Why do you believe The Bible is the literal "word of God?"

[science_is_my_god]

Then there is absolutely no reliable source of information anywhere, including science, history, or memory.

How so? I don't attribute the gospels as being accurate, and yet I have the ability to scientifically ration out just about any idea or concept. How would mankind have reasoned things out before the Bible was written then?

 

[Smoke]

I have yet to be let down by the Bible. Every time I look for answers, I find a 100% satisfactory one in it.

I've been reading the Bible since I could read, and I frankly can't imagine what kind of answers -- much less 100% satisfactory answers -- one could find in it that couldn't be found in fiction or poetry.

It's easier to have faith in a constant God when the "Word of God", a real, touchable thing, is also constant.

It is my belief that the more you read the Bible, the more clarity you have in your faith. At least, this has been my experience.

When I was a Christian, I didn't consider the Bible the Word of God. As Pete says now, I would have said then that the Savior was the Word of God, and that -- in the words of an Orthodox priest -- "the Bible is, at best, words about God." Nor did I find it indispensable or even central to my faith. I would have said that prayer, fasting and almsgiving were much more central to my faith than the Bible.

So I would perhaps ask, "why do you believe the Bible ISN'T the literal Word of God?"

In part, because I find it impossible to read it that way. It doesn't make sense as the literal Word of God. People who believe it's the literal Word of God end up doing weird things to the text so they can maintain that belief; Harold Lindsell's tortured attempt to reconcile the gospels by arguing that the **** crowed six times, and the NIV translators' decision to deliberately mistranslate the words of Jesus to conform them to their idea of inerrancy and infallibility are just two of many, many examples. To my mind, a belief in inerrancy amounts to an assault on the scriptures, and is ultimately far more disrespectful than acknowledging that the scriptures are errant and contradictory.

 

[fantome profane]

I have yet to be let down by the Bible. Every time I look for answers, I find a 100% satisfactory one in it.

How is that different from Google?

So I would perhaps ask, "why do you believe the Bible ISN'T the literal Word of God?"

Because it was literally written by men. It is literally the words of the men who wrote them down.

 

[Scuba Pete]

You put waaaaaaay too much faith in the scriptures. More than I did as a catholic. Why do you base all of your rationality on a book written millenia ago by primative people?

At the end of the day, loving your neighbor is STILL the answer. Even after 2 millennia.

 

[fantome profane]

At the end of the day, loving your neighbor is STILL the answer. Even after 2 millennia.

It has been the answer for much much longer than just 2 millennia.

 

[ericoh2]

I'm glad to see this discussion. The attempt here is to get people thinking about where there thoughts and beliefs are coming from. I think that many people look for answers using a book (The Bible) that does have a beautiful and helpful message and they do find answers. However I believe that these answers should be attributed to the love and compassion that is created from the scripture instead of the actual scripture itself. The evidence for this is that you can find answers and compassion in all religious scripture. That is why there are so many ardent supporters of so many different religions. The only reason that the Christian society is holding The Bible in such high regard is because of social programming to believe that it is superior to other texts.

 

[logician]

"
At the end of the day, loving your neighbor is STILL the answer. Even after 2 millennia."

I don't think most people know who their neighbor is.

 

[Smoke]

"
At the end of the day, loving your neighbor is STILL the answer. Even after 2 millennia."

I don't think most people know who their neighbor is.

I wish I had a dollar for every Christian who doesn't know that queers are his neighbors.

 

[Scuba Pete]

It has been the answer for much much longer than just 2 millennia.

Are there earlier texts that suggest such a thing? I don't know of any.

 

[Scuba Pete]

I wish I had a dollar for every Christian who doesn't know that queers are his neighbors.

This myopia is not confined to theists.

 

[ChristineES]

This myopia is not confined to theists.

That's true, but Christians are commanded to love their neighbors. I think that was his point.

 

[Scuba Pete]

That's true, but Christians are commanded to love their neighbors. I think that was his point.

I understood what his point was. However, I took the opportunity to make my own.

 

[fantome profane]

Are there earlier texts that suggest such a thing? I don't know of any.

Of course it is older than 2 millennia. First, and I would have thought obvious, when Jesus spoke those particular words he was directly quoting Leviticus (Lev 19:18), and that clearly is older than 2 millennia.

But I also believe that the idea is central to the teachings of Buddhism and Jainism. I believe that it can be found in Hinduism, Taoism, Confucianism. It appears in ancient Greek philosophy, Romans, etc. In fact I think you would be hard pressed to find any tradition or culture that has a significant body of written philosophy that does not include some version of “love thy neighbour”.


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[Bishadi]

Why do you believe The Bible is the literal word of God?

Because many are taught to believe ‘unquestionably’ but if that was the case we would have no medical field (see inquisitions)

But then we have the young minds of thinking such as

The Bible never claims to be the "Word" of God. In fact, John 1 teaches us that Jesus is the Word

As all words are created by mankind…. In such that in spanish Jesus is heysus……

Or like grace slick said, ‘we named our kid god but with a lower case ‘g’ to remain humble’

I have yet to be let down by the Bible. Every time I look for answers, I find a 100% satisfactory one in it. It's easier to have faith in a constant God when the "Word of God", a real, touchable thing, is also constant.

Now talk about your faithful. Seems in Islam, they are willing to blow themselves up with your kind of thinking and at least their interpretations are more consistent than the random interpretations of the many preachers (see ted haggard for just one of the many ridiculous methods of gaining a gathering of the blind)

The theory goes on to say that Jesus never actually died, he was just unconscious, and it was a clever trick by his followers to save him.

scriptures say he was taken down in 6 hours; the likelihood is ‘he was not dead.’

Or how about the really sharp question a youngster once asked…… “if jesus died for our sins, then what happens now; he didn’t stay dead!”

 

[science_is_my_god]

At the end of the day, loving your neighbor is STILL the answer. Even after 2 millennia.

I would agree, however I don't think we should love one another just because some book tells us to, I think we should do it because we are human beings.

 

[zon3d]

The reason why I believe the Bible is the Word of God because it is! It has no logical inconsistences unlike every other religious text.

 

[Smoke]

The reason why I believe the Bible is the Word of God because it is!

It has no logical inconsistences unlike every other religious text.

That suggests that you've never read it attentively.

 

[science_is_my_god]

The reason why I believe the Bible is the Word of God because it is! It has no logical inconsistences unlike every other religious text.

I believe Yoda is real and that Star Wars actually happened because I DO. (yes, that was sarcasm) And by the way, it has inconsistencies, I could list them, but I'm too lazy to look them up right now lol. And just because something is completely error free doen't mean that it is divinely inspired.

 

[Scuba Pete]

Of course it is older than 2 millennia. First, and I would have thought obvious, when Jesus spoke those particular words he was directly quoting Leviticus (Lev 19:18), and that clearly is older than 2 millennia.

But I also believe that the idea is central to the teachings of Buddhism and Jainism. I believe that it can be found in Hinduism, Taoism, Confucianism. It appears in ancient Greek philosophy, Romans, etc. In fact I think you would be hard pressed to find any tradition or culture that has a significant body of written philosophy that does not include some version of “love thy neighbour”.

You never answered the question, other than with a reference to the OT. Are there any other references to loving your neighbor in OLDER texts? It's a simple question actually and hopefully someone can provide an answer for us.

BTW, Buddha predated Christianity by better than 500 years. I have no idea if he has any existing works or not. As I read their philosophy, I find that I have a huge tilt towards his teachings. Go figure.

 

[Smoke]

You never answered the question, other than with a reference to the OT. Are there any other references to loving your neighbor in OLDER texts? It's a simple question actually and hopefully someone can provide an answer for us.

The idea seems to have gained currency during the Axial Age in all the major cultures of the time.

The Mahabharata (Hindu) says, "That man who regards all creatures as his own self, and behaves towards them as towards his own self, laying aside the rod of chastisement and completely subjugating his wrath, succeeds in attaining to happiness."

Confucius says, "Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself."

Isocrates says, "Do not do to others what would anger you if done to you by others."

It's sometimes claimed that the originality of Jesus was in formulating the Golden Rule in positive terms, but Sextos the Pythagorean preceded him in that, saying, "What you wish your neighbors to be to you, such be also to them."

The Acaranga Sutra (Jain) has perhaps the strongest version, extending the rule beyond humans: "Nothing which breathes, which exists, which lives, or which has essence or potential of life, should be destroyed or ruled over, or subjugated, or harmed, or denied of its essence or potential."