It would seem that people are so concerned with every word of the Bible being written by God (literally) that any other idea shakes their faith so as to make them attack others. (verbally, not physically) Why?
2006-08-13 07:49:44 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The fact that the bible was written at a time when the understanding of the universe we have today was not present is the major problem. Being told something is FACT even when it is shown to be untrue so often becomes an emotional issue.
Belief can do powerful things for both good and evil. The greatest evil (in my opinion) is when faith overrules fact. There is nothing in science that says there is no god, only that there are processes we may not yet understand.
Litteralist do not want to learn new facts or are incapable of understanding the higher maths and sciences. It is a self perpetuating thing.
2006-08-13 07:58:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I keep seeing people just arguing whether or not the Bible is literal, and not actually answering your question. Here's a shot at addressing WHY people get so angry, which I believe was your question in the first place.
The reason is simple.
When an entire belief system is based on one sole thing, in this case a book, if that thing is found wrong or lacking, then reason would lead to the conclusion that the entire belief system was also wrong. In order to keep anyone from finding fault or error, the belief has to be upheld that the book was indeed written completely by God, an entity that is without fault. To allow the idea that mankind has a hand in the writing of the Bible is to imply that Christianity itself has been altered by humans. Something that has been altered by humans cannot be divine, then, can it?
By questioning the divine nature of the book, you are questioning whether God is indeed divine. To say the Bible, or any interpretation thereof is wrong or has a mistake is to say that it's author is wrong. This, as you can imagine, would be incredibly insulting to a member of that faith. To them, you are in effect saying that God is wrong. Here it is in more simple terms.
The Bible states that God is divine and without error, and that it was written by him. Therefore:
if
A. God is divine, and without error
and
B. The Bible was written by God
then
C. The Bible is divine, and without error.
However, if one is to say that
X: The Bible is not divine, and has an error,
then either A or B would be incorrect, and you would be saying either:
A. God is not divine and without flaw or B. the Bible was not written by God.
And because
D. Christianity is based on the Bible
and
E. They are a Christian
then you are also saying that Christianity is wrong, and so are they, themselves.
So now it has become a personal affront. You have told them (without realizing this) that both they and everything they believe in is wrong! And this elicits an emotional reaction, like the one you described.
2006-08-13 08:45:42 · answer #2 · answered by sevenscarabs 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is the problem. We are told that our Holy Writings are
spiritually discerned. To think outside the box. Spiritually, not materially.
The Garden of Eden was symbolic. Mostly telling us we have free will. The ability to chose right and wrong.
When every "eye" sees Christ's return will not be satellite TV.
But a vision in our mind's eye, (the way we see pictures in our mind).
If God wrote every word, it wouldn't have so many contradictions.
Nevertheless, God allowed it to stay in it's form, so we can see
both sides of the story.
Unfortunately, we only see what goes along with what we think.
But we are supposed to ask for guidance when we search
scriptures.
Jesus said the path to life was very narrow. Don't fall to the left or the right. But isn't that exactly waht we have in our world. The
Left and the Right. Liberal and Conservative.
It is human nature to be emotional. So we take too many of our
judgements to extremes. So if we get too liberal, the Spirit will
lead us to a verse that is a little more conservative. Or of we get
too conservative. The Spirit will lead us to a verse a little more liberal. Thereby helping us keep balance in our thinking.
2006-08-13 08:04:19 · answer #3 · answered by Tegghiaio Aldobrandi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible is to be taken literally. God does not want us to pick and choose our beliefs practicing some beliefs and ignoring others. Unfortunately this is what some Christians do. They will be held accountable for this in front of God someday.
As for Christians verbally attacking other people. I apologize for that because that is not how God wants us to behave. We are to show kindness and compassion towards others. We are to speak the truth in love. I have read comments by other Christians that have not been compassionate or kind.
However, as a Christian I have read some comments by other people that have been very hurtful and offensive. I don't mind if people ask me to explain my faith, I do mind if people use cruel and profane language to describe my faith and beliefs.
However, Jesus told us (Christians) if people hated me enough to crucify and kill me, the world (people) will also hate you.
2006-08-13 08:06:03 · answer #4 · answered by Barbara M 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Bible is also literature. God uses allusion, figurative and illustrative language and poetry in His Word to get His point across.
I came to faith (and returned to faith) later in life, and am versed in Mormonism, Islam, Buddhism and Taoism. Those faiths which expouse directed points of view or are deist in nature (Buddhism and Taoism are not necessarily deist faiths i.e. pointing toward a specific, named deity) find other faiths in contradiction to their own. Christianity is no exception...the difference is the historic, archaeological and manuscript evidence that supports so much of the Bible.
The Bible is used as a reference by scientists in non-Biblical and non-religious studies (history, archaeology, philosophy, and others).
2006-08-13 08:12:32 · answer #5 · answered by stronzo5785 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The people telling everyone that the bible is the literal word of God, always following it up with their misguided 'literal interpretation'. I'm always entertained by folks who claim there is no room for interpretation of the bible only to follow it up with their interpretation. Say, whatever happened to the 'divinely inspired word' anyway?
2006-08-13 08:04:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why is a literal interpertation of law so profoundly important to some people?
Why were nose rings invented?
2006-08-13 08:05:01 · answer #7 · answered by ranger beethoven 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Saying that God cannot write His own word is calling Him Human - something He created. It would be like me saying this question must have been written by a monkey. You basically are insulting God - man I would hate to be in your shoes.
2006-08-13 07:55:04 · answer #8 · answered by Gladiator 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They think it makes their religion more correct. Also, people today don't seem to understand the power or importance of a metaphor, if they even know what one is. (Most will equate metaphor with lies for some reason.)
2006-08-13 07:53:44 · answer #9 · answered by Mrs. Pears 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe it shakes Christian's FAITH at all. Its is just the constant constant crap that non-christian's place on this site ( they scream about us being judgemental, intolerant ect..and then turn around and post crap like this guy that keeps calling Christian's cultist or other really vile, blasphemous questions that are posted. They are downright ugly and totally inappropriate. If you don't believe in our God, so be it!!! BUT check YOURSELF before you WRECK yourself...p.s. look at the man in the mirror you are just as shaken and stirred as the rest.
2006-08-13 08:02:23 · answer #10 · answered by soulsista 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋