Self-Contradictions of the Bible [Kindle Edition]

William Henry Burr (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

William Henry Burr wrote this book a long time ago, and it has since gone out-of-print. As a result, people who wanted to read this book were at the mercy of rare book dealers. Many people today believe that the Bible contains irresolvable contradictions - and on the surface, if you've never studied the Bible, you may believe this to be true after reading a book such as this one.

We at Net4TruthUSA.com believe that William Burr has committed gross errors in his presentation of 143 so-called "contradictions" - and we invite you to examine them for yourself, do a bit of serious study and decide for yourself.

 

Product Description

Published anonymously by Burr in pamphlet form, Self-Contradictions of the Bible was, and remains an essential reference work for Atheists, Biblical skeptics and doubters, as well as believers who want to know what the opposition is up to. It is a set of 144 thematically organized pairs of Bible quotations that for the most part, will immediately induce cognitive dissonance in some. You have been warned.

Burr was not an academic: he was a newspaper reporter, an Atheist obviously, a supporter of Darwinism, but an amateur Bible scholar, and sometimes that shows in the selections. Not everything here is, frankly, a direct hit, and the relentless out-of-context quotes mirror how the text can be abused by its adherents. However, this is a working-class Atheist tract. It is not concerned with philosophical niceities. Rather, it is a playbook for use in actual battle.

This is another one of those books which you'll either love or hate. Or perhaps you'll like half of it. It is strange that even in the midst of this critical broadside against the Bible, it is possible to enjoy the poetry and archaic wisdom of this text, and perhaps some of the mystery as well. --J.B. Hare

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 54 KB
• Print Length: 88 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1605061026
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Evinity Publishing Inc; 1.0 edition (July 1, 2009)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B002FU5O3Q
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #166,171 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #20 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Reference > Quotations
  • #93 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Religion & Spirituality > Spirituality > Atheism

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Still Controversial 150 Years Later, April 21, 2003

By 

Mamalinde "mamalinde" (Dallas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Self Contradictions/Bible/Paper (Paperback)

An amazing little book, still raising eyebrows and upsetting fundamentalists 150 years after its publication. While the author is not a scholar and never claims to be, he offers a number of cases where the bible might contradict itself. No attempt is made to put things in context, or to put a spin on them. Just verse for verse contradictions. The Preface is an eye opener, and I have to say this little volume has aged very well. Thought provoking for those who can't be spoon fed their faith.

38 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Self-Contradictions of the Bible, October 29, 2003

By 

Rohan L. Ebanks "Mr. Skeptic" (Madrid Spain) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Self-Contradictions of the Bible (Classics of Biblical Criticism) (Hardcover)

I consider William Henry Burr's Self-Contradictions of the Bible�Ea smashing success. Burr truly brings out simple fact that the belief that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and literally true word of God - thrives on ignorance, not just of a general sort, but an ignorance of the Bible itself. Because of critical thinkers like William Burr, the Apologetics are nowadays working evermore harder to explain away�Eall the inconsistencies in the bible. For instance, God is kind, merciful, and good. Ps.100:5 "For the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting." Yet God is cruel, unmerciful, and evil. Num.25:4 "And the Lord said to Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord against the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel."

Let try another. Should we rejoice when our enemies suffer? Pr.24:17 says no Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth.�EContrast with a resounding yes; Ps.58:10 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked�E I think I have made my point. For more insight into the many oddities of the bible one should pick up Dan Barker's Losing Faith In Faith: From Preacher To Atheist. As Mr. Burr clearly shows the holy book of multiple choice is truly a curious thing.

25 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting discussion points, July 13, 2001

By 

"[e-mail]" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Self Contradictions/Bible/Paper (Paperback)

This book is basically a laundry list of contradicitons in the bible. I like the book, and thought it would make for a very good conversation starter the next time a religious group knocked on your door, but I really wish the author would have backed up the contradictions with some discussion and historical perspective.