This is Part 2 of my discussion with a Christian friend named John and my critique of the book, "The Creator and the Cosmos" by Dr. Hugh Ross.
Page 22 - The Bible is perfect? Hardly. It is riddled with scientific errors, historical errors, factual errors and hundreds of meaningful contradictions, absurdities and atrocities. It contains myths and legends, known bad alleged history, and fables featuring talking animals. The Old Testament is mostly ancient myths and legends. The first eleven chapters of Genesis are known to be ancient mythology. The New Testament contains the writings of a failed first century apocalyptic cult. Bible prophecy is vague or remains unfulfilled and these prophecies have been recycled by every generation of Christians. The case for Christianity is weak at best, and modern science disproves the claims of the Bible on multiple fronts.
If the Bible was true, genetics would show that mankind was specially created just thousands of years ago and that all humans were descended from two people. There would be evidence of a global flood thousands of years ago. There would be evidence of a population bottleneck where the human population was whittled down to just eight people thousands of years ago. There would be evidence that humans once spoke a common language and that all of our many languages suddenly appeared simultaneously just thousands of years ago.
Page 25 - The Bible does not teach the Big Bang. It teaches that God spoke from Heaven and created everything in just six literal 24 hour days just thousands of years ago.
Page 26 - The biblical universe features a flat Earth covered by a solid dome firmament in which the stars are fixed. Isaiah 40:22 states that God, who lives above the firmament, stretched out the heavens across the flat Earth like a tent. Isaiah 48:13 states that God's hand laid the foundations of the Earth and the Bible does teach that the flat Earth rests on pillars.
Dr. Ross cites several scriptures in his attempt to prove that the Bible is scientifically accurate. These include Genesis 1:1 and 2:3 and 2:4, Psalm 148:5, Isaiah 40:26 and 42:5 and 45:18, Hebrews 11:3, Isaiah 45:5-22, John 1:3 and Colossians 1:15-17.
Biblical claims that God predated the universe and was actively involved in certain effects include Proverbs 8:22-31, John 17:24, Ephesians 1:4, 2 Timothy 1:5, Titus 1:2 and 1 Peter 1:20.
The scriptures from the Genesis creation myths do not refer to the universe as it actually is, but rather to the primitive cosmology of the Bible.
Psalm 148:5 KJV
Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.
This verse makes a religious assertion but doesn't prove anything.
Isaiah 40:26 KJV
Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
Religious assertions but no evidence or proof of anything.
Isaiah 42:5 KJV
Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
Religious assertions, references to the primitive cosmology of the Bible, but no evidence or proof of anything.
Isaiah 45:18 KJV
For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.
Religious assertions but no evidence or proof of anything.
Hebrews 11:3 KJV
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Religious assertions from an anonymously written book, but no evidence or proof of anything.
Isaiah 45:5-22 KJV
I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: [6] That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. [7] I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. [8] Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it. [9] Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? [10] Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth? [11] Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. [12] I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. [13] I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts. [14] Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God. [15] Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour. [16] They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols. [17] But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end. [18] For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. [19] I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. [20] Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. [21] Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. [22] Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
A long passage of religious assertions but no evidence or proof of anything.
John 1:3 KJV
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
A religious assertion and theology from an anonymously written book that was written decades after Jesus Christ died.
Colossians 1:15-17 KJV
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: [16] For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: [17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Theology about who Jesus Christ allegedly is and religious assertions, but no evidence or proof of anything.
Despite claims to the contrary, the biblical God does not predate the universe. Yahweh was the tribal storm/war god of the ancient Israelites, and over time theology evolved and made him into the one true God of modern monotheistic faith. This video makes a very compelling case for that reality:
The universe is the result of a quantum vacuum fluctuation that happened 13.8 billion years ago, not the words or actions of a god just thousands of years ago.
