Questions for religious people . . .?

Question

What made you accept that the book you use (Bible, Quran, etc) is the word of God?

How do you account for contradictions and for things we all (I hope) agree are not right like slavery?

when I say account for I mean account for things like slavery being in the Bible, etc

Answer 1

I've read it ever since I was a child, which is most likely why it is still important to me today as opposed to some other religious book. I'm not so sure it is the word of God any more as much as it is the words of people trying to explain their own concept of God.

You are right, there are way too many contradictions. E.G. (1) Matthew says Joseph's father (Jesus' father) was Jacob, Luke says Joseph's father was Heli, (2) The Synoptic Gospels record the crucifixion happening after Passover, John records the crucifixion on Passover, (3) In Matthew, Simon of Cyrene carries Jesus' cross, in John, Jesus carries his own cross, (4) In the synoptics, Jesus is abandoned at the cross (although some women look on from a distance), in John Mary and the beloved disciple stand at the foot of the cross, (5) In Luke 2 men in dazzling clothes meet the women at the tomb of Jesus, in John 2 angels meet the women, in Matthew it is one angel, and in Mark it is a young man.

There are many other contradictions of course - so I've had to ask myself, if this is God's Word, and if God got some minor to major details wrong, couldn't the bigger picture be wrong as well? That's why I see the Bible as just a human book with a lot of errors (historical, theological, and moral). I'm still not sure what this does for my faith in God. For now, I still believe in God (not sure exactly in what way) and I choose to access God through the Christian tradition. Who knows what my faith will look like in a couple of years. Great question.

Answer 2

Thousands of years ago, slavery was common place. It was a way to pay off debt. There were often contracts that were drawn up that gave the amount of work and length of time someone would be endentured. God has to deal with reality. God wasn't in charge of Egypt. They took slaves. Should God ignore the whole issue because three or four thousand years later slavery would affect the country you live in?

As for the contraditction, there are far fewer when you go back and translate certain words into their original languages. Also, don't confuse what certain people did in the Bible with things that God actually declared. Just because someone did something in the Bible, doesn't mean that God was okay with it.

Answer 3

Because slavery and other such things are in the Bible makes it all the more authentic. It doesn't white wash things, it portrays man as he is, a sinner. The saints in Scripture are seen as men and women who sin, make mistakes and need forgiveness. Slavery existed at that time, it was a reality, although in a different form than what we have come to know it as. There is nothing in the New Testament that states that it is acceptable, it simply stated what was at that time. Remember, in ancient times, the Jewish people were a wondering nation. They had no established cities until after they settled in the promised land. When they engaged in battle, there would be "prisoners of war", that is, enemies who did not die in battle. What should they do with them? There were no prisons, should they just have let them go so they could come back and fight them again? The choices were kill them or take them as slaves. It wasn't the ideal situation, but that was what was at the time.

Answer 4

because i looked at it like any thing else that was presented to me , and every thing it said that could be checked turned out to be true , also i found no contradictions that upon further examination could not be explained so i was happy and as far as slavery clearly i was not happy but when i looked at the bible i can see the word has a connotation of work or job today and maybe it was even more fair this not including slavery under Rome which is why the apostle said if you can be free go for it .

Answer 5

What made me accept the word of God (the Holy Bible)?
Seeing the many things that he said, and then they happened.
Another point to consider regarding the 'contradictions' as the asker calls them; are things that can be both good and bad depending on how ones uses them. God answers that(Genesis or Exodus). Even if the majority may misuse something; God permitted it if the righteous would properly use/need it (sex?).
I hope that helps you understand God's word.

Answer 6

a million) because I see her artwork all round me on a daily basis. someone should be causing all this chaos { HAIL ERIS! ALL HAIL DISCORDIA!} My mum and dad believed in the Judeo/Christian/Islamic god yet no longer that strongly. the more desirable helpful position is oneness with the multiverse there is not any authentic lack of life basically transmigration The bible is form of a go back and forth guidance guide from 2000 years in the past 2) i do not, all i think is that my faith is ideal for me. 3)when you're shelter on your conception you don't desire the validation of others believing precisely as you do. once you've doubts you want to make positive absolutely everyone has the same opinion with you. No faith is the single authentic one even with the undeniable fact that the more desirable authentic ones should be sought. "each and each seeker ought to discover their own direction" then again I might want to upload "at the same time as the pupil is waiting the instructor will seem" i'm prepared to concede for some Christ is the way. yet he ain't for absolutely everyone it truly is fer positive. those who run multinational organizations and international places discover conflict worthwhile. they do no longer want to danger their necks battling even with the undeniable fact that. in the journey that they requested maximum persons to bypass and wrestle that receives richer and more desirable effective maximum of them would not. faith is something they could use to encourage the rank and record known adult adult males and gals to "bypass shelter the religion from the godless heathens"

Answer 7

Reading the Bible & comparing it to what I read from other religions.

It made more convinced of the Truth of Christianity.

Answer 8

It's a matter of faith ... just as I cannot understand Innuit Eskimo's native language, a person who does not believe cannot understand things of a spiritual matter

Answer 9

Have faith that God will reveal Himself to places where you don't understand and help you to be wise and acknowledge His master plan. There are things that you'll never understand and that don't need you to question it.

Answer 10

you can be religious without following an organized religion, freethinkers are religious people too and we do not follow any book.