# Biblical inerrancy and literal interpretation; why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 25, 2002, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824 "2002-10-25T11:10:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824/141 "2002-11-02T21:19:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\* IMO the Bible is an archaic book, written thousands of years ago by ignorant shepherds. It contains some nice ethical messages, but frankly nothing any more profound than you would find in an to ancient mythologaverage episode of Star Trek. Why We need to grow out our superstitious attatchments to ancient mythology. \*\* While I agree with your post in general, there are profound teachings by Jesus which are mostly overlooked by the Christians and everyone else. These teachings are what makes reading the NT worthwhile. You can find similar material in other religions, but here it is concentrated and prolific. Without these insights into spiritual growth the Bible and the religion would IMHO have been forgotten two thousand years ago. Love Leroy 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2002, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824/142 "2002-11-02T21:54:53Z")
Lekatt: Could expand on specifically which teachings of Jesus you believe are unique or profound. (I’m not trying to bait you, I’m actually curious. I do think that JC said some pretty subversive things that a lot of Xians tend to ignore and i’d like to explore the conversation) (also to everybody: my last post should have read “…average episode of Star Trek.” not that garbled crap I ended up with. I have no idea what happened. I’ll blame it on the hamsters) ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824/143 "2002-11-03T02:54:37Z")
Yes, I would be happy to respond, Diogenes the Cynic. Incidentally, you are quoted on my site. The ancient you. There are three main teachings around which most of the others complement. Forgiveness, non-judgement, and love one another. There is great power in this trio. Forgiveness is not for the forgiven, but for the forgiver. It is a path to closure. One can honestly acknowledge “preceived” mistakes in others, systems, the world, and close the conflict through forgiveness. From that point a new day starts with new options and choices. Non-judgement keeps you from getting into conflicts, minor differences in ideas, tastes, etc. Love one another, the biggee, is where you learn about yourself and others until the differences don’t matter. Surprisingly, the more you learn about yourself, the more you know about others. You learn you are eternal, safe, secure and as happy as you want to be by the life choices you make each day. These are just very short comments, there is more indepth material on my site. [www.ndeweb.com](http://www.ndeweb.com) None of this will make much sense until practiced. Jesus said: “Seek ye **first** the Kingdom of God, and **all** other things will be added unto you.” Then He said: “The Kingdom of God is **within** you.” This is powerful stuff. Not sure what you mean by subversive, but willing to listen and comment. Love Leroy ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824/144 "2002-11-04T12:25:38Z")
His4Ever wrote: > [@](#): > > Personally, and this is my opinion; I don’t see how a person can be a Christian Buddhist. Friend Longhair, a Christian Buddhist, gives glory to Christ for his salvation. Can you tell me by what authority you intercept his praise and withhold it from God? Also, just curious, does God ask for your opinions and advice when He makes His judgments? ---
**Author:** ![lynn73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@lynn73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynn73)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824/145 "2002-11-04T13:23:03Z")
I’m confused. Who is this “Christian Buddhist” trusting for salvation, Christ or Buddha? If he’s trusting in Christ alone and believes the Bible, why does he call himself a "Christian Buddhist? Does he worship Buddha also? Too confusing for me. Buddha isn’t the Savior, Christ is. Buddha isn’t God incarnate, Christ is. Buddha didn’t die and raise from the dead 3 days later. Christ did. I don’t intercept anyone’s praise and withhold it from God, but I sure don’t understand this. Tacking the name "Christian onto something, doesn’t necessarily make it so (not saying that it can’t either). I mean you could say "I’m a Christian atheist, or I’m a Christian Hindu, or I"m a Christian satanist, or I"m a Christian wiccan, etc. etc. It can get rather bizarre and ridiculous in my view. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824/146 "2002-11-04T13:43:48Z")
Hmmm, I guess it must be impossible to be a Christian businessman, Christian doctor or Christian football player then… ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824/147 "2002-11-04T13:45:17Z")
\*\*Luke 23:46 KJV - “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” John 19:30 KJV - “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”\*\* Why is there any debate over the bible’s innerancy when there are mutually exclusive contradictions such as these? Case closed. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824/148 "2002-11-04T13:47:31Z")
**His4Ever** , I don’t call myself a “Christian Buddhist”, but I think I have an idea where **Libertarian** ’s friend is coming from. As I mentioned earlier, while getting my degree in Japanese language, I also studied Japanese culture, including Zen Buddhism and spent a year living in Japan. There are many things I like about Buddhism and find useful to me in my life as a Christian. That includes the Buddhist concept that nothing in this material life is permanent and that it’s foolish to cling to the things of this world. While there is no explicit parallel in Christ’s teachings, I see an implicit parallel in His advice to the rich man who wanted to know how to get into heaven, as well as His advice to His disciples when he sent them out. I also find Zen meditation techniques to be a useful form of deep and prolonged prayer. First of all, after several minutes of sitting crosslegged, I don’t lose all feeling in my feet, unlike after a few minutes kneeling. Second, and more important, I like and approve of the idea of emptying my mind of all errant thoughts and focusing solely on God and on His will. I’ve used it many times, including on church retreats when I was troubled and needed to pray. Time and time again, we’ve managed to agree that all that is necessary for someone to be a Christian is to confess Jesus Christ as his or her Lord and Saviour, yet here you are confronted with someone who has done just that, yet you _still_ question his Christianity. I know you’re not going to stop just because I say this for the umpteenth time, but it’s not your concern. Also, to repeat someone else for a change, Buddhists do not worship Jesus; they consider him a great teacher. His position is more equivalent to St. Paul’s or Martin Luther’s. Buddhists no more worship Buddha than Lutherans worship Luther. CJ ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824/149 "2002-11-04T13:47:44Z")
Anyway, **Lib** already answered your question “Who is this “Christian Buddhist” trusting for salvation…?” ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824/150 "2002-11-04T14:21:10Z")
His4Ever I told you plainly that he gives glory to Christ for his salvation. He himself has said: > [@](#): > > jesus is my salvation. and > [@](#): > > i told michie in another thread that “salvation is in jesus. wisdom can be found in many places.” With respect to tacking something on to Christianity, he made this point: > [@](#): > > the scout oath: > on my honor i will do my best to do my duty to god and my country and to obey the scout law. to help other people at all times. to keep myself physically fit, mentally awake and morally straight > > the scout law: > a scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent . > > would you say that a young man taking this oath is adding to christianity? is he just adding a little of this and a little of that to his life? is he diluting his religious beliefs? or is he just committing to a better way to deal with himself and his fellow man. He clarified for people who asked: > [@](#): > > i could maybe rephrase: buddhism does not make me a better christian. buddhism helps me learn more about myself, gives me a positive insight which influences everything that i do. Despite being corrected repeatedly, you cling to the notion that Buddhism is a religion (I think you have it confused maybe with Hinduism). You don’t understand because you are unwilling to learn. Longhair is consistently kind, generous, loving, forgiving, merciful, and in short all the things that Christ Himself is. But he would be the first to say that he comes far short of being “good”. You and I and all the rest of us would do well to follow his example. ---
**Author:** ![king\_of\_spain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7cd45c/32.png) [@king\_of\_spain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/king_of_spain)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824/151 "2002-11-04T14:39:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by His4ever \* > \*\*I’m confused. Who is this “Christian Buddhist” trusting for salvation, Christ or Buddha? If he’s trusting in Christ alone and believes the Bible, why does he call himself a "Christian Buddhist? Does he worship Buddha also? \*\* Of course he’s not. It’s already been explained to you that Buddhists, Christian or otherwise, don’t worship the Buddha. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824/152 "2002-11-04T15:24:27Z")
Problem is, king of spain, that’s been explained to her by folks with actual knowledge. She doesn’t believe them. She only believes folks like Jack Chick. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824/153 "2002-11-04T15:27:04Z")
I don’t know anything about Buddism. Can someone give me a good link? ---
**Author:** ![Mars\_Horizon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mars_horizon/32/2804_2.png) [@Mars\_Horizon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mars_Horizon)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824/154 "2002-11-04T15:38:48Z")
Yes, how about the [ReligiousTolerance.org section on Buddhism](http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism.htm) and [Tricycle.com - The Buddhist Review Online](http://www.tricycle.com) ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824/155 "2002-11-04T16:13:24Z")
Jack Chick? You mean they believe he’s infallible, too? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824/156 "2002-11-04T16:17:13Z")
That’s what Chick wants people to think (using the term ‘think’ very loosely, that is). ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824/157 "2002-11-04T17:31:12Z")
Some of what **Libertarian** quoted and I made reference to can be found in the [Ask the Christian Buddhist thread](http://thebruces.stormbirds.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10640) over in the Pizza Parlor. (I hope **longhair** notices this thread and stops in to speak for himself; he’s a member here as well.) **His4Ever** , I would note that all those things you said that Gautama the Buddha did not do, were also not done by Billy Graham, Chuck Swindell, and Max Lucado. Why, then, should we read or listen to them? The answer, of course, is that their teachings are a way to learn more about Christ and about the Christian walk today. Buddha never pretended to be a savior or prophet, merely to be a man who had found the Way and who taught it to those who turned to him for guidance. Though there are parts of the Buddhist Eightfold Way that are not easily reconcilable with Christianity, there are also parts that are, and I’m confident that if Buddha had used the mental framework of First Century Judaism, he too would have said, as Christ did: > [@](#): > > "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. > > You cannot serve God and wealth. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. Therefore do not worry, saying, "What will we eat?’ or "What will we drink?’ or "What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things… > > So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. > (Matthew 6:20-21, 24-31, 34) Obviously, I have omitted some points relating specifically to the Christian message here, and I suspect that the Buddha would have been as chary of speaking of an exterior God as my selective quotation is. But the “set your attention on spiritual things and do not worry about things of this world” mindset is one they shared. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824/158 "2002-11-04T18:05:35Z")
In fact, I think Christ himself would have sat down with Buddha and would probably have been a friend of him. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824/159 "2002-11-04T18:27:05Z")
Oh, I think they’re great friends. Certainly, they’re brothers. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824/160 "2002-11-04T18:33:29Z")
Oh, I think they’re great friends. Certainly, they’re brothers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biblical-inerrancy-and-literal-interpretation-why/133824.md?page=9)