David did not kill Goliath (1)

The same “infallible” bible also credits the killing of Goliath to Elhanan, one of David’s mighty men. One of the myths of Christianity is the infallibility of the bible. Quoting Paul, some Christians insist every word in the bible is “God-breathed.” (2 Timothy 3:16). When you identify contradictions in the bible, they either refuse to acknowledge them or try to rationalise them away with highfalutin apologetics. However, these apologetics have not made the contradictions disappear. All they do is establish that these bible-fanatics are not committed to the truth. Christians generally believe little David killed mighty Goliath, according to the “infallible” account of 1 Samuel 17:50-51. This feat is drummed into us from childhood. We act in plays celebrating David’s victory. We listen to sermons extolling his achievement. However, the same “infallible” bible also credits the killing of Goliath to Elhanan, one of David’s mighty men. This contradiction leads to the inevitable conclusion that while the bible might indeed be a highly inspired book, it is nevertheless not infallible. Bible discrepancies 2 Samuel says: “There was another battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jair from Bethlehem killed Goliath from Gath.” (2 Samuel 21:19). This record of Elhanan (as opposed to David) killing Goliath can be found in the following bible translations among many others: New International Version (NIV); American Standard Version (ASV); New American Standard Bible (NASB); New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition (NASU); The Amplified Bible (AMP); Revised Standard Version (RSV); New Revised Standard Version (NRSV); and Today’s English Version (TEV). Other bible translations of the same 2 Samuel 21:19 say Elhanan killed “the brother of Goliath.” These translations include the King James Version (KJV); New King James Version (NKJV); The Living Bible (TLB); and New Living Translation (NLT). Of the latter, the New King James Version is remarkably unreliable. As a matter of policy, King James sometimes adds its own words to bible verses, effectively doctoring their meaning. In its own defence, it warns its readers in its introductory pages that: “words or phrases in italics indicate expressions in the original language which require clarification by additional English words.” The need for such dubious “clarification” led the New King James Version to alter 2 Samuel 21:19 as follows: “Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed THE BROTHER OF Goliath the Gittite.” Although the translation says Elhanan slew “the brother of Goliath;” the words “the brother of” are written in italics, indicating that they do not appear in the original Hebrew text but were added at the discretion of NKJV translators. This leads to the following conclusion: either the original Hebrew of 2 Samuel 21:9 was not infallible, or the doctored 2 Samuel 21:9 of NKJV is not infallible. Whichever is the case, it means the bible is not infallible. The bible is a book written and compiled by men; and men are not infallible. Who killed Goliath? However, my purpose here is not just to demonstrate the fallibility of the bible. Bible-worshipping Christians will always reject that fact no matter what. My purpose is to determine if David killed Goliath. Faced with the dilemma of contradictions between 1 and 2 Samuel, the author of 1 Chronicles, written centuries after 2 Samuel; says: “There was another battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath from Gath.” (1 Chronicles 20:5). The question then arises as to which version we are going to believe? Should we believe the classical position that David killed Goliath, or should we believe the equally biblical position that Elhanan killed Goliath? For a number of reasons, the account stating that David killed Goliath is the less believable. It is in the tradition of kings and rulers to take credit for other people’s achievements under their kingdom. David was no exception to this. For example, when Joab captured Rabbah, he tactfully gave the credit to David. David himself went along with this charade and pretended that he was the one who took the city. (2 Samuel 12:26-31). It would appear that originally the killing of Goliath was part and parcel of a collection of tales extolling the exploits of David’s mighty men of war known as “The Thirty.” Elhanan was one of them. He distinguished himself by killing a mighty Philistine called Goliath. But in the process of magnifying the great King David, his substitution as the killer of Goliath was not long in coming. Saul and David The account of David killing Goliath is so full of contradictions that it is clear it is the fabricated version. One of the problems with the account has to do with the inability of bible-writers to determine precisely when David first met Saul. We are told that when Saul transgressed against the Lord, God sent an evil spirit to trouble him. (1 Samuel 16:14). Someone then recommended to Saul that he should hire David to play the harp, offering the dubious thesis that soothing music is a demon-repellent. But then the man recommending David said something strange: he extolled David, a young teenager who was not even old enough to be in the army, as a man of war: “I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war.” (1 Samuel 16:18). This description is a giveaway. It is obviously written after the fact. There is no basis for describing David, a youth keeping sheep, as “a mighty man of valour” and “a man of war.” By all accounts, David was not even a man yet. On this recommendation, Saul sent word to Jesse, David’s father, that his son should be seconded to him. However, David entered Saul’s service not as a harp-playing musician, but as his armour-bearer, even though we are told later that Saul’s armour was too heavy for David. (1 Samuel 17:38-39). Nevertheless, whenever Saul came under attack by the evil spirit, David would play a harp and the evil spirit would depart. Saul quickly took a liking to David, and he sent to his father a second time that David’s secondment to him should become permanent. (1 Samuel 16:22). However, when we get to the incident where David is alleged to have killed Goliath, we discover to our surprise that this same David, who was supposed to be Saul’s armour-bearer/musician, had never met Saul before. In that contradictory account, David was just a young boy tending sheep. His father sent him to deliver lunch to his two brothers at the war-front. On arriving there, he found Goliath terrorizing everybody and offered to fight against him. He was then brought to Saul who, on meeting him for the very first time, said to him: “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” (1 Samuel 17:33). However, in the earlier version, David was specifically introduced to Saul as “a man of war.” Contrary to the earlier account where Saul sent emissaries to David’s father twice, he now did not know who David’s father was. He asked Abner, his military commander: “Whose son is this young man?” (1 Samuel 17:55). (Continued). Femi Aribisala

Adoration Ground tragedy: Oritsejafor, S-East CAN disagree on probe

National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, yesterday, urged the Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi to investigate the stampede that claimed the lives of 28 Nigerians during a crusade last Friday at Uke, in Idemili Local Government Area of the state. However, South East zone of CAN, disagreed with Oritsejafor saying that the Federal Government was better placed to set up a panel of inquiry over the issue saying that Obi cannot be a judge in his own case. CAN in the zone also banned political campaigns in churches across the area. Chairman of CAN in South East and Bishop of the Anglican Diocese, Enugu, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, who made this known in an interview in Enugu, said the group is becoming worried about how politicians come into churches to campaign, a development he described as a menace. The Bishop spoke as the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Anambra State also described Governor Obi’s promise to set up an investigative panel into the issue as deceptive. *The Adoration Ground after the stampede. *The Adoration Ground after the stampede. Oristejafor asks Gov Obi to set up probe panel Pastor Oritsejafor who reacted to the controversy surrounding the Uke episode said the news brought sour taste in the month especially as the Nigerian Church was grappling with many security challenges. His words: “It is indeed a sorry situation and I am deeply touched by the news. I really sympathise with those who lost their loved ones in the tragedy and pray God to comfort them.” According to him, details of what transpired at the vigil were still sketchy, even as the conflicting reports by politicians were meant to use the ugly incident to canvas for votes. Oritsejafor maintained that the only way to avoid a repeat of such occurrence was to fish out the culprits and deal with them decisively to appease those who lost their loved ones in the stampede. But in his own reaction, Bishop Chukwuma said: “It is my own duty as CAN chairman, South East to ban all politicians from attending our churches with their teams for campaigns. The church should also steer clear of partisan politics because there are different kinds of people in the church that belong to different political parties. Church and party manifestos ”So it is wrong to come into the church and begin to talk about manifestos. It is not going to be acceptable any more because it causes commotion and disrespect for one another. ”We appeal to bishops, priests, pastors and clergymen to please avoid politicians coming to use churches as campaign arena. This does not augur well for our spiritual growth. ”We therefore urge the Federal Government to set up a probe panel to find out what actually happened because we feel very much worried. Since the state government is involved, I think there should be a neutral body for the investigation.” APGA Chairman, Umeh calls for Ngige’s arrest However, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, has called for the immediate arrest of the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state, Senator Chris Ngige for allegedly masterminding the stampede at the Ebube Muonso Adoration Ministry at Uke. A statement by James Eze, the media aide to the APGA governorship candidate, Chief Willie Obiano quoted Umeh as saying that Ngige was behind the crises. Ngige, Obiano suspend campaign This was even as both the APC and Ngige Campaign Organisation suspend campaign, fly party flag at half mast for victims. The APC and the Chris Ngige campaign organization headed by Chief George Morghalu yesterday, suspended electioneering campaigns for the APC candidate, Senator Ngige to attend a solemn prayer for the victims of the tragedy at Uke worship centre, yesterday. Speaking on the occasion, Moghalu said: “It is very unfortunate that about 28 innocent souls had to lose their lives for no just cause. These were people who went to the house of God to seek the face of God. Why must Governor Peter Obi go to Uke to campaign for his APGA candidate when he should have been there to atone for the sins of his government. Moghalu further stated that the statement credited to the Anambra State Government that the stampede was caused by Senator Ngige “should be regarded as a tissue of lies.’’ He said that Ngige did not visit the Adoration centre two days earlier as alleged by Obi’s supporters. Culled from Vanguard Newspaper

Niger Delta clerics meet Atiku in Abuja

Eleven Christian clerics from the Niger Delta region met with a former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in Abuja on Tuesday to discuss the state of the nation. The meeting, which was held behind closed doors at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, and lasted for more than two hours, was also said to have dwelt on insecurity and political crisis in the country. The clerics were led by Bishop Jones Erue. Also in the entourage were Bishops Julius Ediwe, Bob Manuel, Abhulemen Josiah, Konel Offiong, Innocent Chiedozie, Alex Okubo, Felix Ezebunwo, Charles Okoh , Peter Abingon and Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda. The former President, who spoke with journalists after the meeting, said the meeting discussed several issues in the country. He said, “The meeting is just about the country generally. There is need for unity, peace and stability in the country. Are you telling me that you are not aware that we have security challenges in the north-east and other part of the country.” Asked to explain how he thought the meeting with the Niger Delta Bishops was capable of solving the crisis, Atiku said, “What is happening in the country requires the contribution of everybody including religious bodies. Government alone cannot do it, what is happening in the country requires the input of everyone.” From Punch Newspaper

Presidency, PDM clash over Jonathan’s Jerusalem pilgrimage

The recent pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Israel by President Goodluck Jonathan and some members of the Federal Executive Council has sparked a war of words between the Presidency and the newly registered Peoples Democratic Movement. The Presidential Assistant on New Media, Reno Omokri, and the founding Chairman of the PDM, Bashir Yusuf, were at the weekend embroiled in a frenzy over the pilgrimage. Yusuf threw the first salvo when he stated in a post on Twitter that he was disturbed by the picture of the President, which has circulated widely on the Internet, showing him praying at the Wailing Wall in Israel. He alleged that it was a great disservice and double standard for the President to “seek the face of God” for the country’s development and yet “return home” and encourage “corruption and looting.” The PDM leader and political associate of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar noted that Jonathan ensured the circulation of such pictures to make him look like he is now “born again” and to fool voters in the build up to the 2015 polls. Noting that he was “fired up” to engage Omokri in a Twitter fight, Yusuf said he had no issues with the pilgrimage. But he insisted that the President should rather start taking responsibility for the “rot” in the Nigerian polity on his return. Yusuf said, “GEJ’s picture in Jerusalem is everywhere. He (GEJ) is doing what he knows how to do best: manipulation of religious sentiments. As 2015 draws near, he is now born again. “You pray before the Wailing Wall seeking the face of God and you return home to loot the treasury. You make jest of your creator. Don’t worship today and loot tomorrow. GEJ can fool some people some of the time, but he cannot fool all the people all the time. “I want to speak about GEJ and corruption today. He is my President today and I want to hold him accountable for the looting perpetrated under him. I say it without fear of contradiction that GEJ’s government is the most corrupt in Nigeria’s history. “Nigerians are wiser now. We want to hear what you have to say about Oduahgate. Nigeria has never been bled this badly.” But Omokri wouldn’t let go without a fight. He rebuked Yusuf for the outburst, describing him as a “religiously intolerant fellow.” He said Jonathan should not be singled out for criticism for embarking on a pilgrimage, as many Nigerian leaders, including Atiku, whom he described as Yusuf’’s boss, had gone on pilgrimages while in office. Omokri noted that it was unfortunate that the PDM chairman will resort to religious sentiments to unfairly “attack” Jonathan and his government for selfish and political reasons. Omokri said, “Mallam Yusuf, Nigerian leaders have been photographed and shown on TV while performing pilgrimages for decades. Why attack now? In fact, your boss Atiku was photographed and televised during hajj while in office. There is nothing wrong with it. Please respect religious freedom. “You should be ashamed of yourself for criticising the President for going on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. It’s unthinkable that such a religiously intolerant fellow as yourself managed to become the chairman of PDM. Voters, please note his tweet.” However, Omokri appears to agree with Yusuf that there is indeed “rot” under the Jonathan administration where he is serving. In his advice to Yusuf, he noted, “If you want to criticise the rot, then do so; but don’t hide under the President’s pilgrimage to Jerusalem to insult him.” Responding to allegations of widespread corruption in the Jonathan administration, the President’s new media aide referred the PDM boss to the book written by a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, titled The Accidental Public Servant. According to the Presidential aide, el-Rufai’s thoughts as captured in the book were instructive response to his allegations. “I will not even condescend to discuss with someone like you (Yusuf), who can criticise a man for going on pilgrimage. “If you want to talk about looting, read Mallam Nasir el-Rufai’s book and what he said about you and your boss (Atiku). He (el-Rufai) worked with you guys,” Omokri added. Although Atiku, who now makes use of Twitter, did not dabble into the disagreement that ensued between Yusuf and Omokri, his son, Mustapha, rose in his defence. Mustapha wrote on the micro-blogging service that he was taken aback that the same el-Rufai that Omokri allegedly describes as an hypocrite is now his standard to proof corruption against his father. “Omokri, it bugs me that the same el-Rufai you consider a hypocrite and unstable is your proof of corruption against Atiku and Yusuf,” he said.

Pope Francis to step up fight against modern slavery and human trafficking

Pope Francis wants action against modern forms of slavery including forced labour and prostitution, the Vatican said Monday after a meeting of experts called by the pontiff to debate the problem. Dozens of academics, doctors and clerics were hosted by the Vatican to discuss issues close to the pope’s heart, including the struggle against organ trafficking and people smuggling. “Some experts believe human trafficking will overtake drug and arms trafficking in a decade, becoming the most lucrative criminal activity in the world,” Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, told reporters. Sorondo said the pope was heavily invested in a subject he knows well from his years in Latin America and had even invited two experts on human trafficking that he knows from Buenos Aires. Further meetings are planned in 2014 and 2015. Participants said one of the worst and most worrying forms of slavery in Latin America is the use of children and adolescents as drug dealers. Jose Maria Simon Castellvi, head of the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations, also stressed the importance of “zero tolerance” against prostitution saying it was linked to drugs, mafia violence and tax fraud.

CAN bans political campaigns in churches

The South-East chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria has banned political campaigns in churches across the zone. It said it took the decision to avoid a repeat of last Saturday church stampede in Anambra State, where about 28 persons reportedly died. The South-East CAN also asked the Federal Government to set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the remote causes of the incident. The organisation said it was wrong for Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State to set up such panel, “as the governor cannot be a judge in his own case.” Chairman of the group, Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, made this known while speaking with journalists in Enugu, on Monday. Chukwuma said CAN was becoming worried on why politicians should carry their campaigns to churches. He sympathised with relatives of victims of the incident, while lamenting that political campaigns in churches had become a menace. The cleric described the incident in Anambra as tragic, and vowed that CAN would sanction whatsoever church that violated the ban on political campaigns. He said, “It is my own duty as CAN chairman, South-East zone, to ban all politicians from attending our churches with their political teams for campaigns. The church should also stay clear of partisan politics because there are different kinds of people in the church that belong to different political parties. “So it’s wrong to come into the church and begin to talk about manifestos and begin to campaign. It is not going to be acceptable anymore because it causes commotion and disrespect to one another.”

Christian, Muslim youths empowered

Many youths in Lagos are still celebrating after recently acquiring requisite skills to enable them challenge the future. They are still feeling excited even after the curtains had been drawn on the 11th graduation ceremony of the Centre for Vocational Empowerment and Development (CVED) of Dominion Faith International Church (DFIC), Ipaja. A total of 148 students who successfully completed their studies in different skill acquisition programmes were presented with their certificates. The CVED which is an empowerment arm of the DFIC, runs eight different free skill acquisition programmes which include bead making, adult literacy, hairdressing, computer studies, catering, printing, interior decoration and chemical production. The epoch making event attracted attendees such as representatives of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Riskat Akiyode and Chairman, Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area, Coordinator of CVED/Resident Pastor, Olajide Esan; member, CVED Board of Trustee, Rev Gabriel Oyediji and the Registrar of CVED/adult literacy instructor, Pastor Mercy Esan. While the occasion progressed, the elated graduates showered encomium on the church for the opportunity given to them to be partakers in its free skill acquisition programmes. Daily Sun gathered that majority of the beneficiaries of the skill acquisition programmes since its inception were not just members of Dominion Faith International Church, Ipaja alone. Rather, youths and even adults of various faiths who came from far and near had in the past years been part of the programme. During the last edition of the graduation ceremony, among those who received their certificates were Muslims and Christians youths from distant communities in Lagos and Ogun States. CVED’s Executive Director (Admin/Finance), Rev Bamidele Olatona, said he regard the graduation ceremony as a significant phase of development in the actualisation of the centre’s vision to alleviate poverty, raise leaders in the 21st Century imbued with high ethical standards and potential entrepreneurs for the nation and the world at large. “This 11th session of the CVED graduation is unique, being one that has recorded the highest number of graduating students. A total of 148 students have just been graduated from this edition. We are happy to send them out to go and make positively impact in their world,” he explained. Rev Olatona whose speech was read by Pastor Mercy Esan, said CVED was formerly known as Free Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (FEEDS). He noted that in 2007, the church as part of the programme, took the responsibility of providing free lunch for over 300 less privileged persons in the community every Friday. He said: “Having a passion for helping people and the less privileged, fully aware of the fact that we live in a world where basic education has failed to yield the expected positive results and unemployment is the order of the day, the church decided to take the community feeding project to a more advanced level not only by putting food on their table but by giving them free skills to make them self reliant.” According to him, the initiative had since gone international with its introduction in 10 African nations which included Chad, Liberia, Benin Republic, Niger, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Guinea, Togo, Burkina Faso and Guinea Bissau. He noted that that over 2,100 persons had been empowered and issued certificates after acquiring the entrepreneurial skills and quality vocational knowledge. In his speech, the resident/coordinating pastor of DFIC, Pastor Esan, described the 21st century as an era where certification as means of self-sufficiency and prosperity was fast fading and being replaced with skill and vocational-oriented certification. Pastor Esan who lauded the DFIC Senior Pastor, Rev David Olatona and his wife, Rev Dele Olatona, for giving back to the community through CVED, said the vocational centre boasted of thousands of graduands who were doing well with the robust skills they acquired. He informed those interested in acquiring skills at the centre that the next entrepreneurial class would start in November, 2013 and would be the last for the year. According to him, the driving force was embedded in the vision of the church which was to connect people to their destines so that they would make positive impact in their communities. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Akiyode, described the initiative which was part of DFIC social responsibility programme as laudable because it had shifted attention from the practice of churches keeping members or residents of the communities on the dole or giving alms to members as a means of poverty alleviation. Mrs. Akiyode said the state government had “employed this pragmatic approach of equipping men, women and youths with needed vocational skills to serve as panacea to unemployment in our depressed economy.” She implored other churches to borrow a leaf from DFIC and complement the government efforts by contributing to the development of people in their respective communities. She gave the 148 graduands tips on how to overcome the current economic hardship in the country by urging them to look beyond white collar jobs, think of what they could do with their hands to earn a living, develop endurance, focus, courage and self discipline in the face of hardship and to develop ‘I can do it’ spirit. Her representative Mrs. Adeniji Olawatoyin, a director in the ministry, explained that the training given to the students would no doubt empower them to be economically independent and to become employers of labour, noting that the DFIC job creation drive was in line with the state policy of empowering women, men and youths through vocational training programmes. The cynosure of all eyes at the graduation ceremony was 11-year-old Omotuyi Funke, who graduated in Computer Appreciation class with 10 others. Funke told Daily Sun that she enrolled in the skill acquisition programme to in order to learn more about Computer programmes such Microsoft, Excel among others. Funke who wants to study Computer Science in the university said the skills she gained would enhance her job hunting after graduation from the university and revealed that the older students in her class did not look down on her as the youngest in their midst. The graduating students showered encomium on the initiator of the skill acquisition centre, admitting that they had acquired additional skills which they would utilise to add value to the society and the economy. Culled from Sun Newspaper