Although, you don't consider the Bible, Qur'an, Torah, etc. to be inspired writings from God, do you think there is any wisdom in these books, that should be followed in everyday life? Or do you think the books are worthless and should just be ignored?
2006-12-26 21:21:18 · 23 answers · asked by LadyB!™ 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There are too many thoughtful answers for me to choose a best answer, think I'll let this one go to the jury. Thanks for the reponses.
2006-12-26 23:11:17 · update #1
There might be some wisdom in those books, but I think any wisdom found there can also be found in many other sources that DON'T also include so much dogma and mythology.
2006-12-26 21:23:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 1⤋
What is in the books have value, but much of what is in the books are actually just letters to other groups of the time.
The value of those letters was good 1800 years ago, but often only historical insight these days. If you look at some of the letters to the Corinthians and the Ephesians for example, Paul sends two different messages because each group had different problems.
In the Qu'ran, you see the same thing as Mohammad tried to unify a very huge group of disparate Arab tribes. The Torah has things in it which for some reason were edited out of the Old Testament. It is from the Torah that both the New Testament and the Qu'ran spring forth.
2006-12-27 05:33:16 · answer #2 · answered by wolf560 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is definately alot of wisdom in all of those books. The basic values and teachings of the Bible are right on. I just can't swallow the whole "son of God", prophets, and after death concepts, although I live by the"Golden Rule" (or try my best to because It makes sense and is important to me).It really freaks me out when a Christian says" If your an athiest nothing matters". I'm agnostic and I'm constantly looking at the similarities between humans and animals instead of the differences. I don't need a religion to have compassion and see right from wrong and be compelled to live accordingly nor see why others do.
2006-12-27 05:42:46 · answer #3 · answered by neurotic one 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is insight in all scriptural writings. The problem is that there is also a lot of mistakes that the religions can't admit to. It reflects a lot of ignorance on the part of biblical people who were obviously not inspired by a holy spirit. For instance, How did Noah gather 2 Polar Bears for the Arc when he didn't know that they existed? Yet religions continue to insist that it's the word of God. It's the word of man who didn't know any better, that's why the mistakes are there. Some parts are inspirational and some parts, especially the violence are the complete opposite.
2006-12-27 06:08:54 · answer #4 · answered by liberty11235 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe there is wisdom to be learnt from them - and I have looked at the bible and Qur'an and some of the teachings in them do make sense, just because I chose not to believe in them - doesnt mean they are not worth anything. I believe that people have the right to believe in what they want and I do not try to preach my beliefs on anyone - not even my children. Alot of people in this world, use these books as a guide throughout their lives, and some take it to the extreme and follow them for their everyday life - but it is their life - their choice!!!
2006-12-27 05:26:23 · answer #5 · answered by schmushe 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I am not an atheist I am a pagan, but I have read all these books, as well as those of other religions and have found many wise things in them. I have also found great wisdom in non-religious texts. I think you would be hard pressed to find any reasonable person who thought: love your neighbor, honor your parents, don't kill etc as worthless. The constant dogma in them turn off many atheists, but you should know that most atheist become atheists after searching through religion without finding the meaning and truth they seek.
2006-12-27 05:50:21 · answer #6 · answered by jungles_fury 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wisdom can be found anywhere as well as BS. It is up to the individual to decide which is which. I think the best way to figure it out is to seek out many differing views. The danger is in accepting someones viewpoint as your own without question. Also, viewpoints change with people over time. The way you see something today may not be the way you see it tomorrow. I recommend keeping yourself open to change and don't let anyone lock you into a belief system. I have found words of wisdom from the christian bible, but I believe they came from the authors.
2006-12-27 05:37:16 · answer #7 · answered by Vlasko 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Morality is above religion. The concepts of morality cited by the bible were not original. They'd been around for a long time... Don't give the credit to holy texts, they are all just copying something from somewhere else.
There are a lot of old Egyptian concepts in the bible, along with pagan concepts as well. Don't forget the Greeks too, they were contributors, although unknowingly.
2006-12-27 05:44:27 · answer #8 · answered by RED MIST! 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, there are things in it that I agree with. For example, the Bible says not to murder and of course I agree with this. I also like the passage from the Gospel when Jesus speaks about the plank in your own eye and the speck in your brother's eye. The Bible has many passages that teach good morals, but I don't think that you need some holy book to follow them. I don't think that the morals originate from the Bible, but that they orignate from the good that is in human nature. So I feel it is rather a coincidence when I follow morals that happen to be written in the Bible. Buddhism, for example, teaches good morals too and is from a completely different source than the monotheist religions.
2006-12-27 05:38:56 · answer #9 · answered by Elly 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, there is some wisdom in the way they encourage us to be loving and charitable towards one another, respect one another's dignity, etc. But this advice can be found in the writing of many authors, religious or not.
On the other hand, there's so much violence, contradiction, and encouragement to hate that they should be taken with a very large pinch of salt.
2006-12-27 05:24:46 · answer #10 · answered by mrsgavanrossem 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
From a philosophical point of view, I find Jesus a good role model.
Whether or not all the resurrection, miracles, etc occurred, I just don't know, and am unlikely to be convinced. But I am sure that he physically existed as a person. And that anyone who was born in a barn to peasant folk, was reviled and killed, and still managed to be remembered 2000 years and be followed by 1 billion people, is worth at least some respect.
Does that answer your question?
2006-12-27 05:30:37 · answer #11 · answered by Terracinese 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋