I have been reading "The History of Chritianity" by Paul L. Jonson. He says that many Christians just have a popular (not deep, or educated) understanding of their own faith. Harper's Magazine states: "Three quarters of Americans believe the Bible teaches that “God helps those who help themselves.” That is, three out of four Americans believe that this uber-American idea, a notion at the core of our current individualist politics and culture, which was in fact uttered by Ben Franklin....". Are Christians just repeating what they hear in the pulpit?
2007-01-03 17:42:38 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The majority of them do not read it. A lot of them pick out certain scripture as to prove a point....and to make them sound bible-conscious. The majority of them have the bible read to them by a pastor.
2007-01-03 17:45:55 · answer #1 · answered by Abby C 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Many people follow the traditions of their fathers. My thoughts are they would be better as atheist or agnostics rather than follow traditions, this is why there is so much wrong in the world today, is because hardly any people read the Bible for what it says. How many Christians do you know that pluck their eyes out or cut their hands off but the Bible says to do this if it does evil. They say we do not live by the Old Testament but they follow the 10 commandments and a eye for an eye to say it is OK to execute people. This is not New Testament teachings. The problem is the preachers and teachers are so busy asking for money they forgot the Gospel and that it is suppose to be free? Tithing is another good example, the New testament does not teach tithing, but minsters want the money so they beg and use Old Testament for the reason it is OK. Yes I have heard your words too many times? God does not help them that help themselves and teaches quite the opposite; Philippians 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. See always putting others before yourself and your own needs; Matthew 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. How different would our world be if the leaders would serve others rather than themselves? I study the Bible and think about these things every day not because I want to but because I cannot stop thinking about it.
2007-01-04 01:59:05 · answer #2 · answered by sirromo4u 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not all Americans are Christian, so that tidbit on Ben Franklin makes perfect sense. The 3/4 of Americans who don't know the truth behind that little quote probably aren't what you'd call "well-read" Christians, and half of those probably aren't Christians at all... I'm Pagan, and have read the Bible cover to cover at least 6 times in my adult life. I just never thought to look for that quote. I knew it was Frankin's though, because I AM an American, and like to know the minds of my Founding Fathers...
2007-01-04 01:53:52 · answer #3 · answered by Angela M 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on which Christian circles you travel in. Some Christian sects don't encourage reading the Bible so those believers tend to accept what their pastors or priests tell them. Others, who ususally belong to more fundamentalist denominations, spend a great deal of time reading and studying the Scriptures. In general, Americans prefer not to think for themselves and tend to take the easy way out when it comes to knowing what they believe (whether they be believers or nonbelievers) -- it's the trend within our educational system.
2007-01-04 01:54:50 · answer #4 · answered by Blessed 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christians are not all the same. Christian means you believe in Jesus as your saviour. Some read the Bible, some regurgitate what they hear, some know nothing at all about the Bible other than that they themselves believe in Jesus as saviour, the son of God.
I am a Christian, I read the entire Bible cover-to-cover once, and read parts of it often. I think out my religion and apply logic and faith to my beliefs - others do more, and others do less.
Do atheists just repeat what they heard one atheist say?
2007-01-04 01:51:18 · answer #5 · answered by walkinandrockin 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes. It is true of many who profess to be Christians.
I, however, only go to church about 3 times a year.
The words "go to church" are not in the Bible I read. I know that because I checked.
In Bible colleges, students are taught to believe in an "original bible" that cannot possibly exist.
Paper doesn't last 2,000 years. Some kinds of paper would not last 200 years.
Most graduating will only know what their seminary instructor told them.
Protestant church leadership abandoned their standard bible in favour of dumbed-down paraphrases, and cannot decide which "bible" to quote from.
They parrot lexicons and "commentary."
They leave out words when they quote passages.
There is more bible literacy among atheists than among church leadership right now, and that is very sad.
2007-01-04 01:51:26 · answer #6 · answered by Bubba 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes Christians for the most part know little about what they believe and in most cases what they know if a perversion. The cases that really get me is how many go thru life an never question why? If what he believe is true wouldn't you invest as much time as possible to the truth if your eternal soul depends on it? I'm afraid for most it's just a cool club you go to on Sundays. Saturday sinners Sunday Saints.
2007-01-04 01:53:41 · answer #7 · answered by Timothy S 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely
As a former christian, I was shocked and appalled when I actually started to read the bible on my own. Not the same stories and bible verses that preachers and sunday school always talked about. The horrible vengeful jealous murderous god of the OT, and the namby pampy loving 3-in1 god of the NT.who's invented hell for you now...read the OT and gospels in parallel...and really see all the contradictions...things left in and out...added or changed. Did you ever hear about the 4 different versions of the 10 commandments in sundayd school? me either. Did you pick up that there were 2 completely different creations stories? That there were two versions of the flood story? All that stuff that started me thinking....
Most xians have a fairly narrow knowledge of the bible, and can find support for whatever they choose to believe because of it vaguaries and contradictions.
2007-01-04 01:44:55 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
One of the things that impressed me about the church I attend, the first time I sat in there listening to the pastor teach from the bible, was the rapt attention of the several thousand people in the sanctuary, who had their bibles with them, and were following along when the pastor would mention certain verses. I love the sound of those pages ruffling as people turned them.
I cannot speak for anyone but myself; in the ten years I have been in that church, I have been in bible study nine of those years. I have studied, in depth, most of the books of the new testament (doing actual written studies of them). Our church, on Sundays, begins in the book of Genesis and goes through to Revelation. It takes about eight years. Then we start all over again. As far as I am concerned, and the people I see in my church, you bet we study our bibles!
2007-01-04 01:47:20 · answer #9 · answered by Esther 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What would happen to a person if they didn't help themselves?
And, why do we have more faith in magazines than we do the bible? In other words, if Paul Jonson says it, do you consider that the gospel?
2007-01-04 01:48:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋