Do Christians believe in God because of the Bible, or the Bible because of their belief in God?

Question

In other words, which belief informs which?

Answer 1

I would have to say I believe in the Bible, but not necessarily because of my belief in God. Instead I first believed in the Bible, because of my experiences I had that pretained to God. It was something I FELT inside, something that truly made me believe there was even a God, that made me believe on Him. He is a spiritual being, thus He proves Himself spiritually, not physically as some expect Him to. And looking for proof of God is vanity, because there is no proof BUT the SUPERNATURAL experience given to any one or more individuals. How can one prove the xistance of a cloud? They see it, right? But how can one prove there is love? They can label a feeling, but the proof is a more spiritual thing. You can call anything love, but in the end, love is something that is undeniable because of it's RESULTS, because in itself it cannot be seen by the human eye.

How can one believe in someone's writings if you do not know the author in some personal way, knw the author personally and physically or on some spiritual level? Everyone knows Stephen King is suppose to exist, though not many have met him, but they take it faith that he does because they can read his writings. Yes, I do believe you need to experience the person of God on some spiritual level, before you can believe in Him or His word the Bible. Many have not, and I don't think they will ever believe in Him, until they do. This is why they need to stop and ask themselves, "Would I want a supernatual experience with God"? And if so, I do believe He will prove Himself to them in some way, shape, or form. But then again, we have the fact that if they are not truly open to such an experience, they will never have one. God will not push/force such a thing on a person, we must have willing hearts in order to have such an experience.

Believers need to share personal experiences, and then let the listener choose for his or herself. They also need to let the listener know that they too can have such an experience, if they truly want one. That no matter what someone [preaches] to you, no matter how much THEY believe in it, that without your going through the experience themselves, there will be nothing but denial in return to those preaching the message. We need to stop PUSHING God and start sharing Him, letting others know they CAN experience Him, and thereby finally have [not often physical], but spiritual proof of His existance.

I was taught about the Bible as a child, however someone telling me something never made me believe in anything. Instead I was always the overanalytical child, and wanted not to see physical proof, but to experience the supernatural proof in God. I was very open to this, and I do believe more would be shown the proof of God's existance if they were more open to it as well.

I could go into many observances of evidence others recieved throughout my lifetime, but the only ones I would actually share would be the ones I had some personal experience in. I don't think third hand stories help. However I do believe those that happened to me personally do. I have met many people in my lifetime that want to share other's experiences, when they should be sharing their own. This can include things which happened to others, but where the individual wad present to actually witness them.

Just because Left Behind, the novel, talks about people being left behind, does not make it real for me. What makes it real for me is that it is written in a book, the Bible. And ... that book now holds true meaning for me, because I have been touched spiritually in many ways by the one who inspired that book. In other words, I have been touched and transformed by the one who the book is all about, thus this leads me to believe in the book that is about Him.

I would go into more detail, but I want to keep this answer on a personal note, like the question asked. Instead of trying to convert anyone, I am merely sharing my answer. I don't believe quoting a book makes anyone believe in it's author, unless they have been touched in some way by the author, even when this means their personal experiences have been similar to the author's or the tale it weaves.

Answer 2

God fills the voids of knowledge. Those that need to avoid uncertainty most seek desperately the "right" answer. The God was the need and in the need was a God, any God, pick a God.

The Bible was a focal point. It reinforced, standardized, and publicized. It was PR for a particular incarnation of God, the response to a need for certainty.

One could also call the belief in God "superstition" which also happens to be a behavioral psychological term for a more generalized, but similar concept: a false explanation for the unexplained. In the behavioral terminology, however, superstitions can be proved false because they control the unexplained phenomena in their experiments, then they see how the experimental subject responds when they demonstrate the truth to them.

In religion, however, the truth remains unknown, so anything is fair game for filling the void of the unexplained phenomena. Hence, there are many religions and many followers.

So, belief in God preceeds believing the Bible.

HOWEVER, when I was learning to become a Christian - adhering to a particular version of God - reading and buying into the Bible preceeded the refining of my superstitious belief.

Why did I bother with answering this question? Well, as you can probably tell, as an agnostic, my complex is focused more on a desire to be right than need to simply have any answer to cling to with certainty.

That aknowledged, I could be totally off-base here and not know what the heck I am talking about. If so, I'm willing to abandon this position so that I can get the answer right next time.

Answer 3

I think the bible has held up because people still believe in God. Their belief doesn't come from a book, it comes from within. The bible definitely reinforces their belief though. Look at how often it's used as the source for an answer on here!

Answer 4

Most believe in God because of someone witnessing to them that they trust. It does happen that some read the Bible and believe it, although it is not common. Once a person is "saved" or "born again" God gifts them with whats called spiritual discernment. This makes understanding God and the Bible much easier. Dedication to reading the Bible and desiring to belong to a group of believers follows.
Generally it is belief first-

Answer 5

That is a great question. It's kinda like the chicken and the egg.

The Bible tells us about God, and through that learning we begin to see who He is, and He reveals Himself to those who seek. The Bible can lead to a belief in God as the truths become evident and the mysteries are revealed.

But, some people find God before they read the Bible. Then they believe God and therefore, believe His word.

Hmmmm. I think it depends on how a Christian becomes a Christian. Some meet Him, then read, some read and then meet Him.

Answer 6

well I can't speak for everyone but this is probably a widely accepted answer.

We believe in God because of the Bible and believe in the Bible because of Jesus - the son of God. Check out the King James version - the Red Ink, that's Jesus talking and say what you want about the rest of the bible but I have to believe that God would not allow for the words of Jesus to be greatly misinterpretted or misquoted.

Answer 7

Both. The bible teaches us God's Word and His Love for us. Because we love God, the Bible strengthens us and teaches us to share our joy with others as God so freely has shared it with us! In short one hand protects the other and strengthens our willpower, saves our souls, and informs us on what is to come! It's good to serve a Good God, The Only God Most High Amen!

Answer 8

I believe in God, because of God. I always felt even as a child there was something behind everything. The Bible is where I go to learn about the God I know.

I can tell you are just trying to inspire a questioning of ones faith, with the possibility of a believer not knowing how to answer. But those who truly believe do so with lack of evidence out of faith!

***Not knowing what came first the chicken or the egg does not disprove that the chicken exists!

Answer 9

Belief in Jehovah because of the Bible.

It is a vicious cycle.

1. God influenced the Bible so the Bible is true.
2. The Bible states God is true.
3. Goto 1

Answer 10

The bible because of their belief in God.