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Are the scriptures a manual or a guideline?

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
In your understanding, are religious scriptures a manual that must be followed and understood 100% accurate.

Or is it more of a guideline for the seeker to understand gradually and by that a seekers understanding and practice will sometimes diviate somewhat from the scriptures.
 

mikkel_the_dane

My own religion
In your understanding, are religious scriptures a manual that must be followed and understood 100% accurate.

Or is it more of a guideline for the seeker to understand gradually and by that a seekers understanding and practice will sometimes diviate somewhat from the scriptures.

In short. There is in effect always personal interpretation in how any human believes. Not just you, but everybody else including me.
 

mikkel_the_dane

My own religion
I have to admit that I use intuition a lot in my practice

We have been here before. But in practice it is part of my religion as:
"Of all things the measure is man, of the things that are, that they are, and of the things that are not, that they are not"
There is more, but only you can make sense of your life as you.
 

stvdv

Veteran Member: I Share (not Debate) my POV
In your understanding, are religious scriptures a manual that must be followed and understood 100% accurate
Are the scriptures a manual or a guideline?

My Master told us "the Bible can be summarized in 4 words:
"Help Ever, Hurt Never"

That is all I need

So, definitely no need to understand the whole Bible. What a relief. Even no problem if the Bible contains inconsistencies
 

mikkel_the_dane

My own religion
Are the scriptures a manual or a guideline?

My Master told us "the Bible can be summarized in 4 words:
"Help Ever, Hurt Never"

That is all I need

So, definitely no need to understand the whole Bible. What a relief.

Well, for the everyday world there are cases where you hurt, if you help, if you don't check for individuality.
 

stvdv

Veteran Member: I Share (not Debate) my POV
Well, to you.
Not just to me. Very easy to prove He is right here. And that your fault finding stands no chance
(The words come from a Poorna Avatar; they are rather perfect with words)

I always try to find the fault in my own reasoning. So far His words always were right

Hint:
1) He did put "Help Ever" first for a reason
 

mikkel_the_dane

My own religion
Not just to me. Very easy to prove He is right here. And that your fault finding stands no chance
(The words come from a Poorna Avatar; they are rather perfect with words)

I always try to find the fault in my own reasoning. So far His words always were right

Hint:
1) He did put "Help Ever" first for a reason

I don't play that game.
 

Sheldon

Veteran Member
In your understanding, are religious scriptures a manual that must be followed and understood 100% accurate.

Or is it more of a guideline for the seeker to understand gradually and by that a seekers understanding and practice will sometimes diviate somewhat from the scriptures.

They're anonymous hearsay, so it's impossible to form an objective answer.
 

wellwisher

Well-Known Member
In your understanding, are religious scriptures a manual that must be followed and understood 100% accurate.

Or is it more of a guideline for the seeker to understand gradually and by that a seekers understanding and practice will sometimes diviate somewhat from the scriptures.

In Christianity there is the forgiveness of sins, which makes the teachings of the Bible sort of like guidelines, since if you deviate from the perfection of the law, there is still forgiveness of sins.

As an analogy, say the speed limit is 65mph and you are pulled over for doing 75mph. The Patrol Officers explains why he pulled you over, but lets you off with a warning. In this case, the 65mph speed limit is not cut into stone like a commandment, just for the sake of lording over you. As the officer explains, it is there for everyone's safety. The officer points this out, but he then forgives you and allows you to learn from your mistakes. However, he does not expect you to keep pushing the speed limit, nor will he forgive your sins, forever. The next time you may get a ticket, if that is what it takes for you to learn.

Civil laws will cut slack to children under a certain age. The police officer may take you home and hand you over to your parents with no fine or jail time. But after you become an adult, that level of forgiveness is not as forth coming, since some people will take advantage of forgiveness. They will need stronger medicine to learn.

There are many examples in the New Testament where people considered sinners, reform. They may have been previously subject to punishment for their sins, but now their entire past is forgiven and the present becomes like a rebirth without blemish. This new them now needs neither forgiveness or penalty since they are one and not divide by law.
 

idea

Question Everything
In your understanding, are religious scriptures a manual that must be followed and understood 100% accurate.

Or is it more of a guideline for the seeker to understand gradually and by that a seekers understanding and practice will sometimes diviate somewhat from the scriptures.

Guidance not to be taken literally.
The real lessons of Aesop's fables would be lost if the reader took them literally. Parables, stories, fables - they are wonderful ways to explore scenerios, with no single interpretation or set meaning.
 

PureX

Veteran Member
In your understanding, are religious scriptures a manual that must be followed and understood 100% accurate.
No, and no. That was not the purpose nor the use of those texts by the people who wrote them (OT).
Or is it more of a guideline for the seeker to understand gradually and by that a seekers understanding and practice will sometimes diviate somewhat from the scriptures.
The original purpose of the text was to impress upon the reader the inexplicable nature of their God. And to impress the idea that mankind cannot understand nor control this God. We can and must simply trust in God's infinite wisdom.
 

Colt

Well-Known Member
In your understanding, are religious scriptures a manual that must be followed and understood 100% accurate.

Or is it more of a guideline for the seeker to understand gradually and by that a seekers understanding and practice will sometimes diviate somewhat from the scriptures.
Scriptures are an imperfect guideline which reflects the intellectual, moral and spiritual nature of those who create them. Creating a fetish out of scripture stunts growth in all three areas.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
In your understanding, are religious scriptures a manual that must be followed and understood 100% accurate.

Or is it more of a guideline for the seeker to understand gradually and by that a seekers understanding and practice will sometimes diviate somewhat from the scriptures.

For me, they are a guideline, and occasionally very poor ones. Others are downright astounding, with depth beyond the thinking mind.
 

Jayhawker Soule

-- untitled --
Premium Member
In your understanding, are religious scriptures a manual that must be followed and understood 100% accurate.

Or is it more of a guideline for the seeker to understand gradually and by that a seekers understanding and practice will sometimes diviate somewhat from the scriptures.
I believe "scripture" to be an ambiguous and unhelpful term that does little other than burden the text in question. For me as a Jew, Genesis 1 and 2 is scripture. So, too, the book of Exodus and the Holiness Code in Leviticus and Job and Psalms etc.. It is not an "it" but massively complex "them."
 
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