Why do SO many people believe in some of the ridiculous stories of the bible?

Question

It's amazing how many intelligent people believe in such nonsense. The bible contains so many unknowns and ridiculous ideas!!
Jesus is said to be "god's" son, yet "god" is purported to not even be human - instead, just some being that floats around space. So, this floating being is jesus' father, yet, apparently he didn't even impregnate mary..instead, she just magically became pregnant. So he's the father how?

And Noah's arc.. lol does anyone have any idea how many species of animals there are today, and were back then? There's NO possible way every animal could have fit on one boat.

So, WHY do people believe all of it? Do they know the authors? Do they have proof of any of the stories??? The ONLY difference between the bible and any other fictional book is the number of people that follow it. It's like everyone is 5 yrs old again, and believe something they heard/read SOLELY because their relatives and friends believe it.

Does 'Santa Claus' ring any bells?

Ok, I seemed to have upset some people - you all believe it "because it is written". Ok, then why not believe any other fictional novel as truth? How about Santa Claus? There are NUMEROUS books written about him dating back to probably hundred and hundreds of years ago.

Bottom line: Show me some proof OTHER THAN a damn book. Any idiot could have started that book thousands of years ago, and people just slowly added onto it to eventually make it what it is today... why believe it? Is there proof? Do you believe everything you read and hear?

**** By the way, I'm not attacking the FUNDAMENTALS of christianity - the commandments and rules of the religion are great guidelines to life. We shouldn't steal or kill, etc... yes, I agree 100% to that.

I'm merely wondering why so many intelligent people believe in such ridiculous stories when there is zero proof...that's all.

Answer 1

Because if they didn't they wouldn't have a reason not to be evil. Religion is for those weak minded individuals that need a reward and punishment system. Do I mind? No, not at all. Why? Cause it keeps people good. It keeps people from doing evil things. And if that keeps everyone from going on a killing rampage everyday, then it works for me.

As far as Noah's arc, not only would it not make sense to get two of everything, there are insects that only come out of the ground every 17 years. There are animals (land and sea) that you can't even see with the naked eye. Plus, no one has answered how a man captured 2 lions, 2 hippos, 2 alligators, 2 of every species of snake, etc. On top of all of that, how do you keep one animal from eating another? I mean, how long was the flood? How did the animals survive without food? The only thing they eat is meat, which would mean that when they got off the boat, they were each other's food - if they didn't starve to death while on the boat.

Leave the Christians alone, it is a better world if they believe in these things... trust me.

Answer 2

Your questions are really good, and your definitely not the only person who wonders about the authenticity of certain Bible stories.

The reason I read and believe the Bible is not because my family makes me, or because I'm an influential lemming.

When I gave my life to Christ and accepted him as my Lord and Savior, I was changed.

My behavior became radically different. I found that I was becoming more patient with people, and really thinking about the consequences of my actions. I was being kinder to people, slowly acquiring a sort of compassion for others.

I had been into internet porn for a real long time too, and began to hate it. If you had known me be back before I became a Christian, then you would've known I was totally addicted to the stuff.

When I asked God to give me the grace to stop, he did. I didn't have the slightest urge TO DO IT!!! This thing I had been unable to resist for so long suddenly LEFT me!!!

Now, thats not to say "Im so perfect and wonderful, that I never did anything bad again, the end" I have succumb to temptaion when I've neglected to call upon God for help. The thing is, is that when I do call on God to help me, he DOES!!

Now, you can talk about the authenticity of Bible tales all you want, and thats fine, but what Im telling you is that it is because of the life changing power that God has, and the way he's effected me personally, that makes me belive in him and the Bible.

In light of what he's done to me, I'd be a complete idiot not to.

Simply put, God is in the life changing bussiness, and he wants YOU to be a customer.

Answer 3

Okay, then lets play devils advocate.....lol. A cosmic dust ball and a massive explosion from a gaseous star created the earth. And through millions of years of evolution we are where we are today. All just chance happenings. The right place at the right time.
That explains why so many cultures believe there are higher powers out there, right?? Do all these religion have it wrong?? Because each religion has some things in its teachings that are pretty much "un-believable".

But doesn't science as well?? This is why we can't find the missing link. This is why alot of evolutionary science is based on "theory"... you know probablity, but can't quite be proved. I don't believe all the stories in the Bible. But sometimes we as humans have a need to believe in something bigger than us. Chisitanity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddahism, Taoists, etc... each of have flaws in our "provable fact" of religion, but its based on cultural, regional and spritual beliefs. Some even call it "Faith of the Fathers". Elders needed ways to explain things that happened around them. It really has nothing to do with acting like a 5 year old.... it has to do alot more with tradition.

Kind like medicine... which isn't perfect either... religion is practiced. Maybe one day we'll get it right.

Answer 4

Pal, I thought that I am an idiot for thinking along the same lines.

Let me add that it's not only the bible, but almost all the so called scriptures of almost all of the so called religions contain a lot of cow dung.

The Koran, Bhagawath Githa, Buddhist texts all have ridiculous stories. None will stand the test of logic or reality or science.

It appears that the crooks who wrote them and the crooked preachers really brainwashed the innocent people of the world thru hypnotism and fear of the unknown so that they will be under the control of the so called leaders. Once a human is brainwashed thru hypnotism or other means it's difficult for them to think independently. That's why only few people can think independently thru BS and most humans born to one or another religion die in that religion. And some in turn try to brainwash more people saying that their religion is the solution to all human problems and suffering. How sad!

Personally I think there are some good things written in these books. It's up to intelligent people to figure out good and bad.

Answer 5

It's an interesting question. The atheist perspective is clear-headed and rational, but that's just a little too frightening for some people, who believe there must be some "purpose" or "plan" to what could ultimately be nothing more than an accident of physics and chemistry.
Hence the idea of the "creator God" evolved from primitive conepts of "life in the inanimate" - fire gods, wind gods etc. And don't forget, the "Bible" per se has evolved over a loooong time and a lot of human experience. When its writers talked of a great flood "covering the earth", remember this is way before people thought of the Earth as a globe, and "the whole world" may in fact have been no more than one continent. That would be a catastrophic flood event, certainly, but only in a given area, and it would be just about conceivable for a human being to gather up one pair of every animal of whose existence he was aware, without touching about 99% of the rest of the animal kingdom.

As for the magical conception, yeah, it's a complicated one, and based on man being 'made in god's image.' As you say, god has no corporeal physical being, so how could we be made in his image? People believe the self-awareness they have is some sort of ethereal, spiritual dimension of themselves, and this is what differentiates between living flesh and dead flesh - living and dead human beings, at any rate. This they then go on to equate with God, so god is all spirit, and all "life", if you see what I mean - no physical matter to decay, but all living spirit. so when they say Jesus is the "son" of God, the assumption is that the spirit of god altered the nature of one of Mary's eggs and, to use the phrase "made it fruitful". Jesus is reported to have been delivered naturally through the birth canal - hence by the standards of the day he was born "normal" but, the contention is, without the use of any human sperm. (shrugs) A roman soldier by the name of Pantera might have something to say about that, but let's not get too logical here, we're dealing with matters of faith...:o)

These are examples of how people believe what might generally be thought to be impossible, unbelievable things. Now, as to why these things are still believed today, well firstly, they've been around a while, and the Testaments were orignally designed to be at least in part religious history books - eg chronicling the ancient history of the Jews, their persecution, flight and subsequent prosperity, or the events surrounding the life and ministry of one of the THOUSANDS of human beings proclaimed Messiah during the occupation of Palestine. So there are probably nuggets of good information in them. Which leads some people to think they're all true, and then to make that next, faintly dangerous logic-jump - that they're "God-inspired"; essentially, the Word of God himself...

Danger, Will Robinson!

The alleged "unchangeable" nature of the Bible has meant that people have traditionally taken it very literally and very seriously. More than simply a religious or historical text, it has become a thing around which families, communities, even nations are based. That's a LOT of peer pressure to believe. If you're taught the Bible stories as literal truths from the cradle, it's only natural that the environment will make you into a believer. Which as you rightly say means you have adults walking around believing stories they were taught at age 5. It's the same as if people built buildings to go and pick the wisom out of the Cat in the Hat, believing he truly came and did all the things that are written about him.

Which I guess is a long-winded way of saying you're right, but this is kinda why people are the way they are...

:o)

Answer 6

For soooo long I have denounced so much of that book because it was wrote by men when humans were turning to a patriarch based religion and I just 'feel' that certain things were wrote to influence people of that time.
I kinda look at the bible as like a fairy tale book, there are lessons to be learned by some of the stories, and yes I do believe in some of the words in the bible. But more than anything else I believe what is in my heart.

Answer 7

Just so you know...God is a being....he just doesnt have a gender but is refered to as He because it is more respectful. But when Jesus was sent to Earth he became man. So he wasnt mad already. And Noahs arc..well other animals have bred together by now.......the animals that were put in the ship probably have bred with other ones on there and then there was a new species! Ya know...stuff like that! People believe it all because its true! I love how you only you 2 stories from the whole bible to try and prove it wrong...which doesnt work anyways!


GOD BLESS YOU!

Answer 8

Dude, historians and scholars recognize the Bible as the MOST accurate historical text ever written. How else do we get the dates of Ancient Babylonians and Assyrians conquering other countries and territories? Also remember that Noah's Arc consisted of only land animals, not fish or bird. Some animals diversified and that's how we get all the animals we have today. Back in Noah's time, animals were plain and of only one species. Authors consist of all the prophets in the Bible. You are 5 years old, you ignorant little boy. Are you gonna judge another person't religion without research or any idea of what their religion is about?

Answer 9

There is a great resource for those who really want the answer to this question. Unfortunately, few will actually seek out the answer. Josh McDowell, an avowed athiest in college, set out to prove your point exactly. He was going to prove once and for all that belief in the Bible was completely unfounded. What happened to Josh? He found the evidence to be so overwhelming for the truth of the Bible that he himself became a Christian.

Josh compiled all the information from his extensive research into an 800 page book. You can find this book online at most bookstores. I'm sure you can check it out at your local library as well. Click on the reference below and you can actually read several pages of this book online at www.amazon.com.

Answer 10

What was the measurements on that boat again???? If only Genesis gave them,... oh wait they did. hmm, strange. So you don't understand God, hmmmm, well thats odd, since you have the power to create the universe and to come into human form and save the world from hell, oh wait you don't God does....Jesus said something about helping those that love Him (look up Romans chapter 8, reread verse 28 too, you might like it) Why does it make you feel more comfortable to put Jesus Christ on your level than for you to strive to be somewhere near his??? message me if you want, thanks,
Matt