Is the BIBLE a work of FACT or FICTION and can anyone PROVE it either way.?

Question

Personally i think it is just a story that some one wrote about 500 - 600 years ago.

Answer 1

At this point in time, nobody truly knows the real score. Anyone who says that he knows it for sure, whether fact or fiction, is lying. But personally, i think it's a mixture of fact and fiction. Just like the titanic movie, they mixed fact (the sinking) with fiction (the love story). It's a book written by several people, edited by many many more, compiled through the years, and edited further by some more for their own benefit, and finally becoming the book that it is now.

Answer 2

The bible has much factual information in it. But, much of it is also story-fiction like. Not to say that a lot of it did not happen, but it was probably overexaggerated in retellings much like a lot of events now. The story of Jonah and the whale for example, he probably fell off his boat and someone created a story that he was eaten, but then he shows up on shore one day and they say the whale spit him out or something like that.

The Jesus "walking on water" theory... also is supposed to possibly mean "walking by the water" so it really doesn't mean what it translates as.

Next, the whole water to wine idea. If Jesus could REALLY turn water to wine don't you think more people would have been following him? I'd be trying to get some free drink all the time. So, perhaps he was a good hypnotist or something. I really don't have an explanation. Maybe the guy who wrote that story just thought it would sound good to make him seem more special.

On the whole I would say the Bible is the greatest work of fiction ever written, although it's in dire need of an edit since much of the book is redundant.

No one can prove it either way because no one is alive when these so-called events were happening.

I will say that if you're one of those people that believe the bible is 100% true, you'll have to defend various parts of the bible for the rest of your life.

One story comes to mind of it saying God fought against some group or another in the Old Testament and yet he could not defeat this group because they had iron chariots. Come on now, this is god, and he couldn't defeat some chariots?

Anyways, it's some fact, a lot of overexaggeration and some fiction.

Answer 3

The old testament is actually a legendary history of the Israelites. As such it has both historical facts and some wild distortions. Parts of the OT are essentially propognda against the enemies of Israel (either foreign or domestic). Some of the philosophy was adopted from thir conquerors, some was original in their culture. This isn't too much different than the legendary histories of Rome, for example. The books of the NT were chosen because they support the power of the clergy. There were many other texts that competing believers helds as authoritative, but that were rejected from the canon.

If you want a clearer picture of the actual history, look into some archaeology for that region. You will find that the OT is not all that accurate. As for the NT, I suggest a good history of the eary Church along with a reading of the Gnostic gospels. The battle between the Ortodox and Gnostics was quite intense. The orthodox won and got to select the books in the Bible.

The older books of the OT seem to have been written about 8-900BC (which is much later than believers claim they were) according to comparisons between the texts and the archaeology.

Answer 4

Although there are many things that suggest it may be real there is really no way to prove it. Given the fact that there are at least 3 major religions that rely on their own Bible I find it hard to believe that it is fact.
Living any sort of life cannot prove that something is 'real'. I have lived as a Pagan and have found just as much direction as those who follow the 'word of God'.
Personally I have believed for over 20 years, and still do, that the Bible is a wonderous work of fiction; probably the BEST work of fiction ever written.

Answer 5

Written over a 1,600 years by different men from different backgrounds it is still hamonious. It is scientifically accurate showing that the author is supernatural. At a time when pipo believed that the earth was standing on 2 big elephants Job 26:7 accurately said that the earth 'hangs on nothing' and that was long b4 that fact was proven. Also at a time when pipo believed that earth was flat Isaiah 40:22 refered to it as a circle or sphere. Its not a science textbook but when it touches on science it is accurate. Is this not what we expect of a book from God? e.g the book of leviticus contained laws for ancient Israel on quarantine and hygiene when surrounding nations knew nothing about such matters. Apart from that there is a lot of fulfilled prophecy to prove that bilble is not fiction. Isaiah also named the conqurer of ancient Babylon Cyrus 200 years in advance i.e long b4 babylon even became a nation. Isaiah also prophesied that ancient babylon will never be inhabited again neither will the Arab pitch his tent. Today the site of ancient Babylon is uninhabited and evidence is seen in modern day Iraq where the once prosperous city had stood. lets communicate for a detailed discussion. Email [e-mail]

Answer 6

Cue lots of bible bashers telling you it is.....

It is based on verifiable historical texts that were found. As regards the accuracy of the content. Several independant documents allude to the same "stories" or facts in the large part with inconsistancies which you can expect from individual testimonials of the same event.

When you look at the time line of this historical document(S) it was edited by King John to fulfi his needs, but that was more deletion of parts rather than editing. This begs the question: Can a text translated from hebrew to greek to latin to english be taken to the letter, I think not.

As regards proving it, you just have to look at the Koran and the Talmud to notice that the same "stories" about the same people are there and it makes you wonder if there was somehting in it.The Koran was written in 7th Centrury Ad and is preserved in the original arabic. Adam and Eve, Moses, Jesus are all in all of these books and send out the same message.. SO that blows out the theory that these stories were invented 600 years ago. The Talmud is even older than that.

This is a debate that will rage on for centuries. Hope this helps.

Answer 7

Why would anyone want to?
People who belive what is says don't require proof, because they accuarately say religion is about faith. People who don't - why bother disprooving something you know to be wrong?

As for the bible it is far more ancient ten that, the volume (the old teastament that is) was sealed sometimes around 250BC and that is when the newest portions of it date back to - the older are at least some 500 years older then that. The new teastament is not quite as old as that but still older then you mentioned. Just because you belive the content of the book to be fiction doesn't mean there are no hard facts connected with it's history that can be verified.

Answer 8

I have to agree, that is just a story, and a nice one at that, but you should probably go back and do some more history classes - it has been proven through carbon dating that the original texts are more than 1, 700 years old. Also according to archaeologists thats have been present in jeruselum for about 120 years, there are more and more things being uncovered everyday - they have to this date found a further 12 books that were supposed to be included in the original works - they include peices written by Joseph of Aramethea, Mary of Bethel, Mary Magdalene a further peice that refers to both Galatians, Exodus, and Revelations (a second part to the one currently known of......) - All these books as well as other historical items pertaining to that particular period of time, have been confiscated by the Roman church and are in the care of The Vatican.

Answer 9

The bible is simply an eclectic mix of genuine accounts, stories, folklore, fantasy and mythology - all rolled into one - and re-written, exaggerated, edited, abbreviated and enhanced over the last thousand years.
Christians will have you believe that it was written by God - or parts of it were - but which part they are - who knows. A good question to ask is which parts are written by God - I would have thought they should stand out from what would have been known at this time anyway - but I'm yet to see any fantastic predictions, advice or revelations...
If you want a good read - take a look at an encyclopedia. If you need spiritual guidance - take a trip around the world, experience it and make up your own mind.

Answer 10

If the Bible is not 100% Truth, then what are you living for? Money? Pleasure? Yourself? What a waste. Why live if not for a purpose? Even if you want to believe that the Bible is fiction, it's impossible to say that it doesn't serve a purpose. You read a self help book to "help" you through something. How is the Bible any different?

Answer 11

Even every work of fiction is built from some amount of truth. Based on some grain of truth is what every work begins with. Then the writer begins to put in his own ideas and inputs and builds up what one later on knows as a strong work of faith.

The bible is probably a very powerful tool created for the followers of Christianity to have some guiding book to believe by. Thats all. Man obeys. Its first to his nature.