Why do you believe the bible?

Question

Just because it tells you to?

Answer 1

No, and here's why.

Consider the possibility that you were born somewhere without any religion, but were given the opportunity to read about them as a cultural education. You were also taught language, science, math, philosophy, and critical thinking skills.

Then one day, you were introduced to a Christian who, following the evangelizing call, said to you that he had a story about God and humanity that was wonderful and would change your life. The story was in his Bible, and he proceeded to lead you through it.

The first thing you heard was that you were condemned by God because of some actions taken by a pair of naive progenitors. Nothing you did caused it; you could not have prevented it. But God condemns you and everyone you know.

Then God decides to choose a particular group of people to rule over called the Jews; the story continues with the history of their bloody, unmerciful battles and their leaders of highly questionable ethics. The Jewish people are carted off to various slaveries from their homeland, which, by the way, they have violently stripped away from earlier residents.

Various messages from this God are transmitted through prophets, whose words are mystical, incomprehensible and frequently full of condemnation (unless the people are suffering, and then they promise some later relief to be brought about by God at some distant time). There are also songs that describe how great this Jewish God is, there are suggestions of how to live, there is a sexually charged poem, and eventually the first part of the book ends, not with a bang but a whimper.

Then, in the second part, suddenly there's a story that says that God has somehow changed his mind. He's going to give a loophole in his condemnation. He's going to send himself/his son to teach things to this nation he has chosen. But from the beginning, The Bible notes that this God-man will be killed and raised from the dead, and he promised to raise others, too. (Not a bad outcome. Death is pretty frightening.)

However, the stories of this man, Jesus, do not make him sound overly attractive. He's a little pissy sometimes (killing a fig tree because it happened to be barren, chastising his disciples when they don't understand his strange way of speaking, manipulatively refusing to answer questions directly). He continues passing out judgment and condemning people to hell, and although he teaches some elements of love, you know people in your own life who act more loving than he does. He supposedly performs miracles, but you know from your studies that miracles were ascribed to almost any hero in the ancient world.

Anyway, as you were told, the story of his death and resurrection are told 4 times. There are some contradictions before the death, but the story holds together pretty well. But after the reputed resurrection, the story flies apart. Suddenly there are loads of contradictory accounts. The man appears in locked rooms, which doesn't sound like life on this planet. The man is not recognized by close friends who walk with him on a road. He's no longer flesh and blood, but you can touch his wounds. Suddenly things take on a fairy tale quality. And then, rather than hang around, this once-dead-now-raised person skips town, leaving a few people who believe he's alive.

The rest of the book is a bit of history, but mostly letters between early believers, trying to keep the flock in line, and always promising an end to death. One prominent member of the group named Paul decides that God no longer just means to claim the Jews for his special friends, but opens the deal up to the entire human race. The last book then once again goes back to describe horrors perpetrated by God and others. It sounds like things are as they were, with God back to his condemning ways. (Except for those who believe in the resurrection of his son.)

So now you know the story. The deal, in summary, is this. You're still condemned. You can get away from being condemned if you believe in this miracle of resurrection. If you don't, no dice.

Your mouth is agape. The story sounds grizzly and intensely pessimistic, except for that never ending life part. But you've studied history, religions, language, science, math, etc. You know that we are flesh and blood, just like the animals that we kill and eat. You love justice and cannot see the sense in condemning someone because some distant forefather happened to nibble on fruit or learned to think for themselves. You do not believe that you, your family, and your world are condemned. (You know we all suffer on occasion, but pain and suffering effect everyone, regardless of whether or not they believe in any one religion.)

Studies have taught you that there are lots of religions, each offering their special access to the benefits of belief if you turn off your rational mind and replace it with faith. Most of these religions have faded, but enough remain. And in truth, there is nothing special in the story you have heard about God, the Jews, Jesus, Paul, and the rest. They are just stories, a way that a primitive people tried to make sense of the ambiguous and the incomprehensible.

When you shared these thoughts with your evangelizing visitor he accused you of being arrogant and closed minded. But having looked at the world through a wider lens, you cannot see this story as any less mythological than any other told to justify religion. The tale is designed to keep people in line ethically and to relieve their anxiety about dying. You are willing to listen to suggestions, but you already do well in making thoughtful, ethical decisions. And because you have already considered death, you readily acknowledge that it will come. Its stark reality makes life's moments all the more precious.

That is why I don't "believe the Bible." I respect parts of it: It contains some good literature that has effected western culture (for good and ill) for millennia, but in quality it is no better than has been produced by authors since. It has some great advice, but it has no monopoly on valuable wisdom. By and large, it is a cultural history and religion rule book, similar to other ancient texts. If you find it useful in other ways, I will not protest when you grasp it tightly. To me, taking it more seriously than I described neither fits my experience nor benefits my life.

-♫♫--{♂♂}--♫♫-

Answer 2

The Bible's accuracy and reliability have been proved and verified over and over again by archaeological finds produced by both believing and no believing scholars and scientists. This included verification for numerous customs, places, names, and events mentioned in the Bible.
One among many examples is the fact that for many years the existence of the Hittites (a powerful people who lived during the time of Abraham) was questioned because no archaeological digs had uncovered anything about them. Critics claimed the Hittites were pure myth. But today the critics are silenced. Abundant archaeological evidence for the existence of the Hittites during the time of Abraham has been uncovered.
Bible scholar Donald J. Wiseman notes, "The geography of Bible lands and visible remains of antiquity were gradually recorded until today more than 23,000 sites within this region and dating to Old Testament times, in their broadest sense, have been located." Nelson Glueck, a specialist in ancient literature, did an exhaustive study and concluded: "It can be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverter a biblical reference." Well-known scholar William F. Albright, following a comprehensive studies, wrote: "Discovery after discovery has established the accuracy of innumerable details, and has brought increased recognition of the value of the Bible as a source of History."

There are more than 24,000 partial and complete manuscript copies of the New Testament. These manuscript copies are very ancient and they are available for inspection NOW. there are also some 86,000 quotations from the early church fathers and several thousand lectionaries (church-service books containing Scripture quotations used in the early centuries of Christianity). In fact, there are enough quotations from the early church fathers that even if we did not have a single copy of the Bible, scholars could still reconstruct all but 11 verses of the entire New Testament from material written within 150 to 200 years from the time of Christ. Bottom line: The New Testament has an overwhelming amount of evidence supporting its reliability.

Answer 3

I believe because I have actually tried it with all my heart and faith to give it a fair chance, I tried other things that way and they did not prove to be true. God never has let me down living by the bible, my choice. Thats the problem , people dont believe the bible because the dont really want to try it with a sincere try.

Answer 4

I believe in The Bible, because it is in my heart, I can feel that it is right deep down inside me.

When I read other religious books, I don't get that same feeling (The Book of Mormon, The Qur'an, etc.).

Besides, "just because the Bible says" - is not going to give a person faith. Belief and faith can't be forced onto anyone.

Answer 5

The Bible is simply a testimony of all the great and wondrous deeds that God has done and it guides us in the right direction when we are lost. I personally feel that too much store is put on the Bible and not enough faith is put in Jesus Christ and Our Lord, but its a personal decisionand only you can decide what to make of it.

Answer 6

The bible is God's word...That's what I believe.

Answer 7

Absolutely not.

The bible is a collection of stories, analogies, tales, and beliefs set down in writing. There are many versions of the bible and many interpretations of the stories written.

And yes, I'm Christian.

Answer 8

Careful study and prayer has allowed the Holy Spirit to reveal the Truth of Scripture to me.

Answer 9

it seems to me that the bible proves itself to be believable after you study it thourly.read the book of Revelations with an open and analytical mind sometime

Answer 10

Why do you believe the bible?

LOGICAL.
Archaeological Proofs.
Cross references pre Computer era!

Etc.

Answer 11

i mean some things are like inspirational but overall i dnt listen to the bible. neva had time to really read it anyway.