# National Day of Pointing Out Biblical Contradictions **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 3, 2001, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232 "2001-05-03T16:52:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2001, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232/1 "2001-05-03T16:52:53Z")
So, what do y’all reckon the chances are that I could get Congress to proclaim a [National Day of Pointing Out Biblical Contradictions](http://www.praygeorgia.com/index.html)? The NDPOBC would of course be entirely [non-denominational](http://www.praygeorgia.com/page3.html). Naturally, I would like to schedule NDPOBC events primarily in [churches](http://www.praygeorgia.com/page2.html); I presume no one would have any objections? ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2001, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232/2 "2001-05-03T17:25:22Z")
Can I be the first with a contradition to point out? Pi = 3. > [@](#): > > Since the molten sea in 2 Chr.4:2 and 1 Kg.7:23 was round with a diameter of ten cubits and a circumference of thirty cubits, we know that the biblical value (God’s value) of Pi is exactly 3. But, of course, its actual value is approximately 3.14159. from [http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/science.html](http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/science.html) Buck, great idea, your National Day - especially scheduling the events in churches. Fair enough, considering. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2001, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232/3 "2001-05-03T17:56:24Z")
So this would have to be [Bipolar Disorder Day](http://www.theonion.com/onion3716/god_diagnosed_bipolar.html)? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2001, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232/4 "2001-05-03T17:59:06Z")
> [@](#): > > Can I be the first with a contradition to point out? > > ## Pi = 3. quote: > > ## Since the molten sea in 2 Chr.4:2 and 1 Kg.7:23 was round with a diameter of ten cubits and a circumference of thirty cubits, we know that the biblical value (God’s value) of Pi is exactly 3. But, of course, its actual value is approximately 3.14159. > > from [http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/science.html](http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/science.html) Strictly speaking, Masonite, this isn’t a contradiction – no part of it is logically inconsistent with any other – it is an “error”. Nevertheless, in Sir Thomas Browne’s spirit of “covering the nakednesse of our Father’s misunderstandings with a cloake of Favorable Interpretation”, let me note that it _is_ possible to _measure_ the circumference of a circle as three times the diameter, thus giving you a value of circumference/diameter = 3. If you define “measure” as “walking off the distance using a pair of dividers”, then a set of dividers opened to a length equal to the radius of the circle can be “walked” around the perimeter in six exact steps. What you have done, of course, is to trace out the perimeter of an inscribed hexagon. Coopers used to use this method to determine the size of the piece of wood needed to cap a barrel – you used trial and error in setting the jaws of the dividers until you got exactly six steps. It’s no great leap of the imagination to see ancient Hebrew engineers or coopers doing the same thing. Note that this does _not_ require you to assume that the circle IS a hexagon, as some have criticized. A contradiction would be, for example, the mutually inconsistent accounts of Noah’s flood as given in the J and E versions, or the three different accounts of Saul’s conversion on the Road to Damascus. Regarding the OP, I don’t think your chances of getting this through are very good. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2001, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232/5 "2001-05-03T18:03:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > \*\* I don’t think your chances of getting this through are very good. \*\* What if we prayed really, really hard for it? ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2001, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232/6 "2001-05-03T18:13:18Z")
_thud!_ “Neeeeeigh!” _thud!_ “Whinnny!” _thud!_ “Snort . . . gasp . . . gaaaakkkkk . . .” _thud!_ _thud!_ _thud!_ _thud!_ _thud!_ ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2001, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232/7 "2001-05-03T18:15:13Z")
…I thought all the posts about spitting drinks all over the monitor were exaggerations! ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2001, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232/8 "2001-05-03T18:17:45Z")
It took me exactly 36 seconds to get that joke, **andros**. 🙂 :: pats self on head and walks away whistling happily :: ---
**Author:** ![Gr8Kat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gr8kat/32/18668_2.png) [@Gr8Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gr8Kat)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2001, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232/9 "2001-05-03T18:20:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MEBuckner \* > \*\*So, what do y’all reckon the chances are that I could get Congress to proclaim a [National Day of Pointing Out Biblical Contradictions](http://www.praygeorgia.com/index.html)? The NDPOBC would of course be entirely [non-denominational](http://www.praygeorgia.com/page3.html). Naturally, I would like to schedule NDPOBC events primarily in [churches](http://www.praygeorgia.com/page2.html); I presume no one would have any objections? \*\* I dunno… the Bible already has [a whole week](http://www.positiveatheism.org/crt/nbw.htm) dedicated to it in November. But perhaps a “pointing out contradictions” party could be added to the festivities? [Dennis McKimsey](http://members.aol.com/ckbloomfld/index.html) could be the guest of honor. ---
**Author:** ![NutWrench](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nutwrench/32/20193_2.png) [@NutWrench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutWrench)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2001, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232/10 "2001-05-03T18:32:20Z")
[Here we go.](http://www.box2321.com/wtb/heresy.html) Lot’s of contradictions here. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Freyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freyr/32/5763_2.png) [@Freyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freyr)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2001, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232/11 "2001-05-03T21:05:35Z")
Why, **Andros** , you sado-equin-necrophiliac! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2001, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232/12 "2001-05-03T23:05:54Z")
Yeah, but andros, it ain’t dead yet–they’re having a big legislatively-sponsored Christian prayer fest down at the state capitol this very day. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2001, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232/13 "2001-05-04T01:54:36Z")
Here, have an easy one from my collection: **What were Jesus’s last words?** Matt.27:46,50: “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, eli, lama sabachthani?” that is to say, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” …Jesus, when he cried again with a loud voice, yielded u the ghost.” Luke23:46: “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, “Father, unto thy hands I commend my spirit:” and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” John19:30: “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished:” and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2001, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232/14 "2001-05-04T02:13:48Z")
Try to post some of those contradictions at [The Pizza Parlor.](http://thebruces.stormbirds.org/forum/index.php) They’ll love ya for it! ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2001, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232/15 "2001-05-04T13:22:56Z")
Wow, great message board jab1. Too bad they don’t actually really discuss anything. My favorite contradiction is whether I’m allowed to call somebody a fool: Matthew 5:22 but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 1 Corinthians 15:35,36 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2001, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232/16 "2001-05-04T13:30:43Z")
Theres a verse in proverbs (someone help me out, I don’t carry my Bible around) that says Whoever takes a bribe shall prosper. It doesn’t go on to say this is a bad thing! ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2001, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232/17 "2001-05-04T23:34:11Z")
Hmmm…the only thing like that I can find in Proverbs are two verses which seem to advocate _giving_ bribes: _“A bribe is a charm to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds.”_ – [Proverbs 17:8](http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=PROV+17:8&language=english&version=NIV&showfn=off) _“A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.”_ – [Proverbs 21:14](http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=PROV+21:14&language=english&version=NIV&showfn=off) Takers of bribes don’t seem to get off as well: _“A wicked man accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the course of justice.”_ – [Proverbs 17:23](http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=PROV+17:23&language=english&version=NIV&showfn=off) It’s certainly odd. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2001, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232/18 "2001-05-04T23:47:24Z")
Well, that’s just saying that bribes work. They do, don’t they? Unless you’re a Ohio representative. ---
**Author:** ![Yue\_Han](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/eada6e/32.png) [@Yue\_Han](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yue_Han)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2001, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232/19 "2001-05-04T23:51:16Z")
ITR, yours isn’t a contradiction, it just indicates that Paul was in danger of hellfire, something which doesn’t come as a surprise to me. –John ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2001, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232/20 "2001-05-05T00:52:56Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, that’s just saying that bribes work. They do, don’t they? Unless you’re a Ohio representative. Well, I guess they do at that. It’s just oddly non-judgemental for, you know, the _Bible_. I mean, some might argue that “whacking” people works, too, but I wouldn’t expect to see a Bible verse that says “The wise man does unto others before they can do unto him, if you get our drift”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-day-of-pointing-out-biblical-contradictions/64232.md?page=2)