Why do Christians get away with calling the bible the good book?

[Dano]

Reading the bible it becomes obvious that it is full of racism, injustice, murder, genocide, etc, either directly committed or ordered by god.

Just to mention one passage from Numbers 13:15-17: 31:15 Moses said to them, “Have you allowed all the women to live? 31:16 Look, these people through the counsel of Balaam caused the Israelites to act treacherously against the Lord in the matter of Peor – which resulted in the plague among the community of the Lord! 31:17 Now therefore kill every boy, and kill every woman who has had sexual intercourse with a man. 31:18 But all the young women who have not had sexual intercourse with a man will be yours.

How can anybody get away with calling it the good book?

 

[3.14]

compelling protagonist
overcoming obstakels
narative at the beginning
friends becoming enemy's
enemy's becoming friends
main character grows
racism
injustice
murder
genocide

i mean all it misses is some fight scenes ontop of a burning building

 

[Troublemane]

Xians call it the 'good book' because it purports to tell the story of the Messiah, and view the OT as just a prologue to the NT. All the cruelty etc in the OT can be justified as its how G-d used to deal with humanity, that is until "He" decided in his infinite wisdom to just deliver unto mankind a perfect sacrifice, his only son, for us to kill so we'd never have to sacrifice another living thing to G-d.

It may not have worked out, especially with the witch burnings and all, but then you know, people aren't perfect. :angel2:

But why call it the 'good book'? IMO, its marketing. Really. Sort of rolls off the tongue easier than the "semi-historic-mythiopoeic history of the jewish people, including a lengthy appendix written by gentiles 100 yrs after the roman occupation of jerusalem."

:trampo:

 

[Dano]

I suppose the worst is reserved for the NT when it comes to Revelations.

 

[MSizer]

For the same reason muslims call the koran a miracle. Because they believe it to be so (I'm not necessarily saying it is or isn't - (I think that your criticism of it is a bit simplified, although I also think they tend to have too high an opinion of it too).

 

[Dano]

The question is not why do they call it the good book.

I am more concerned with the fact that the majority of people seem to accept the claim that the bible is a good book of moral guidance and why they are allowed to get away with this claim although it is painfully obvious that the bible is no such thing?

Why is it not disputed more? Is it because most people have not really read the bible or they are selectively blind.

 

[MSizer]

Why is it not disputed more? Is it because most people have not really read the bible or they are selectively blind.

I think because first of all, most people agree that we should be free to espouse the philosophies of our choice, and secondly, it's not necessarily "bad" either. Judeo religions have served the west in many ways by formalizing codes of conduct based on elementary moral principles. Yes, I'm with you in that it's really just comparable to pop-science as a moral guide - it's a lot more basic than many people think simply because they don't have the philisophical education to be aware of more enlightened thinking, but I do think it is a good book actually, for someone who will never recieve any further moral philosphical education.

I could challenge christians on St. Thomas Aquinas' double effect, but the great mass majority of christians have never even heard about it, because they don't even know about all of the theological works that have come out since the bible, so if they won't get a thorough education in moral philosophy, they may as well have some parables to inspire them on the basics.

 

[Dano]

I would make some distinction here between philosophy and dogmatic religions.

Judeo-Christian religion has only ‘served’ the West because it was the religion in power. It tried to prevent many scientific advances and is responsible for many atrocities. It probably stood in the way of better codes of conduct and law that could be based on reason and basic moral principles that are available without religion.

Most positive things have been achieved despite religion.

 

[LuisDantas]

Quite frankly, it is all a matter of political influence. The Bible is certainly no "better" a book than, say, the Tao Te Ching, the Bhagavad Gita or even the Kuran (sp?).

 

[3.14]

though the little engine that could beats them all hands down

 

[gnomon]

I would make some distinction here between philosophy and dogmatic religions.

Judeo-Christian religion has only ‘served’ the West because it was the religion in power. It tried to prevent many scientific advances and is responsible for many atrocities. It probably stood in the way of better codes of conduct and law that could be based on reason and basic moral principles that are available without religion.

Most positive things have been achieved despite religion.

I think you need to rethink this position on "Judeo-Christianity". Pagan Europe wasn't making any leaps and bounds in the advancement field (at a time when China was) nor was pagan Europe any more peaceful.

Actually, the better question is whether or not there was that much of a difference between the way different groups treated each other with the changing face of religious beliefs. I believe the answer is practically no.

 

[McBell]

I am more concerned with the fact that the majority of people seem to accept the claim that the bible is a good book of moral guidance and why they are allowed to get away with this claim although it is painfully obvious that the bible is no such thing?

GEt away with?
What do you mean "get away with"?
Is there some law somewhere that is being broken by people calling the Bible the "good book"?

Why is it not disputed more? Is it because most people have not really read the bible or they are selectively blind.

People will believe what they believe.
Perhaps it has more to do with people not really caring about it?
I mean honestly, how many people really care what kind of advertising campaign Christians use to promote their product?

Why should it be any different than advertising you see on tv, or hear on the radio?

 

[Dano]

Christianity is still very powerful (however, nothing like in the old days) and claims the moral high ground. All this is based on the bible, so is it not time to confront those claims with the unpleasant reality of the bible?

When I say 'get away with', I mean that the majority of people and powerful institutions seem to accept the claim that the bible is a 'good book' without the due critique and allow the church undeserved privileged influence on political decission making (e.g. House of Lords), education, etc.

 

[ellenjanuary]

It is called the good book because one beats the Christians over the head with it and makes them good.:angel2:

 

[McBell]

Christianity is still very powerful (however, nothing like in the old days) and claims the moral high ground. All this is based on the bible, so is it not time to confront those claims with the unpleasant reality of the bible?

So you disagree that the Bible is a good book.
What makes you think that people will ditch their opinion for your opinion?

When I say 'get away with', I mean that the majority of people and powerful institutions seem to accept the claim that the bible is a 'good book' without the due critique and allow the church undeserved privileged influence on political decission making (e.g. House of Lords), education, etc.

Um...
Perhaps it has to do with the fact that the majority of people are of the opinion that the Bible is a good book?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

It's just PR. It's the same reason every crappy comedy movie is advertised as "the funniest movie of the year."

 

[McBell]

It's just PR. It's the same reason every crappy comedy movie is advertised as "the funniest movie of the year."

Perhaps, But I suspect that it is more they are merely expressing their opinion.
Of course, expressing ones opinion as though it were fact is not necessarily a good thing, but I have no idea why someone would take such issue as to be worried about people "getting away" with presenting their opinion. Even if they are presenting it as though it were a fact....

 

[Zorro1227]

Reading the bible it becomes obvious that it is full of racism, injustice, murder, genocide, etc, either directly committed or ordered by god.

Just to mention one passage from Numbers 13:15-17: 31:15 Moses said to them, “Have you allowed all the women to live? 31:16 Look, these people through the counsel of Balaam caused the Israelites to act treacherously against the Lord in the matter of Peor – which resulted in the plague among the community of the Lord! 31:17 Now therefore kill every boy, and kill every woman who has had sexual intercourse with a man. 31:18 But all the young women who have not had sexual intercourse with a man will be yours.

How can anybody get away with calling it the good book?

Yeah those verses in the Bible are disgusting. I do not understand how anyone call the god in the Bible a loving and just god.

 

[Dano]

So you disagree that the Bible is a good book.
What makes you think that people will ditch their opinion for your opinion?


Um...
Perhaps it has to do with the fact that the majority of people are of the opinion that the Bible is a good book?

o.k...
But what are those opinions or beliefs based on. Shouldn’t they be based on facts? The bible is available for anybody to read and test.

I doubt that most people who have those opinions and beliefs have actually read the bible themselves. Most get fed with the ‘good’ bits by the church and are even indoctrinated that some bad bits are good because god said so (the worst bits are left out anyway).

I cannot comprehend how any unbiased and open-minded reader can come to the conclusion that this book is ‘good’ and fit to serve as moral guidance.

To me the OT tells the story of a bad tempered, jealous, vain, cruel, racist... god who prefers one race above all others as long as they do what he wishes and pray, praise, and sacrifice to him.

A god that promotes or commits genocide (Numb. 31:15; Deut. 20: 16-18, great flood, Joshua, etc.), murder (killing of many Israelites during Exodus, Egyptian first born in Exodus 12:12, Numb.15:32 and many of the other unjust laws), human sacrifice (Judges11:39) and animal sacrifices (all of Leviticus), unjust and ridiculous laws (Leviticus,Numbers) etc. ,etc. And it gets even worse in the NT with Revelations.

This is only a small selection. Maybe you can read it yourself and tell me what’s so good about it?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Reading the bible it becomes obvious ...

Maybe some of them are smarter than you. :yes: