I believe in the basic values of the Bible, but believe it has been altered so much over the years. I still believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirt but not the Bible. If I follow the Ten Commandments and am a good person but not believe in the Bible, would that still make me a believer and a Christian?
2006-09-25 10:49:34 · 37 answers · asked by .vato. 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Lots of believers don't believe everything in the Bible or take every chapter and verse literally. Thomas Jefferson considered himself a Christian, but rejected the divinity of Jesus and held that the Bible had been thoroughly corrupted over time.
"To the corruptions of Christianity I am indeed opposed, but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian, in the only sense in which he wished anyone to be: sincerely attached to his doctrines in preference to all others, ascribing to himself every human excellence, and believing he never claimed any other." ~ Thomas Jefferson, letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush, April 21, 1803.
2006-09-25 10:54:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I went through this sort of thing sometime back.
What you're considering is what's either called Liberal Christianity or Emergent Christianity. Both reject the accuracy of the Bible.
Prior to the 300s AD, many Christians wrote about the Bible and Christianity, etc. All but 11 verses of the New Testament have been reconstructed from their writings alone.
Martin Luther, the leader of the Protestant Reformation, wrote about the Bible. Part of the reason he was tried for heresy is because he said the Bible and not tradition is the final authority on all matters of doctrine and life that it addresses. Rather than tradition, he wanted people to be led by the Bible. You can read his position on the Bible in his writings including his book called Table Talk.
There is a Christian who has done lots of research at www.biblefacts.org
He has a doctorate in it and all.
One disciple of John was named Polycarp. Polycarp had a few disciples. Two are well known named Irenaeus and Justin the Martyr. Both were strong supporters of the accuracy of scripture.
I encourage you to research the early church fathers to see if what I say is true. Consider that they are responsible for passing down Christianity to us. They passed on the idea to us that Jesus is the Messiah and gave his life for our sins.
I'm really partial to the writings of Justin the Martyr.
According to Luther, Scripture alone is the final earthly authority on all matters of doctrine and life that it addresses.
Primarily, the belief that Jesus is who the Bible says He is is bare minimum to being a Christian. Then again, there's a difference in being a Christian and being born again.
2006-09-25 11:01:35 · answer #2 · answered by DexterLoxley 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your belief in Jesus and God stems solely from the Christian Bible and/or the Torah. If you think the bible is bogus, then it follows that the god it portrays is bogus, as well.
I had the same thoughts you're having, a long time ago. And I held onto the belief that there was a god, whether the bible was false or not. But I finally decided (and later confirmed) that there was no reason to believe in the god, either. I had simply been conditioned since birth to do so. Even though logic told me otherwise, I was very reluctant to let go.
But regardless of whether you believe in a god or not, and regardless of what Fundamentalists might label you as... your attempt to follow the teachings of "Jesus", and simply be good to others, is definitely a path worth taking.
2006-09-25 10:55:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
You can believe what you want...
Though I am not understanding your rationality of believing things that come from an altered Bible, and not the rest. The 10 commandments is from the Bible, so your questions negates itself.
Sounds like you are on the track to becoming a non-believer of the Bible. You will eventually find out that the reasons for you to not believe the altered things, will be the reason to not believe any of it.
http://infidels.org
2006-09-25 11:05:51 · answer #4 · answered by I I 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The bible is a bunch of *ahem* bull dung
You are very right that it has been altered SO much that who knows what it means anymore. Have good morals and be nice to your neighbour and fellow man. That is all this world needs!
You are getting a lot of responses from what us Yahoo Answers call Bible Thumpers. I know MANY people on here and in real life that believe in God and his teachings but not the bible. Do not have any worries about that. Plus all Christians say is that God knows what is in your heart, if you still believe in him, then why would people have a problem?!
2006-09-25 10:55:01 · answer #5 · answered by ηιgнт ѕтαя 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
If you believe in the essence of the bible--that's all that matters. There are many instances in the bible I don't think are meant to be taken literally but to some they are. It is a tool of guidance. In fact you may even find places where the phrases appear to be contradictory. I believe this stems from individual's different interpretation of the word.
You believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. You follow the ten commandments. You treat your neighbors and family with respect. I believe that's what matters.
2006-09-25 11:05:10 · answer #6 · answered by amish-robot 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Whatever gave you the idea that if you follow the 10 commandments and be a good person, you will go to heaven? Did you invent this? Because this is not in the Bible...especially the New Testament. If you don't want to believe in the Bible, then don't believe in any of it. If you believe in parts of the Bible, then I would encourage you to read the whole Bible, study it, and find out why it is found to be reliable and truthful and worthy of being received 100%. Prove it to yourself.
2006-09-25 11:03:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can believe in God and still not be a Christian, God existed long before there was a Bible and will exist long after the Bible is gone.
To be a Christian, you would have to believe in Jesus Christ and accept him into your heart and believe you are saved, accepting the unconditional love and forgiveness that is offered by Christ and walk in grace with Christ.
That does not mean you have to believe in the Bible, Jesus exists outside of the Bible. Same as God exists outside of the Bible. Your actions and your heart speak more about who and what you are than whether or not you believe in the Bible or attend church.
2006-09-25 10:55:56 · answer #8 · answered by Unity 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Being a Christian is about following CHRIST, not just the 10 commandments.
There are a few very basic ideals that the Bible says you need to believe to get to heaven.
You are a sinner. There is nothing that you can do as a individual to earn your way to heaven. Jesus died for your sins to make ammends. You must ask God for forgiveness for your sins and accept Jesus as your savior.
It is a slippery slope to believe that only bits and pieces of the Bible are correct, but also there are many different denominations that all have certain areas that they disagree on the meaning of.
The main thing is to believe in the basic ideals.
2006-09-25 10:53:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
If you don't believe in the Bible, how did you learn about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Ten Commandments?? What other source is there?
2006-09-25 11:01:33 · answer #10 · answered by huh? 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋