Self-Contradictions of the Bible

What I mean is that if you spend the approximately $15 and two hours of time reading this little book, it may save you untold money and hours related to church. Though there are some imagined contradictions, most of the ones listed are very real, most notably the historic contradictions, such as one gospel saying Jesus met his disciples in Jerusalem (Luke 24) and in another gospel met in Galilee (Matt 28) the evening of the resurrection (not a day trip), or whether the Holy Spirit was bestowed at Pentecost (Acts 1-2) or before Pentecost (John 20.22). I noted also an error in the quotation of Hebrews 6.4, making IMpossible become possible, which removed the contradiction, but anyone that knows their bible will note the mistake and realize the true contradiction. Though there are mistakes in this little 96 page book, one is certain to find more mistakes in 96 pages of the bible than in this book by Burr, and he never claimed his book was revelation.

If religious folk would actually read the entire Bible, 99% of them would be agnostic long before the last page. The review below by Sargus Lockhart is the perfect example. Lockhart clearly has not read the Bible's genealogies; both are explicitly Joseph's family tree. (See, e.g., Luke 3:23 ff.: "Jesus . . . the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli," etc.) It is also laughable to suggest that any organization as sexist as a religion would bother to include a maternal genealogy. Of course, using Joseph's genealogy is another logic buster, since the authors of the gospels purport to believe that Jesus' true father was Yahweh.

I consider William Henry Burr's Self-Contradictions of the BibleEa smashing success. Burr truly brings out simple fact that the belief that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and literally true word of God - thrives on ignorance, not just of a general sort, but an ignorance of the Bible itself. Because of critical thinkers like William Burr, the Apologetics are nowadays working evermore harder to explain awayEall the inconsistencies in the bible. For instance, God is kind, merciful, and good. Ps.100:5 "For the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting." Yet God is cruel, unmerciful, and evil. Num.25:4 "And the Lord said to Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord against the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel." Let try another. Should we rejoice when our enemies suffer? Pr.24:17 says no Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth.EContrast with a resounding yes; Ps.58:10 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wickedE I think I have made my point. For more insight into the many oddities of the bible one should pick up Dan Barker's Losing Faith In Faith: From Preacher To Atheist. As Mr. Burr clearly shows the holy book of multiple choice is truly a curious thing.

An amazing little book, still raising eyebrows and upsetting fundamentalists 150 years after its publication. While the author is not a scholar and never claims to be, he offers a number of cases where the bible might contradict itself. No attempt is made to put things in context, or to put a spin on them. Just verse for verse contradictions. The Preface is an eye opener, and I have to say this little volume has aged very well. Thought provoking for those who can't be spoon fed their faith.