I feel I want to believe but can't get my head around all the contradictions and outright lies in the bible

Question

Any SANE advice without quoting the bible or priests or just saying BLIND FAITH?

Answer 1

I feel the same way. I am almost beyond it now. I still have a small attachment to my former religion. I really liked it and I miss it sometimes but I know none of it is true. I think if you feel you have a need and you should give it credence and try to understand where it comes from. Perhaps we are spiritual beings with spiritual needs or perhaps it is conditioning that we just think we need these things. I'm not sure but I currently lean toward the idea that what we call spirituality is some emotional need deep in our psyche we don't yet fully understand.

Perhaps you are in the wrong religion. Study religious history and all religions. You may find that what you really like about your religion was just copied from an older, better religion. There are so many surely one makes better sense to you. Perhaps you're trying to satisfy a need with religion that might be better satisfied a different way.

If you haven't already tried Belief.net's beliefomatic quiz, I reccomend it. Then perhaps visit some non-religious or more open type spiritual places and see if you may find what your looking for. Don't feel sad that you don't know the answers and probably never will. Just enjoy the ride and all the new discoveries that come with open-mindedness to new experiences and learning from free-thought.

Answer 2

I don't know what contradiction and lies you found in the Bible? you haven't written one yet. How can I answer your questions.

The Bible is a great book, you have:
1. History
2. Poem
3. Literature
4. Miracles
5. Prophecy
6. Testimonies
7. Salvation
8. The punishment of the wicked
9. Disclosure of Hell
10. Paradise restored
11. It is a map
12. Fairy Tale is not included
13. Wisdom of men is excluded
14. The door to the kingdom of God revealed
15. And many more.

Do not match the Bible with your doctrine, but test your doctrine against the bible. you will see the difference, and it will contradict the doctrine you hold so dear.

Answer 3

Try doing what I do in finding my faith - Make your own mind up. I don't believe the bible is inspiring at all, it's thou shall not do this, that and the next thing. I believe everyone has thier own beliefs about right and wrong and where thier faith lies. If religion is an important issue in your life, you could perhaps open yourself to researching other religious view points, and with each new thing you learn your own intuition will either say "Yes that makes sense" or it will say "No I don't believe that is true" - Either way, the most empowering thing you can do is make your own mind up - I believe religion should be inspiring and leave you feeling good and free not fearful like the bible does.

Answer 4

Take all those supposed contradictions. Everyone of them.

Get yourself to a library.

Get several concordances written by Christian Theologians, preferably Protestant.

Go one by one through those 'contradictions' and see if they are really so easy to call a contradiction.

Don't be lazy, practice good and fair analysis.

I think what you will find is that the 'contradictions' are really oversimplifications and misinterpretations of what the Bible says.

And if you haven't heard this before here it is:
Never, ever, under any circumstances, do you lean upon a nonbeliever to tell you what the Bible means. They all suck at it. This is real live experience speaking here.

If the Bible is so simple to call a contradiction, each commentator will completely contradict themselves in obvioty.

Then there is the other thing: God only calls those He wants. If you think that you want to come to God, He's calling you. You cannot want to come to God unless He's calling you. You'd better figure that you are one of the luckiest people in history and treat this calling with gratitude and abounding eagerness to learn.

Get going, you are finding that being Chirstian isn't as brainless as nonbelievers want to think!

Answer 5

There are no contradictions or lies in the Bible. the Bible is God's revealed word to man and it is truth. The contradictions and lies come forth from men who misapply or misinterpret what God has given them. Without competent guidance in you r study you will always be confused when reading the Bible. the first step toward understanding is to get saved. If the Holy Spirit has not come into your heart through the acceptance of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you will never understand the Bible. The Holy Spirit can open your eyes to God's message. He did for me. There is no magic in learning the principles of the Bible---it takes years and work and Spirit-led guidance from knowledgeable people. Jesus loves you and he wants you to learn his word thoroughly so that you can share the glory of God's revealed word with others. God bless you.

Answer 6

Faith is just that, a feeling. If you feel you want to believe then just do it. That is the spirit of God guiding you. Listen to your heart and you won't go wrong. I find alot of stuff in the Bible hard to believe too. The way I see it, is: Yes, the word of God is all through the Bible, but it is interpreted by those who wrote it, so it may not be as it was originally intended, as there are tons of versions. The Bible is a guide so you can learn to live as God wants you to. Hope this helps.

Answer 7

The Bible is a story book, and is not to be taken literally. Believing in the message of what the stories try to teach you is where the faith comes from. The knowledge that no matter how bad a situation seems, it could always be worse, and that by having a positive attitude and presenting yourself and your actions in a positive manner, good things will come to you. Consequently, bad things are around the corner if you do not learn the morals of the stories.

Answer 8

It's not about the literal translations, it's the overall thoughts of the story that are important. No sane person in the world could read that book in a literal way and pretend to understand the meanings. Just think of it as an Aesop's Fables or a Grimms Fairy Tales and you'll be just fine.

Answer 9

Ninety-nine times out of a hundred people who speak of the contradictions and outright lies haven't read the Bible personally, so I normally recommend their doing so--cover to cover rather than pulling things out of context. A humble spirit in a person who seeks the truth will be rewarded with answers from above.

Answer 10

Question - What lies? Okay ready? Unconditional Love. Explain something to me. How is it there are two living beings right here on earth that can display that kind of love and still people do not see it. First off for the most part a Mother will always lover her children - Yes, I understand some moms don't know how to love, but for the most part you will always see a mother in distress when it comes to her child and she will do anything to see that child is protected. Protected from the sin of the world - That is the truth. Next, a Dog - no I am not talking about a violent dog, I am talking about a dog that rund up to you submissivly and wants to play - he or she is happy to see you. They want to play they have no cares of the world - they want to be loved and show that same love. Have you ever watched a mother dog with her litter? Wow, the mother is ferocious and that is instilled in every single mother from here to the end of the world. A mother hates the devil and will fight him to the death. Just like a mother tiger or bear will take out ther first individual that will want ot harm their cubs. That is instilled from God.

NOW

Away from that, God has something just for you it is Love. No, not the love the world shoves in your face (Sexual Relations), but an honest relationship with you. That kind of love permeates through all sorts of stuff the world provides and yet the world will distort that love. The world will say if God loves they why does this happen - PLEASE! Man distorts God because those people do not know of God. Your soul wants to be with God - You sould cries out for that relationship that cannot be filled here on earth.

I would ask you to do something - Read Mark and then James. Read those tow books and start talking to pastors that want to edify you. They want to see you grow and walk with God. If you truly sit and read those two books you will find out God's plan only for you.

I would stop listening to the world and start listening to God. Open your heart and ears to His word and you will find out what He wants you to know.