If I were to, say, question the bible, would I be condemned to hell?

Question

Because, you know, I've been looking over the bible recently, and I've realized that it doesn't make a great deal of sense. There are countless hypocricies and errors within the novel, contradictions made by Jesus himself, as well as statements that are completely impossible. What sort of merciful God would make a race capable of deciding matters on it's own, then punish them after they display a bit of independance? Why do we experiance an eternity of pain for a finate series of sins? If people are imperfect, why is the Pope infallable?

Anyone wanna try to convince me that everything is fine and that the bible is perfect?

There is nothing unclean of itself.
- Romans 14:14

Nevertheless, these shall ye not eat, of them that chew the cud
or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel and the
hare, and the coney; for they chew the cud, but divide not the
hoof, therefore they are unclean unto you. And the swine,
because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is
unclean unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch
their dead carcass.
- Deuteronomy 14:7,8



Cursed is he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his
father, or the daughter of his mother.
- Deuteronomy 27:22

And Abraham said... She is my sister; she is the daughter of my
father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my
wife.
- Genesis 20:11,12

Gah. Out of text...here're some contradictions.

Answer 1

I can't convince anyone whose mind is looking for errors and discrepancies therefore I digress.

+T+

Answer 2

I wont try to convince you of anything, but I will make a few comments.

Questioning the Bible does not lead one to hell. Hell is the result of you choosing your own ways above God's ways and essentially not caring that you have done so. (in a nutshell)

The Bible is not a novel. It is a collection of different literary works by many authors written over a very large timeframe....much of which was carried on in oral tradition long before recorded in text form.

Contradictions made by Jesus. I guess I would have to see more specifically what you mean. I will say that there are four gospels and they were written by four different authors in different locations with different experiences. Also, given this is the year 70 aprox (for the sake of arguement say all the same even though John was considerably later)---it is amazing to find the degree of similarity that there is. You may want to reserch the Modified Two Source Hypothesis and the Marcan priority if you are interested.....

Just imagine the different accounts that would come forth from four different eyewitnesses who saw JFK getting shot.....and of course asking them to write it down some 40 years after it happened. I wonder how much similarity there would be? And think of the day and age in which we live and the research capabilities available to us.....

On the Adam and Eve thing......you might want to actually go to the text and read it. It is an interesting story. God creates in paradise and says all is yours BUT one tree.....of course they eat it and then God even gives them a chance to 'come clean' in a sense---and still Adam plays the pointing game. Just like any father---bad behavior cannot simply be ignored. Loving Fathers do not operate that way......

Oh...and on the Pope. He is not infallable ALL the time----only when he speaks with special authority on matters of Faith and Morals---and I believe this has only been invoked three or four times EVER..... He is not infallable regarding what is the best restaurant in Rome, if Prada shoes are really the best or if the Red Sox really ARE the best team (which they are).

So....it is not about convincing....it is about if you are even interested in taking the time to learn something new. We know what we know, we sometimes know what we dont know....but most of the time, we dont know what we dont know

Answer 3

I will try to answer your question with out being rude. I know that the Bible can look like it does not match, contradicts itself and so on. I have found that some of us are gifted to understand and teach while others are better students. Make sense? I would sit down with a pastor if I were you. As I have said before, I cannot tell you how a T.V. works or a car works or computers for that matter but they do. It does not mean that they do not exist, some of us are better at understanding some things where others are better at other things. I hope that helps in some way.

Answer 4

Everyone should question what is said in the Bible and by pastors through prayer and thoughtful consideration. There are some issues that can have different interpretations, but as long as the core tenets of Christianity are accepted everything is fine.

You mention discrepancies and errors and contradictions. I have seen so many people mention these and even list the verses. However, when you do investigate the issues, they resolve themselves quite nicely with no contradictions, etc.

Here's some great articles on Bible inerrancy and other Bible issues. http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/bible.asp

Answer 5

First off the poop is fallable and in need of a savior just like the rest of us , Second there is no contradiction in the word of the LORD , If your meaning .what Jesus says in the four gospels are cotradictory ,that isnt so, You have to understand that four people are giving testimonies to the truth just as if you were to see an accident with four other people your testimonie would be somewhat diffrent from mine . But we all seen the same thing but from a diffrent angle !

Once again the Word of the LORD is proven right !

Answer 6

First of all let me tell you that God shows mercy and favor, as well as judgment. Whoever started the rumor that God was not a jealous God or would take revenge on behalf of his people, obviously wanted to mislead a whole lot of people and has done a very good job of it - thank you Satan.

Second, all people go to hell. The exception is found in those who are convicted by the Holy Spirit, of which at some point in your life everyone is convicted, and they then have a decision to make regarding what they have learned to that point in time regarding God and Jesus Christ, to either say I don't believe or I do believe in Jesus Christ and that his words alone are sufficient and by God's grace I accept Jesus Christ as the one who has atoned for my sins of which the wages of sin are death, the eternity that I was born into that leads me to hell from the get go, and in that repentant heart, turning from the sins that have held you from Christ, you then live a life that bears forth fruit for Christ - you no longer want to live and see your life as it was prior to Christ not being the central portion of it.

I have no desire to "convince" you of anything? Why? Me a Christian and I don't want to convince you? Because that is not what I do. That is what the Holy Spirit does. As a Christian, I am to live in such a way, that you desire the lifestyle (not materially) that I have as it seems to bring peace and contentment, and carries me through each of life's struggles and that even when I fall and I do, it is back to the Bible and to God and his Son that I go, knowing I am unworthy, was born unworthy of what God has so blessed me with, but by his Grace is always there to guide me.

Christians who go around trying to beat Christ into others have missed the point of Christ's sending us out. Christians who think they can prove, convince, save, or otherwise change someone's viewpoints or life, are fooling themselves - just as someone who would pose a question as yours - "try to convince me" - this just tells me that you do not know or understand what the Spirit and Truth relationship of Jesus Christ is about either and or his Word, the Bible.

Answer 7

No human being can answer the question, will you go to hell or fi you say question the Bible. If you are having doubts about the Bible, talk with God about this, and ask him for clarity on the things you don't understand, and as for going to hell, that is something that ONLY GOD can decide, and the only way that would happen is if you renounce him or didn't have true repentence in hour heart for your sins. I really hope this helps. Pleease pray about this. I don't wnt to see anyone being lost and confused.

Answer 8

Questioning the bible is fine. Many people turn from athiests to Christians that way. When I see something that looks like a contradiction and when I research it I usually find that I was wrong not the bible. Give us a contradiction that bothers you and perhaps we can help. Gods word stands forever. Read about how Lee Strobel and CS Lewis became Christian.

Answer 9

I can tell you that Jesus spoke in parables and it is hard to pick verses out of his teaching and make sense out of it. You need to read sometimes the whole chapter to understand better. And yes He gave us freedom of choice other wise we would be a bunch of dumb lambs with no life experience. If we commit sin(and most of us do) then we return to Our Lord and seek redemption.
Instead of looking at some of the points as hypocricies why not look at how Matthew < Mark< and Luke all tell their version of when Christ was here in a different way. If you choose to go back and lok at what you thought was contradictory with the idea of another person tellinh their version. Your choice . And no one gets condemed to Hell for questioning the Bible jusy not believing

Answer 10

No, you can't be condemned for questioning the Bible!

There are A LOT of contradictions, especially in the Old Testament, because parts of it were written when the Jews were in captivity under the Babylonians.

A good place to start to explore apparent contradictions, such as why God allows evil, are the writings of St. Augustine.

Answer 11

I don't know about convincing you of anything,but I do know the bible is hard to understand at times,that's why you have to pray for guidance and wisdom.I believe the "independence" you speak of is the Tower of Babel.They were punished for building a monument to their own greatness,not the greatness of God. What would you suggest happens for a lifetime of sin? If you have repented and asked for forgiveness,you will not live an eternity of pain.I'm curious as to what in the bible seems impossible to you.Email me if you like.God Bless.