What if the Bible is just a book?

Question

I have seen many people pose the question to Athiests of what would you did if Jesus appeared to you, or if you died and realized that it was all (religion) true... My answer ( I would be shocked and in awe...then i would be a little pissed that the rules werent better outlined, and try and get god to rememeber all the 500 million people that dont know about him and that it is cruel to condemn his children to hell...) I ask you the same question... what if the Bible is just a book... Perhaps it is the word of God, but what if it is just a book, a well written collection of morality plays, and stories on how to lead a right life.. but just a book? I really want a contemplative answer, not answers of "your damnable, or read it and you'll see its truth." I can accept the idea that I might be wrong, but can you?

Why does ANYTHING have to happen after you die... Sure it would be nice if there is eternal paradise... and sure it would be great if there was a great and caring God... but why would it HAVE to be? Is it so hard to think that maybe when you die, you just die? I truly hope that is not the case but i have seen nothing to give me Faith that it wont happen that way...

Answer 1

to many it is Just a book!(:-o)

Answer 2

Would it be fair of me to say that, no I won't accept that it could be wrong? That's my personal opinion.

But let me try and stab at your question.

If the Bible were just a book, we'd all be in very big trouble. Let's go with two scenarios.

Say God exists - If the Bible were just a book, and your example true, then it would more than likely just be a creation of man. How then would we know what God intended us to do? How else would future generations remember the consequences of defying God. We are lucky as is to have what we have in writing and not still having to carry on things with oral traditions. Also, how would the people have known Jesus is who he was (as he fufilled what was written, all the prophecies). We would not truly know how our Redeemer saved us nor His wisdom. Humans question everything as is, imagine how much more.

If God didn't exist - Well, then I guess you could insert any atheist arguement here. The Bible would just be mythology leaving an even bigger question, what DOES happen after we die...
I'd be even more scared and obsessed with trying to prolong life.

But none of that is what I think is true. The Bible IS just a book to someone with a closed heart. The pages contains word on a page and nothing more to someone who refuses to accept God's mercy and grace. I even see some Christians treat the Bible this way, even when they think to be acting proper. The Word of God is a living-type thing. The Bible is like a portal to it.

Answer 3

If it's just a book, but I spent my life trying to live by it (ya know, being a good person, doing good to others, loving God, etc), then I would say I lived a good life and did my best in this world. No harm done. But I do believe the whole Book is Gods true word, and this brings me much peace and hope for the future and the afterlife. Again, no harm done. And God doesn't send His children to Hell. His children are those who have accepted His Son as Savior. The rest are His creation, and they choose where they want to spend eternity, not God. God just makes the rules! :)

Answer 4

I had a near death experience and it was all explained to me. I lived pretty strangely for awhile, in fear of the Lord and the Devil, but after awhile the experience's intensity faded until it merely seemed like a vivid dream.

The point is, with all the distractions of making a living and taking care of a family and climbing the corporate ladder, the "invisible universe" is meaningless. I found it easier to ignore what I saw, since there was no way to prove it to anyone. Some people incorporate religion and worship of God into their lives, and that is fine and dandy. But me, even with the intimate knowledge of Hell, found it counterproductive to very logical minded and simulataneously trying to appease unseen forces.

The bible is just a book, but is also a tool for living on this planet. Going overboard with it causes more problems than it solves, even if what it says is"real". If I am doomed when I die becuase I did not change the way I lived to be more in accordance with the bible, I'll have to deal with it.

Answer 5

The thing is, it isn't "just" a book, but a series of 66 books, that come together beautifully in one volume. It is a book of history, there has not been one archaeological find that disputes any of the historical claims of Scripture. Two of the writers of the Gospels were contemporaries of Christ. They walked with Him, talked with Him, and saw Him after His resurrection. Paul, also had an encounter with the risen Christ which impacted Him so much that he changed from a fire breathing Pharisee who sought out Christians in order to imprison them, to becoming the most prolific writer in Scripture. Do you have any idea how many millions have been martyred because of their belief in this "book"? Did you know that 11 of the apostles died as martyrs rather then denounce Christ? Did you know there are over 20,000 manuscripts or parts of manuscripts of the Bible, may dating before the 2nd century AD, more then any other ancient literature? Just a "book"?? I think not.

Answer 6

If the Bible was just a plain collection of books or stories as you say, I will not loose anything from believing it is the true Word of God.

If I'm wrong I have not lost nothing, but if you are wrong you have lost eternal life with the Creator.

Answer 7

I have wondered this myself. Lately I am just not buying into the whole Bible thing. It was written many many years ago... by men. Pretty much just their interpretation of what they said happened. I have read parts of the Bible, not near all of it, but what I have read does not add up to me. I was raised Roman Catholic, and we were always told "do not question God..." "He knows why things are done the way they are done:. Sure easy enough to say. because then no one has to be accountable to anything. Just say.. well that's they way God wanted it. And of course when something bad happens... It's not because God didn't care... it's because the Devil made em' do it... yeah right... So bottom line. I agree with you... It'
s just a book, believe what you want to believe...

Answer 8

The bible is a book of very poorly written fiction.

The evidence to support that assertion is the fact that are billions of people all claiming to be following the instructions contained within while at the same time practicing totally different rituals. And, following totally different beliefs.

If the bible is the "word of God," then "God" is one confused (or illiterate) individual.

Answer 9

If you do not know there are spirits you have not been touched , we know there is a glow around us which leaves the body when we die , where does it go ? we have seen many amazing things through history and present ! the facts are everywhere ! your body stays alive by energy without this energy you die ! THE WORLD IS ALIVE WITH THE WORDS ! the whole globe is talking about THE WORDS every single day , goverments are fighting over THE WORDS every single day , science is uncovering THE WORDS every single day , people of proffesions are searching for THE TRUTH every single day , WHY ? ....... THEY KNOW we are in the days where we will KNOW !

Answer 10

First of all the Bible is just a book. It's the writtings that are amazing, because everything you say about the bible bounces back to you. The thing people don't realize is that it was written by man. So, it's going to bounce back. If you're easily convinced, here's one way to convince yourself a way out.

Answer 11

If Atheists are right and it is just a good book of stories and nothing more then we (Christians who believe the Bible as truth) have lost very little and we just cease to exist anyway... but if Christians are right... then Atheists are screwed... I think I'll take my chances with Christianity