Of course, I knew better, and was being provocative, when I stated in my preceding post that "educated" Christians might not believe everything in the Bible to be literally true. My experience told me something else. The two sentences prior to this suggestion were framed as questions in case anyone wanted to disagree. From the response, I find that some do.
Maybe the Christmas Star did move ahead of the three wise men from the East and did stop in the sky above the birthplace of Jesus. That is, if you believe in miracles; if you reject the laws of motion and gravity and what astronomy teaches about stars.
I wasn't trying to defend the billboard that the Atheists put up. I probably wouldn't have done it, having no real interest in being offensive. It was just the reaction I wondered about. If someone is really comfortable in their own beliefs, why is someone questioning them so upsetting? Why do they need to "counterpunch"? If they don't like Newton's laws, why should I be offended?
I've made small efforts over the years to reconcile scientific discovery with Biblical stories. Do you really think Noah could have collected all those animals, leaving the rest to be drowned? Do you really think Eve was formed from the rib of Adam? I've been assured yes, although the explanations have been somewhat creative.
I've been told that God both raised the seas and lowered the mountains to facilitate the covering of the earth with water during the Great Flood. I've been told that God gave Eve estrogen to change her from a man to a woman, because she shared the DNA of Adam. Who am I to quarrel? After all, beliefs are beliefs.
I've been advised that if there really is a God that man should stop trying to recreate him for his own advantage. This appeals to me. However God has created the universe is probably his business; our job is to discover how and why he did it, no matter how imperfect we find the answers.
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