Have you ever?

Question

Was just wondering if any Christians here question anything in the bible if so what? Or do you assume/know everything is true. When I read it, I questions it all the time. Somethings seem like an old wise tale passed down. I've been told its wrong to even question it. Then again I've been told its not. Myself I can't accept an answer that God is all powerful and thats the reason it can happen. When I'm told that, its seems a way for people to avoid the question. Also why has the bible been revised so many times? Shouldn't one be enough? If its the word of God it should not be changed except for translation, even then it should be as close of a translation as possible. Just few questions I've had since I'm bored :-)

Answer 1

Here's the thing - well, let me start with the last part of your question. The bible has been revised so many times for a number of reasons (including translations, scribe copiers, library fires which resulted in a retranslation somehow from a distant set of books, or changing times and interpretations. Christianity is a Juggernaut that has been lumbering and balancing it's way through a 2000 year age - and has stayed recognizably intact (we must assume). While I believe that parts have been deliberately changed (if not entirely written) by church leaders who would control the masses, I believe a lot more of the changes happened quite by accident - mistroke of a pen that was common or cross cultural translation.

Having said that, I believe that all religions really are saying so much the same thing, it's shocking really the way we quibble over what must have been regional and cultural differences that don't disturb the essence of the religion - the be a good person, there is divine help for you and life after death.

It is not wrong to question religion. Religion is a man made tool that we use to better understand ourselves and the world around us - and is supposed to help make our lives easier with guidance, advice, and examples of the best of humanity. Of course "the best" is based upon varying peoples for different tempraments, geographical regions, and cultural taboos - and that's ok. We don't all have to have the same name for God, it is just nice that lots of us are focused on our spirit and being a shining example of humanity. Don't you think? So, who cares what the religion says to you dude - they are working for you. Choose a religion that speaks to you, not one that orders you about.

Peace!

Answer 2

you have to remember the translations were from Aromatic,Hebrew, and several different languages and if the Bible had been left that way how would any of us have read it, Because the bible is so hard to understand ,people are always striving to make it more understandable..that doesn't mean they are changing the true meaning just making some words easier to understand,that's not revising that using a thesaurus,and trying to help people to get the meaning, I have eight different translation of the Bible in one big book and its very helpful to be able to understand what I've read..and God is all powerful and is the reason we live...questioning is good ,that makes you search for an answer and you end up learning something, a lot of times people will avoid a question because they don't know an answer and don't want anyone to know they don't know...but not knowing is not a sin, but not trying to find out should be

Answer 3

Hope that question made you un-bored! ;)

Well I can read the Bible and understand it, however there is a difference between understanding and accepting it. Now I know you can't really prove or disprove God, so you can only make a judgement concerning religion based on either faith, argument, or as much evidence as you can find. For me, since I love history, I know that the most reliable criteria for research is getting as close to the author as you can, in as close to their own words as you can get, and to understand their meaning in context. For me, in order to have the greatest confidence in the BIble, I knew the only reliable way to read the Bible is in its oriignal language, so last year I learned Greek so I can read the New Testament in its original language, and I can say that the New Testament is solidly based in history, corraborative evidence, and it has not been changed or altered except by modern translations of the BIble where some fringe religious groups (that is, more cult-like religions) say something is in the Bible when it isn't.

The reason there are so many translations, though, are because of the changes in the English language and the discovery of older manuscripts. The KJV has "thee and thou" because that is the language of the time, so it doesn't change the meaning if you translate it to fit modern language. Those are just minor differences and do not change the meaning. However since older manuscripts are discovered, new translations are issued that include the older translation. The Greek New Testament has not changed in several decades though, even with the discovery of older manuscripts, because the older manuscripts are the exact same wording as the later ones.

The only frequent difference between the Greek manuscripts are that one manuscript may say "Jesus Christ", while another says, "Jesus" or "Christ" or "Christ Jesus". That happens a lot. But no where does one manuscript say, "Jesus was the Christ" and another says, "Jesus was not the Christ".

Lastly, since this is getting too long, people claim that the early church changed the Bible in the fourth century during the era of Constantine. This theory is totally unfounded because many of the existing manuscripts of the New Testament date to the second century. Furthermore, the idea that the early church in the fourth century "created" the idea of the divinity of Jesus is unfounded because early church fathers in the second century quoted the New Testament and used it to affirm the divinity of Jesus.

Most people who attack the Bible do not know Greek. If they did, they would find that the Bible stands solid against any criticism. It is more irrefutable than any of the ancient histories or biographies.

Answer 4

Don't let anyone ever tell you not to question. Its good to use your own mind and question everything if needs be. God wants you to use that brain He gave to you.
The Bible is pure truth; problem is, that the churches don't teach it; they are either unlearned in it, or else they feel it may offend some people and they will not get enough in the collection plate.
However, if you get the right start with reading the Bible, you will be on your way to truth after truth - all making complete common sense. And, any question you come up with, will be answered in another place in the very same Book. Its amazing.
Check it out: Start reading the Bible again, and do this:
First, read Rev. from the beginning - you'll read about seven churches that God sends messages to. You will notice pretty fast that there are only two of the seven that God doesn't have any problem with - (you'll find them in 2:8, and 3:9 of Rev) -
Forget their names - but pay attention to the content of what those two churches teach - then ask yourself: If you are a christian, isn't it important to you to be in a church that teaches what those two ( the only two) approved by Christ - churches teach?? They teach who the Kenites are. Ever hear that taught in church??? Bet you didn't. Thats because the real Bible isn't normally taught, and its a damn shame, too.
Kenites, fully translated means "sons of cain" - yep, the same cain as is in the garden of Eden. If you don't understand who these people are, why they are, where they are - then you won't understand any of the meat of Gods Word. But I guarantee you that if you did know, you would understand the whole thing with ease - it would be like somebody gave you a key that opened a real cool door.

Answer 5

As language changes, newer, more modern versions come out to keep up with the change in word meanings. Different translations come out over the decades, yes. But this is merely to keep up with changes in language. The substantive message has never been changed.

I have studied the bible for ten years and believe that it is what it claims to be: by inspiration of God. Before I began studying the bible, I didn't have this opinion.

Of course it's not wrong to question the bible. How on earth can you understand anything if you don't question? If it is true, it can withstand any scrutiny, don't you agree? God said in His word, "come, let us reason together". He also promises "seek and you will find". One of my favorite promises, "come to me", God says, "and I will show you great and mighty things that you know not". I have found all these things to be true. I think one of the greatest discoveries in a person's life is that moment when they realize they can trust Him at His word. It certainly was for me.

Answer 6

I continually question the Bible passages i read. It's a good thing to question how/why things happened. Take reading the Exodus for example. "How the heck did Moses part that thing..?" Bible says God did a miracle. But how exactly did this miracle take place? Well National Geogrpahic just had a special on "Miracles of the Bible". It showed how these miracles could have been done through the nature that God created. There is an area in the lower arabian penisula, where if the wind blows just right, it splits the water just like the Bible said.

Answer 7

I question the belief that God created only Adam and Eve. I believe he created other people of all races at the time. The Bible says incest is a sin. The Bible also says "I am the Lord thy God. I change not." That would be a contradiction if at first incest was OK and then all a sudden it was not. That would mean God changed his mind. It would also explain how Cain found his wife in the land of Nod. The Bible says Eve was the mother of all. This would be true since Noah was a descendant of Adam and Eve. Eveyone else was killed in the flood.

Answer 8

Dear asker good point raised about the bible revision. Thats what i also ask christian brothers and sisters. To understand the truth and real words of God which have never changed, never came in new versions best you read Quran.. And i bet if you are logical and sensible .. you will admit that each and every word in Quran is word of GOD. You would (inshaALLAH) believe that it cannot be said by any man it is surely the true words of GOD, which has no errors.

Answer 9

man cannot know god while we are man. no man can know more about the mystery than you. if you question you are truly attempting to live life. falling for a simple "its gods will" is just too gullible.

man lusts control over man, so leave the dreamers and look into yourself.

life is a miracle to be lived, not a mystery to be solved.

Esther: no language can be correctly cross referenced into another language word for word without some change in intention. to change a simple sentence from one language to another and then from that one to another one again, leaves the sentence slightly modified, and the understandings of the text of the language by the interpreter has an impact as well. also, if the translator is subjective he may exaggerate or down play parts to better suit his own belief in the intentions of the previous text.

so I cannot believe that the intentions or even meanings are correct. gay in the early years meant happy, it no longer means that now. trying to translate previous meanings into new definitions changes the word structure and then when translated again, it makes a newer meaning.

this makes the current bibles a work of mankind, tweaked intentionally or unintentionally by translators, who no doubt were believers and their personal ideas on meaning would be created.

I will get thumbs down for this but it doesnt change its truth to me, anymore than blind faith equals proof of god to you people.

Answer 10

I am a Christian, and, yes, there are times I have wondered if certain things in the Bible are true. However, when it comes down to it, it is God's Inspired Holy Word, and even though it may be to odd sometimes for me to believe, I do anyway. It's called faith.