Stupid Myths about Christianity
Here are a few, easily-debunked myths concerning Christianity.
Myth #1: “The Bible has been translated and edited so many times, we don’t know what it originally said.”
This is probably the most common myth out there. And despite the deluge of data out there demonstrating its falsehood, it still makes its way into a serious conversation, even in the name of academia.
This myth assumes a few errors concerning the inspiration, transmission, and preservation of the biblical text.
- First, it assumes that with the passing of time, we have lost and/or destroyed the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts of the Bible.
- Second, it assumes that translators have been indifferent and careless towards the preservation of texts from which they translated.
- Third, it assumes that we possess few ancient Greek and Hebrew manuscripts.
- Finally, it assumes that we do not possess manuscripts close to the time that the originals were given.
Now, the manuscripts of the biblical text in their original languages certainly have been translated into multiple languages. However, there is a sense in which the passing of time has brought us closer to, not further from, the original text.
Over the years, more biblical manuscripts have been discovered. Today, we possess close to 6000 ancient Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, some of which date back to within a few decades of their inspiration in the first century. For example, manuscript “P52,” dating to the mid-second century, is a fragment containing portions of John 18 which would have been included in a larger book or codex of Scripture.
Comparison of these several thousand manuscripts demonstrates that we can be certain of what the original text said. Over the centuries, scholars have invested their lives in comparing these manuscripts, discovering an agreement rate of over 99% among the content. The disagreements are insignificant, calling into question no significant doctrine or event. Today, we have NT critical apparatuses (e.g. UBS, Nestle-Aland), produced through painstaking work of rigorous manuscript criticism.
Also, you can tell Crowing Cameron that no ancient text comes close to the Bible in terms of its preservation. For example, the oldest complete manuscript known of Homer’s Iliad dates to the tenth century A.D., nearly 1700 years after the work was supposedly written. All that to say, God has left himself with a stunningly preserved text, burying this myth.
Myth #2: “A church council got together sometime in the 4th century and decided what would be in the Bible.”
This is a popular one which some presume renders Scripture merely the product of irrelevant dead men, and thus possessing no divine authority. But nothing could be further from the truth.
Let it be known: no man, no church, no council, and nothing of earthly origin ever decided what would, and would not be, in the Bible. As it concerns the 66 books of the Bible, a man merely recognized what God had inspired. This is a question of the Bible’s inspiration.
The moment that one of the 66 books of the Bible was penned for the first time is the moment it was included in the Bible. God had breathed it from heaven through the pen of his authorial instrument, rendering it canonical. Regenerate men and women subsequently recognized but did not determine, the divine origin and authority of a given text.
Think of it this way: electricity existed prior to Benjamin Franklin’s discoveries and inventions. Franklin did not invent electricity, he only recognized and discovered it (though many throughout history recognized it long before him). Franklin and others were given the insight to recognize electricity. That’s the way it was with the 66 books of the Bible. Each book was given by God at a point in time through human instruments. Throughout history, God’s people recognized his word such that throughout church history among biblical Christianity, there have been no major debates about the divine origin of the 66 books.
Myth #3: “There are contradictions all over the Bible.”
Be sure to answer this one with, “Which ones?” Have Ruprecht point them out.
Atheists love these. These are the favorites among those who neglect to read the Bible in context.
Some of the more popular include the following:
Citing Ephesians 2:8-9 and James 2:24, the claim is made that the Bible teaches that salvation is from works and from faith, thereby demonstrating a contradiction (Freedom from Religion Foundation).
A basic knowledge of history and context demonstrates that James writes to warn antinomians that those saved by faith will inevitably demonstrate the genuineness of regeneration by works. Saving faith has resulting works.
Citing Genesis 32:30 and John 1:18, the claim is made that the Bible teaches that no one has seen God, yet some have, thereby demonstrating a contradiction (American Atheists).
Once again, context and biblical background clarify. In Genesis 32, we have a theophany (v. 24). God appears as a man. Jacob is not saying, “I have seen the fullness of God’s being, in all who he is.” Instead, he sees God’s manifestation of himself in the theophany. Whenever someone “sees” God in Scripture, there is some corresponding qualification in the context. Thus, there is no contradiction here.
There are many more apparent contradictions you will run into. Simple hermeneutical principles demonstrate that these contradictions are boogie-men at best. If, for example, we handled the text of the Atheist website in a similar fashion, we could demonstrate the following contradiction in their content:
Which is it? Have they “left behind religion” or are they “the fastest growing religious demographic”?
We understand that context matters. Regrettably, those who play the “the-Bible-is-full-of-contradictions” card have neglected that elementary rule of logic, and, interestingly, they have done so selectively. The fact is, when we read the Bible logically, in its context, there is not a single contradiction to be found, thus burying this myth.
Myth #4: “God sanctioned genocide and ethnic cleansing in the Old Testament.”
This is a frequent favorite of collegiate world religions professors. The assumption is: God performed something that is unethical. He claims to be a good, loving God. He committed acts that were not good and loving. Therefore, he cannot be God.
We can respond to this in at least three ways.
First, what God commanded of Moses and Joshua was not ethnic cleansing. God was not looking to exterminate people on the grounds of ethnicity. If anything, the cleansing was moral-spiritual (Lev. 18:24-30, Deut. 9:4). Those occupying the land given to Israel were full of wickedness. They were morally polluted in every way. Thus, God was doing good by ridding the land of gross corruption. And, if the people would have repented, like Rahab for example, they would have been shown mercy.
Second, though the theocratic expulsions from Canaan were not ethnic cleansings, God did command the killing of these people groups. However, having made all things, he has the right to dispose of as he wishes. The land and people were his, and all his ways are righteous and just, thus this myth is laid to rest.
Third, at some point, you will want to warn Crowing Cameron to flee the wrath to come. While Cameron crams God’s turkey in his mouth, breathing God’s air, and lives on God’s earth, he is mocking God and his holiness. Cameron’s doom will be far worse than that of a Canaanite village. He will have to stand before a God of terrifying holiness and give an account for himself; for every thought, motivation, word, and deed that did not conform to God’s glory.
Myth #5: “The Bible was written by a few stuffy religious guys in a cornerback in the day.”
Sadly, it’s often touted by people unwilling to listen to reason. But if they are willing, you can inform them that the 66 books of the Bible were given by God, through about 40 different human instruments, from a few different continents, and over a time period of about 1600 years. Many of the authors came out of radically different cultural backgrounds. Moses was highly educated, 15th century B.C. Egyptian royalty (Hebrew by birth) and an Arabian shepherd. Matthew was a wretched first-century tax collector in cahoots with the Roman government.
Think of it this way: electricity existed prior to Benjamin Franklin’s discoveries and inventions. Franklin did not invent electricity, he only recognized and discovered it (though many throughout history recognized it long before him). Franklin and others were given the insight to recognize electricity. That’s the way it was with the 66 books of the Bible. Each book was given by God at a point in time through human instruments. Throughout history, God’s people recognized his word such that throughout church history among biblical Christianity, there have been no major debates about the divine origin of the 66 books.
Myth #3: “There are contradictions all over the Bible.”
Be sure to answer this one with, “Which ones?” Have Ruprecht point them out.
Atheists love these. These are the favorites among those who neglect to read the Bible in context.
Some of the more popular include the following:
Citing Ephesians 2:8-9 and James 2:24, the claim is made that the Bible teaches that salvation is from works and from faith, thereby demonstrating a contradiction (Freedom from Religion Foundation).
A basic knowledge of history and context demonstrates that James writes to warn antinomians that those saved by faith will inevitably demonstrate the genuineness of regeneration by works. Saving faith has resulting works.
Citing Genesis 32:30 and John 1:18, the claim is made that the Bible teaches that no one has seen God, yet some have, thereby demonstrating a contradiction (American Atheists).
Once again, context and biblical background clarify. In Genesis 32, we have a theophany (v. 24). God appears as a man. Jacob is not saying, “I have seen the fullness of God’s being, in all who he is.” Instead, he sees God’s manifestation of himself in the theophany. Whenever someone “sees” God in Scripture, there is some corresponding qualification in the context. Thus, there is no contradiction here.
There are many more apparent contradictions you will run into. Simple hermeneutical principles demonstrate that these contradictions are boogie-men at best. If, for example, we handled the text of the Atheist website in a similar fashion, we could demonstrate the following contradiction in their content:
- Our local affiliates stand ready to help and are vibrant communities full of people just like you who have left behind religion.
- Our community is the fastest growing religious demographic in all 50 states.
Which is it? Have they “left behind religion” or are they “the fastest growing religious demographic”?
We understand that context matters. Regrettably, those who play the “the-Bible-is-full-of-contradictions” card have neglected that elementary rule of logic, and, interestingly, they have done so selectively. The fact is, when we read the Bible logically, in its context, there is not a single contradiction to be found, thus burying this myth.
Myth #4: “God sanctioned genocide and ethnic cleansing in the Old Testament.”
This is a frequent favorite of collegiate world religions professors. The assumption is: God performed something that is unethical. He claims to be a good, loving God. He committed acts that were not good and loving. Therefore, he cannot be God.
We can respond to this in at least three ways.
First, what God commanded of Moses and Joshua was not ethnic cleansing. God was not looking to exterminate people on the grounds of ethnicity. If anything, the cleansing was moral-spiritual (Lev. 18:24-30, Deut. 9:4). Those occupying the land given to Israel were full of wickedness. They were morally polluted in every way. Thus, God was doing good by ridding the land of gross corruption. And, if the people would have repented, like Rahab for example, they would have been shown mercy.
Second, though the theocratic expulsions from Canaan were not ethnic cleansings, God did command the killing of these people groups. However, having made all things, he has the right to dispose of as he wishes. The land and people were his, and all his ways are righteous and just, thus this myth is laid to rest.
Third, at some point, you will want to warn Crowing Cameron to flee the wrath to come. While Cameron crams God’s turkey in his mouth, breathing God’s air, and lives on God’s earth, he is mocking God and his holiness. Cameron’s doom will be far worse than that of a Canaanite village. He will have to stand before a God of terrifying holiness and give an account for himself; for every thought, motivation, word, and deed that did not conform to God’s glory.
Myth #5: “The Bible was written by a few stuffy religious guys in a cornerback in the day.”
Sadly, it’s often touted by people unwilling to listen to reason. But if they are willing, you can inform them that the 66 books of the Bible were given by God, through about 40 different human instruments, from a few different continents, and over a time period of about 1600 years. Many of the authors came out of radically different cultural backgrounds. Moses was highly educated, 15th century B.C. Egyptian royalty (Hebrew by birth) and an Arabian shepherd. Matthew was a wretched first-century tax collector in cahoots with the Roman government.
Daniel was an intelligent young, sixth century B.C. Hebrew who became an expert in Babylonian culture, and a later official in that empire. Amos was an eighth century B.C. Israelite farmer. On top of that, very few of the biblical writers knew each other. They were not collaborating with their stories. Instead, God carried them to write his word, which has resulted in an extraordinarily cohesive and inerrant book.
Myth #6: “Jesus never spoke about homosexuality.”
This one has probably been used more in the past few decades than at any time in history. Its existence is a sign of the times.
But this myth misunderstands the nature of the Bible. If someone means, “I don’t see anything in my red-letter Bible about homosexuality,” then we can agree with that. However, this myth fails on a few accounts.
First, Jesus’ words are not confined to those red letters from Matthew to John, but everything in black from Genesis to Revelation. “All Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16). He is truly God (John 1:1-3, 8:58; Phil. 2:6; Col. 1:15, 2:9; Titus 2:13). He is one with God. Therefore, whatever is God-breathed can be said to also be the words of Christ.
Second, Jesus affirmed both the Scriptures given before his incarnation (the Old Testament) and after his ascension (the New Testament) (Matt. 5:19, John 16:12-13). So, whatever was said there, he affirms, in addition to it being his very word, laying this myth to rest.
Myth #7: “There are so many interpretations of the Bible, it’s impossible to know what it means.”
This is a basic logical fallacy. There is only one interpretation of a biblical text; one meaning. Individuals might come up with many opinions, but there is no such thing as many meanings. The text means what it means. And God’s interpretation—authorial intent—is the interpretation, or, the meaning of the text.
The way to determine the meaning is through simple, transcendent rules of logic which govern language and are inherently built into our functioning as God’s image-bearers. God created us with hard-wired logical abilities. We see them everywhere, especially language. He gave us his written word, which assumes that we could understand it just like any other form of communication. He did not write it to be mysterious, but perspicuous.
Author: Cripplegate
Myth #6: “Jesus never spoke about homosexuality.”
This one has probably been used more in the past few decades than at any time in history. Its existence is a sign of the times.
But this myth misunderstands the nature of the Bible. If someone means, “I don’t see anything in my red-letter Bible about homosexuality,” then we can agree with that. However, this myth fails on a few accounts.
First, Jesus’ words are not confined to those red letters from Matthew to John, but everything in black from Genesis to Revelation. “All Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16). He is truly God (John 1:1-3, 8:58; Phil. 2:6; Col. 1:15, 2:9; Titus 2:13). He is one with God. Therefore, whatever is God-breathed can be said to also be the words of Christ.
Second, Jesus affirmed both the Scriptures given before his incarnation (the Old Testament) and after his ascension (the New Testament) (Matt. 5:19, John 16:12-13). So, whatever was said there, he affirms, in addition to it being his very word, laying this myth to rest.
Myth #7: “There are so many interpretations of the Bible, it’s impossible to know what it means.”
This is a basic logical fallacy. There is only one interpretation of a biblical text; one meaning. Individuals might come up with many opinions, but there is no such thing as many meanings. The text means what it means. And God’s interpretation—authorial intent—is the interpretation, or, the meaning of the text.
The way to determine the meaning is through simple, transcendent rules of logic which govern language and are inherently built into our functioning as God’s image-bearers. God created us with hard-wired logical abilities. We see them everywhere, especially language. He gave us his written word, which assumes that we could understand it just like any other form of communication. He did not write it to be mysterious, but perspicuous.
Author: Cripplegate
