The bible was written by man, and as such, distorted by man. So all he really proved was that the bible may be a little innaccurate.

The bible inaccurate? No WAI!

*ahem*

Anyhow, for me, prayer and faith healing is a matter of Occam’s razor.

I think he does better on his “milk jug” argument, even if he does still sound like a pompous ass.

p.s. one of the Gospels is attributed to a physician, the GOod Samaritan gives the wounded man first aid, and the bible compares God to a physician at least once. I think the concept of healing instead of medical science is a foolish and dangerous addition.

http://www.whywontgodhealamputees.com/god12.htm

This part quotes a few Bible verses saying the Word of God is perfect, and then says that it means the Bible is perfect.

Of course, the Bible as we have it hadn’t even been written yet. So, obviously this is silly on it’s face.

Not that plenty of pastors wouldn’t make the same argument…

I agree with that.

http://www.whywontgodhealamputees.com/

I find that site a little silly. Maybe it’s the repetition of asking if it’s instantly made you an atheist on multiple pages or the hypothetical little kid’s reaction to communion (which, despite many years of church-attendance, I am yet to see), but I thought it took itself way too seriously.

(assuming I’m thinking of the correct site–these things do run together after a while).

It’s actually an amusingly modern argument in it’s own way–it makes God out to be prejiduced against the handicapped, which has sort of only existed as a caategory of person very recently.

There are, of course, an immeasurable amount of horrors that can be laid at God’s doorstep, especially if you go the standard omni-route in description. For what it’s worth, I think the omni-potent/omniscient definition actually fails on both a logical level and doesn’t seem to match the Bible, which actually does not lack statements of God being unable to do some thing or another.

For instance:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013:55-59;&version=31;

…there, Jesus is rejected by the old neighborhood, who doesn’t buy him as the Messiah. The last line is: “And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.”

That’s a pretty substantial limitation, there.

Personally, God healing amputees seems to fall outside of my general parameters of miraculous things, probably because it’s too blatant. I suppose that is unfair in some abstract sense of the word (though perhaps not any less fair than the people that didn’t survive similar injuries–anything that results in amputation would likely have a chance of death)

…but it would prove more that God had limitations then that God does not exist. Assuming you could really say no one every claims to have had an arm regrown. Which I do mildly doubt, and a counter-example tingles deep down in my mind. I’ll have to keep that in mind for future research.

Amusingly enough, Sunday’s sermon was taught by this guy:

http://www.myspace.com/lifewithoutlimbs

…his name is Nick, and he has no arms or legs. He credits his faith with his ability to lead as normal a life as one can imagine under the circumstances. Pretty inspiring guy.

…personally, I prefer something like that to theological hair splitting anyway. There are certainly plenty of amputee Christian and other faithful, so obviously people who have actually lived the experience rather than commenting on it from afar have managed to assimilate it. They would know better than me, anyway.

http://www.whywontgodhealamputees.com/

The premise is that modern, educated doctors believe God is answering prayers and causing medical miracles, curing people of their ailments.. but we never see a medical miracle for anything outright obvious, such as an amputee regrowing their limb. God works in mysterious ways, I guess!

Anyhow, overall the arguments and tone could use some work, but it’s bound to get some people riled up, so I thought I’d post it.

Perhaps it’s time to check out those beginnings more thoroughly, by getting a copy of Science and Health, and reading it.

who knows, you might like it!

BTW, you can read it on line at several different spots - one is http://www.spiriduality.com

regards,

Verndigger