Claim CH130:
The Bible's accuracy on various scientific and historical points shows its
overall accuracy.
Response:
- The accuracy of the Bible is not remarkable. All of its accurate
points can be explained by simple observation of nature or by selective
interpretation of scriptures.
- Accuracy on individual points does not indicate overall accuracy. Just
about every thesis that is wrong overall still has some accurate points
in it.
- Claims about accuracy assume that the purpose of the Bible is to
document scientific data. There is not the slightest indication that
the Bible was ever intended as a scientific textbook. It is intended
to teach people about God; even those who claim scientific accuracy for
it use it with that intent. For at least some of the Bible's
teachings, scientific accuracy is unnecessary and perhaps even
counterproductive.
- The Bible is not entirely accurate. If its value is made to depend on
scientific accuracy, it becomes valueless when people find
errors in it, as some people invariably
will.
- If occasional scientific accuracy shows overall accuracy of the Bible,
then the same conclusion must be granted to the Qur'an, Zend
Avesta, and several other works from other religions, all of which can
make the same claims to scientific accuracy.
Links:
Till, Farrell, 1990. What about scientific foreknowledge in the Bible?
http://www.infidels.org/library/magazines/tsr/1990/4/4scien90.html
created 2003-8-10, modified 2003-12-1