Fulfilled Prophecies as "proof" of Bible "truth"?

Bruce (from dialogue with Roy Casanova): But, yes, Roy, I "know the story" all too well, and that's exactly what it is, a story, fictional characterization, embellishment. I also know, all too well, that none of the miraculous stories you read about in the gospels are unique to Christianity, no matter how much you might hope for them to be so;

AMANDA: Why should we believe that the Bible is anything more than a book of fables? Does it have any true credibility that the holy books of other religions do not have? Our God has foretold the future in the Bible and fulfils His prophecies in it. That sets the Bible apart from the books of false religions. There are hundreds, if not thousands of prophecies in the Bible. Many have already been fulfilled. For example, Daniel prophesied the coming of the Medo-Persian, Greek, and Roman empires, Alexander the Great, and the details of many military battles.

BRUCE: Oh, really, Amanda? Well, then, I suppose someone of your great biblical expertise should have very little problem proving even one of these "hundreds, if not thousands of prophecies in the Bible" to be; (1) actual prophecies at all; (2) prophecies that actually prophesy what Christian apologists selectively interpret them to prophesy (as opposed to what, say, a Jew would claim the text states); and (3) that said prophecies were in fact "fulfilled" in all of their details. Are you up to such a challenge, Amanda, or are you just another parrot repeating the same tired rhetoric that has been dripping on them from the pulpits for years, but never actually taking their would-be teachers to task on what are, after all, bald-faced assertions that do not stand up to scrutiny?

And while we're on the subject of alleged prophecies, Amanda, let me ask you a question: If we are to judge the Bible in whole or in part as the divinely inspired "Word of God" based on prophecies that were "fulfilled," then would you not also agree that any "failed" prophecies within the Bible would be indicative of text that is not the divinely inspired "Word of God"? Moreover, given that other religious texts also apply prophecy as a standard of divine inspiration (like the Qur'an), would "fulfilled" prophecies within those texts be sufficient evidence for you to accept the "true" and "inspired" divinity in those holy books? I want a direct answer to this query before we progress any further on the topic!

Bruce Monson

	*Fulfilled Prophecies as "Proof" of Bible Truth?*	Home

	Bruce (from dialogue with Roy Casanova): But, yes, Roy, I "know the story" all too well, and that's exactly what it is, a story, fictional characterization, embellishment. I also know, all too well, that none of the miraculous stories you read about in the gospels are unique to Christianity, no matter how much you might hope for them to be so; AMANDA: Why should we believe that the Bible is anything more than a book of fables? Does it have any true credibility that the holy books of other religions do not have? Our God has foretold the future in the Bible and fulfils His prophecies in it. That sets the Bible apart from the books of false religions. There are hundreds, if not thousands of prophecies in the Bible. Many have already been fulfilled. For example, Daniel prophesied the coming of the Medo-Persian, Greek, and Roman empires, Alexander the Great, and the details of many military battles. BRUCE: Oh, really, Amanda? Well, then, I suppose someone of your great biblical expertise should have very little problem proving even one of these "hundreds, if not thousands of prophecies in the Bible" to be; (1) actual prophecies at all; (2) prophecies that actually prophesy what Christian apologists selectively interpret them to prophesy (as opposed to what, say, a Jew would claim the text states); and (3) that said prophecies were in fact "fulfilled" in all of their details. Are you up to such a challenge, Amanda, or are you just another parrot repeating the same tired rhetoric that has been dripping on them from the pulpits for years, but never actually taking their would-be teachers to task on what are, after all, bald-faced assertions that do not stand up to scrutiny? And while we're on the subject of alleged prophecies, Amanda, let me ask you a question: If we are to judge the Bible in whole or in part as the divinely inspired "Word of God" based on prophecies that were "fulfilled," then would you not also agree that any "failed" prophecies within the Bible would be indicative of text that is not the divinely inspired "Word of God"? Moreover, given that other religious texts also apply prophecy as a standard of divine inspiration (like the Qur'an), would "fulfilled" prophecies within those texts be sufficient evidence for you to accept the "true" and "inspired" divinity in those holy books? I want a direct answer to this query before we progress any further on the topic! Bruce Monson