Bible verse by verse

[Guest]

1 Samuel 17:1-58 The Philistines mustered their army for battle and camped between Socoh in Judah and Azekah in Ephes-dammim. Saul countered with a buildup of forces at Elah Valley. The Philistines and Israelis faced each other on opposite hills, with the valley between them. Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was a giant of a man, measuring over nine feet tall! He wore a bronze helmet, a two-hundred-pound coat of mail, bronze leggings, and carried a bronze javelin several inches thick, tipped with a twenty-five-pound iron spearhead, and his armor bearer walked ahead of him with a huge shield.

He stood and shouted across to the Israelis and stipulated that he will represent the Philistines, and Israel should choose a champion to represent them. They will settle the issue one on one. If Israel's man kills Goliath, then the Philistines will become slaves. But if Goliath kills the Israelite, then Israel must become the Philistines slaves! When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were dismayed and frightened. David (the son of aging Jesse, a member of the tribe of Judah who lived in Bethlehem) had seven older brothers. The three oldest—Eliab, Abinadab, and Shammah—had already volunteered for Saul’s army to fight the Philistines. David was the youngest son and was on Saul’s staff on a part-time basis --- going back and forth to Bethlehem to help his father with the sheep. For forty days, twice a day, morning and evening the Philistine giant badgered the armies of Israel.

One day Jesse told David to take a bushel of roasted grain and ten loaves of bread to his brothers. David is to present cheese to their captain and see how the boys are getting along; and bring back news from them. David left the sheep with another shepherd and took off early the next morning with the gifts. He arrived at the outskirts of the camp just as the army was leaving for the battlefield with shouts and battle cries. Soon the Israelite and Philistine forces stood facing each other, army against army. David left his luggage with a baggage officer and hurried out to the ranks to find his brothers. As he was talking with them, he saw Goliath the giant step out from the Philistine troops and shout his challenge to the army of Israel. As soon as they saw him the Israeli army began to run away in fright.

"Have you seen the giant?” the soldiers were asking. “He has insulted the entire army of Israel. And have you heard about the huge reward the king has offered to anyone who kills him? And the king will give him one of his daughters for a wife, and his whole family will be exempted from paying taxes!” David talked to some others standing there to verify the report. “Who is this heathen Philistine, anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?” David asked. David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking, he was angry. “What are you doing around here, anyway?” he demanded. “What about the sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know what a cocky brat you are; you just want to see the battle!”

David replied that he was only asking a question. When it was finally realized what David meant, someone told King Saul, and the king sent for him. David told him that he would take care of this Philistine. Saul replied. “How can a kid like you fight with a man like him? You are only a boy, and he has been in the army since he was a boy!”

David persisted and claimed that in taking care of his father’s sheep, and a lion or a bear comes and grabs a lamb from the flock, David would go after it with a club and take the lamb from its mouth. If it were to turn on him, he would catch it by the jaw and club it to death. David claimed to have done this to both lions and bears. He says that this heathen Philistine is not different, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who saved David from the claws and teeth of the lion and the bear will save David from this Philistine.

Saul finally consented, “and may the Lord be with you!” Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before. “I can hardly move!” he exclaimed, and took them off. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them in his shepherd’s bag and, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, started across to Goliath. Goliath walks out toward David with his shield-bearer ahead of him, sneering in contempt at this nice little red-cheeked boy!

“Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. “Come over here and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals,” Goliath yelled.David shouted, “You come to me with a sword and a spear, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of the armies of heaven and of Israel—the very God whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head; and then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! Israel will learn that the Lord does not depend on weapons to fulfill his plans—he works without regard to human abilities!”

As Goliath approached, David ran out to meet him and, reaching into his shepherd’s bag, took out a stone, hurled it from his sling, hitting the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and the man fell on his face to the ground. David conquered the Philistine giant with a sling and a stone. Since he had no sword, he ran over and pulled Goliath’s from its sheath and killed him with it, and then cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they ran.

Then the Israelis gave a shout of triumph and rushed after the Philistines, chasing them as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron. The bodies of the dead and wounded Philistines were strewn all along the road to Shaaraim. The Israeli army returned and plundered the deserted Philistine camp. (Later David took Goliath’s head to Jerusalem, but stored his armor in his tent.) As Saul was watching David go out to fight Goliath, he asked Abner, his general what sort of family does David come from? Abner didn't know --- but the king told him to find out. Abner brought David to Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand. Saul asked about is father... David replied, “His name is Jesse and we live in Bethlehem.”


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)


17 And the Philistines gather their camps to battle, and are gathered to Shochoh, which [is] to Judah, and encamp between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephes-Dammim;

2 and Saul and the men of Israel have been gathered, and encamp by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array to meet the Philistines.

3 And the Philistines are standing on the mountain on this side, and the Israelites are standing on the mountain on that side, and the valley [is] between them.

4 And there goeth out a man of the duellists from the camps of the Philistines, Goliath [is] his name, from Gath; his height [is] six cubits and a span,

5 and a helmet of brass [is] on his head, and [with] a scaled coat of mail he [is] clothed, and the weight of the coat of mail [is] five thousand shekels of brass,

6 and a frontlet of brass [is] on his feet, and a javelin of brass between his shoulders,

7 and the wood of his spear [is] like a beam of weavers', and the flame of his spear [is] six hundred shekels of iron, and the bearer of the buckler is going before him.

8 And he standeth and calleth unto the ranks of Israel, and saith to them, `Why are ye come out to set in array the battle? [am] not I the Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose for you a man, and let him come down unto me;

9 if he be able to fight with me, and have smitten me, then we have been to you for servants; and if I am able for him, and have smitten him, then ye have been to us for servants, and have served us.'

10 And the Philistine saith, `I have reproached the ranks of Israel this day; give to me a man, and we fight together.'

11 And Saul heareth -- and all Israel -- these words of the Philistine, and they are broken down and greatly afraid.

12 And David [is] son of this Ephrathite of Beth-Lehem-Judah, whose name [is] Jesse, and he hath eight sons, and the man in the days of Saul hath become aged among men;

13 and the three eldest sons of Jesse go, they have gone after Saul to battle; and the name of his three sons who have gone into battle [are] Eliab the first-born, and his second Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

14 And David is the youngest, and the three eldest have gone after Saul,

15 and David is going and returning from Saul, to feed the flock of his father at Beth-Lehem.

16 And the Philistine draweth nigh, morning and evening, and stationeth himself forty days.

17 And Jesse saith to David his son, `Take, I pray thee, to thy brethren, an ephah of this roasted [corn], and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;

18 and these ten cuttings of the cheese thou dost take in to the head of the thousand, and thy brethren thou dost inspect for welfare, and their pledge dost receive.'

19 And Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel [are] in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.

20 And David riseth early in the morning, and leaveth the flock to a keeper, and lifteth up, and goeth, as Jesse commanded him, and he cometh in to the path, and to the force which is going out unto the rank, and they have shouted for battle;

21 and Israel and the Philistines set in array rank to meet rank.

22 And David letteth down the goods from off him on the hand of a keeper of the goods, and runneth into the rank, and cometh and asketh of his brethren of welfare.

23 And he is speaking with them, and lo, a man of the duellists is coming up, Goliath the Philistine [is] his name, of Gath, out of the ranks of the Philistines, and he speaketh according to those words, and David heareth;

24 and all the men of Israel when they see the man flee from his presence, and are greatly afraid.

25 And the men of Israel say, `Have ye seen this man who is coming up? for, to reproach Israel he is coming up, and it hath been -- the man who smiteth him, the king doth enrich him with great riches, and his daughter he doth give to him, and his father's house doth make free in Israel.'

26 And David speaketh unto the men who are standing by him, saying, `What is done to the man who smiteth this Philistine, and hath turned aside reproach from Israel? for who [is] this uncircumcised Philistine that he hath reproached the ranks of the living God?'

27 And the people speak to him according to this word, saying, `Thus it is done to the man who smiteth him.'

28 And Eliab, his eldest brother, heareth when he speaketh unto the men, and the anger of Eliab burneth against David, and he saith, `Why [is] this -- thou hast come down! and to whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I have known thy pride, and the evil of thy heart -- for, to see the battle thou hast come down.'

29 And David saith, `What have I done now? is it not a word?'

30 And he turneth round from him unto another, and saith according to this word, and the people return him word as the first word.

31 And the words which David hath spoken are heard, and they declare before Saul, and he receiveth him;

32 and David saith unto Saul, `Let no man's heart fall because of him, thy servant doth go, and hath fought with this Philistine.'

33 And Saul saith unto David, `Thou art not able to go unto this Philistine, to fight with him, for a youth thou [art], and he a man of war from his youth.'

34 And David saith unto Saul, `A shepherd hath thy servant been to his father among the sheep, and the lion hath come -- and the bear -- and hath taken away a sheep out of the drove,

35 and I have gone out after him, and smitten him, and delivered out of his mouth, and he riseth against me, and I have taken hold on his beard, and smitten him, and put him to death.

36 Both the lion and the bear hath thy servant smitten, and this uncircumcised Philistine hath been as one of them, for he hath reproached the ranks of the living God.'

37 And David saith, `Jehovah, who delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He doth deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.' And Saul saith unto David, `Go, and Jehovah is with thee.'

38 And Saul clotheth David with his long robe, and hath put a helmet of brass on his head, and doth clothe him with a coat of mail.

39 And David girded his sword above his long robe, and beginneth to go, for he hath not tried [it]; and David saith unto Saul, `I am not able to go with these, for I had not tried;' and David turneth them aside from off him.

40 And he taketh his staff in his hand, and chooseth for him five smooth stones from the brook, and putteth them in the shepherds' habiliments that he hath, even in the scrip, and his sling [is] in his hand, and he draweth nigh unto the Philistine.

41 And the Philistine goeth on, going and drawing near unto David, and the man bearing the buckler [is] before him,

42 and the Philistine looketh attentively, and seeth David, and despiseth him, for he was a youth, and ruddy, with a fair appearance.

43 And the Philistine saith unto David, `Am I a dog that thou art coming unto me with staves?' and the Philistine revileth David by his gods,

44 and the Philistine saith unto David, `Come unto me, and I give thy flesh to the fowl of the heavens, and to the beast of the field.'

45 And David saith unto the Philistine, `Thou art coming unto me with sword, and with spear, and with buckler, and I am coming unto thee in the name of Jehovah of Hosts, God of the ranks of Israel, which thou hast reproached.

46 This day doth Jehovah shut thee up into my hand -- and I have smitten thee, and turned aside thy head from off thee, and given the carcase of the camp of the Philistines this day to the fowl of the heavens, and to the beast of the earth, and all the earth do know that God is for Israel.

47 and all this assembly do know that not by sword and by spear doth Jehovah save, that the battle [is] Jehovah's, and He hath given you into our hand.'

48 And it hath come to pass, that the Philistine hath risen, and goeth, and draweth near to meet David, and David hasteth and runneth to the rank to meet the Philistine,

49 and David putteth forth his hand unto the vessel, and taketh thence a stone, and slingeth, and smiteth the Philistine on his forehead, and the stone sinketh into his forehead, and he falleth on his face to the earth.

50 And David is stronger than the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smiteth the Philistine, and putteth him to death, and there is no sword in the hand of David,

51 and David runneth and standeth over the Philistine, and taketh his sword, and draweth it out of its sheath, and putteth him to death, and cutteth off with it his head; and the Philistines see that their hero [is] dead, and flee.

52 And the men of Israel rise -- also Judah -- and shout, and pursue the Philistines till thou enter the valley, and unto the gates of Ekron, and the wounded of the Philistines fall in the way of Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron,

53 and the sons of Israel turn back from burning after the Philistines, and spoil their camps.

54 And David taketh the head of the Philistine, and bringeth it in to Jerusalem, and his weapons he hath put in his own tent.

55 And when Saul seeth David going out to meet the Philistine, he hath said unto Abner, head of the host, `Whose son [is] this -- the youth, Abner?' and Abner saith, `Thy soul liveth, O king, I have not known.'

56 And the king saith, `Ask thou whose son this [is] -- the young man.'

57 And when David turneth back from smiting the Philistine, then Abner taketh him and bringeth him in before Saul, and the head of the Philistine in his hand;

58 and Saul saith unto him, `Whose son [art] thou, O youth?' and David saith, `Son of thy servant Jesse, the Beth-Lehemite.'

[_LeVay]

HAIL SATAN!

However, if you earnestly endeavor to escape hurting them, and despite your efforts they accidentally find out, you cannot be held responsible, and therefore should feel no guilt as a result of either your sexual convictions, or their being hurt because of those convictions. If you are in constant fear of offending the prudish by your attitude towards sex, then there is no sense in trying to emancipate yourself from sexual guilt. However, no purpose is served by flaunting your permissiveness.

The other exception to the rule regards dealings with masochists. A masochist derives pleasure from being hurt; so denying the masochist his pleasure‐through‐pain hurts him just as much as actual physical pain hurts the non‐masochist. The story of the truly cruel sadist illustrates this point: The masochist says to the sadist, “beat me.” To which the merciless sadist replies, “NO!” If a person wants to be hurt and enjoys suffering, then there is no reason not to indulge him in his wont.

The term “sadist” in popular usage describes one who obtains pleasure from indiscriminate brutality. Actually, though, a true sadist is selective. He carefully chooses from the vast reserve of appropriate victims, and takes great delight in giving those who thrive on misery the fulfillment of their desires. The “well‐adjusted” sadist is epicurean in selecting those on whom his energies will be well‐spent! If a person is healthy enough to admit he is a masochist and enjoys being enslaved and whipped, the real sadist is glad to oblige!

Aside from the foregoing exceptions, the Satanist would not intentionally hurt others by violating their sexual rights. If you attempt to impose your sexual desires upon others who do not welcome your advances, you are infringing upon their sexual freedom.

Therefore, Satanism does not advocate rape, child molesting, sexual defilement of animals, or any other form of sexual activity which entails the participation of those who are unwilling or whose innocence or naïveté would allow them to be intimidated or misguided into doing something against their wishes.

If all parties involved are mature adults who willingly take full responsibility for their actions and voluntarily engage in a given form of sexual expression— even if it is generally considered taboo— then there is no reason for them to repress their sexual inclinations.
If you are aware of all the implications, advantages, and disadvantages, and are certain your actions will hurt no one who does not wish or deserve to be hurt, you have no cause to suppress your sexual preferences.

Just as no two people are exactly the same in their choice of diet or have the same capacity for the consumption of food, sexual tastes and appetites vary from person to person. No person or society has the right to set limitations on the sexual standards or the frequency of sexual activity of another. Proper sexual conduct can only be judged within the context of each individual situation. Therefore, what one person considers sexually correct and moral may be frustrating to another. The reverse is also true; one person may have great sexual prowess, but it is unjust for him to belittle another whose sexual capacity may not equal his own, and inconsiderate for him to impose himself upon the other person, i.e., the man who has a voracious sexual appetite, but whose wife’s sexual needs do not match his own. It is unfair for him to expect her to enthusiastically respond to his overtures; but she must display the same degree of thoughtfulness. In the instances when she does not feel great passion, she should either passively, but pleasantly, accept him sexually, or raise no complaint if he chooses to find his needed release elsewhere—including auto‐erotic practices.

The ideal relationship is one in which the people are deeply in love with one another and are sexually compatible. However, perfect relationships are relatively uncommon. It is important to point out here that spiritual love and sexual love can, but do not necessarily, go hand in hand. If there is a certain amount of sexual compatibility, often it is limited; and some, but not all, of the sexual desires will be fulfilled.

There is no greater sexual pleasure than that derived from association with someone you deeply love, if you are sexually well‐suited. If you are not suited to one another sexually, though, it must be stressed that lack of sexual compatibility does not indicate lack of spiritual love. One can, and often does, exist without the other. As a matter of fact, often one member of a couple will resort to outside sexual activity because he deeply loves his mate, and wishes to avoid hurting or imposing upon his loved one. Deep spiritual love is enriched by sexual love, and it is certainly a necessary ingredient for any satisfactory relationship; but because of differing sexual predilections, outside sexual activity or masturbation sometimes provides a needed supplement.

Masturbation, considered a sexual taboo by many people, creates a guilt problem not easily dealt with. Much emphasis must be placed on this subject, as it constitutes an extremely important ingredient of many a successful magical working.

Ever since the Judaeo‐Christian Bible described the sin of Onan (Gen. 38:7‐10), man has considered the seriousness and consequences of the “solitary vice.” Even though modern sexologists have explained the sin of Onan as simply coitus interruptus, the damage has been done through centuries of theological misinterpretation.

Aside from actual sex crimes, masturbation is one of the most frowned upon sexual acts.
During the last century, innumerable texts were written describing the horrific consequences of masturbation. Practically all physical or mental illnesses were attributed to the evils of masturbation. Pallor of the complexion, shortness of breath, furtive expression, sunken chest, nervousness, pimples and loss of appetite are only a few of the many characteristics supposedly resulting from masturbation; total physical and mental collapse was assured if one did not heed the warnings in those handbooks for young men.

The lurid descriptions in such texts would be almost humorous, were it not for the unhappy fact that even though contemporary sexologists, doctors, writers, etc. have done much to remove the stigma of masturbation, the deep‐seated guilts induced by the nonsense in those sexual primers have been only partially erased. A large percentage of people, especially those over forty, cannot emotionally accept the fact that masturbation is natural and healthy, even if they now accept it intellectually; and they, in turn, relate their repugnance, often subconsciously, to their children.

It was thought that one would go insane if, despite numerous admonitions, his auto‐erotic practices persisted. This preposterous myth grew from reports of wide‐spread masturbation by the inmates of mental institutions. It was assumed that since almost all incurably insane people masturbated, it was their masturbation that had driven them mad. No one ever stopped to consider the lack of sexual partners of the opposite sex and the freedom from inhibition, which is a characteristic of extreme insanity, were the real reasons for the masturbatory practices of the insane.

Many people would rather have their mates seek outside sexual activity than perform autoerotic acts because of their own guilt feelings, the mate’s repugnance towards having them engage in masturbation, or the fear of their mate’s repugnance—although in a surprising number of cases, a vicarious thrill is obtained from the knowledge that the mate is having sexual experiences with outsiders—although this is seldom admitted.

If stimulation is provided by envisioning one’s mate sexually engaged with others, this should be brought out into the open where both parties may gain from such activities.

However, if the prohibition of masturbation is only due to guilt feelings on the part of one or both parties, they should make every attempt to erase those guilts—or utilize them.

Many relationships might be saved from destruction if the people involved did not feel guilt about performing the natural act of masturbation.

Masturbation is regarded as evil because it produces pleasure derived from intentionally fondling a “forbidden” area of the body by one’s own hand. The guilt feelings accompanying most sexual acts can be assuaged by the religiously‐acceptable contention that your sensual delights are necessary to produce off‐spring—even though you cautiously watch the calendar for the “safe” days. You cannot, however, placate yourself with this rationale while engaging in masturbatory practices.

No matter what you’ve been told about the “immaculate conception”—even if blind faith allows you to swallow this absurdity—you know full well if you are to produce a child, there must be sexual contact with a person of the opposite sex! If you feel guilty for committing the “original sin,” you certainly will feel even deeper guilt for performing a sex act only for self‐gratification, with no intention of creating children.

The Satanist fully realizes why religionists declare masturbation to be sinful. Like all other natural acts people will do it, no matter how severely reprimanded. Causing guilt is an important facet of their malicious scheme to obligate people to atone for “sins” by paying the mortgages on temples of abstinence!

Even if a person is no longer struggling under the burden of religiously‐induced guilt (or thinks he isn’t), modern man still feels shame if he yields to his masturbatory desires. A man may feel robbed of his masculinity if he satisfies himself auto‐erotically rather than engaging in the competitive game of woman chasing. A woman may satisfy herself sexually but yearns for the ego‐gratification that comes from the sport of seduction.

Neither the quasi Casanova nor bogus vamp feels adequate when “reduced” to masturbation for sexual gratification; both would prefer even an inadequate partner.

Satanically speaking, though, it is far better to engage in a perfect fantasy than to cooperate in an unrewarding experience with another person. With masturbation, you are in complete control of the situation.

To illustrate the undebatable fact that masturbation is an entirely normal and healthy practice: it is performed by all members of the animal kingdom. Human children will also follow their instinctive masturbatory desires, unless they have been scolded for it by their indignant parents, who were undoubtably berated for it by their parents, and so on down the retrocedent line.
It is unfortunate, but true, that the sexual guilts of parents will immutably be passed on to their children. In order to save our children from the ill‐fated sexual destiny of our parents, grandparents, and possibly ourselves, the perverted moral code of the past must be exposed for what it is: a pragmatically organized set of rules which, if rigidly obeyed, would destroy us! Unless we emancipate ourselves from the ridiculous sexual standards of our present society, including the so‐called sexual revolution, the neuroses caused by those stifling regulations will persist. Adherence to the sensible and humanistic new morality of Satanism can—and will—evolve society in which our children can grow up healthy and without the devastating moral encumbrances of our existing sick society.

[_LittleNipper]

It would seem that "Satanists" have their exceptions. Exceptions beget rituals. And rituals are the foundation of manmade dogma...

[_LeVay]

It would seem that "Satanists" have their exceptions. Exceptions beget rituals. And rituals are the foundation of manmade dogma...

Holy Smoke--there are four people who are actually reading this! Four! Can you believe it?

SCORE:

Satan: 4
God: 0

[_Gunnar]

. . . rituals are the foundation of manmade dogma...

I agree. And that includes the rituals described in great detail in the Old Testament that Moses supposedly instituted and mandated for the Israelites. As for dogma, it is very highly doubtful that there is or ever has been any dogma available to us, religious or otherwise, that was NOT manmade.

[_LittleNipper]

. . . rituals are the foundation of manmade dogma...

I agree. And that includes the rituals described in great detail in the Old Testament that Moses supposedly instituted and mandated for the Israelites. As for dogma, it is very highly doubtful that there is or ever has been any dogma available to us, religious or otherwise, that was NOT manmade.

Moses instituted God mandated rituals that were entirely meant to remind Israel exactly what God did for them and illustrate God's perfection. The rituals they performed did not save anyone --- as the Bible clearly states.

[_LeVay]

Moses instituted God mandated rituals that were entirely meant to remind Israel exactly what God did for them and illustrate God's perfection. The rituals they performed did not save anyone --- as the Bible clearly states.

But this only works if you already believe in the Bible. Do you have any proof that doesn't depend on an a priori belief in the Bible?

[_ludwigm]

At the time of the Reformation, in the Sixteenth Century, the alchemist, Dr. Johann Faustus, discovered a method of summoning a demon—Mephistopheles—from Hell and making a pact with him. He signed a contract in blood to turn his soul over to Mephistopheles in return for the feeling of youth, and at once became young.

Some Mephistofeles' here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muy6DtnZ2Xg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLzqeZbv5WY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIs-Ab3Rtsw (the best English lyrics I can found --- after Hungarian one...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x66TYd9nAMI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9iZC48DGbY
.
Genuine figures...

[_Gunnar]

Moses instituted God mandated rituals that were entirely meant to remind Israel exactly what God did for them and illustrate God's perfection. The rituals they performed did not save anyone --- as the Bible clearly states.

But this only works if you already believe in the Bible. Do you have any proof that doesn't depend on an a priori belief in the Bible?

LittleNipper has already made it abundantly clear that his stance depends entirely on an a priori belief in the infallibility of the Bible. He has repeatedly and unabashedly admitted that he will not accept anything, no matter how incontrovertible and well supported by evidence and sound reason, that contradicts anything in the Bible, or his interpretation of it. In other words, he is (in effect) bound and determined to believe what he already believes, whether it is true or not.

The only justification for continuing to dialog with him at all is that others, seeing this discussion, might come to an increasing realization of just how irrational, ignorant and untenable his stance really is. There is very little chance that he himself will ever come to that realization.

[_ludwigm]

...
LittleNipper
...
There is very little chance that he himself will ever come to that realization.

Agree.

Zero is a very little number. as far as I know