How can we trust the Bible if it's not inerrant?

[otseng]

From the On the Bible being inerrant thread:

How can you trust something that's written about god that contradictory, contains errors and just plain wrong at times? Is there a logical way to do so, or do you just want it to be god's word so much that you overlook these things like happens so often through the history of christianity?

The Bible can still be God's word, inspired, authoritative, and trustworthy without the need to believe in inerrancy.

For debate:
How can the Bible be considered authoritative and inspired without the need to believe in the doctrine of inerrancy?

While debating, do not simply state verses to say the Bible is inspired or trustworthy.

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Thread Milestones

• Case study of Hezekiah
• Start discussing global flood / Flood Model summary
• Recap arguments of authority of the Bible
• Start discussing Tower of Babel / Tower of Babel summary
• Start discussing archaeology / Philosophy of science / Origin of alphabet / End of discussion on archaeology
• Start discussing cosmology / Concluding cosmology
• Start discussing Shroud of Turin / Summary top TS imaging theories / Created DefendingChristianity.com and TS subforums / Shroud of Turin summary
• Start discussing Bible and resurrection
• Start discussing the Messiahship of Jesus / Messiahship of Jesus wrap up
• Start discussing Old Testament ethics
• Summary argument of atheism and morality / God basis for objective morality
• Start discussing genocide / Genocide summary argument
• Start discussing slavery / Slavery summary argument
• Start discussing homosexuality / Homosexuality summary argument
• Old Testament ethics summary argument
• Start discussing philosophy / Summary argument on philosophy
• Start discussing creation of universe / Summary argument universe was created

[POI]

What should children do? Obey their parents.

Does this rule have exceptions? If so, what are they, and why does the Bible not list them?

[Data]

What should children do? Obey their parents.

Does this rule have exceptions? If so, what are they, and why does the Bible not list them?

Forget the Bible, what are yours? Do you agree with the rule, are there exceptions to your rule and if so what are they?

[POI]

What should children do? Obey their parents.

Does this rule have exceptions? If so, what are they, and why does the Bible not list them?

Forget the Bible, what are yours? Do you agree with the rule, are there exceptions to your rule and if so what are they?

Please do not shift the burden. You gave the advice. Where does this advice come from?

[Data]

Please do not shift the burden.

The burden is upon parents to raise their children as they see fit. Usually that involves obedience training. No?

You gave the advice. Where does this advice come from?

Advice? I gave advice? What advice exactly?

[POI]

Please do not shift the burden.

The burden is upon parents to raise their children as they see fit. Usually that involves obedience training. No?

You gave the advice. Where does this advice come from?

Advice? I gave advice? What advice exactly?

You are avoiding....

The response I quoted, was one in which you cited a Bible passage. So what is <the source> for your advice for children to obey their parents?

[Data]

You are avoiding....

Avoiding what? Answer the question.

The response I quoted, was one in which you cited a Bible passage. So what is <the source> for your advice for children to obey their parents?

Show me in my words and stop your usual deceptive misdirection. Stop saying I do things I haven't done just because you interpret it that way for your purposes. Make the distinction between your interpretation and my intention. See? Remember?

[POI]

You are avoiding....

Avoiding what? Answer the question.

The response I quoted, was one in which you cited a Bible passage. So what is <the source> for your advice for children to obey their parents?

Show me in my words and stop your usual deceptive misdirection. Stop saying I do things I haven't done just because you interpret it that way for your purposes. Make the distinction between your interpretation and my intention. See? Remember?

Still avoiding and deflecting....

What is <the source> for your advice for children to obey their parents?

[Data]

Still avoiding and deflecting....

No, I'm addressing head on straight forward. Your strategy doesn't include honesty.

What is <the source> for your advice for children to obey their parents?

Children should obey parents. That isn't advice, it's common sense and from my perspective, an observation. That's true of atheist and theist alike. If the Bible is a parent's guide in doing that that is none of your business. If it isn't then it's none of my business.

If you want a literal criticism of the Bible on this subject I would be glad to have it but you will have to state it as such. Like this: The Bible has exceptions to the rule listed as such. I'm not going to try and figure out what your intepretation might be.

[POI]

Children should obey parents. That isn't advice, it's common sense and from my perspective, an observation. That's true of atheist and theist alike. If the Bible is a parent's guide in doing that that is none of your business. If it isn't then it's none of my business.

If you want a literal criticism of the Bible on this subject I would be glad to have it but you will have to state it as such. Like this: The Bible has exceptions to the rule listed as such. I'm not going to try and figure out what your intepretation might be.

What is <the source> for this advice, given by common sense?

[Data]

You are the last one to speak of honesty dude

Uh-huh. You call me a liar because I changed my mind and decided to give you the benefit of the doubt, I call you a liar because you lie, misquote, take quotes out of context, refuse to acknowledge or explain your doing so and slander people and theism in general. In other words you lie. I don't. See? Try a new militant atheist tactic. That one is old to me. Predictable. Boring.

What is <the source> for this common sense?

Do what I told you to do. State your criticism plainly, as such. Really simple. Common sense is sense with a common source. Is that difficult or are you motivated for some other purpose. Just do it honest. Stop trying to look good. Stop trying to win an argument. Talk to me straight or dont. Your choice.