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Comment by sbuk | Hacker News Reader

If this post is misinformation, which you are asking for evidence of, why don't you refute it, as the article suggests?

I disagree that the Bible is misinformation now; it's historical literature - a very long novel, much like other fantasy novels. The same is true for the other stories you mention.

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Seems to me they're trying to refute it by asking OP their views for clarity.

Pretty much. The OP could, with some charity, be considered crudely restating the teachings of second century Church Fathers [1]. Or it could be an ignorant [2] whole cloth rejection of the Bible as fantastical as if it were Narnia.

What does OP consider misinformation? What, if not all, does the OP consider misinformation in the Bible? But that's the modus operandi today isn't it? Shout "misinformation" and have corporate power censor it.

[1] that many passages of the Bible are clearly allegorical and should be interpreted as such. [2] ignorant as it ignores the extensive historical cross-references with non Judaic sources or archeological discoveries.

It is fantastical, and this is by design. I've visited many places described in the Bible; I know it's somewhat grounded in fact. But much like other historical literature, it isn't a completely reliable historical document, especially given that it has been doctored through the ages, such as the Synod of Hippo 'approving' the canon.

But, as I said, I disagree with the notion that it, or any other religious work, is misinformation. It was the 'truth' at the time it was conceived. Other religions existed and continue to exist. Religious dogma isn't necessarily misinformation.

As I said in other comments, the term misinformation might not be the best fit, take unsubstantiated claims instead. Also my initial comment was to some extent meant jokingly and provocative.

For what I mean, pick whatever supernatural thing you want - God's existence, how he made the universe and Adam and Eve, how he talked to people from a bush, how he flooded the world and killed everyone accept Noah and the other guys and animals on the boat, how he sacrificed his son, ...

There are of course also historic facts in the Bible, I am obviously not saying it is all nonsense. We do not even have to argue about a historical Jesus, could be either way.

There is no room for being a bit provocative here. Misinformation was mostly directed at the unsubstantiated claims about God, beyond that the Bible is of course a multifaceted book of its time containing all kinds of stuff from historical records to moral guidelines.

You consider God unsubstantiated because you reject the signs and miracles of the Abrahamic God, like I reject the signs and miracle of Hinduism.

That hardly means Abraham's God (or Vishnu) doesn't exist or the Bible is misinformation.

The difference between us two is that I would never debase myself and declare the Veda's misinformation just because I don't believe in Vishnu; rather I consider the Vedas a jewel to be treasured by all peoples across the world.

But, to be honest, Im a more open minded and tolerant guy than your average fellow.

What are those signs and miracles?

You're a biblical scholar who has not heard of the claims of miracles through Moses, Jesus, his disciples and the saints?

I thought you merely rejected them as misinformation, not that you ignored the very claims.

Now that we have kind of clarified what you mean, what is your evidence that any of those things actually happend besides that someone wrote a couple of paragraphs about them in the Bible? I would also be interested in knowing why those miracles no longer occur or, if they still occur, why do we not have any credible high quality videos of them?

You're asking for HDTV footage of biblical events?

Did I say anything like that? I asked for any evidence besides words in the Bible. But we already know that there is none because if it existed, then it would be a central piece of our understanding of the world and everyone would learn about it in school. The best there is are things like pieces of fabric that were supposedly used to wrap the body of Jesus.

Even if one could actually prove this, it would at best prove that some guy named Jesus existed and was crucified. From that to there is a God and Jesus was his son it is still a GIGANTIC leap that would still have absolutely zero evidence.

So in anticipation that there will be no evidence provided for biblical miracles, I included the followup question why miracles are no longer happening nowadays. And for the case that someone would respond that they are still happening nowadays I include another followup question, why is there video evidence despite everyone running around with a phone in their hand at all times.

So I really do not know why you would turn my completely reasonable question into one for HDTV video of biblical events. Either you did not even properly read my comment before replying or that must be some kind of evasive maneuver to avoid addressing the actual question.

And one more thing before someone accused me of having some ideological prejudices or whatnot. I could not care less whether to universe runs on string theory or whether God is pulling the strings, I am only interested in knowing the truth or the most likely or most reasonable explanation about how our universe works. Show me the evidence and I will accept whatever it implies.

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