well too many to be given a "godliness" anyway
its more like an old set of laws for people scared of lightning
2006-12-09 05:06:27 · 32 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Not at all -- I've read the entire bible, cover to cover, at least a dozen times. I'm completely aware of the flaws, self-contradictions, and outright lies in the bible...in fact the more I read it the better I'm able to correlate these flaws, make connections between the contradictions, and find more evidence against the outright lies.
Of *course* it's just and old set of laws for people scared of lightning (and rain, and comets, and earthquakes, and armies from other countries attacking them -- they had a lot to be afraid of). That people today still buy into thousands-years-old superstitions and myths is what really amazes me. Especially when there is such a vast array of evidence showing how wrong that book is. It is a testament to the power of mind control and fear (mainly of going to hell) that religious leaders have been able to maintain their grip on people's minds for so long with this unadulterated pap.
Adam -- you want flaws? Here is one appropriate to this time of year:
Luke writes in his gospel, chapter 2, that Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem for the "census" and taxation called by Cyrenius, the Roman governor of Syria -- and that this was when Mary gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem.
However, Matthew writes (chapter 2, verse 1) that jesus was born in the days of Herod the king (of Judea). Herod died in 4BC, Cyrenius' census was done in 6 AD (according to Roman records, and they kept VERY good records in their empire). Those two statements can't both be right, there is a difference of 10 years. One or both of them is absolutely wrong.
There are thousands more flaws, that's just an obvious one :)
2006-12-09 05:11:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
I have read the Bible twice. But, I think that most people don't read it all the way through because most translations are still in the old language and no one really wants to read page after page of who begat who. It has brief parts that are interesting and long, long, long parts that are tedious and, unfortunately boring. I also think that the "flaws" are all in the interpretation anyway. Most scholars believe that the Bible was actually written as metaphorical stories so as to be understood by the uneducated masses. It is basically a collection of stories from 2,000 yrs ago that can now be interpreted in many different ways.
2006-12-09 05:15:40 · answer #2 · answered by SchrodingersTigress 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't read it all the way through because there's so much and it depends on the version. I don't do King James, but the Message is wonderful. I break it down into bible studies. And no, I don't believe the Bible is flawed. I believe it to be the Holy Word of God. The Old Testament IS an old set of laws. In the New Testament, Jesus came that we may be saved through Him and not have to follow all those many laws.
2006-12-09 05:27:33 · answer #3 · answered by Ceci 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
To many flaws with your question. Can you point out the Flaws (1)? Your statement has no backing. I wouldn't say it's for people scared of lighting, it's for people who have no fear of doing what's wrong (ie. murder, stealing, etc.. like someone walking up to you,your girlfriend, mom, sister, or brother and bashing them in with a ball bat). Of course, if the Bible didn't set morals for us then this would other wise be ok in your world.
As for finishing reading the Bible. Dude, I can't interpret the darn thing. Kind of like how t's hard to interpret the HBO series Deadwood sometimes(a must see if you can handle the foul language etc.)So I prefer to go to church and listen and learn and have someone qualified to translat the meaning. That way I can put 2 and 2 together and and have an understanding. That is what works for me.
2006-12-09 05:18:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I managed to finish it twice and still refer to it for study. It wasn't easy at all though. I don't understand why some people say they read the Bible and find a God of love and understanding and yet I see a flawed revisionist history written by violent tribal people and religious revisionists. I have also read a lot of Biblical scholarship on the Bible from both the liberal and conservative side but still can't get my mind around people believing it literally. I think that is why I come here. I think maybe they haven't really read the whole thing and studied it objectively. What I have learned here is that there are people who aren't really interested in studying the Bible objectively, they just want to believe damn it!
2006-12-09 05:13:30 · answer #5 · answered by Zen Pirate 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Well, many do finish it. But yes, I do think the contradictions turn people off. I believe in Jesus, but only in the here and now spiritual sense, for my life. I 'don't read the bible except to sometimes see what Jesus had to say on a topic. That's it. Works for me, and that's all I care about. Bible scholars will most likely miss the point of the books anyway. The point is 'how to live amongst others morally'.
2006-12-09 05:13:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
No. I think most people do not read the entire Bible because they get bored when line after line says beget, beget, beget, beget.
Also, they get bored because they don't understand what they are reading. You can't blame them, it is an ancient manuscript that was written in Shakespearian pseudo poetry.
Believe it or not: The best way to read the Bible is to flip through the pages and STOP on a page. Then go back to the beginning of that Chapter, and look for a miracle.
A miracle? Yes, try it. You might be shocked that that randomly selected page (most of the time) will talk about something that you have experienced lately, or something you have wondered about lately.
Well, for God's sake try it. It won't kill you, to try it.
How did I do, JJ?
*********
Dear welltraveled: Well "la tea dah"- Do you think the purpose of the Bible was a travel magazine? Oh, I see! "One flaw, all flawed".
Could you pass a test like that?
I think you have put the "em fah sis on the wrong sill ah bull".
I hope you are smart enough to understand the above sentence.
In Short: Stop your complaining. No one likes a whiner.
Biblically speaking: It seems you have strained a gnat (out of your soup) and then swallowed a camel (bad smells and all).
**********
I know, JJ, I blew it. Sorry, but I need your help, teach me to be nice like you.
2006-12-09 05:17:24 · answer #7 · answered by MrsOcultyThomas 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
I would recommend reading another bestselling book - "the life of Pi", which in its closing chapters presents a different spin on the teachings of the bible with its many stories. I often wondered the same as you before but this book helped me to see it in a more positive light instead of questioning its flaws and inconsistencies. But I won't spoil the story for you here!
2006-12-09 05:17:10 · answer #8 · answered by Sattvik allanek 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I read the Bible in full, cherishing every flaw I found. I like to be informed; I am more aware of the Bible than most Christians.
2006-12-09 05:09:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Ive read the Bible cover to cover 12 times and will continue. Just because you dont read it through, and see the contradictions are not contradictions, doesnt mean nobody else has taken the time to do it.
2006-12-09 05:10:35 · answer #10 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋