0 Dwidnling in Unbelief

And the angel said unto me. "Behold these shall dwindle in unbelief" 1 Nephi 12:22

Latest Posts

Posted: Friday 26 December 2014 ( 10 years ago )

EJ&T - Deuteronomy 26: First-fruit baskets, third-year tithes, and holy speeches

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are ...

Posted: Friday 26 December 2014 ( 10 years ago )

Alma 37: "I got de Golden Plates..."

After Alma finished his speech to Helaman, he gave him the plates of Nephi, which were the records of their forefathers that went all of the way back to Lehi. I'm sure Helaman was pretty excited. He must have been feeling a bit like this: Lyri ...

Posted: Thursday 25 December 2014 ( 10 years ago )

EJ&T Deuteronomy 25: Forty lashes, sex with your dead brother's wife, cutting off a woman's hand without pity, and remembering Amalek

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are ...

Posted: Thursday 25 December 2014 ( 10 years ago )

Strange Fire Before the Lord

(From Chapter 4 of Strange Flesh: The Bible and Homosexuality by Steve Wells) During the Exodus, Moses took seventy elders up to the mountaintop to see God, along with Aaron and his two sons, Nadab and Abihu. Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Na ...

Posted: Wednesday 24 December 2014 ( 10 years ago )

Possibly Gay Bible Stories - Ishmael and Isaac: What did Sarah see?

(From Chapter 4 of Strange Flesh: The Bible and Homosexuality by Steve Wells) Sarah (she was called “Sarai” back then) was the first of a long line of barren women who were desperate for children.1 (In the Bible, it is always the women who ...

Posted: Monday 22 December 2014 ( 10 years ago )

EJ&T Deuteronomy 24: Divorcing and remarrying hated wives, cheering up new wives, and helping the poor

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are ...

Posted: Friday 19 December 2014 ( 10 years ago )

Alma 36: Alma's Message To Helaman (Part 1)

In the last chapter we are promised details of the war, Alma's speech to the multitude, and then the details of his individual speeches to each one of his sons. From the first verse in Alma 36 it seems clear which one we are going to get: his speec ...

Posted: Wednesday 17 December 2014 ( 10 years ago )

EJ&T Deuteronomy 23: Damaged testicles, bastards, wet dreams, defecation, whores, sodomites and dogs

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are ...

Posted: Monday 15 December 2014 ( 10 years ago )

Exodus: Gods and Kings -- Leaving out the best parts of the story

I was inspired to see the movie by Christian Bale's comment on Moses, the character he played in the movie. I think the man was likely schizophrenic and was one of the most barbaric individuals that I ever read about in my life. He said that he ...

Posted: Sunday 14 December 2014 ( 10 years ago )

EJ&T Deuteronomy 22: Lost and found, transvestites, mixed seeds and fibers, bloody sheets, and raped virgins

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are ...

Posted: Friday 12 December 2014 ( 10 years ago )

Gay Bible Stories, Part 2 - The Levite's Concubine

(From Chapter 3 of Strange Flesh: The Bible and Homosexuality by Steve Wells) The story is about a Levite (a descendant of Levi) and his wayward concubine, who had “played the whore” against him, running away to her father’s house. There ...

Posted: Wednesday 10 December 2014 ( 10 years ago )

EJ&T - Deuteronomy 21: Beheading heifers, sex with war captives, beloved and hated wives, and stoning stubborn sons

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are ...

Posted: Tuesday 09 December 2014 ( 10 years ago )

Alma 35: The Zoramite Conversion

After Amulek was done preaching, his audience (the poor faction of the Zoramites) went home. Apparently the rest of the Zoramites heard about Amulek's speech, though, and they weren't very happy about it. Apparently it destroyed their "craft".  N ...

Posted: Saturday 06 December 2014 ( 10 years ago )

EJ&T - Deuteronomy 20: God's Rules for Holy War

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are ...

Posted: Friday 05 December 2014 ( 10 years ago )

EJ&T - Deuteronomy 19: Landmarks, witnesses, and the no pity rule

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are ...

Posted: Friday 05 December 2014 ( 10 years ago )

Gay Bible Stories: Part 1 - What did Ham do?

(From Chapter 3 of Strange Flesh: The Bible and Homosexuality) The story begins with the Flood of Noah, in which God drowned every living thing on earth because “the wickedness of man was great upon the earth” and the earth was “filled wit ...

Posted: Wednesday 03 December 2014 ( 10 years ago )

Alma 34: Pour Out Your Soul In Your Closets And Your Secret Places

After Alma is done speaking, it's Amulek's turn. He goes straight to the point: that the Zoramites have to believe in Christ. They must have heard about it before they separated from the church, and they have to believe in him if they are going to ...

Posted: Wednesday 03 December 2014 ( 10 years ago )

EJ&T - Deuteronomy 18: Priests, abominations, and false prophets

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are ...

Posted: Monday 01 December 2014 ( 10 years ago )

Alma 33: The Wisdom of Zenos (and 1000th blog post!)

Today is a special day, ladies and gentlemen! This is Dwindling in Unbelief's 1000th blog post. Thanks for sticking with us through the boring sections of the Book of Mormon, and the more tedious "Every Jot and Tittle" posts. Best, Phil and Steve ...

Posted: Thursday 27 November 2014 ( 10 years ago )

EJ&T Deuteronomy 17: Stone to death believers in other gods, kill whoever disobeys a priest, and accept the king that God chooses for you

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are ...

Posted: Monday 24 November 2014 ( 10 years ago )

Alma 32: The Most Precious, Sweet, White, Pure Fruit

Alma and his brethren went among the Zoramites, and started to try to convert them. They preached in their houses, synagogues, and even in the street. After a lot of work, they started to have success, but mostly just with the poorer Zoramites. The ...

Posted: Monday 24 November 2014 ( 10 years ago )

EJ&T Deuteronomy 16: Don't plant trees near God's altar or set up images that God hates

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are ...

Posted: Thursday 20 November 2014 ( 10 years ago )

Alma 31: The Zoramites

After Korihor was *Ahem* dealt with, Alma heard of another problem in the land. Apparently the Zoramites, in the land east of Zarahemla called Antionum, were perverting the ways of the Lord. This concerned Alma because they might gang up with the L ...

Posted: Wednesday 19 November 2014 ( 10 years ago )

EJ&T Deuteronomy 15: Cancel all debts every seventh year

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are ...

Posted: Wednesday 19 November 2014 ( 10 years ago )

Alma 30: Korihor (part 2)

This post picks up where the last one leaves off.  If you remember, Korihor, (the Anti-Christ!) was arrested for criticizing the church, and brought before the high priest of the land of Gideon, who, after interrogating him, didn't really know what ...

Posted: Tuesday 18 November 2014 ( 10 years ago )

EJ&T Deuteronomy 14: Don't make any baldness between your eyes for dead people or eat any abominable thing

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are ...

Posted: Monday 17 November 2014 ( 10 years ago )

Alma 30: Korihor (part 1)

Remember back in Chapter 28, when the Lamanites attacked the people of Ammon in the land of Jershon, and the armies of the Nephites rushed to their defense? Well, after the countless dead were buried from that battle, things were peaceful again for ...

Posted: Thursday 13 November 2014 ( 10 years ago )

Alma 29: I Wish I Was An Angel!

I'm going to have trouble saying much about this chapter. Basically, Alma is wishing that he was an angel so he could be even more effective at converting people and doing God's will.  O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine hear ...

Posted: Monday 10 November 2014 ( 10 years ago )

Alma 28: A Tremendous Battle

After Ammon and his people were all situated in their new land of Jershon, there was a battle between the Lamanites and the people of Nephi. A big battle. In fact, it was the biggest battle anyone had ever seen since the very beginning of the Book o ...

Posted: Monday 10 November 2014 ( 10 years ago )

Alma 28: A Tremendous Battle

After Ammon and his people were all situated in their new land of Jershon, there was a battle between the Lamanites and the people of Nephi. A big battle. In fact, it was the biggest battle anyone had ever seen since the very beginning of the Book o ...

Posted: Thursday 06 November 2014 ( 10 years ago )

EJ&T Deuteronomy 13: When to kill your family, a city, or a prophet for God

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are ...

Posted: Sunday 02 November 2014 ( 10 years ago )

EJ&T Deuteronomy 11 - 12: Special places to bless, curse, and kill animals for God. Don't forget the Levites.

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are ...

Posted: Thursday 30 October 2014 ( 10 years ago )

What now?

Jerry Coyne has an excellent article on a recent experiment on the Eucharist that was done by the Raëlians. Yes, that's right, the folks who believe that life on earth was planted by extraterrestrials (the Elohim) and that human prophets (including ...

Posted: Tuesday 28 October 2014 ( 10 years ago )

EJ&T - Deuteronomy 8 - 10: Circumcise the foreskin of your heart

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are ...

Posted: Tuesday 28 October 2014 ( 10 years ago )

Guest Post: Apparent Contradictions #2, by Berend de Boer

This is the second guest post by Berend de Boer. For this post, I invited him to have the floor to discuss contradictions that he thinks I should remove from the Skeptic's Annotated Bible. Berend created a website called "The Skeptic's Annotated Bib ...

Posted: Monday 27 October 2014 ( 10 years ago )

EJ&T - Deuteronomy 7: Genocide and intermarriage

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are ...

Posted: Saturday 25 October 2014 ( 10 years ago )

The Mormon church finally admits that Joseph Smith had many wives (to "raise up seed unto God" by making big Mormon families)

Something strange is going on in Salt Lake City. Last week the official website of the Mormon church (LDS.org) showed off its magic underwear; this week it admits that Joseph Smith was a polygamist. And this is just the latest of their most recen ...

Posted: Wednesday 22 October 2014 ( 10 years ago )

The Mormon church shows off its magic underwear (and then lies about them)

I guess we should be used to it by now. In the last year or so, the official website of the LDS church has produced a series of videos that lie about address some of its more well-known (and absurd) beliefs. First they admitted they were wrong a ...

Posted: Thursday 16 October 2014 ( 10 years ago )

EJ&T - Deuteronomy 4: Don't add to or take away from God's laws

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are ...

Posted: Thursday 16 October 2014 ( 10 years ago )

EJ&T - Deuteronomy 6: Love God; swear by his name; talk about his laws; memorize them; write them on your hand, forehead, door posts, gates, etc.

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are ...

Copyright © 1999-2024
The Skeptic's Annotated Bible

Send comments to Steve Wells
at swwells(at)gmail.com