Burgy quotes a Native American lecturing at Illif. I think he got the
quotation from _Black Elk Speaks_. Black Elk tells a Lakota story and
concludes (according to his biographer John Neihardt), "I don't know whether
this story really happened, but if you think about it, it must be true."
(I'm quoting from memory, but I think I'm correct.). I frequently used this
quotation when I taught Mythology. Someone else defined a myth as "a story
that never was and always is."
Bob
----- Original Message -----
From: "JW Burgeson" <hoss_radbourne@hotmail.com>
To: <wallyshoes@mindspring.com>; <glenn.morton@btinternet.com>
Cc: <asa@calvin.edu>
Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2002 11:00 AM
Subject: Re: Another thing people can throw rocks at
>
> Wally wrote, in part: "foo on George for poo-pooing such "concordism" --
or
> whatever it is."
>
> Foo?
>
> I suggest that George did not so much disparage concordism as point out
> that, in the case of a reconciliation of Gen 1-11 that it was a failed
> project. At least to date. Glenn has come closest (IMHO) to putting forth
an
> intellectually respectable support of it, and in so doing has provided us
> with a wealth of data. Data that says to me that the particular view I
hold,
> that Gen 1-11 are "family stories," or "myth," and any apparent
coincidences
> with what "modern science" at any particular time may say is just that --
> coincidence.
>
> Glenn, I see you have left YEC but you have not yet left the YEC mindset.
> And that's OK BTW; I applaud you for sticking to your guns on your quest.
> But try to get your mind around the following:
>
> In a recent class here at Iliff, a Native American was lecturing. He was
> both a Native American and a Ph-D professor of -- I think -- biochemistry.
> At one time in the lecture he wished to express his thoughts by telling an
> Indian folk story.
>
> He began with the words "Now I don't know if the things I am about to tell
> you really happened, but I do know that this story is true."
>
> Try to get your mind around that.
>
> The "Good Samaritan" events never happened, but that story is true.
> The unjust steward was a fiction story, but that story is true.
> The drama in the book of Job never happened, but that drama is true.
> Jonah was never swallowed by a big fish, but that story is true.
> Adam and Eve are not historical persons, but Gen 1-11 is true.
>
> Some events recorded in scripture really happened. Others, unless one is a
> literalist, did not and could not. Still others are debatable.
>
> The resurrection event really happened. But all models of that event are
> man-made and necessarily imperfect.
>
> Jesus really did utter SOME last words before he died. But we are not
> altogether sure which of his "seven last sayings" was the last.
>
> Did Jesus make wine from water at Cana? This seems to be among the
debatable
> ones. I strongly favor the view that it is factual. But I don't think my
> vote counts.
>
> Think of Gen 1-11 being told around the campfire to a nomad band of
fleeing
> slaves. The speaker begins by saying, "Now I don't know if the things I am
> about to tell you really happened, but I do know that this story is true."
>
> Burgy
>
>
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