I often hear Christians say that the Bible is not a science book when discrepancies between it and science are discovered. But then I suppose that the biblical writers, which involved prophets and apostles, would be experts on matters relating to God and the supernatural. If the writers can not get details about God right, then how can we trust anything then say about spiritual/supernatural matters?!
With that said, there does seem to be some areas where I find that the biblical writers got it wrong on God. One place is on biblical view of fertility. The authors believed that God was involved in the process of childbearing.
If God was not involved or didn't approve, then the woman would not conceive. Here's how Dr. Joel Baden explains it in article entitled, God Opened Her Womb – The Biblical Conception of Fertility - TheTorah.com:
For Debate:
1. Are the biblical writers supposed to be experts or infallible when it comes to knowing about God and the supernatural?
2. Is Dr. Joel Baden's analysis correct? Did the ancient Jews believe that God was responsible for fertility?
3. If yes to #2, what are the implications? Can we trust anything that the ancient Jews had to tell us about God?
With that said, there does seem to be some areas where I find that the biblical writers got it wrong on God. One place is on biblical view of fertility. The authors believed that God was involved in the process of childbearing.
If God was not involved or didn't approve, then the woman would not conceive. Here's how Dr. Joel Baden explains it in article entitled, God Opened Her Womb – The Biblical Conception of Fertility - TheTorah.com:
This seems to be a clear cut case of the biblical writers attributing things to God that have natural causes. Keep in mind there's no mention about the male being the cause of infertility, and we know of conditions where the male is the cause and not the woman.If we say that active participation on the part of God is required for a woman—for all women—to become fertile, then infertility is not divine punishment; it is rather the state in which all women enter the world. Conversely, the inability to conceive is dependent on divine (in)activity. More pointedly, fertility and infertility are not lasting conditions but are rather constantly negotiated. One can be fertile and then be so no longer.
If we say that active participation on the part of God is required for a woman—for all women—to become fertile, then infertility is not divine punishment; it is rather the state in which all women enter the world. Conversely, the inability to conceive is dependent on divine (in)activity. More pointedly, fertility and infertility are not lasting conditions but are rather constantly negotiated. One can be fertile and then be so no longer.
If we say that active participation on the part of God is required for a woman—for all women—to become fertile, then infertility is not divine punishment; it is rather the state in which all women enter the world. Conversely, the inability to conceive is dependent on divine (in)activity. More pointedly, fertility and infertility are not lasting conditions but are rather constantly negotiated. One can be fertile and then be so no longer.
For Debate:
1. Are the biblical writers supposed to be experts or infallible when it comes to knowing about God and the supernatural?
2. Is Dr. Joel Baden's analysis correct? Did the ancient Jews believe that God was responsible for fertility?
3. If yes to #2, what are the implications? Can we trust anything that the ancient Jews had to tell us about God?