Bible-fact, fiction,or mythology?

[Richard Cameron]

Originally Posted by jinydu

I think that was just an urban myth, invented to show how illogical religious fundamentalists can be.

I think you are confusing two stories: the proposal to legally make pi =3, did happen in 1897, in Indiana; but the modern version was an april fool joke.

Thats according to Snopes. I haven't checked the sources.

http://www.snopes.com/religion/pi.htm

[jinydu]

Here is the relevant quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Legends Reference Pages

Though the claim about the Alabama state legislature is pure nonsense, it is similar to an event that happened more than a century ago. In 1897 the Indiana House of Representatives unanimously passed a measure redefining the area of a circle and the value of pi. (House Bill no. 246, introduced by Rep. Taylor I. Record.) The bill died in the state Senate.

What was the actual text of the 1897 law anyway?

[retina]

Originally Posted by mfgoode

I hope this URL will not only satisfy your curiosity but explain why it SEEMS the Bible is not accurate.

Actually, my point was about the people and not about the bible at all. Some people accept that that bible says that PI=3 but still insist that it is true and accurate because of their interpretation on what exactly 3 means. The example of PI can be any other such message or prediction one cares to choose. The interpretation by people is what is different. Some choose to interpret it as clearly wrong while others choose to interpret the same thing as clearly correct. This is what makes trying to prove (either right or wrong) a futile exercise because people choose to interpret the text differently.

Perhaps another example of how the interpretations differ is the part about the creation of the Earth in 6 days. I have heard many different ideas from people about what exactly the "6 days" means. Some say that 6 days for God is many many years for us, while others choose to take it literally as 6 days as we know them today. And no doubt there are other interpretations from people on this forum. This is where things gets impossible to prove either way. If Joe Bloggs jumps out of his time machine and says "Yep, the big bang is true and happend X billions of years ago before Earth formed!" and manages to prove the statement beyond doubt. I would bet that people would adjust their interpretation of "6 days" to account for any and all new information.

If I write a book and make many predictions in it, then chances are some predictions will come true while many others won't become true *yet*. Assuming I word the predictions properly, then I can always argue that all predicitions will come true some time in the future, and that the predictions that have already come true are proof that my book is perfect. If I then call my book "the bible" and get some followers to believe, then we'll have a new religion for the world.

[mfgoode]

Originally Posted by Richard Cameron

I think you are confusing two stories: the proposal to legally make pi =3, did happen in 1897, in Indiana; but the modern version was an april fool joke.

Thats according to Snopes. I haven't checked the sources.

http://www.snopes.com/religion/pi.htm

I think you are right Richard. Here is some more to what you say.

http://arshermeneutica.org/besieged/...the_Vaue_of_Pi

BTW: the value of pi is NOT mentioned in the Bible. It merely gave dimensions of the articles that were to be made and from those the value people attribute to PI has been deduced as 3.
Mally

[brunoparga]

Mally, you're a fundamentalist. That's why it's pointless to argue with you. You believe that you hold THE correct interpretation of the Bible. It is, by the way, a book 99% of us know only by translations, which would lead anyone with a gram of sense to be a bit more cautious when reading it.

So, please stop insulting other people's intelligence when you say the way they read what they read is wrong. It's not; every text, no matter how sacred you may find it, is open to multiple readings, and yours shouldn't be imposed upon the rest of us heathens. Stop making comparisons like the one about the predictive character of scientific theories and drawing conclusions from historically-based, contingent expressions such as saying some book is "the bible" of a given subject. The nature of such comparisons and conclusions could, if you go further, leave at least a small amount of doubt regarding your abilities of judgement and coherent reasoning.

I think it'd be nice that, should you want to answer, that you done it by yourself, without pointing to fundamentalist webpages (again).

[jinydu]

Originally Posted by retina

If I write a book and make many predictions in it, then chances are some predictions will come true while many others won't become true *yet*. Assuming I word the predictions properly, then I can always argue that all predicitions will come true some time in the future, and that the predictions that have already come true are proof that my book is perfect. If I then call my book "the bible" and get some followers to believe, then we'll have a new religion for the world.

That shows why predictions should be precise and testable. Predictions such as "Country X and Country Y will have a war at some time in the future" are not testable, whereas predictions such as "At time t, planet x will be at position (X, Y, Z)" are testable. In order to prevent "reinterpretations" after the fact, it is also important that predictions be made before the event.

[Uncwilly]

Originally Posted by jinydu

What was the actual text of the 1897 law anyway?

This appears to have the info that you want.
Indiana pi 4 /
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_341.html

[jinydu]

So the 1897 law had nothing to do with religion; it was just a bunch of stupid government officials intimidated by someone who pretended to know math.

[brunoparga]

...someone who pretended to know math....

It's a great thing we don't have anyone that fits that description here in the forum

Bruno

PS: Ok, ok, I know the "george" icon isn't quite appropriate for irony, but I wanted to use it in a post since when it was first created...

[mfgoode]

Originally Posted by T.Rex

Mally, compare Euclid's books to actual Mathematical ...

Now, I'm tired of this discussion.
You cannot convince me. I cannot convince you.
You'll never know the truth. Because there is nothing after our life. And this is the main problem and why The Bible were written: reduce our fear of the Death and live more quietly.

Tony
(My wife is at Hospital since 8 weeks. Colon cancer. Possibly dreadful. I still do not see God around. I just see that Science and Medicine have saved her once and that they can save her again. I thank Doctors and Nurses. I thank all people who spent their life to understand how we are built. I can see that we simply are animals: very nice, complex and fragile machines, with a wonderful brain. And our Spirit disappears when our Body dies.)

"Jusqu'ici, tout va bien" (Up to now, everything is OK)

Take care of you.

Dear Tony,
Before I reply to your other points, I am extremely sorry to hear that your wife is in hospital with a dreaded affliction. I only hope those Doctors and Nurses and modern medicine can save the day for you and your wife.
Especially, since I feel you are drowning and clutching at a straw when there is
a massive rescue ship a few metres away which you have no trust in.
I am happy that your wife believes in the rescue ship and, believe you me, she will survive.
In contrast, please allow me to give you my similar experience though a drop in the ocean compared to yours.
In 1988 my wife went to the butchers shop to buy some meat. The butcher accidentally lost control of his knife while sharpening it and the point of it dug into my wife's right leg calf and it got deeply embedded in it. What seemed a deep but small wound got swollen out of proportion as she is insulin dependent due to diabetes.
Well one treatment led to another and to cut a long story short in 2001 her foot and leg were so bad that the senior skilled doctors, as good as the best in the world, gave her an ultimatum that they had to amputate two toes for fear the gangrene may spread further up the leg and the next alternative would be to amputate till the ankle.
I was away on a flight and came back just in time to receive her call to me that she was in line for the operation and amputation.
I rushed to the hospital with all the available cash I had in the house (Yes hospitals take advance here and are mighty expensive, though She is entitled to free treatment, but its a rule here-pay now, collect later).
I got to the hospital to see her being wheeled in to the operating theatre but stopped them and inspected the foot.
I made the biggest decision of my life!. I stopped them and the Doctor was furious with me and assured me that I will come back for an ankle amputation if lucky, otherwise the whole leg would have to go.
What stopped me and gave me the courage to stop an unneeded amputation ? I'll tell you Tony, believe it or not, It was the Holy Spirit that I had accepted on the 8th April 1978 in the Name of Jesus Christ when I was by myself in a hotel room in posh Mena House hotel near the Great Pyramid in Cairo.
Well, today she is sitting by my side, watching TV. but the careless treatment of those learned doctors has resulted in 'Charcot's Foot' and has taken its toll badly on her. She walks with the aid of a walker but she is very much alive.
Well what was the treatment that I alone defying the doctors did I resort to ?
the wonder medicine for diabetic patients and little known for its efficacy-
Aloe Vera. With that I have treated many ulcers that came up on her and we have dispensed with these learned doctors and their medicines. They can only go so far and no further.
Please retell my story to your beloved wife to give her hope in the God she trusts for there is only one God whatever you call Him.
In all sincerity I will, with my wife, pray for her and leave it to the Lord to give You the courage to accept His Will at all Times, better or worse.
Its very hard on us but that is His Will for us.
Mally

[smh]

Originally Posted by T.Rex

Now, I'm tired of this discussion. You cannot convince me. I cannot convince you.

Originally Posted by mfgoode

Especially, since I feel you are drowning and clutching at a straw when there is a massive rescue ship a few metres away which you have no trust in.

Didn't he make himeself clear?
Go Away with this BS