Would the Bible be a book of philosophy or a book of dogma?

Answer 1

the bible is a bunch of "books" covering myths, history, wisdom, philosophy, the dogma comes from how they are interpretated and used for teaching.

Answer 2

The problem with this question is this. In the bible is every possible form of literature in one book. There is myth, laws, history, poetry, prophetic, parables, narrative, pastoral, epistles, and more (those are just the ones off the top of my head). So you have to be very present about what kind of literature you are reading at that particualar part of the bible.

Take the creation myth for example. By the way I say it that with no claim on any knowledge of HOW we came to be. I tend to leave theology to theologians, and science to the scientists.

A myth is story that attempts to explain our world. There were many different creation myths that were written at the time when the bible's version was written. It was actually a very popular genre.

In some of the stories, humans were the product of divine fecal matter. In one we were the product of a lesser god's accident. And so on. Anyway you can understand that the presence of a creation story is not unique.

What is unique is what the story says. You see in the biblical account: God creates everything and calls it good. Then he creates man and woman and calls us VERY GOOD. (That is the first time that adjective is used.) So we are not product of divine fecal matter. LOL

Anyway the rest of the creation myth goes on to explain the basics:
1- who God is
2- Who humans are
3- what is the relationship between the two
4- why is the world is messed up, i.e. why is there suffering?

So anyway, the problem is that every part of the bible has something to teach. But these things are best understood within context.

Answer 3

I'd say more dogma than philosophy, although there's certainly a good amount of philosophical ideas, from the Catholic Christian point of view. I've been taught that the Bible isn't to be interpretted literally, but contextually. This makes it a lot more logical, and easier to understand -- it implies that some stories are completely allegorical, which allows me to also accept what scientists have proven (like with Noah and the flood, for example).

Good question.

Answer 4

The Bible is part history, part philosophy, and part textbook.
I wouldn't say it is a book of dogma. Humans have a habit of twisting things around, and they do it with Christianity too...

Answer 5

Neither. It's the dramatic account of God's pursuit of humanity. It's almost like a love story, full of drama, betrayal, offense, epic battles, etc. Want a semi-allegorical short version without reading the whole thing? Read the book of Hosea, or Song of Songs.

It's the history of man, what has been and what will be, where we came from and where all this is going.

It's the revelation of God. It's the record of who God is, what He's like, what He's after, and how He's revealed Himself to humanity.

This all comes in the form of poetry, proverbs, songs, prophecies, letters, historical accounts, biographies, etc.

It begins with a garden and ends with a city. It's about God coming to dwell with men.

For specifics, read the book. (Or email me or ask someone else or ask God)

Answer 6

For Christians it is by definition a book of dogma.
The truths/ideas revealed in it directly or indirectly with allegories, have been revealed by God and since God is infallable these thruths cannot be questioned. Thus they become dogmata.
My personal opinion is that the Bible is neither, but that's a very big and different story.

Answer 7

Philosophy. The church organizations create the dogma.

Answer 8

it is not philosophy, because philosophy does not have a tangible result. It is not dogma, because Jesus even taught that it is not about the laws, it's about the heart

Answer 9

It all depends on the reader. Dogma is then derived from the point of view of the reader.

Answer 10

It's a book of good ideas, like Grimms Fairy Tales or Aesop's Fables.