Why do we depend on the Bible so much? (or, what is so wrong with questioning the Bible?)?

Question

As a Religion major in college, we were constantly asked not to use the Bible to support our answers for questions, because we were trying to expand our research to include other sources. I get frustrated when people just answer questions with scripture, because it seems that they blindly believe what is in the Bible without questioning it. What is so wrong with questioning the Bible?

Ok, so what's wrong with questioning God? Shouldn't we want to know more about him?

Answer 1

An unexamined faith is worthless. I believe all religions are valid--except blind ones. Questioning is the way to grow and expand in knowledge, and yes, in faith.

Answer 2

You are absolutley right. There is nothing wrong with questioning the Bible. The Bible was originally written in Greek Hebrew and Arabaic. Through most of the Old Testament there was never a written language. So you had people that told stories of what happened until there was a written langusge to write everything down. Once it was written it still had to be translated into languages that we can understand. Biblical languages are much different than English. It is very hard to translate the meanings into our language without misconscrewing the original meaning. Furthermore, the Roman Catholics needed a way to restore order in their country. They believed that they needed more control over all the new people that were migrating over with different polytheistic beliefs. The way that they did that was to have their scholars translate the Bible to make God seem much more harsh and use fear to convert them. They made God to be a monster almost that was going to punish everyone that did not follow Him. They also mde Jesus look as though he was perfect, by not mentioning him having any relationship with a women. So there has been many times in history where the Bible has been translated re-written to suite the current culteres beliefs and so on. We now have a product of that and people need to realize that it is not sacred or anything. I question the Bible and God all the time. The BIble is not a map of how I should live my life, I know what is right and wrong and I just try my best to what is right. Is their anything wrong with that? Oh and I bet you will have tons of answers with people using scripture. It is kind of funny

Answer 3

Perhaps at the dawn of civilisation religion was an honest attempt to understand the many splendoured thing that is the world. The terminology of creation is suggesive of the underlying logical argument that the phenomenal world must have been the handiwork of somebody.However with the progress of knowledge mny of the natural phenimenon could be explained without the crutches of a godhead. As one after another of god's preserves began to fall vested interests of which had formed around the concept of god became alarmed. The Puranic tales of the >asuras" who challenged the gods is significant . The partisans of god took the easy way out by insisting that whatever is in the scriptures if inviolable. Every single thing has to be explained on its basis. If prima facie this cannot be done then pray to god that he throw some more light on them. The persecution of Bruno,Galileo and Copernicus are instances in point. This habit of the living cannot to away until they are dead(or at least the idea of god in dead).There is nothing intrincally wrong in questioning even the most fundamental things in the universe. The Hindu treatises start with an attempt to meet the arguments of the atheists and then proceed to propound their own throry of the universe. The Upnishads go so far as to say that the riddle of the universe is insolvable.They say'' People say that somebody called god who is said to dwell beyond the stars knows the answer."and then adds" dunno if he also does know."Bible says God had given man free will and yet man refused to make use of it hiding behind scriptures.

Answer 4

There is nothing wrong with it. Generally, you are an educated person who has studied in an indepth way the contents of the Bible as well as the history, literary forms, social structures, etc., that stand behind the Biblical text. This invariably leads to questions about the text. Anyone with any degree of academic information about the Biblical text will see that there are gross contradictions, ideas on loan from surrounding cultures, historical errors, and translational/transcriptional problems - among other things. Not to question this book after being exposed to the information to which you were exposed would be tantamount to burying your head in the sand. Unfortunately, most religious people are completely oblivious to the history, sociology, etc. that stands behind their particular religious text, in this case, the Bible. In this case, the Bible becomes a witness unto itself and the logic will invariably become circular.

Stick to what you know and don't be intimidated. There is nothing wrong with using your brain to think critically. Nice question!

Answer 5

There is nothing wrong with using the Bible as a source. For me it is the ultimate authority because if you dig deep enough you will learn that all other books on religion are actually spinoffs of the Bible.

I don't see anything wrong with questioning the Bible either. In fact, I am suspicious and wary of anyone who tells you NOT to question. It means that whatever they are holding up as truth will not withstand examination.

Answer 6

I have to admit that I went in the opposite direction from you. I started with questions and I started with myself at the center.

I never studied religion in college. I was brought up (by my dad) in a Congregational/Presbyterian church. I knew that SOMEDAY I wanted to read the Bible because there were things my JW mother said and things my friends of other denominations said that just didn't seem to ring true.

But I finished high school, went to college where I met my husband, moved several times, had children, suffered agony when my husband was unfaithful BEFORE I finally read the Bible.

My world had collapsed when my husband filed for divorce and then I got laid off from my job in the same year. I felt like I didn't have a friend in the world and I wanted to die. People told me it was "God's will" and that I should accept it and get on with my life. It was the Bible which showed me that was not true.

Reading the Bible (I read The Daily Walk Bible) from cover to cover was the best thing I've ever done in my life by far! I learned that the divorce wasn't God's will, it was my husband's will. But that didn't stop God from helping me to heal.

I read a whole lot of self help books which are NICE BUT ... One author led me to another author who led me to all kinds of books but evenually I realized that I was "moonwalking" away from God.

Don't get frustrated with those who quote Scripture. They really are giving you THE BEST. Why would you want less than the Best?

Please read the Bible for yourself and I really think you will agree.

I still read lots of books in addition to reading the Bible from cover-to-cover every year. I choose what I read very carefully because I don't want to waste my precious time with things that
sound nice BUT.

Answer 7

Being a religion major you should already know that if you question the Bible you often come up with more questions than answers. I do agree with you that people shouldn't just go around quoting scripture for every situation. People need to think about the scripture and use it in their own words to fit the situation. People need to think, people need to question things. They need to use their brain that's why God gave it to them.

Answer 8

You are correct, we are to question God and His Word. If we do not question we cannot grow. The Bible is self explanatory, but yet you must know what is happening at the time and who it is written to.

We depend on the Bible so much because it contains all truth.

Be careful in your religion classes because they will throw a ton of garbage at you, and tell you it is true.

Answer 9

Being a true Christian why should we ques-tining the bible don't you know that the bible is a compilation of the word commandments of God, questioning the bible is questioning also the Gods word not unless if you are a pagan

Answer 10

Do not throw out the baby with the bathwater.
Use scripture then back it up with logical statements why this scripture IS relavant in today's culture.


2 Timothy 2:14-16
14Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

16But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Answer 11

Technically, there is nothing wrong with questioning the Bible. BUT, for some people that would mean undermining their faith. Faith is not about reason or facts. It is about believing something is true because you want to believe it is true. Many Christians believe the Bible is Holy. It was directly inspired by God. I don't believe there is anything magical about the Bible but many people do. So we have to agree to disagree.