Question about the Bible?

Question

I never understood religion or why people follow it. Some people believe in the bible, but wasn't the bible written by men? What makes you so sure that they were telling the truth? On top of it, the stories never make sense and are physically impossible. Do people believe in it because they need hope in their lives? I'm not trying to be rude, I truely do not understand it.

Answer 1

can't answer that cuz i have the same question

Answer 2

********************
Many people become 'turned off' to the Bible & religion in general, due to what many religions Claim about the Bible's teachings. They all seem to contradict ... but only one CAN be correct ... which? How do we sort through all the conflicting beliefs? Should we try? Does belief in the Bible make sense in the first place?

First ... the Bible was Penned by men, but Directed by God (2 Peter 1:20,21). Those who made copies of manuscripts were extremely devoted to using the Most Immaculate Care! Studies have confirmed that the only 'errors' in the Oldest Known Manuscripts have been found to be simple copiest errors (i.e., "spelling errors or stylistic changes that don't affect the meaning"* much ... Nothing's missing, nothing's really been changed, & nothing added! Although that does not hold true for all Bible's in usage today, there Are those that Are solidly based on the 'OAM's, for instance :

Scholarly Praise for the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
http://www.xanga.com/ThePreachingWork/416884437/item.html

WHY Care About Spiritual Things? :
... Spirituality and Your Well-Being
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2004/2/1/article_01.htm

"Bibleman" recommended two Excellent publications for you to read. "themom" & "mthtchr05" have also given great answers. I'd just like to add a 'few' more touches ...

Reconciling Science and Religion :
-- "Science and religion [are] no longer seen as incompatible."
----"The Daily Telegraph", London - May 26, 1999
http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/2002/6/8/article_01.htm

A Unique Source of Superior Wisdom
http://www.watchtower.org/library/pr/index.htm?article=article_03.htm

[How] You CAN Understand the Bible!
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2001/7/1/article_01.htm

Why You Can Trust the Bible
http://www.watchtower.org/library/t13/why_trust.htm
(This discusses many of the reasons that I trust the Bible implicitly.)

In Search of Trustworthy Predictions
...... Why You Can Trust Bible Prophecy
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/1999/7/15/article_01.htm
(One of the reasons we know we can trust it, is because all past prophecies have come to pass on time! The only ones which haven't happened yet, have not been scheduled to happen yet!)

Why I Believe the Bible - A Nuclear Scientist Tells His Story
http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/2004/1/22a/article_01.htm

True Teachings--Where Can You Find Them?
... True Teachings That Please God:
...... How Old Is [the Bible?
...... How Is It Organized?
...... Can You Trust the Bible?
...... What Does the Bible Teach Us?
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2005/7/15/article_01.htm

The Bible--A Textbook for Living :
... Cherished and Suppressed
... A Textbook for the Living :
..... A Book That Gives Purpose
..... Adding Stability to a Troubled Life
...... Help in Overcoming Emotional Problems
...... Practical Counsel on Family Life
...... Counsel That Endures
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2000/12/1/article_01.htm

Should You Believe in Miracles? :
... Miracles--Fact or Fiction?
... Miracles That YOU Have Seen <<<
... The Power of God's Word
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2005/2/15/article_01.htm

If one Truelly wants to understand it (rather than ridicule it) they Must give it an Unbiased trial.
... Yes it does offer hope, but not likely the hope that you've been led to think. (That is something else you ought to look into!)

The Bible has been maligned for thousands of years, yet it is still here!

Religious groups that Claim to follow it
-- yet at the same time disregard the most important of its teachings --
have made a HORRIBLE reputation for themselves ...
In people's minds, this Same reputation has rubbed off on the Bible (explained in ch 3 of the bk: *A Book For All People)!

Yet, the Bible remains the Most Widely Distributed & Read book ever! It has also been "Translated more times into more languages than any other book"* ever, even in the face of extreme persecution.

After careful consideration,
are You willing to give it a 'Fair shake'?

Sincerely,
"Make Sure of All things; Hold Fast to what is Fine!"
1 Thessalonians 5:21

Answer 3

Do you have a bible? Turn to 2 Timothy 3:16. Physically impossible or nonsense "stories" have a better name: miracles. Have you never witnessed a miracle? You have, you may have just looked for and accepted a more scientific explanation. Turn to James 1:5-6. If you don't have a bible, log onto www.biblegateway.com and put in those scriptures. I hope you get an understanding. All you need to do is faithfully ask God. He will answer you. Have you ever considered going to a church or listening to an Internet sermon? Try www.streamingfaith.com. It's free and you can learn more about God (not religion) from the comfort of your own home. Peace.

Answer 4

First of all, you are just too sweet!! How could anyone think you rude?
Now. People who believe that the universe, our galaxy, the earth, and us was created by a greater being also believe that this greater being has a name, Jehovah God, and that He, in time, inspired certain faithful ones among mankind to be his 'secretaries' and write down what they were given to write by Him. Over the course of 1,600 years, the Bible was a chronicle of God's unfolding purpose for man. It was written at different times, by different people; some were farmers, judges, and prophets. Others were fishermen, shepherds and kings. One was a doctor. Despite the varied backgrounds of it's writers, the Bible is harmonious, meaning it all falls together in a pattern.
You could liken the Bible to an owners manuel! God created us, and therefore gave us an instruction manuel as to how to use the lives he gave us. There have been historical documents aside from the Bible that coinside with what the Bible says happened. The Bible said the earth was hung upon nothing at all, when mankind was still firmly rooted in beliefs such as the earth being held up by a mighty man, or a turtle. The Bible says the earth was a sphere, when for years and years it was believed the earth was flat...so the Bible is not only historically correct, but it is scientifically correct as well.
And yes, mankind needs hope. It would be difficult to live each day without the thought that there was a reward for all your hard work, or a life after this one, this life is so short! And so, created in God's image, we worship what we cannot see. We are the only creature God created who has the need to worship. So we look for something in this world that we can understand and accept that explains what is going on! That is faith. Faith says I believe in it, although I cannot see it or hear it or smell it or touch it...but God is full of loving-kindness, and He lets us touch the petals of a rose, and He lets us smell the wonderful heady fragrance of that rose, and He lets us look at the deep red color or it, or the yellow blushed with pink of the rose. He lets us feel the soft down on our newborns head, and smell the new baby smell that only comes once in a lifetime. He lets us breathe in mountain air, and feel the cold rush of water at a lake. Faith is believing that a higher being did that for us, and if you can have THAT, then you can accept that He left an manuel for us to learn and live by!!

Answer 5

I have been going to church ever since I was a little girl. I have often pondered this myself, but the truth of the matter is you have to be stong to be a christian. The devil is going to test you, he will make you think God is horrible and not worth believing in. This is where you have to believe the most. God loves every single person on the earth, no matter what. To answer your question yes, the bible was written by man, but God had a special relationship with these men. He specifically told them what to write so all of his children to come, would be able to learn and know about Him. God nor humans can make you believe in Him. You have to find the power to believe it yourself. It is not because people need hope, its because there is hope. The stories do not make sense because it is impossible for a human to know everything, you cannot picture eternity because that is the way God made us. Us and everybody else will NEVER compare to Him. Charles Darwin came up with the "Theory of Evolution". This is what some people believe because they say there is proof, and there is but you have to choose whether you think we all evolved from monkeys, or a higher being made us. Our proof is the bible. Nobody can decide this for you, it is a road you have to take by yourself. I am not trying at all to force religion down anyones throat. I am giving you my point of view and showing you there is light at the end of your road. you have to have strength, hope, courage and most of all believe.

Answer 6

the bible was written by men who were given the word from God. There were many tests to see if the stuff that was written was true. I am going to suggest that you read the book the Case for Christ, it is a book written by an atheist who had a lot of the questions you had. A lot of stuff in the bible does seem like stuff we see in fairy tales but that is what makes it so miraculous. And if someone was going to walk on water wouldn't you imagine it being the son of God. As far as other "weird" things in the Bible especially in the old testament some historical records back up stuff. And who doesn't need hope in their life. A life without hope is just depressing.

Answer 7

yup, the Bible is true. It was handed down for several generations by prophets of God. Since God didn't write, it, he left it to his followers to fo so. The prophecies of teh Bible has been fulfilled except for the second coming of Christ and Revaltions. It is possible to believe those stories. It's just people don't believe becasue they would never have those powers. I believe because there isn't any other explaination to why we are here. Evolution doesn't make sense because it's full of holes and gaps. Other religions are trying to do the same thing, but not much results are made. If you try to understand it with all your heart, soul, and mind, or ask a pastor, the Bible would make perfect sense to you.

Answer 8

I know you are not rying to be rude, and your questions are very valid ones! I felt the same way until I found out the truth.

The Bible was written by prophets who were inspired by God to write the words that have been written. Kind of like if you are a writer, the pen is doing the writing but the words are yours.

According to the Bible God is a righteous God, meaning he is perfect and does the right thing! Everything in the Bible backs this up, so that is another clue that the Bible is true.

The events are physically impossible, but in my eyes so is evolution, and conception! Do you even realize what needs to happen in order for a baby to even be conceived !?!?! But God can do all things, He created the universe and everyone and everything in it!

I suggest that if you are finding it hard to believe in God, then I ask that you just pray and ask Jesus to come into your life, and ask God to reveal himself to you. I know that God will answer this request!

God Love YOU
Heather :)

Answer 9

The Bible was written by men and women yes. But that does't mean it isn't accurate. All books are wriiten by people, does that make them inaccurate?

I'm certain that the authors of the Bible were telling the truth: 1) All scriputre is God-Breathed (2 Tim. 3:16), so God told man to write exactly what he wanted. Also, some of the authors were actual historians. So their job, needless to say, was to record history as accurately as possible.

Some of things that you claim are impossible are not impossible. God created the Universe; he can do anything he wants.

I hope this clears some things up.

Answer 10

You are right the things in the bible are physically impossible but they are not impossible for an all knowing, all powerful God to perform. You are also correct when you say people need hope. Hope is what God gives to those who beleive. Those without God are sure to spend eternity in hell. Life on earth may be great, but beleive me eternity in hell will not be. As for other religions, none of them claim to have a living God, Why? Because there is only one God that has dominion over life and death. He is the God that the Christians follow. He is the father of Jesus Christ. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for all our sins.

Answer 11

A lot of people have similar questions.

There are a couple of good books that can help you to have reasonable answers. Just ask for the publications:

The Bible - God's Word or Man's?

or

Is There a Creator Who Cares About You?

Both of these are published by Jehovah's Witnesses.
For additional information go to the link below: