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Is the biblical story of Jonah historically factual?

Yes - 50.0%

No, its's a religious novella - 30.0%

Don't know, yet - 10.0%

Don't know, and can't know - 10.0%

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Corey
Five with a Four-wing

Date Joined Feb 2003
Total Posts : 1893

Posted 12/16/2005 6:06 PM (GMT -6)

Anticipating where Meph is going with his other poll...

Starkman
Registered Member

Date Joined Oct 2001
Total Posts : 1747

Posted 12/16/2005 6:09 PM (GMT -6)

Corey,

You need to add, "Don't know" as an option. (I haven't looked at Meph's poll yet. He may need to do the same. Not sure.)

Starkman

My teacher used to say that whenever he read Scripture, he would always ask the question, "What does this have to say about the character of God?" Working off his thinking, as I read Scripture, I have come to ask, "What does this have to say about the heart and passion of God's desire for relationship for us?

Corey
Five with a Four-wing

Date Joined Feb 2003
Total Posts : 1893

Posted 12/16/2005 6:27 PM (GMT -6)

Okay, I added a couple more options.

I found an interesting discourse on the subject of Jesus and Jonah, written in 1896. It surveys several professors of the time at places like Princeton and Harvard.

"... he must get rid of this obvious meaning, or deny the truthfulness of an assertion made by Jesus Christ.... It is really a question as to whether Jesus is to be received as a competent witness respecting historical and literary matters of the ages which preceded his own. If he is not, then the conception of his person and his powers which believers have hitherto entertained must undergo very serious modifications, even if it shall not be totally abandoned."

Post Edited (Corey) : 12/16/2005 5:33:22 PM (GMT-6)

Similitude
Registered Member

Date Joined Apr 2004
Total Posts : 4968

Posted 12/16/2005 6:36 PM (GMT -6)

I want one more option: "Not sure what's at stake either way."

Sahid
Megistered Rember

Date Joined Jun 2004
Total Posts : 2013

Posted 12/16/2005 8:07 PM (GMT -6)

I've heard something about archeological evidence that shows Nineveh to be similar to how Jonah discribes it. I think that more likely than not some prophet went to Niveveh. And more likely than not his name was Jonah. Beyond that it's historical fiction, just like most of the deuteronomistic history.

Robert Alter's Art of Biblical Narrative is a book I can't stand, but anyone who still believes in the factual accuracy of Old Testament narrative should give it a look.

I guess that puts me in the "no, so what" category.

Watch me fly. Freedom like wings and I will use them. Freedom like wings and I will spread them wide. - Stavesacre

One Love
Registered Member

Date Joined Jan 2003
Total Posts : 13888

Posted 12/17/2005 1:47 PM (GMT -6)

Oh, this is RICH! Thanks for this, Corey.

Sahid: (on the emphasis)
I've heard something about archeological evidence that shows Nineveh to be similar to how Jonah discribes it. [b]I think that more likely than not some prophet went to Nineveh. And more likely than not his name was Jonah. Beyond that it's historical fiction[/b], just like most of the deuteronomistic history.

With respect to the emphasized...AGREED.

******************************

Corey:
I found an interesting discourse on the subject of Jesus and Jonah, written in 1896. It surveys several professors of the time at places like Princeton and Harvard.

"... he must get rid of this obvious meaning, or deny the truthfulness of an assertion made by Jesus Christ.... It is really a question as to whether Jesus is to be received as a competent witness respecting historical and literary matters of the ages which preceded his own. If he is not, then the conception of his person and his powers which believers have hitherto entertained must undergo very serious modifications, even if it shall not be totally abandoned."

Yep. Sucks, huh?

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