« Are We Smarter Than the Apostles? | Main | "Enzyme Genetic Variation Contributes To Violence" »

March 28, 2006

Human Nature - Still the Same

In the current debates about the Episcopal Church's upcoming General Convention 2006, some traditionalists are asserting that human nature is still the same as it was in biblical times.  I don't disagree. In fact, one of the main premises of my cautiousness about the Bible is that humans in biblical times were just as prone as we are today to errors such as —

  • wishful thinking
  • jumping to conclusions
  • creative memory
  • story distortion

We have no reason to think these human faults didn't affect the scriptural authors and editors as much as anyone. 

(Traditionalists argue otherwise, that the Holy Spirit supposedly protected those authors and editors from error.  But they have never offered much in the way of real-world evidence in support of their claim, choosing instead to rely on ipse-dixit arguments and wishful thinking.  Such evidence as they have offered is not exactly probative; for example, while early Christians martyrs were willing to die for their faith,  so too are present-day Islamist suicide bombers.)

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341ca5a053ef00d8355ec27469e2

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Human Nature - Still the Same:

Comments

Verify your Comment

Previewing your Comment

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Working...
Your comment could not be posted. Error type:
Your comment has been posted. Post another comment

The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Working...

Post a comment

My Photo

Your email address:


Powered by FeedBlitz

Favorite Posts

Google Ads


Adv.

Episcopal Church

  • Come and Grow

Advertisement

Blog powered by TypePad