A couple of years ago, sixth-grader Chad asked a Creationist a tough question during the Q&A part of a debate and the response was a garbled mess of nonsense.

Well, Chad’s in seventh grade now and he posed another great question to a Christian philosopher his father Bernie was debating last month.

After philosopher Phil Smith admits the story of Noah’s Ark is a myth, Chad asks which other Bible stories are myths… first, he gets reprimanded by Smith for calling them “crazy” stories (which they are), but Smith eventually responded:

Chad: You said [Noah’s Ark] was a myth, right? Smith: Yeah. Chad: So what about all the other stories, like Adam and Eve. Do you think that was a myth? Smith: Yes I do. Chad: So what other myths do you think there are in the Bible? Smith: There are lots of them. There’s a story of a donkey that talked back to the Prophet and told him what he should be doing. And there are myths of trees that are talking and all kinds of things. Chad: So you don’t really believe much of the Bible? Smith: No, I didn’t say that at all. Chad: Well, a lot of stories in the Bible are kind of like that. Smith: There are stories in the Bible like that and we have to ask: What is the Bible teaching when it says these things?

In short, there’s really a fine line between what educated Christians say is merely a story and what they totally, literally believe. At some point, you have to let go of the obvious lies, like talking donkeys, Noah’s Ark, and the Creation Myths. But the miracles and resurrection of Jesus are no less far-fetched. There’s plenty of reason to throw out the baby with the bathwater here — and 12-year-old Chad seems to get what the philosopher doesn’t.



