1. By whose authority is it said to be God's actual words and not paraphrased?
2. If God can dictate/inspire the writers of the Bible, Who is to say writers of the Vedas, Tao Te Jing, or the Gnostic Gospels were not God-inspired as well?
3. One of my fave chapters/books in the Bible was the Book of Ruth, that chapter was just a story of Ruth's life. It was beautiful but was God telling a story to his people when it was written?
I am not trying to stir up trouble here, from the recent Discovery Channel and National geo progs, I got to think, I wantto see things from both sides of the wall... i want to learn I want to know, for those who are well knowledged please help with this question or direct me to a friendly site/forum that are confident enough not to react with caustic curses and statements. Thank you to the Christian Scholars.
2006-08-17 23:15:18 · 20 answers · asked by Sheena 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
=> Wow... I really like this list of repliers, not one was caustic or spiteful, but making very good strong arguments about what they know and believe... I wish more Q & As would be like this... I learnt much today. I am having trouble now deciding who to award the best answer to lol. Thx y'all definitely made my day...
2006-08-18 09:09:07 · update #1
the Bible, for Christians, is the source of truth, the fundamental basis for all theological facts and principles - it is God's Words, so to speak...
However, it was not God who wrote the Scriptures in the Bible - rather, they were made by mortal men, through the intercession of God of course!
You might ask, how do Christians know which ones are correct and which ones are hoax?
There are SCHOLARS who study them - historians, experts of the Bible, and the like. It is just like asking, how do we know that there are atoms? - there are experts - scholars in their specialized fields, who studies them, evaluates them, proves them, and allows them to be published as a FACT.
You might also ask - how about Gospels that are not included in the Bible: like the book of Judas, Thomas, etc?
Yes - historians say that these books are GENUINE, yet they are not included in the Bible because they do not coincide with the Bible - like they missed certain facts, facts that are misinterpreted, and facts that are irrelevant.
The Bible is not the only Book where principles are placed - although THIS is the fundamental basis of everything. For Catholics, there are letters of Pope John Paul, Vatican II, etc...
Other books like Koran are based from the religion they are based, however, the contents are similar...
2006-08-17 23:37:27 · answer #1 · answered by lune_ellise 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
These were my questions also when I watched those studious programs you mentioned on Discovery and NG Channels. I belong to Vedas; but still wont like to argue upon what Bible preaches is right or wrong. Its a question of faith and human race is solely depending on Faith only....eventually it marches on the directions of Bible, Vedas, Quran, Zend Avestha or Tao Te Jing...... Each religion believes on its own teaching. As far as the story of Ruth's life is concern, it is debatable and requires much wide platform and space.
You are certainly not troubling anybody by stirring up this topic which is really a delicate one; but even after visiting numerous sites, you will return back to main question.....Why only one book is right source of truth?
I am not a Christain scholar but would like to share views of scholars, irrespective of religion.
2006-08-18 05:43:12 · answer #2 · answered by indraraj22 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bible should serve as a metaphor. There are many valuable lessons when you are able to look at it objectively and be interperative about it. There are deeper meanings in those stories that touch on concepts way bigger than the details that go into a certain religion. Those concepts are the ones that most people suck at doing because most people are caught up in all the details of life. Think about it, the bible was written by some very scholarly and intelligent people that were teachers. You're not supposed to look at the bible for hard facts. But then again it isn't easy to recognize and learn lessons that have content surpassing one's level of thinking. The bible was made to answer questions that human beings demand answers to in order to make some kind of sense of this world. Without it and without g-d, nothing really makes any sense at all. Most people can't really explain what the purpose of life is without touching on religious aspects as a support. The bible was made for the people by the people to create a sense of order and sanity.
2006-08-17 23:34:43 · answer #3 · answered by ~Wondering~ 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
OK, here we go!
1)The word "Testament" literally translates as "Gods Breath in Book form"
2)Satans job description is to emulate God to steal souls- and the best way to do that is to come up with a "way that seems right to men but is evil and wrong in the eyes of God" (Yes, that is a quote from the Bible)
Please remember that satan has the same appearance as God- and yes, its very difficult to tell the difference sometimes, hence the term "What would Jesus Do?"- the end of the quesiton can identifiy with whom the idea came from- God/Jesus or satan.
3)The Story of Ruth is one illustrating the love of God and his redemption plan of Jesus in a parable form. Boaz is the Redeemer, and the Jewish Relatives who DIDN'T want Ruth was the Jewish rulers who didn't believe in Christ and who he was.
Good Luck in your Quest for Christ
2006-08-17 23:24:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Holy Spirit of God is the answer to all your questions. He lets you know what God wants and what God thinks with his Holy word. He reassures you as you read, meditate and study God's words. The holy spirit teaches,rebukes,corrects and more than anything he is ur comforter that guides you thru ur daily life.
/
2006-08-17 23:26:35 · answer #5 · answered by Pashur 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bible shall be some 2000 years old, and is many times, and many different times translatet, often according to the interrest's of the translater! I read recently, from a professor, the hell is only since the year 1400 mentioned in the bible!!!
2006-08-17 23:23:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
There is no one true religion or Bible, there is only God.
Bibles, Korans, Torahs are man made. They are a mortal means by which man can try to understand and commune with God.
God is of infinte intellegence, he is omniscient and omnipresent.
Man has several different levels of civilization, from people who still live in caves naked to people walking around with ipods.
Do you think God of infinte intellegence would make one book that would be the true one?- no They would have to be several ways that several differnt levels of humanity could come to undertand God.
Of Course man screws things up- I am Christian and of course Christians think that if you are not Christian you will suffer in hell.
And of course Muslims must fly planes into buildings to make their point.
Just love your neighbor and love and acknowledge God.
2006-08-17 23:20:14 · answer #7 · answered by onion 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
No one knows. Nor will we ever, till we are dead.
I bet God spoke many times and inspired many authors. But each religion focuses on their doctrines to reinforce their power.
Try not to focus on this, there is no point in dwelling on something we have no power over. We can stop people from being ignorant.
2006-08-17 23:21:15 · answer #8 · answered by Jon H 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
One of the requirements of "scripture" to be considered "scripture" is that the "scripture" itself must claim to be the word of God. At least supposedly... I couldn't find the claim in the book of Ruth...
Anyway, that's one thing I've heard...
2006-08-18 00:39:35 · answer #9 · answered by Paul McDonald 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1 jesus made many references to the past books of the bible as being scriptures and spoke of thier validity, the apostles made mention of other apostles writings as scripture so we take them at their word, its purely a faith thing and although some say yes and some say no, you have to examine it your self
2 i might be inspired to right a book about spiritual things but it wouldn't be the words of God, new found writings have their flaws or maybe never claim to be of God
3 it was a piece of history like 1st kings and 1st chronicles, plus it shows something about Christ's family members
2006-08-17 23:35:16 · answer #10 · answered by thankuberry 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋