If you're Christian or Catholic but don't believe the Bible is 100% accurate, why do you believe what you do?

Answer 1

I think this is a good question.

I am one who is a Christian yet does not believe that 100% of the words in the Bible can, or should be, taken literally.

Yes, I believe that God inspired every word and that every word has a purpose. They are not meant to relay historical information. They are meant to touch your soul and to guide you to a more loving relationship with your fellow man. They are meant to provide a template for spiritual growth in preparation for the life to come.

I believe that it takes a stronger faith to NOT take the Bible literally and yet believe than it is to blindly accept every word as the literal truth.

Answer 2

Catholics ARE Christian, I don't think that the Bible is totally 100% accurate but I think that because Jesus didn't write it.. I think that a lot of people believe because they are afraid what will happen if they don't and what will happen when the end of the world comes. I am a very strong believer but there are some things that I don't believe.

Answer 3

Well the thing to remember is that to be a 'Christian,' you fundamentally have to believe in Jesus, redeem for your sins and follow the laws of the Bible. However this does not mean to say that Christians always believe that things in the Bible happened and it is 100% fatual recall ... they may say events could just be "metaphors" parables or secondary accounts written by man yet inspired by God (to make Christians understand his message.)

Just because you dont believe the Bible isnt 100% true doesnt mean that you arent Christians. Some evangelists, quakers ... may deny what you are saying, and as liberal Christians they believe that the Bible is the inspired Word and Message of God written by man, which is a source of truth, yet may be outdated ... .

Thus by just believing that the Bible isnt all accurate does not make you "un-Christian", it simply determines what importance you give to the Bible in your life

Answer 4

First, Catholics do not base their faith solely on the Bible. The Bible says that the Church Christ founded is the "pillar and foundation of truth". The Bible says that whatsoever the Church binds on earth is bound in heaven. The Bible says that he who listens to the Church listens to Christ. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit guides the Church to all truth. Catholics accept these biblical promises and therefore look first to the Church for truth, and secondly to a collection of inspired early Catholic writings. The Apostles seemed to be men of exceptional faith, and they didn't have Bibles, except for the old Testament Hebrew Scriptures. The early Christian/Catholic Church grew and prospered for over 350 years without a Bible.

As for the Bible, it is 100% accurate in its message, the reason its various writings were produced, God's revelation concerning Himself and His relationship with mankind. Whether it is 100% accurate scientifically, historically, or in any way is absolutely irrelevant.
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Answer 5

First of all, Catholics ARE Christians. You may have meant to say a protestant or a Catholic. Secondly, I don't know anyone that really believes the Bible is 100% accurate. If they did they would support putting anyone to death that wears cloth made from two kinds of thread, and stoning children that talk back to their parents.

Answer 6

What do you mean by "accurate"? The ancients were far more interested in truths than facts. They told and enhanced stories to explain the world and to teach wisdom, not to document random historical events. They could borrow stories, characters and teachings from other cultures and give them their own moral spin without worrying whether the details were "accurate". Trivia is not the point, the message is what matters.

Literalists treat the Bible as a dead text, full of meaningless historical "facts" to be memorized for the big quiz at the end of time. Their "morals" are dictated by the text, to be slavishly followed without needing to understand. It's all about "how": how the world was made, how Israel came to be in Palestine, how Jesus died, how to resolve disputes. They crave absolutes and certainty, that the world never changes, that the same list of rules always applies no matter what happens.

Analogists look for deeper meanings, applying the essense of the stories to their own lives. They don't see Abraham, David, Ahab, Josiah, Peter or John. They see themselves, cooperating with or defying God. For them, it's about "why": why we love our neighbors, why we do good to our enemies, why lies are easier to accept than the truth, why arrogance and authoritarianism is a problem not a solution. The Bible constantly challenges them to rethink and determine whether they have it "right" yet. As their lives change, they reframe their understanding of what scripture is telling them, growing into a deeper faith.

Both types believe the Bible is "accurate", but they see two completely different Bibles, one full of incontrovertible "facts", the other swimming with examples, invitations and hints to help us develop and mature in our understanding and application of the truth. They both believe, but one "believes" that the Bible is literal "history", the other believes IN the Bible as allegorical truth.

Answer 7

Many Christians believe the bible is without error, i.e. 100% accurate. This is a core concept of Protestantism. Protestants answer to no Pope or religious ministers. They answer only to the Word of God.

Answer 8

I think the reason that most still believe in God without thinking the bible is 100% accurate is that we all have a need to belong, a purpose in life, and believe in God at the same time. I think to question things is normal, to make mistakes is human nature, and the reason we are here is to learn. In all cultures they have stories, and they teach the younger generatations what they need to know, whether is is David and Goliath and the ordinary man that stands for justice winning, or the child in Africa told about the snares of the spirits to keep them from falling into quick sand if they don't listen to their elders.

Answer 9

Well I was raised a Christian and I don't believe the bible 100%. Which is why I left and am now considering Buddhism and Reformed Judaism as they are both very closely aligned with my personal beliefs.

Answer 10

Why making the distinction between christian and catholic? They're not separated religions. Catholics ARE christians. There's different denominations within christianity. Catholics, and protestants. There's plenty of sub denominations within protestantism. I'm sick and tired to see protestants take the word christian to themselves only. Christian means whomever believes in Jesus Christ.

Muslims, Islams, Budhists, Jehovah Witnesses.. those are not christian since they don't believe in Jesus Christ.

Hope that clears out the massive ignorance I've encountered.