Biblical Imperfections? (tradition, contradiction, followers, translation, Revelation)

[Saint Tigeress]

This is something that has always bounced around in my head, but I have not really been able to find answers or ideas about it. When something involves imperfect beings, imperfections inevitably happen right? Even if the works of the Bible began as perfect, through so much translation and time and people it could have something like the telephone effect couldn't it? Not to mention sometimes people disagree on the exact translation from one language to another. Then there are people's own agenda's, thier inherant ability to make mistakes unknowingly. Theres the saying: "If God wanted us to be perfect there wouldn't be erasers on the back of pencils." What do ya'll think? Could the Bible, and/or other ancient writings like that have been manipulated, corrupted, or mistranslated through time? thank you for your ideas in advance.

[cardero]

Saint Tigress: Even if the works of the Bible began as perfect

What do you mean by “began as perfect?”

Saint Tigress: through so much translation and time and people it could have something like the telephone effect couldn't it?

Complete with a 1000 year old party line.

Saint Tigress: Not to mention sometimes people disagree on the exact translation from one language to another. Then there are people's own agenda's, thier inherant ability to make mistakes unknowingly. Theres the saying: "If God wanted us to be perfect there wouldn't be erasers on the back of pencils." What do ya'll think? Could the Bible, and/or other ancient writings like that have been manipulated, corrupted, or mistranslated through time? thank you for your ideas in advance.

Yes considerably so, which makes one wonder why so many people would put so much scholarly worth in it when it would just be as easy to write and publish their own Bible.

[Saint Tigeress]

Originally Posted by cardero

What do you mean by “began as perfect?”

Ya know... saying it was the perfect message from God. Divine, infallible at that moment of revelation or whatever. I've just always wondered what people think of this possibility, and how they reason that it can't happen, if they do. There are just so many contradictions and people try to focus so much on one particular scripture sometimes to justify things they do, where if they just go a little further, they will probably find another scripture that seems to say otherwise. This is just a question I have that I'd like insight on.

[cardero]

Originally Posted by Saint Tigeress

Ya know... saying it was the perfect message from God. Divine, infallible at that moment of revelation or whatever. I've just always wondered what people think of this possibility, and how they reason that it can't happen, if they do. There are just so many contradictions and people try to focus so much on one particular scripture sometimes to justify things they do, where if they just go a little further, they will probably find another scripture that seems to say otherwise. I am not really proclaiming anything. This is just a question I have that I'd like insight on.

The Bible could never be defined as perfect because it was penned by a particular culture in a particular era. Any inspired revelations, Godly behavior or divine Law would have to consistant and practical (read:Universal) for everyone all throughout humankind’s history. For example, a god that is against slavery today had to be against slavery during the time the Bible had been written.

[Saint Tigeress]

i see your point. To be honest, sometimes I try to be too neutral. I thought about me saying that "I'm not trying to proclaim anything," and realized that was a stupid thing to say. I honestly believe that there are imperfections. i agree with you. But there are many conservatives who think otherwise. i am curious as to how they address this.

[Saint Tigeress]

This is probably elementary compared to what is usually discussed isn't it? Or it has probably already been addressed and I just didn't see it.

[cardero]

Originally Posted by Saint Tigeress

i see your point. To be honest, sometimes I try to be too neutral. I thought about me saying that "I'm not trying to proclaim anything," and realized that was a stupid thing to say. I honestly believe that there are imperfections. i agree with you. But there are many conservatives who think otherwise. i am curious as to how they address this.

The God that is portrayed in the Bible seems to be displaying two conditions. Either He is as primitive and superstitious as the humans He speaks to (a tradition that is shared, supported and practiced even today) or He is with-holding information or understanding to His followers for a reason. Some people would reason that God would have liked ancient civilizations to come into their own but with the amount of interference, manipulation, interactivity and participation with humankind that this BEing in the Bible has been involved with, this doesn't seem to be consistent with what we know today. So we are dealing with two trains of belief. Either the BEing expressed in the Bible is God and the Bible is the word of God or it is not. I do not believe it to be so.

[cardero]

Originally Posted by Saint Tigeress

This is probably elementary compared to what is usually discussed isn't it? Or it has probably already been addressed and I just didn't see it.

You're new. You have 28 posts and a interest in what people believe. I for one do not mind revisiting this topic.