Why do many cite the bible or quran as proof?

Question

This happens a lot. Neither can be shown to have any validity in their "stories". It is just annoying when you ask for evidence, and someone tells you to "read the bible". I have read it. It belongs in the fiction section.

Thanx for the heads up Ray W.

Answer 1

Because most of them sincerely believe it to be credible evidence. And, are likewise perplexed when someone refuses to accept it as evidence.

Faith cannot be debated or discussed using logic. Those whose beliefs are based on faith will not be swayed by logical arguments, and those whose beliefs are not based on faith will not be swayed by arguments that rely on faith.

So, we all ending up arguing/debating about issues that will never be settled. Primarily because we are arguing about apples and oranges (two different philosophies).


Additional comment:

WIth all due respect to those who claim the bible is supported by evidence, it is not.

There is no credible evidence that supports any of the bible stories, including the Jesus myths. If there was, there would be no debate on the issue.

Answer 2

Well, I agree with you that the Bible or any other scripture is not solid evidence of anything.It is about faith.The problem is that people interpret the Bible differently and the Bible itself has been changed many times and has been edited and so we don't even know if we are getting the whole story.And even if we are we have only faith that it is true.Afterall, it was written by men.Inspite of what people say about God being the author.That isn't true.God was suppose to have inspired the authors in visions and such.But it was still men who wrote it and still write it today..Just look at the first few pages to find the publishing company.I gurantee that God isn't the listed publisher..But God inspired the authors..Or so many believe...Again, it is all about faith.

The fact will remain that like the Easter bunny or Santa Claus or the Boogey Man, we have no proof except stories.But faith can sometimes be proof as well.And while there is no proof that Jesus was the son of God or that Moses parted the Red Sea, we have other evidence that is more based on historical relics and other non religious accounts of these persons having existed.Maybe we can't prove they were divine but we know that they did exist.....The rest is, once again, faith.......

Answer 3

Not really fiction.
You should at least see it as a guidebook. Even though you may think that many of the stories are fiction, many of them do have a morale and a deeper meaning, applicable to your every day experiences.
Take for instace the story of Noah and the flood; and the two from every kind that he took with him. Blessy_Sammy gave an explanation to your recent flood question that I partly agree with.

The story about the creation: The story outlines a sequence of events. No event can come before the other until the final goal is reached. The intention might be to tell us that a goal cannot or should not be reached by shortcuts. Also, that time should be used wisely and not be wasted. Yet, even a time of rest is not a wasted time.
Actually this story contains pure wisdom.

The story of Samson is my favorite though, because the guy is a trip with women...

Answer 4

Because if they said 'Well, I have no ACTUAL proof.....' It would pretty much end there. But you of all people should know how we all like a good 'Debate'!
I disagree with the 'fiction' bit though, there is a little history in there just hidden by a lot of hearsay.

Terry F, Have you any non-religious web links to back that up?
Only ones I can find are xtian based(funnily enough)

Answer 5

Hmmmm...let me try to come at this from your viewpoint a bit. When I tell someone to "look it up" in the Bible, I do this as a reach of my faith. However, there is quite a bit of information in the Bible that you could call (and I'm making this word up here obviously) "no-faith-required." I mean, if you do your homework you will find that Jesus did walk the earth in the timeframe accounted for...it would then only be a question of your faith if you chose to put Jesus in the same place that I do as a Christian.

Make sense?

Answer 6

Well the quran is filled with tons of scientific evidence of it being real; it's not all "stories". For instance, modern science has only just discovered that mountains are supported by huge underground "supports". Quran mentions this, 78:6-7 "Have We not made the earth as a bed, and the mountains as pegs?" It also says And the mountain Hath He firmly fixed “79:32 Another Ironic verses He set on the earth mountains standing firm lest it should shake with you “31:15”
It talks of iron being "sent down" for our use; nasa has confirmed that iron is not of earthly origin.
Science came to know only as recently as 1942 that seas differ and do not mix with each other. Quran mentioned this as well, saying " He has let free the two bodies of flowing water, meeting together: Between them is a Barrier which they do not transgress. Then which of the favors of your Lord will be denying? Out of them come pearls and coral” [55-19-22]. It talks of invisible underwater "waves" which were only recently discovered. It mentions the layers of our atmosphere being 7, and of course, we only just figured this out. “Allah is He who created seven Firmaments and of the earth a similar number. Through the midst of them (all) descends His command: that you may know that Allah has power over all things, and that Allah comprehends all things in His knowledge” [65:12] The list goes on and on. In prophetic saying, Mohammed mentioned olive oil, honey, nigella seed oil, vinegar, cupping, and dates as being of signifigant benefit; he also mentioned it being preferrable to eat leaving 1/3 for food, 1/3 for liquids, and 1/3 for air. We're only just starting to learn about the wisdom behind this information, given to us over 1400 years ago.
There is tons of scientific information given in quran, and theres no way an illiterate bedouin had access to this kind of information in his time. This is why it's hard to ignore quran as something other than "proof".

Answer 7

That just show how ignorant you are. The Bible is the Word of God and it should be used as evidence. Romans 11: 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits;

Answer 8

People often point to major works of accepted knowledge or confessed faith like religious works (i.e. Bible, Torah, Qumran, Book of Mormon, etc) because texts such as these are approved by wide circles of people as a source of authority to them. This is sort of like the First 10 constitutional amendments. Is the Bill of Rights Fiction or Non-Fiction? Neither, but a statement of what people who give aliegence to the US government trust in. "Freedom of Speech to be respected by other US citizens because they're also under such law," they might say.

In a Modern World view, people of various faith-beliefs could reference ancient Judeo-Christian scripture to a certain extent because there was a prevailing sense that most everyone accepted these writings as holding a certain amount of authority to people of western civilization's belief systems. But only as long as it could stand up to what was scientifically provable and relevant (hense modernism).

Today, however, in a Postmodern World View, people either question all once accepted sources of authority, or consider many of them equally. All supposed ancient works of truth are up for grabs now, not on the sole basis of scientific validity, but on how much the information/ stories relate to my geniune situation and perception of the world.

(* Granted Postmodernism is doubted by some people... suffice it to say that scientific method, uniformity and optimism aren't as wide-spread as they used to be.)

It is a matter of epistemology: how do we know what we know.

In today's world, it is quite passe to reference anceint pieces of religious scripture without any relationship with the people to whom you suggest it. Bible will hold no authority to someone who doesn't choose it as a source of authority.

Instead, people must reference truth as it is lived out. A postmodern world looks for authenticity. "Are you being real to me? Is what you have genuine to me and my real suffering/ doubts?"

In this case the best cited reference for truth is how you live your life. "Don't take what truth I offer because 'Bible' or Qumran' says it. Take it because I live it out and it seems right and compassionate to a broken world," they might should say.

But that is more than what you asked for, isn't it? Take this answer however you want. I am open to being proved mistaken if you can convince me.

Answer 9

the sweetness in nature consistently reaffirms my concept in God. have you ever seen vegetation enhance in a organic area with colours that conflict? have you ever been contained in the mountains? Wow. each little thing up there screams "GOd made me!" What relating to the sensation while your new child babe wraps that is comfortable little hand around your finger and your coronary heart immediately melts? WHat relating to the potential to love and hook up with a diverse man or woman in this manner of deep point it sounds such as you're sharing each concept?

Answer 10

You may have read the bible, but you didn't understand it. Go back and read it again. This time pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance.