I’m not surprised that a faith based person has trouble understanding reality base thought.
“No serious scholar - even a non-Christian one - would doubt the reliability of the Biblical text. “ Aslan that is so wrong it defies reason. There is simply little secular evidence that concurs with biblical history, in fact it the opposite is the case. However your statement about relativism is a excellent insight into the faith base thought process. Never let facts get in the way of your faith.

Love it - the Xtreme right contingent telling each other how right they are. Of course Aslan & BD U go on thinking how right and superior you both are. All you have achieved is to highlight the articles title "why the Right gets it wrong"

Judging from the positive posts for John McKinnon it would appear that the left does indeed get it.

Kenny objects to my statement that "No serious scholar - even a non-Christian one - would doubt the reliability of the Biblical text."

He adds: "There is simply little secular evidence that concurs with biblical history, in fact it the opposite is the case."

And concludes that I "never let facts get in the way" of my faith.

Well, Kenny, for someone who says they value facts, your posts (on this topic and every other one you have posted on) are totally devoid of facts. Your posts do, however, contains lots of ad hominem - which is normally a good indication of weak or non-existent arguments.

If you disagree with my claim about no serious scholars doubting the reliability of the Biblical text, then all you need to do is cite a reputable scholar who disagrees and the reasons why. I won't hold my breath.

Little secular evidence concurs with Biblical History? You've got to be kidding! Apart from the fact that the Bible refers to people and places for which we have archaeological evidence of their existence, you should spend some time walking around the British Museum. The Museum has even produced a chunky guidebook (on sale in their bookstore) called "The Bible in the British Museum" jam packed full of items that relate to the Biblical record. Or if you are in Rome, check out Titus' arch at the Colosseum end of the Forum. On the inside of the arch their is a wonderful engraving depicting the plundering of Temple treasures - including the unique 7 branched candle-stick depicted EXACTLY as the Bible describes it - after the destruction of the Temple in 70AD.

Xena, your ad hominem posts are not worthy of a response.

Aslan, absolutes may exist, but how do you know the ones that do are the ones you think they are?
Because the Bible tells you so is a great answer for those who sincerely believe the Bible is the word of God, for those of us who think it is an interesting book of philosophy and history, such an answer means little.
Human beings can, in my view, only be relativist, because the assumption that one set of human beings knows the truth and the other lot doesn't, is really just an opinion. It may be true, but, equally likely, it may not be.
Relativism rules, trying to turn this concept into an insult simply doesn't wash with me. Give me a relativist, a doubter any time ( it may be called humility) over an absolutist. One leaves me room to be me, the other wants me to be just like him/ her. One remains open to new ideas, to growth, the other has decided they already know everything, absolutely.

I agree enaj, and have made almost exactly the same point in these forums when confronted by repetitive claims from the Christian far right that their 'truths' are absolute - simply because they are derived from the Bible, which they believe to be a factual account.

However, I've given up wasting my time debating this with our resident preachers, because their minds are utterly closed to the possibility that their 'absolute' truth and morality are just as relative as those claimed by followers of other religious faiths.

My own perspective is similar to yours: while absolute truths do indeed exist, they are not derived from religious texts or beliefs. I am an advocate of cultural relativism, and since religion and knowledge systems are cultural phenomena, they too are only valid within their own cultural parameters.

No religious morality (or truth) is absolute enough for its proponents to have the right to impose it on those who don't share their religion - which is what our resident Christian zealots persistently attempt to do in these forums.

Aslan I’ve supplied links in the past that you don’t bother reading what’s the point of suppling more, find them yourself?
The Bible history and real history are very different things go to any secular history department in the western world and you will see if you had your eyes one.,
The bible say’s the world was made around 6,000 years ago and the rest of it goes down hill from there. Saying it got a few names right is like saying the movie “Titanic” was historically accurate because it got a few names of some of the passengers right.