Have bible unbelievers even read the Bible or studied its History???

Question

the bible is the only book to have prophecies fullfilled and its the only ancient book to have such a great and detailed recording of historical names, cities, etc. (Archaeologists have proved many true, but not all yet) Men can't prophecize, God inspired them to. So how can many of you label it as "myths" when you haven't even studied its scripture and secular history??? I'd suggest reading more before you degrade the bible's authenticity.

Answer 1

You're not being too being too investigative, yourself. There are other "prophecies" that have been "fulfilled" from many people. Such as Nostradamus. The prophecies themselves didn't exactly come true, however, people like the prophecies in terms of metaphoric speaking (such as the 9/11 attacks being from "iron birds.) I believe in the Bible, I've studied it. A lot of people that criticize the Bible HAVE studied it. And, there's plenty reason for people not to believe it. You can't take anything from the bible 100% literally, because scientific proof has given the life of the world a timeline, and evolution has been proven. However, as the prophecies are metaphoric, so are the teachings, and that's where everything comes in. It's not a matter of what happened, or how it did, it's the fact that the parables all have a good meaning to them. I'd suggest you look into things more, before trying to think of yourself as high and mighty, and thinking you have an above-decent argument.

Answer 2

It's interesting you say this, because many of the stories of Pagans who converted from Christianity to Neo-Paganism begin with "I actually read the whole Bible." There are a lot of people who dismiss the Bible whole cloth who know little about it. There are those out there, however, who know more about the Bible now as non-Christians than when they were. Because there *are* some churches who only present a very edited version of scripture specially selected to justify their teachings. And there is the fact that non-Christians studying the Bible are reading for different perspectives, such as for historical and cultural insight. I do think there are true things in the Bible, for example, for a history of ancient middle east and of a very influential set of religions, it is a valuable source of customs, places, events, and people who we might not otherwise know about. But this does not necessarily prove divine origin. To draw a comparison from another ancient text: Heinrich Schliemann used the Illiad as a guide to discover the city of Troy, which was indeed destroyed several times over. But that doesn't prove the Illiad is 100% literally true.

Answer 3

I have read the BIble that is why I don't believe it. Big deal prophecies fulfilled that is an easy thing to do. I prophecised that the patriots would win the super bowl after 9/11 and it happened well i guess i am god. There are a lot of prophecies that failed in the Bible like the one about Jesus being in the earth for three days and three nights well he was only in for two. Completed prophecies mean little in the light of countless contradictions. Perhaps you should look more before you claim the Bible authentic.

Answer 4

Yes, I have read it at least once all the way through as I was a pastor's daughter. However, there are many things in it that I cannot reconcile myself with. I do NOT approve of viewing women as lesser than men, for instance. We are different, not less. There are plenty of men out there who are stupid, just like women, and plenty of smart women, just like men. It's an individual thing, not a gender thing.

Also, I get a bit annoyed at the Bible being taken for complete fact in all ways. For instance, there are some who say that dinosaurs are a complete hoax because they were not mentioned in the Bible, and that it isn't possible for the Earth to be even the youngest age that science suggests it is because, according to the Bible, we have only been around for about 7,000 years. They, of course, have no explanation for how we are seeing the light of stars that takes over that to get to Earth traveling at light speed. Stuff like that drives me crazy.

I label it as myth because I see it as being just as believable as any of the other myths out there. Just because a prophecy wasn't recorded, doesn't mean that there weren't those out there who were making just as accurate predictions. Actually, the Oracles of Apollo were known to be uncannily accurate. How would the Bible explain that? They were inspired by Something, I suppose, and that Something is probably the same from religion to religion, as far as I can see.

Also, while there are archaeological proofs for some things that are more recent in history, that's because they ARE so recent. I doubt we would ever find Hercules' grave, if such a person ever existed, and it's not even known which grave was supposed to be Jesus', not definitely. There are educated guesses made, but that's it.

I see the Bible as a document meant to explain to a single people their origins, during a time of great turmoil and often oppression for them. I think it was meant to make them feel good about themselves and unite them as a nation. Their religion was actually very exclusionist--if you weren't born it, from what I can tell you weren't able to become a Jew very often, at least not back then. Then some ideas of a teacher get around to ANOTHER set of opressed people, and they think that they're good. Then they spread it to the ruling classes of one of the largest nations in the world at the time, and that nation MAKES everyone join the new religion. The religion went from exclusionist to TOO MUCH inclusion, at swordpoint if necessary. What's good about that? I would rather worship as I would than worship as I'm told.

Answer 5

First of all, have you read the whole Bible?? I have read part of the Bible, I have listened to people who are quite knowledgeable and I have taken part in discussions about the Bible. So although I am not an expert, I can say I am familiar with the Bible and I don't believe one bit that everything in the Bible has actually happened. Your question focuses on what can be backed by evidence. What about those parts of the Bible that have not been proven.
And I'd like to point out that some people who do claim that the Bible is full of myths are quite knowledgeable about its content and could give very acceptable reasons for their disbelief.
MOST PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT EVOLUTION IS A FALSE CLAIM EITHER DO NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT BEHIND IT OR HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE BEHIND. LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE AND TELL ME THAT EVOLUTION IS NOT ALL POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE SPECIES WHOSE EVOLUTION CAN CURRENTLY BE OBSERVED.

Answer 6

i studied and taught the bible to my confirmation students. been a christian for 25 years. i don't claim to be an expert on the bible...

i could come up with 20 prophesies and i could imagine as centuries and millenia's pass, a lot of my prophesies will come true as well. so i believe that some prophesies coming true is just luck.

i believe that the bible is a remarkable historical document that should be read by everybody. but that's it. i'm not prepared to cut off my right hand after it has 'sinned'. lol.

i respect that the bible is an important foundation for some ppl. good for them. but i can't follow a book that i feel is riddled with contradictions and that may not even be an accurate translation.

i believe in god. i am a moral and ethical person. i believe jesus existed, but it's a little far-fetched for me to worship him as it would take my attention away from god. jesus is god? why complicate things?

why do christians try to convince me the bible is inspired by god by giving me a bible quote? or to convince me that christianity is true by giving me a bible quote? just wondering.

take care,
ger

Answer 7

Madeline O"Hare the premier Atheist read the Bible and could quote it. The Bible says.. The Demons believe and tremble.

As I answered in another post.

It is a matter of individuals wanting to do what they want, when they want, and do not want anyone to tell them they are wrong, or will one day be held accountable. So. How to soothe their conscience?

Simple. Declare there is NO GOD.

If there is NO GOD.. then there are no divine laws. If there are no laws, then they can do what they want. If there is NO GOD, there is no one to hold them accountable and there will be no judgment.

That is the bottom line. They want no one to tell them NO. But they have to convince everyone that they are right. Actually pitch a hissy fit and demand it. Anyone who believes there is a GOD is a threat to their false security. And therefore.. an enemy to be dealt with and eliminated. Therefore they mock.

But let not your heart be troubled. GOD is not mocked.

Answer 8

I was a practicing Christian for over thirty years and studied religion and history, including reading the bible.

The bible is a book of mythology and there is no credible historical evidence of any kind supporting the bible myths.


A summary of bible history:

A collection of scrolls written by unknown people at unknown times for unknown purposes was incorporated into a single collection by a council authorized and supervised by a pagan Roman Emperor in 325 CE (ad).

That collection has been argued over since that time, eventually resulting in millions of different interpretations of what the collection actually means.

That debate continues because no one has any credible evidence to support any of their claims.

Answer 9

About ten years ago, I thought there must be something in there that keeps people coming back, so I tried to read it... Then on the fourth page, I realized that they are trying to get me to believe that people back then, were living up to a thousand years. That will not happen, I will not believe,specially since I heard that when Eve supposedly ate the apple, God decided to punish the human race by giving them a much shorter life span... And weren't Adam and Eve the first ones here?? Plus, these people apparently had hundreds of children... Come on... Wake up and smell the roses that Mother nature produces... Nostradamus did predict many events and nobody has to pray to him.

Answer 10

You would actually be amazed at the # of people who have read and studied the history of the bible and still don't believe. They are simply in denial. However, on a deeper level the word believe broken down in the original means to "live by" so then the question becomes do you truly believe based upon what you "live by"? hmmm.....something to think about.