Comment on JB's Blog

Since comments must have been turned off on this post by J.B., I will have to put my comment here.
In this post you cite another one of your "evident contradictions" in the Bible--Matthew 10:34 where Jesus says, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword." (NKJV). This, you say, stands in contradiction to the title of Prince of Peace that is attributed to Jesus.

I'll just start with the fact that this is quite a stretch... and second you have pulled a Sam Harris in this quotation (which may be convincing for some, but for people who like to look a little harder before passing judgement it isn't).

The title of Prince of Peace appears in the Old Testament in a prophesy which you choose to read as referring to the Jesus Christ of the BC/AD change over. What you are saying here is the same as saying that Jesus dying on the cross contradicts one of the other titles in the same verse, "Everlasting Father." I also don't remember the government being on Jesus' shoulders (look another contradiction...). There are two conclusions that I would come to after looking at these two verses.... 1) The Bible is absolutely littered with contradictions (heck... I found a whole slew of them in just these two verses) or 2) [which I see as the more logical/reasonable conclusion] that this prophecy is not referring to BC/AD Christ. From reading the verse (in context) my initial guess (I've never really studied this issue) is that this is referring to Jesus 2.0, when he comes and reigns over the earth (government on the shoulders Isaiah 9:6 NKJV) and the lion shall lay next to the lamb (Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:7 NKJV)

Despite this... here is where you messed up on the context--

The chapter in which this verse appears is where Jesus is sending out his apostles (to spread his message). This verse (when read in context) is pointing out the fact that there will be conflict and struggle in the establishment of his church...
35For I am come to `set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.' 36And `a man's foes shall be they of his own household.' 37He that loveth father or mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me. And he that loveth son or daughter more than Me, is not worthy of Me. 38And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me. 39He that findeth his life, shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for My sake, shall find it. 40"He that receiveth you, receiveth Me; and he that receiveth Me, receiveth Him that sent Me.
(Matthew 10:35-40 NKJV)

He is letting them know that people are going to hate new Christian converts and it will tear families apart, because some will accept his message as truth and follow him, while others will not. Those who love their families more than they love God will not convert because of this. He is not advocating for war, violence, or anything that would violate the title of Prince of Peace. Reading Jesus' teachings with a metaphorical lens is by no means changing the intent or content of the Bible---he taught using Parables and regularly used everyday imagery to illustrate his points.