Is christianity more of a philosophy *please read the rest of the question*?

Question

When christians pick and choose parts of the bible to believe and not believe. Does that make the bible more of a book on philosophy Than a book of facts given by god.
It seems like christianity is very amorphous. Some of its adherents saying one thing others saying something else. Do they believe the bible is fact given by god or simply a book of philosophy to study. And if they don't believe all of the bible then in essence wouldn't that make them god. Giving them the power to choose what is said by god or not. Furthermore if you had a belief in the christian god wouldn't you be frightened to say that his book isnt all true.
And for the record I have read the bible. I have studied the bible. I used to be a christian. I have consulted with theologists and I continue to study. So please don't respond advising me to do any of the above. I already am.

Answer 1

I partially agree with you. Christianity shouldn't be something hand-picked. The Word of God is unchanging. You can't study the Bible and then determine what you think is either right or wrong or what you will or will not live by. It's either God's way or no way. The Bible states that we should "study ourselves approved". How can you halfway study the Bible and then partially live some of the way for the Lord. It doesn't add up.

If we are to say we are Christians then we SHOULD practice what the WHOLE Bible says ... not just what we want to adhere to because it's convenient to a chosen "lifestyle". God doesn't change and neither does HIS Word.

Answer 2

All religions will be divided by some believing this and some believing that.

God gave us the Bible to help us, along with other reasons, to make sense of the earth.

And thats what Christians should do. Use the Bible to understand the world.

Any Christian who does not believe that the Bible is not the word of God should not be considered a true practicing Christian.

Because that is one of the fundamental principles of Christianity, that the Bible is God's word.

With that being said, Christians should understand that the Bible has been rewritten extensively throughout time, and it is their responsiblity to seek out the oldest and therefore most accurate of the texts.

Which in my experience I have found to be the New Jerusalem Bible.

But just because King James changed the Bible to be more poetic, doesn't mean the basic fundamental rules of Christianity aren't in it.

These older books just allow for easier understanding through more accurate translation. It also allows an easier look into the past.

I wouldn't be frightened to say that all of the King James Bible isn't true because it isn't, and God knows that, and probably would like me to spread this with my fellow brethren.

But the fundamental parts dont change.

And anyone who does not believe in these fundmental parts, is not practicing a healthy relationship with their creator.

I must mention though, that just because the world understands that Christianity believes that all sinners are going to hell, doesn't make it a principle written in the Bible, nor does it make it truthful.

And this is where Christians get confused. Because the Bible says nothing about an eternal firey damnation for sinners.

This is a lie that has been spread throughout the population, due to the Catholic Church, which is not Christian, but pagan, with pagan rituals to go right along with it.

Once you start to pick apart these lies, you realize how soo many Christians say conflicting stories.

Because they aren't going off what their Bible says, but what lies humanity has believed for hundreds of years. And thus certain churches teach without even questioning the validity.

And that's what we as Christians should do, is question the validity.

Not of the scripture, but of the lies that have been fed to us for years that have no foundation in scripture.

and p.s. There is no hell! The Bible does not speak of it as a place ! No one is judged until the very end! And even then, the non-believers just cease to exist! They are "thrown into the lake of fire" Their souls are no more...

If God is a fair God then how does anyone's sinful life even closely deserve a fiery torturous eternal damnation?? It doesn't. Hell is not a place. It is a lie.

Answer 3

Christianity is a religion because it is a system of beliefs that Christians use to govern their lives. Christians believe in God's salvation of the world through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Your premise is that Christianity is whatever it's followers decide it is... as if it were a pliable, changable thing. This is an error. Christianity is what God has determined it to be regardless of the countless mis-interpretatoins and empty rituals people have created.

You have pointed out a case in point. A Christian has no choice but to believe the whole Bible. They cannot pick and choose which sections they believe are true. If it is false at one point it is false on the whole.

Of course, there are those who play Christian knowing all of the right words and phrases but, as the Bible points out, "their hearts are far from me." So how do you tell the difference? The Bible is very clear about this. Look at their fruits. What is the product of what they do? Is it selfish, destructive, wrong, evil? Is it kind, generous, healing, freeing?

A person's actions will tell you more about what is in their heart than anything that they say.

Answer 4

If you have already studied Scripture and have consulted with theologians, then you know that there is no doctrine within the Catholic Church that is not scriptural. Furthermore, you already know that the Catholic Church believes that the bible is the Word of God and that as such is inerrant. In addition, you know that the bible is not the pillar and bulwark of Truth; the Church is.

I agree with that choosing to call any of God's truths false or ignoring them should be an act to fear. When Truth's are regarded as false or vice versa, doesn't that lead to absurdities at the least and Chaos at most? Does 25000+ Christian denominations constitute chaos?

Answer 5

I do feel some parts are just ignored in churches, mainly because they are not understood. There is the baby-milk to solid food analogy in the bible as well. Yeah, study it and come to your own conclusions..

Nowadays I use the bible as an ascension guide. (there was something blocking my understanding of it and I prayed what it was and got out an energy, after that it seemed like there was a whole different text in front of me. My guess is most people have the same block I had..)

There are many levels at which one can understand the bible. Not many people do and maybe it is supposed to be for those who pray for wisdom to see.. It is not just the bible that God/Jesus speaks to us. Songlyrics bring it close to home.......It is everywhere, sooo strange that people do not notice,,,....

For me the bible is a very detailed ascension guide!! (not every actor in it was right, not every conclusion drawn back then was right, the events do represent processes in the mind/body that you undergo during ascension/rebirth.. I would almost say "read between the lines"///

Love

Answer 6

From a non-Christian's point of view:

To be a Christian is to live your life like Christ. That is all. No more, no less. The Bible itself is the 'word of God, as written by man'. There's the catch: AS WRITTEN BY MAN. Man had the opportunity to put his own little spin on certain things. As a former Christian, I do not hold the Bible as true, or as a historical document.

To be a good Christian is not to live word for word by the Bible; parts of it are outdated, and are actually illegal in most states (sacrifice is required in the OT). I believe in taking what you can from the Bible. Not all of it pertains to life today. My father, who was saved in 1988, says the same thing. He believe Jesus is his savior, that He died for his sins, he believes in God and the Devil, and all the bits and pieces in between.

But he still loves me, and has not tried to kill me yet, so obviously he's chosen to ignore the gross misinterpretation of Exodus 22:18, "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live". And he doesn't try to convert me, doesn't force me to pray with him, and is able to have honest, frank, and polite discussions with me about our differing religious and political views.

He loves me even when I need help, or make mistakes. He tries to do the best he can by me, and while he often fails, I still love him for it. He knows he can be hypocritical, and he knows he has done some horrible things, but he wants to be forgiven (he even asked my mom, who's been divorced from him for over 20 years, to forgive him for ruining the marriage). Jesus helped him stop drinking, helped him quit smoking, and turned him from the right bastard he used to be into the man he is today. Still a little hypocritical, still a little wrong at times, but, hey, he's not perfect. And he knows it; he knows only Jesus is.

That, in my opinion, is what makes a Christian. I think that Jesus is really proud of my dad. And I know I am too.

Answer 7

The bible is an ancient text that was a good guideline for its time. We have progressed beyond its message, for the most part. And to accept God wrote it, is arrogant in its assumption. There is no evidence to support this stand.

To take what resonnates makes it a book of inspiration for life. There is nothing wrong in taking inspiration from whereever it can be found.

Answer 8

I'm a Christian and have been my whole life.
I believe in the whole Bible and I think it's foolish to pick and choose what you believe in...people shouldn't do that...with God it's all or nothing.
Anyway, that's what I believe...anyone who says that they don't believe in a certain part of the Bible is not sure of what religion they are.

Answer 9

Christians are sinners just like everyone else, some Christians are envious some are greedy some are prideful. The reason why Christians only claim part of the bible is because their sin has blinded them. To understand the whole bible, means that you are sinless. If anyone tells you that they understand the whole bible, then they are calming to be sinless and I would watch out for him.

Answer 10

You're right.

You're better off asking direct questions, such as "Do you advocate stoning disbelievers as directed in Dueteronomy? If you don't aren't you violating God's will?" or "Do you think that God's statement in the ten commandments that he will NEVER forgive blasphemers is contrary to the concept of a forgiving God?"

Ask for direct answers for statements that are contrary to popular dogma, and see if you get direct answers.