[Timber Loftis]

Originally posted by Yorick: One more thing... what the heck is this? What "experts" are you talking about? Who are you speaking about? What are you calling "an expert". Name them and where they're disagreeing with me.

I'm referring to all the texts cited in the "bible contradictions" thread that you summarily dismissed because they were not the poster's original opinions.

Besides, what has that got to do with anything? You're automatically dismissing my position because.... I'm here? Why? Because I'm talking to you on the net?

I'm not dismissing your position. I'm whining that you will dismiss mine if they are not based on my personal experience or knowledge but rather gained through secondary sources.

How small minded.

Thanks. I try.

My opinions co-align with Cereks who is one of the few on this board who's read the bible in depth. Why is it not possible that Cerek or myself are actually "experts" choosing to discuss online for example? You've automatically excluded that possibility whatsoever.

I am not summarily dismissing your points, or Cerek's (I don't mess with barbarians ). I am just arguing that for me your opinion, or Cerek's, are opinions that I factor in with OTHER opinions from learned texts.

What possible reason do you have for dismissing my opinions as being any less knowledgeable than anyone elses? And why even throw that in in such snide fashion? Where does that get us?

I wasn't saying you were not an expert. As I mentioned in the bible contradiction thread, however, I probably won't give your opinion as much credence as a theologian's with letters like Ph.D. backing them up. Sorry, as a lawyer, I've found that letters behind a name make an opinion more "expert." No offense is intended. Surely you will recognize that SOMEONE out there knows more than you about the bible.

Well here's news!! I happily admit that someone like C.S.Lewis is a wiser man than I. I go to church to hear words from a wiser man than I. What does that prove? I still read the bible for myself if he says something I had no understanding of. I still read the source work for myself if a preacher more "expert" than myself quotes it in church.

Again, I think you are reading things into what I'm saying that I do not mean. Your personal reading and knowledge is valuable, and I won't deny that.

What you are advocating is lunacy. If I accepted your limitational viewpoint, I would still be in my fathers church, with all his intepretations, not my own, getting spoonfed all my beliefs. My father is an "expert" trained in Hebrew and Koine Greek, and with decades more bible reading, and teaching and preaching under his belt than I do. But I don't feel "inferior" or that my contrasting opinions are even wrong by simple virtue of his "expertise". I read the bible for myself, decide for myself, and have a personal ongoing relationship with God.

That's all well and good... for you. But if I or someone else cites your father or another expert to refute a statement you make, please don't come back at us saying since it's not our personal knowledge it means nothing.

All in all, I think you read an insult where I didn't mean one.