talking about.

Dan is a Mormon and it shows in most of what he does. I still enjoy watching his videos but take what he says with a hefty pinch of salt. And even he doesn’t always agree with the consensus.

@Sabbathbreaker

A Bible Scholar teaching that the Jews believed it was ok to rape your neighbor’s virgin daughter as long as you pay the father when you are done.

I am not going to dig into the OT to verify, but I am pretty sure your characterization of the consensus opinion is more than a little bit over the top.

[Sabbathbreaker]

@Bill_II

I am not going to dig into the OT to verify

You should. I have. I even wrote my own refutation of it and saved it on my hard drive because it’s such a common argument. Would you like to see it?

[Sabbathbreaker]

@Sabbathbreaker

You should. I have. I even wrote my own refutation of it and saved it on my hard drive because it’s such a common argument. Would you like to see it?

Better yet, since you and @St.Roymond keep telling me I don’t know what I’m talking about, why not show me how either of you would refute it? It should be easy for you guys because you know so many Bible scholars.

[rsewell (All Truth is God's Truth)]

@Sabbathbreaker

Seminaries do not all teach the same thing.

Best to end there and leave it at that.

Seminaries very widely reflect traditions and affiliated denominational preferences. Bob Jones, Seven Day Adventist, and Union Theological seminaries have limited common ground. Some seminaries unabashedly prize dogma over evidence from archeology, history, and literary analysis. Given that doctrinal and interpretive differences can never be empirically resolved, consensus is not going to happen. Put another way, any claim of theological consensus usually just up front discounts the validity of alternate perspectives as if they do not exist.