Subnostr

I don't have a strong opinion on the age of biblical scripture.

I'm willing to concede that Exodus or Deuteronomy was written 3,000 years ago if the evidence indicates.

But what shall we do with the text? If we ascertain some meaning we might like to apply to modern life, what system of philosophy or logic will enable us to verify that meaning? The Bible says to stone to death a stubborn and rebellious child who has grown up to be a drunkard and a glutton (Deuteronomy 21:18-21). What method enables us to determine whether this is sound advice for us here and now?

If you possess such a system, I doubt that we need the text for moral guidance.

If you lack such a system, and instead propose to rely on tradition or divine inspiration, there are other traditions and other purported divine inspirations. By what criteria should we select among them?

On the other hand if the text is meant to be taken as "ordinary" history, a simple factual recounting of events like any other, then the supernatural events cast doubt on the authenticity of many details if not the whole narrative.

Marakesh 𓅦 2y ago

If I hadn't been raised in a Christian home and studied Christian doctrine all of my life I, too, might find myself with a whole host of questions. Nor do I mean to imply that I have everything figured out (because I don't), but what I do believe makes sense to me, rationally, morally, experientially, doctrinally.

My short answer to all of your queries is: Jesus is the way. Don't bother with other scriptures, not even the Old Testament because it ultimately points to Jesus. Once once you come to know and understand Jesus, even some of those confusing Old Testament laws and actions begin to make sense.

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Discussion

a source familiar with the matter 2y ago

I believe there's a real world outside my skull which doesn't necessarily care about what's going on inside my skull, and the way to learn about the real world is essentially the scientific method (or an OODA loop) - observe, reason, act, repeat

If you have a Thomistic view of faith, perhaps you basically agree. Perhaps you think God's laws in nature are regular and discoverable.

If you have an Augustine view probably you disagree.

But that same dichotomy exists in pagan form (Aristotle v Plato) or atheistically (Rand v Kant)

...

Re: God, I independently (with something like the force of a revelation) came to the same conclusion as Spinoza. A monotheistic God, all-present, all-powerful, is reality itself.