Is the Bible biased?

Question

People always say that the bible is the handbook to life. I honestly think there are some wonderful scriptures, but there are also others that seem completly irrevelant to everyday life. It also seems a little lacking of respect for women. There are few mentions of extrodinary women and many of great men. I don't think God intended for this. I think the Bible has ben in editted in such ways.

ok, not lacking or respect. Those were a poor chice of words. I mean a smaller mention of them compared to other stories.

Answer 1

Absolutely. The Bible was written by men and set for a time period which no longer applies today. They are nice stories that we should take lessons from and nothing else.

Answer 2

I think so. It was recorded by men. It was written at a time when gender roles and women's roles were not the same as we expect them to be today. A woman's role in society was very different then, so of course it's biased, towards the view of the world that the people who recorded it thought was right. Many things have changed since then. I don't mean that GOD or religion or whatever is inherently biased, just that the people who recorded the bible were not God and therefore were fallible just like anyone else.

Answer 3

On the surface many Scriptures seem biased but often if the time is taken to get to the root of the Scripture meanings and look at them in context and without traditional bias we can often discover that the prevailing message is one great respect and worth for both sexes.

For an in depth study of the topic I would recommend the book "Men and Women in the Church" by Sarah Sumner. It is Quite balanced and I've found it to be profound in what it has made me realize.

Answer 4

The Bible was written for a specific people of a specific time. If you can use it to make your life better now, then good for you, but I doubt the writers were thinking about people 2000 years in the future. Most New Testament writers probably figured Jesus would've returned waaaay before now.

Answer 5

Of course. Written by biased people & edited & compiled by a biased person. It is a reflection of the minds and culture at the time it was written, but I'm sure there is some wisdom and good things in there that will give comfort to those who need it.

Answer 6

Oh, absolutely equal treatment... why, if these examples don't sell you on equality, I don't know what will...

And during the period of the Second Temple, women were not allowed to testify in court trials. They could not go out in public, or talk to strangers. When outside of their homes, they were to be doubly veiled. What does the word Taliban mean to you?

Genesis 3:16: Adam's role is to be Eve's master. "...thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." (KJV, NIV,a nd RSV use "rule"; others use "master" and "dominate")

Genesis 19:8: "I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes." Rape my daughters, please! This is a man worth saving out?

Exodus 20:17 "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ***, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's." House, slaves, and other sundry possessions...including wives..

Leviticus 12:1-5 "If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days...But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks..." Girls are worse than boys for the damage they do to their mothers

Leviticus 27:6 A child aged 1 month to five years of age was worth 5 shekels if a boy and 3 shekels if a girl.

Numbers 5:11-31 A ritual potion is preapred that women were forced to drink if their husbands suspected them of having had an affair. The potion was holy water with floorsweepings from the tabernacle. If the woman was guilty, her abdomen swells and thighs waste away -- there is no such ritual for a man suspected of the same.

Numbers 30: A vow taken by a man is binding, however, a vow taken by a woman can be nullified by her father, if she is still living in her family of origin, or by her husband, if she is married.

Deuteronomy 22:13-21 "If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her, And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid....if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel: Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you." I guess they didn't buy the horseback riding story...

Deuteronomy 22:28-29 "If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife...." DON'T GO TO THE COPS... MARRY YOUR RAPIST!

Answer 7

Biased? Do you mean like the scripture "Husbands love your wives like Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it." Remember that where TRUE Christianity is allowed the women are treated like people. Compare the treatment of women in Islam and Christianity. Christianity is one of the few religions that does not treat women like property.

Answer 8

Yes it is, and, it's simple. Worship him or go to hell. I kinda like the a/c myself. And here is my edit: What is mentioned of women is very powerful information.

Answer 9

Lost in translation?

Tcha...what gender do most think of when they hear the word God? They call him Him, for crying out loud.

Answer 10

The bible is God's holy word. It is inspired by and breathed by God.