Flat Earthers Abuse the Bible
Modern flat earth theory, or what I call “Rowbothamism,” is a misinformation cult that has a collection of dogmas centered around science, history, and religion—especially Bible exegesis. They try to use Bible verses like Joshua 10:12-13 to say the Bible teaches that the earth is flat.
However, this is a dishonest and selective way to approach the Bible text. As shown in this meme, there are certain topics where the Bible fudges the details on purpose, or communicates on a human phenomological level, because precise ontological info is off-topic.
For example in 1 Kings 7:23, the Bible author is not trying to communicate on the topic of geometry or give a precise value for Pi. It is simply recording measurements of the temple, for historical purposes (not even for construction purposes), so 1 significant figure is good enough.
There are many, many topics of life knowledge the Bible ignores and leaves to secular studies. It does not teach us how to change a flat tire on an automobile. It does not teach us how to navigate by stars. It does not teach us how to tie our shoes or how to cook spaghetti. And it does not teach cosmology.
When it comes to Joshua 10:12-13, it’s the same principle. This passage is recording a miraculous event that helped Israel defeat its enemies. The purpose is not to teach cosmology, so the event is not described ontologically or from the eye of a hypothetical astronaut viewing the earth from space. It’s described from a human’s eye on earth during the event. Flat earthers wrongly enforce an ontological interpretation (rather than a phenomenological one), in order to extort the verse as a proof text for their cult dogmas.
Because of the way it enforces these dogmas, flat earth theory is an extremely dangerous cult.
The flat earth theory, often rooted in selective interpretations of scripture, raises critical questions about the intersection of faith and science. Many proponents claim that the Bible advocates for a flat earth, citing verses such as Joshua 10:12-13. However, a closer examination reveals that these interpretations are often taken out of context, ignoring the phenomenological language used in scripture. Jesus' teachings frequently employed metaphors and narratives to convey deeper truths rather than empirical observations, reflecting the human perspective of ancient times. For instance, the miraculous nature of events described in Joshua emphasizes God's power rather than presenting a cosmological model. Additionally, the Bible serves as a spiritual guide, focusing on moral and ethical teachings rather than scientific explanations. It's essential to recognize that scripture is not meant to be a scientific textbook. The book of Ecclesiastes, for instance, discusses the limits of human understanding against the backdrop of divine wisdom. Engaging with the Bible through a critical lens allows believers to appreciate its theological richness without conflating it with modern scientific inquiry. As discourse around the flat earth theory continues, fostering informed conversations can dismantle misconceptions and promote better understanding of both scripture and scientific principles. Encouraging scientific literacy can strengthen faith rather than challenge it, empowering individuals to explore the wonders of the universe through a comprehensive lens that incorporates both spirituality and empirical evidence.