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Newton was trying to predict the end of the world by studying the Bible. The people who wrote the Bible did not actually have any privileged information about t

• nocman 10y ago
  "The people who wrote the Bible did not actually have any 'privileged information about the end of the world.'" Well, you might believe they did not, but many people in the world believe they did. If you do not accept the Bible as revelation from God (and I would guess from your response that you do not), then I can see why you would reach that conclusion. If, however, you do accept the Bible as revelation from God, the book of, well, Revelation :-D is a huge chunk of "privileged information about the end of the world". Granted, dates of events are not given, and a lot of the book is prophecy, so there is figurative language, but there is a lot of information there.
  • olavk 10y ago
    Just because someone believes something does not make it true. The bible predicted the end of the world in the first century. It turned out to be wrong, even though people believed it.
    • nocman 10y ago
      "Just because someone believes something does not make it true". ^ That is correct, and I never said that it was true because people believed it. Of course the same could be said of your statement that "The people who wrote the Bible did not actually have any privileged information about the end of the world." -- it is not true just because you believe it. Perhaps I should have just said "there are a lot of people in the world that do not agree with that statement", and left it at that. xD
    • jorangreef 10y ago
      "The Bible predicted the end of the world in the first century." The Bible explicitly refuses to give a date for the end of the world, and proactively voids the claims of any who would. If anything the Bible anticipates a long patient delay with a purpose: "They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” ... But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."
      • olavk 10y ago
        Paul predicted the end the world to arrive in his lifetime. He was wrong. See: 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
        • jorangreef 10y ago
          No, Paul is addressing the church, then and now. His use of the word "we" in the passage you quote has that sense. It's characteristic of Paul, see Ephesians 2 for another example. To come back to your point, if you read the rest of Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, you will find Paul's position (which is in fact Jesus' position) on the matter: "Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night" You can't slip a piece of paper between Paul and Jesus. Jesus himself authenticates Paul as one of his apostles.
          • olavk 10y ago
            > You can't slip a piece of paper between Paul and Jesus. Jesus himself authenticates Paul as one of his apostles. What does this even mean? Jesus never mentioned Paul, and Jesus and Paul never even met.
            • jorangreef 10y ago
  • argonaut 10y ago
    Except even most modern theologians do not take the Bible literally.
  • t3soro 10y ago
    You could also take some acid and have your own trip about the end of the world. John had a DMT trip in a dream and wrote it down.