LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY 1400scale)

The vast majority of fundamentalists regard the Bible as wholly inerrant, particularly the Book of Genesis.

Here are a few questions one can ask them, not so much to "disprove" Genesis or to inspire answers to said questions, but more to (hopefully) encourage deeper thought among some of the more reasonable ones.

Feel free to post any other questions you can think of that might result in that.


1. According to the classical understanding of Original Sin, humans were created perfect and immortal, but had a finite lifespan sentenced upon them by God as punishment for disobedience in the Garden of Eden which was passed on through their offspring, eg. "inherited sin".

Medical science has learned that humans grow old and die by the exact same biological process as all other creatures (telomerase reduction in cell subdivision). Animals are instinctive and incapable of reason, therefore could not have chosen to disobey God, yet they grow old and die.

Why is that?

2. According to the Book of Genesis, all creatures (including humans) in the Pre-Deluge era were herbiverous.

Allosaurus teeth have been found imbedded in Apatosaurus (Brontosaurus) bone. Fossil evidence clearly indicates that other prehistoric lifeforms such as Smilodon (the saber-toothed cat), Tyrannosaurus, etc. had carniverous diets, and in fact, could not survive on a herbiverous diet. Ancient cave art shows ancient tribal humans hunting deer, bison, and mammoths.

How can this be explained?

3. Traditional Christian doctrine states that the human species was created in its current form.

Neanderthal remains, discovered in Europe, is found in older (deeper) rock strata, and DNA analysis indicates that the two species are not closely related genetically.

What were they, and where did they come from?

4. Traditional Christian doctrine states that evolution by means of Natural Selection does not take place. The Biblical Ark’s dimensions are described in the book of Genesis as approxmiately 450 feet long by 75 feet wide by 45 feet high with three decks. Leaving room for a year’s worth of supplies and living quarters for the crew, a vessel that size would accommodate representatives of approximately 1500 to 2000 mammal, bird, reptile, and amphibian species.

There nearly 30,000 confirmed and documented species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians alive today, not including marine lifeforms.

How is that possible?