The Bible is only authorative in Hebrew (old) or Greek (new testament). In any other language, the Bible is unoficial and unsutible for doctrine. Consider the implications of this. Only 30 percent of all Christians worlwide are literate, and of these fewer still can read classical texts. This means that the vast majority of Christians, well above 70 percent, cannot read the book that created their religion. It also means for them Christianity is what their leaders say it is.
2006-08-31 13:43:39 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes. The question is do you know who and what you are following?
2006-08-31 13:50:23 · answer #1 · answered by mufasa 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"In any other language, the Bible is unoficial and unsutible for doctrine."
I would disagree. The King James or American Standard Bible is certainly close enough of a translation for the average person to get a very strong foundation of what a Christian believes, and to learn the history of the religion.
In addition, Christian leaders (or at least the schools where religious leaders are trained and educated) ARE experts in Hebrew and Greek, and often Aramaic, Arabic, Latin, or other languages. Their constant research aids us in our spiritual quest.
The Bible addresses some complex issues - the nature of good and evil, questions of law and ethics, the creation of the universe, but also some very simple ones. Every major translation of the New Testament, for example, clearly addresses the life of Christ, from conception to crucifixion to ressurection to ascension. It also clearly addresses the major points of the religion: That we are imperfect, and need purification, and that Christ's death and resurrection provide that purification, if we believe and follow.
I'm with you for a while - there are plenty of disagreements about what Christianity means. And precious few people have actually read a Bible cover to cover. And there are people out there who simply get it wrong, flat wrong. But that devil is in the details, not in the general beliefs.
2006-08-31 21:00:47 · answer #2 · answered by Polymath 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible only authoritative in Hebrew or Greek? That sounds more an argument that a Muslim would make for the Koran being authoritative in Arabic than a Christian would for their own Scriptures. There is nothing sacrosanct about the language of the Scriptures. God made man and gave man language, and God's truth is not limited or bounded by one particular language. The God that can only speak authoritatively in Hebrew or Greek or Arabic is certainly a very SMALL God! And since you are already wrong on this, your implications are moot.
2006-08-31 20:57:26 · answer #3 · answered by Seraph 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
World literacy rates can be applied to any religion. Not sure why you are concerned about Christianity in particular.
Among most Christians, a translated version of the bible is completely acceptable. The bible is being translated into new languages everyday, so that believers can read for themselves what the Old and New Testament teach.
As far as I know, translations are not accepted in some sects of Islam, although there are translations of the Koran.
I don't know what role translation plays in other wold religions.
2006-08-31 21:03:15 · answer #4 · answered by Dana 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For many years we followed what our leaders had told us, then one day some of us started to question what we where being told, of course we got a cold shoulder from our leaders about our questions, this only made us want to ask more, for this we where asked to leave the church if we where not willing to follow what we where being told, for many of us we came to believe that how the bible was interpreted in the English language it simply could not be true, now being catholic it was hard to go against the church and the sacraments,logic and study of the bible only brought more and more questions, because of this we came to really question it's validity and from this we went our separate ways, I have visited some of the people I studied with and found them to be total atheist today, I do believe in God today but from a Native perspective of spirituality and not from the bible that I believe is nothing more than a fictitious story out of the past.
2006-08-31 21:28:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, because in the New Testament it gives All God's people a foundation on how to follow God. The foundations are found in Hebrews and James.
Other than that, In the book of Mark all christians are supposed to bring the truth of God's Word to every living being and tell them with love given from God so that everyone can experience what God has to offer to them.
Men tend to distort and destroy the true word of God and therefore, make it into something that it truly is not. That would be essentially a power grab and to make others submissive and to bring them under control of another person. Is that what God wants? NO, God wants all people to come unto Him and receive the love and wisdom that God can only provide.
Seek a TRUE man or woman of God and you will find that He or she will bring you to that understanding others do not have.
2006-08-31 20:51:59 · answer #6 · answered by waeyeaw 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a basic knowledge of Greek and Hebrew, and have read several different translations of the bible. I also know several Greek and Hebrew scholars, and having referenced the dead sea scrolls, and compared translations of LXX, looked at codecs, and lexicology and other texts, i have also come to the conclusion (with many other people) that the bible is >99.97% accurate to the original texts, with some slight changes in grammatical translation (which would be expected with the differences in the semetic and european languages.), which have no modification to the actual meaning of the texts.
Please do some more research into this.
2006-08-31 20:54:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
who said that the Bible is not authoritative in other languages? that is wrong. the message does not depend on the language. the Bible translated is 99.99 % true to the original texts (the .01 is from phrases that cannot be translated verbatim) but this does not take away from the doctrine or anything. when Christ told us to "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel" He certainly did not expect the world to be of one language. and it says nowhere in the Bible that Hebrew and Greek are the only validating languages.
2006-08-31 20:51:57 · answer #8 · answered by jesse_4jesus 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know I am following God the Father and his word The Bible. God is my leader, and I read the King James Version which is the authoritative words from God. And if your are an Atheist and following the words of what scientist say, your leaders, then you know nothing, unless you are a scientist yourself. You can only go on what they have told you. You yourself can't prove anything, stop hiding behind your leaders and think for yourself, be original. God Bless!!
2006-08-31 21:12:57 · answer #9 · answered by Annie Red Head 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about the fact that the bible was written by men (god inspired men of course) and then constantly re-copied for hundreds of years. What if someone slipped in a new passage because they didn't want to work on Sunday for example.
2006-08-31 20:54:55 · answer #10 · answered by Devil'sadvocate 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. I know who i am following. I am following the one who created me and all of us, including you. Just because you are illiterate does not mean that you cannot have faith. Priests are there, as well as churches to help us understand. One without faith does not believe in anything. I have a question for you...why do YOU believe in what YOU believe in, if anything at all. If you cannot answer that then how DARE you ask a question like this?
2006-08-31 23:43:20 · answer #11 · answered by Person :P 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋