Is it wrong to question how accurate the bible is?

Answer 1

Dangerous beliefs:

1. Blind Faith. (That we ought to have Faith and not have Doubt.) Faith and Doubt are important companion tools. We reject untruth using our doubt. We accept truth using our faith. Either without the other becomes a serious problem for us. Faith without doubt allows us to follow every little wind. Doubt without faith allows no way to move ahead of where we are. Have we been taught to be ashamed of our doubt? If we would be effective seekers of truth, then we must replace that shame with gratitude.

2. Believing that Good and Truth are the same. Not all good things are true. (Santa Claus?) Not all true things are good. (Murderous dictators?) Truth and Goodness are not the same thing – hardly even related. Truth simply is. Goodness is produced with intelligent effort.

3.That our emotions are more dependable than our thoughts. There is no question that an emotionless life would not be as sweet – nor as painful. Still, emotions are not dependable in ferreting out truth from folly. If we tried to do our science with our emotions, we wouldn’t succeed in building what we’ve built. Of course, a scientist with no emotion probably wouldn’t have the motivation to do the work. Feeling and thinking have different important purposes. Often, religious beliefs are emotion-based, when they ought to be thought-based. Sometimes we miss the boat because we attempt to be “humble.” In seeking truth, we ought to improve our thinking, not strengthen our feelings. He said, “My Thoughts are not Your Thoughts – and your Ways not my Ways.” He didn’t talk about His “feelings” being different, but His Thoughts. He didn’t make the universe by feeling – but by thoughts and acts. He says He loves us – that’s His feelings, which must motivate Him.

4. That we ought to live by the Letter of the law. We often teach that the letter is a good guide, but that the spirit is even more important. But Paul wrote, “The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” This is not good compared with better; this is bad compared with good. Let’s get this one right, because it has more import to our happiness than most people know. We have seen families destroyed by a letter-of-the-law attitude – over and over. Let the kids see that we don’t care about the letter, if the spirit is followed. This does not mean to look at the letter and break it. Just don’t look at it at all. The spirit will usually cover the letter. When it does not, the spirit is most likely better anyway. This really means “think.” When we are tempted to live by “the letter of the law,” it is becasue we don’t want to have to think in each situation. Admittedly, there are times when this “efficiency” is valuable – so long as we form our habits understanding their limitations, with a willingness and courage to go against habit when circumstances justify.

5. That “We” are the only ones who are correct or authorized. If someone is baptized in another church, it must be done over by one of “us.” Only members of our church can go to heaven – or the belief may be that only people who believe in our prescribed way can go to heaven. Those who haven’t found “Jesus,” for example, will go to Hell forever, no matter how good they are. Hell is described in different ways – Death without ever being alive again – burning forever without ending – or just a lesser “heaven,” than that enjoyed by those in the “right” group.

6. That we ought to resist organizational change (organizational repentance.) It is a fact that nearly all older organizations are resistive to change. The tried and proven have gained the confidence of the group. This is not all bad, of course. Conservatism in conserving the good is valuable. The principle of repentance, however, is an entirely liberal process. It is a process of change. We all know it’s good for us as individuals. We resist repentance of the organization – changes in doctrine. We make extra doctrines early in our development to support this lack of repentance. For example, we say, “People make errors, but the Church is perfect.” “Our interpretation can be in error, but the doctrine is perfect.” “If the Prophet declares ‘Thus Sayeth THE Lord,’ then what follows is infallible.” In truth, the Church is us, and there is no other church. Plumbers and scientists and Prophets and politicians can all become schizophrenic the same as any of us – out of touch with reality by disease or by age or by indoctrination (mild term for brainwashing.)

(Chuck Borough – During the First Trip Around the Sun – 2002 TripAroundTheSun.com)


Am I suggesting here that all beliefs are dangerous? Am I proposing that there are no beneficial beliefs? Are beliefs irrelevant to our spiritual and community life and that we should only act according to those things we can empirically prove? No.

Beneficial beliefs:

1. Belief in Yourself. That you deserve to be on this earth. That you have an inherent worth and that you have unique talents and perspectives to offer in the world.

Imagine what the world would be like if Gandhi had believed that he could never make a difference, if Thomas Edison had believed that he could never do anything right, or if Abraham Lincoln had believed that no one would ever like him. That's an erroneous thought, isn't it? Yet how many times have you said or thought things like that to yourself? And what might your life be like if you were to transform all your negative beliefs to positive ones? (Avalon De Witt)


2. Belief in Others. That they are basically honorable and trying to do the right thing and that they have the same inherent worth as you.

I am an educator as well as a coach and am interested in what it is that brings out the best in the people with whom I work. Over the last few years I have read a great deal of research on the power of beliefs. I am convinced that it is essential that I hold, and communicate to my students or clients that I believe in their ability to learn, to heal, and to grow.

We have to hold and project these beliefs even when, or perhaps, especially when the person we are working with does not hold them. In a recent study it was found that teenagers from economically disadvantaged families were more likely to attend college if their parents, especially their mothers, were optimistic about the teens chances of enrolling in college. (Lorna Minewiser, ezinearticles.com)

3. Belief in the World. That even though you perhaps can’t see it right now, the world is unfolding pretty much as it should and that it is indifferent and neither punishes nor grants special favors for anyone.

Basic in a rational religious faith is a confidence in the natural order, and utter dependence upon it. The universe itself is impartial. Birth and death, health and disease, ignorance and wisdom, are all due to natural causes, and nobody has the power to alter their course except as he works with causes within the framework of the natural world. No one, neither priest nor magician, has the power to set aside these natural operations.

It takes a good deal of faith to believe in such a world. It requires more faith, and a profounder faith, to believe in such a world than it does to believe in a world whose gods are moved by the petitions and flatteries of men. (Clinton Lee Scott, “Faith in this kind of World”, Religion Can Make Sense.)

4. Expectations guide results: That while results can’t be guaranteed, holding positive expectations (beliefs) tends to favor positive outcomes. Negative expectations tend to foster negative outcomes. This has been shown to be true through research in medicine, sports and psychology.

Your beliefs are a critical factor in shaping your character, your behavior and your future. Since like attracts like, positive experiences are attracted to positive beliefs and negative experiences are attracted to negative beliefs. (Avalon De Witt, AskAvalon.com)


5. Skepticism and doubt are healthy: We need skepticism and doubt in healthy portions to keep us moving forward, to keep us improving ourselves and our world. To lose these motivators is to risk complacency and death.

“The beliefs that you hold, if unquestioned, can control your life, destroy your own happiness and the happiness of others, and lead to your own end.

Only by keeping a flexible mind, devoid of any absolutes whatsoever, mindful that all information is questionable, and by remaining aware of the difference between belief and fact, can any person hope to function in a sane and rational manner.” (Jennifer Diane Reitz)


When we take an honest look at honestly gained data, then we doubt astrology. But this one is easy for us; we already doubt astrology. There are many other things we ought to doubt that we do not doubt. Without a healthy doubter, we would believe many things to be true which are not true, and in fact, we all do this. We also doubt many things without thought or study – with our emotions. When we doubt – or when we believe – in both cases, it should be by thought, not by feeling. By using the two tools – faith and doubt, we ferret out the truth from the folly. (It’s the Wheat and the Tares in the story.) As we continue in this honest process, we become more accurate in our beliefs. There will be times when we will err no matter how good our process is, but the net – over the long haul – will be improvement in our personal belief system

(Chuck Borough – During the First Trip Around the Sun – 2002 TripAroundTheSun.com)

Answer 2

i don't think it is wrong to question the accuracy of the bible or any other thing that man had a hand in. the early catholics were not even to read the bible , the church decided they could not understand it so it was read to them at the Church's' discretion. and then most scripture was read in Latin, the bible itself says study to shew thyself approved.when ever i have a question i hit the bible, i study it to see if i can find why i have a question about a verse, but the reason i believe is because i have read many historys about life, ancient times, who and what and where and everything i can to see if it compares to what i have read, i have been reassured time and time again that the things that are written are what really happened, so i would say by all means question,

Answer 3

The Roman Emperor Constantine produced the bible and he replaced right into a pagan no longer god!!! He took the Jewish faith and basing it on the Mithras faith, prepared it into Christianity and then into the Holly Roman Catholic Church!! no longer in Israel or any of the international places of meant foundation yet entirely ITALIAN!! no longer one be attentive to it is modern with the era and replaced into no longer written till a number of hundred years after the era the tale is set in!! How did the apostles write their books extra desirable than one hundred years while they could have been lifeless? What a ask your self complete disinformation and deception marketing campaign he waged against his Jewish enemies via turning them into his invented Christianity - so stable in actuality that Christians are nevertheless following the deception to at present time!!!

Answer 4

No, it's not wrong to question how accurate the bible is - if you ask earnestly and research earnestly about your questions.
Read some good books about the so called "inaccuracies", recommend Josh McDowell's books to you ("Evidence that demands a verdict").

Answer 5

No, it's not wrong if the questions are sincere. Questioning the Bible leads to a greater, more in-depth study of the word of God. This leads us closer to God. Questions are good.

Answer 6

Since when is questioning anything wrong? It's what sets us apart from lemmings.

"Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear."

-Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787

Answer 7

I am a catholic...went to catholic school all my life and we are taught that alot of the bible wasn't written until a long time after the fact...and that they were told from generation to generation...until someone put them down...kind of like telephone...but remember with a lie there is always "truth"

Answer 8

Is it wrong to question how accurate evolution is, seeing how it is the fundamental religious text of Secular Humanists?

Answer 9

It is wrong not to question the bible. The book makes no sense.

Answer 10

Darling, I am an artist, and god inspires me to paint many things, but that doesn NOT prevent me from putting in my own little touches regardless of what god has to say about it. The men who wrote the bible were INSPIRED by god. You do the math

Answer 11

People have been questioning it in every way possible since it was printed. Question it and question God and recieve answers!

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. -Matthew 7:7