If you don't like the way I've described inspiration, notably: (1) my denial that God gave the words to each writer and (2) the subsequent notion that humans are the immediate source of Scripture while God is the ultimate source (and so BOTH are sources), then you...
Bellingham statement
Another Proposed Bellingham Statement (Last One?)
Here goes another crack at a statement on inspiration and inerrancy (both!). I think what follows constitutes something that I hope readers will circulate. I'm not sure about the order things are addressed, so please pay attention to that. I have some modest goals...
Responses to Mr. Molina’s Second Reply
Mr. Molina writes: Could this be about how God sees/relates to history? He knows the end from the beginning, doesn't this put Him then at an advantage (obviously, but bear with me) to "pull the strings" as it were of history, events and time, so that what seems like...
Responses to Mr. Molina’s First Reply
I'm posting this due to the length of Mr. Molina's reply. I'll follow this post with his second reply and my responses. See "MSH" for my thoughts. ------- (start of Mr. Molina's statement on inspiration) I believe that God intended to deliver specific, direct...
Round Two with John Hobbins and the Bellingham Statement
I really don't like basketball ("ball in Mike's court"), so the boxing metaphor is substituted! Once again, I'm pleased to chat with John and the rest of you in regard to his latest post responding to my comments on his revision of my Bellingham Statement draft. Here...
Response to John Hobbins’ Thoughts on the Bellingham Statement
What follows is some brief interaction with John Hobbins' post about the Bellingham Statement (second draft as I recall). John wrote, "I happen to think that Mike's view of Scripture is not high enough. He backs away from upholding verbal inspiration." Actually, I...
Guest Blogger: John Hobbins Responds to the Bellingham Statement
John sent me what follows in an email, and I'm thrilled. This is just what I was hoping for. You'll note we have disagreements (perhaps!). John doesn't think my view of Scripture is "high enough." I'll be responding to this soon, as I think part of the disconnect...
Getting New Readers Caught Up on the Inspiration Discussion — and Resuming That Discussion
First, let me direct your attention to something I've added to the blog just below the blog's name and tag-line: a page entitled "Naked Bible's Inspiration Discussion." For those who are new to this blog, we're in a discussion on inspiration -- why, in the Naked...
Another Whack at Bellingham Statement 1
Here's the text of the original Bellingham Statement 1. I affirm that the Bible is revelation from God produced in writing through the agency of human authors. This agency involved human authors writing on the basis of their own abilities, education, styles,...
Bellingham Statement 1
In no particular order, what I'm going to do in the ensuing posts is to write out statements of affirmation and denial and hope that readers critique the language in careful, constructive ways. Naturally, after we get a bunch of these posted it may become clear how to...