Uncloistered

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  “She gazed ahead through a long reach of future days strung together like pearls in a rosary, every one like the others, and all smooth and flawless and innocent, and her heart went up in thankfulness. Outside was the fervid summer afternoon; the air was filled with the sounds of the busy harvest of men and birds and bees; there were halloos, metallic clatterings, sweet calls, and long hummings. Louisa sat, prayerfully numbering her days, like an uncloistered nun.” A New England Nun By Mary E. Wilkins Freeman (1852–1930)

"Where Did John Baptize?"

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Some opponents of the Bible point to Jesus' baptism by John as inconsistent, recording the event happening in two different locations. Matthew 3:6 and Mark 1:9 records the location as the Jordan river. John 1:28 says that John was baptizing in Bethabara, beyond the Jordan. Which is it?

"Bethabara" is the place where one crossed a stream that fed into the river Jordan in order to enter Judea. The place is also known as "Bethany" in the gospels. Matthew and Mark were simply not inspired to be as precise and John.

We use generalizations without difficulty. If I ask where you were born, would you report the state, city, street address, floor and room number, naming the hospital you were born; or, simply name the city of your birth? Or at least the state. Are we inconsistent if we withhold information?

Consulting a map, one finds no contradiction.


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