When someone asks a serious question about the existence of God, many believers rush to quote the Bible. FYI: The Bible was written by humans, not by God. So when a question is asked about religion, quoting the Bible is like saying: "It is true because someone else said it or wrote it". They will then say that those people were chosen by God. How do you know? It was just other humans that said that they were chosen by God. If the miracles or magical events are presented as evidence, then David Copperfield is a God or a chosen one as well. My point is that all that we have on God is by other humans saying it. So quoting the Bible seems to me as a debatable point, not the ultimate proof of anything. Does quoting the Bible really prove anything?
2006-12-09 07:18:05 · 13 answers · asked by jasonheavilin 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The first couple of answers obviously missed the point.
2006-12-09 07:22:59 · update #1
I believe that the Bible is full of wisdom and has very good advice for everyone; however, proving the existence of God by what another person said or wrote is not a very good approach.
Rebuttals:
1) The Bible is an opinion; another person's opinion from many years ago. Then the opinion was translated into another opinion. The name Jesus itself is an opinion of what his name would be in English.
2) How can you answer this question by quoting the Bible?
5) You believe that the Bible is the word of God because another human told you that. If no person would have ever said anything about the Bible to you, you would not believe that it is the word of God. Maps are wrong sometimes.
6) An empty tomb proves nothing (maybe theft). Prophets 100% accurate....please!!!
9) Yet another quote to answer this question.
12) A car is man made, and a physical object. There is no need for a manual to prove that the car is there.
2006-12-10 19:38:05 · update #2
Only to people who already accept that the Bible is the inerrant word of God. And even then, it's not necessarily proof, because there are different ways to interpret different verses and books. After all, even the devil can cite scripture to serve his purpose, right?
I read a book last year by the Archbishop of Canterbury (in other words, a Christian, and a very important one at that) in which he argued that while Christians may well rely upon faith and biblical scripture as tools for moral guidance, they shouldn't rely exclusively upon them in such a diverse world. The point you make about biblical scripture being unconvincing to non-Christians is one he pointed out as well. He therefore urged Christians to try to find RATIONAL reasons to support their points of view, and to LISTEN to alternative points of view before deciding for sure whether something is moral or immoral. After all, the Bible itself can be interpreted in various ways, so it provides at best a few general rules, not absolute guidelines.
I have no problem with Christians making decisions about how to lead their own lives based on biblical scripture. But it only makes sense that they should try to come up with logical reasons for their choices if they are trying to convince others to draw the same conclusions they have.
For example, if you think homosexuality is immoral, then don't have sex with guys. But you're going to have to come up with some reason other than "because the Bible says so" to try to force your decision down every one else's throat, not to mention to make it illegal.
If you quote scripture in response to a debate over something that interests anyone other than Christians even remotely, then all you're doing is convincing everyone else engaged in the conversation that you're an ignorant, closed-minded prick. So save your scripture for church discussion boards or for your personal signature at the end of a logical response.
2006-12-09 07:24:37 · answer #1 · answered by magistra_linguae 6 · 4⤊ 2⤋
To a non believer it rarely proves a thing, but to one open to another idea might see the wisdom of it. Read the Psalms and Proverbs. Test them and see what you think. Read the account of Jesus and reflect on what "they" say he said. How would it affect your life if you believed it?
FYI "We" believe the Bible is the "man inspired by God" book. Not a book men wrote about God hundreds of years ago. This means that God made sure we got it right. I have found few arguments or contradictions exist when another older text is found. So, it has a great level of infallibility.
I am curious how one could express to you the mysteries of God and win you over? What proof do you require to believe? C.S. Lewis also disbelieved, but he researched the Bible and came up with two choices. Either Jesus was a lunatic or our Lord. He chose Lord by the way.
Final thought. There are outside Biblical sources to back up the martyr deaths of all the disciples save John. Not to mention countless others throughout history. Why would these people die for a lie?
Keep questioning and I hope you find the right answer.
2006-12-09 07:30:27 · answer #2 · answered by crimthann69 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is true that the Bible was written by men. Even the ten commandments were written by Moses on stone tablets. Jesus didn't write any Scriptures, but he often time quoted from them. This means that he had faith in the scriptures and so he used them to teach and in some cases reprove. Yes, he had to reprove religious leaders and even Satan the Devil.
Lets say you had a car that was rare and very different from other cars and someone in a car just like yours stopped you one day and asked you if you still had the users manual for your car. You said you did and showed it to him. However, you new the car manual very well and you were able to help him find the exact thing for which he was looking. You knew that manual backwards and forwards and you knew hundreds of facts about that car from studying that manual (bible).
One example you gave in your question was where someone would tell you that your going to hell. That person would be judging you which God warns us not to to others.
Rather than quote a couple of scriptures, could I at least point them out to you? Maybe they will be helpful to you in answering your question about the words in the bible. They are:
1 Peter 1:20,21
2 Timothy 3:16,17
2006-12-09 08:20:11 · answer #3 · answered by quaver 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a complete loop: Does God exists? Yes, the Bible says so. What makes the Bible an authority? It is the word of God. One or the other needs to be proven before the other can fall into place.
2006-12-09 07:27:53 · answer #4 · answered by The Doctor 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The reason Christians quote the Bible is that we believe it to be the Word of God. When asked a question regarding God, we go to the source. Since you reject the idea that the Bible is inspired by God and inerrant, then the proof you desire is within your own heart. If you truly seek God, He will reveal Himself to you. There is substantiating proof that the Bible is correct. There is substantiating proof that Jesus rose from the dead. The tomb is empty. The prophets are 100 per cent accurate.
2006-12-09 07:26:03 · answer #5 · answered by padwinlearner 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Well, yeah I can see your point.
But you must understand that the Bible "is proof" for those who believe it. For those who do not, it is just an obstacle to discussion.
It is the same thing when we argue with some one about dinosaur bones being 350 million years old. We have no reliable test method to prove that. But, the evolutionist will quote the geologic column, and tell which strata (chapter and verse) the bone came from-like that matters.
2006-12-09 07:29:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Quoting the bible has to do with EVERYTHING. It is God's word- and it is alive and active as it says in Hebrews and nobody can have faith in the Lord without hearing the word of God as it says in Romans 10:17--I always back myself up with scripture if I am answering something biblical- or I try to at least- sometimes I have not....but I know that is the BEST way to answer a question about the truth.
2006-12-09 07:20:40 · answer #7 · answered by Mandolyn Monkey Munch 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
By the sounds of your posting it doesn't matter what people who believe in God and the Bible say - so why would you bother to ask?
To those of us who believe in God, we know the Bible is the Word of God. Our faith is how 'we know'. So when someone asks about God we reference the Bible because it is God's word.
Very similiar if someone asked for directions to a place and we want to be exact in our answer, we would refer to a map.
A map.. much like the Bible, gives us believers 'directions' in life.
2006-12-09 07:25:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
Yes. By quoting and CORRECTLY applying Scripture, you are showing that what you say is not based on opinion. Instead, you are relying on the wisdom from the Bible. Jesus did that, when resisting the temptations of the Devil at Luke 4. There he said a number of times: "It is written..."
2006-12-09 07:20:28 · answer #9 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
do you believe that we went to war with germany in international war 2? do you believe that an prolonged time in the past christopher columbus got here and located united statesa. (you may dispute that later i dont care) the place do you get that advice? from archives and artifacts that coach it the place will we get the bible? hmm...... from archives and artifacts that back it up. now in case you dont believe any of the above, then you definately've each ideal to question the very essence of your being right here ideal now.. are you actual? am i actual?
2016-10-05 02:29:57 · answer #10 · answered by vanderbilt 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋