Why does so much of the bible need to rationalized?

Question

I realize Christians say there are no contradictions, but why are there so many "non-contradictions" that need to be rationalized?

I'm not giving examples because that's not the point of the question. If I did you would try to refute them instead of answering the larger question.

Answer 1

Cause these days, with all the science and stuff, people want to be scientifically convinced. If there is lack of proof or if there appear to be contradictions, one tends to think that there is something wrong with the Bible (or any other source that provides contradictions in their opinion).
And it's scientifically impossible to believe in something that seems to be inconsistent.

But you got a good point there. Believe is about the essence, not about solving the tiny details. (Though it's still interesting to figure out how those misunderstandings came into the world, but it's not what believing nor faith is about.)

Answer 2

The reason for this is because many people who want to say the Bible contradicts itself do what is called "Bible-dipping". This means that they find one verse that says one thing, then they seek out another verse that says something that SEEMS to say the opposite of the first one they read.

The problem is that sometimes people don't consider certain things when reading the Bible. For example, when God the Father spoke in the Old Testament, sometimes he was speaking only to a certain audience. There were certain things that the Jews were not allowed to do, but Gentiles were not held to the same laws because they were under the Jewish Covenant with God.

Also, when Jesus preached to people about "turning the other cheek", he was talking about not taking personal vengeance against someone. But alot of anti-capital punishment people like to say that he is speaking against the death penalty because of his sermon on the mount, when in fact that's not the case at all. In fact, Jesus also said "I have not come to change the law, rather I have come to fulfill it".

Bottom line is that if there are any "contradictions" in the Bible, they are only in the reader's mind because the reader has not stopped to consider several factors, including the timeframe when something was said, the audience spoken to, and the context in which something was written.

Alot of people think that the Bible contradicts itself because God was very vengeful in the Old Testament but very forgiving in the New Testament. This is not a contradiction at all. God was just demonstrating throughout time that he is both a vengeful God and also a loving God. He has not changed, He has never changed, nor will He ever change.

God knew long before he created the Earth that he was going to flood it, and that eventually he would send his son The Lord Jesus Christ to save it. But most people who believe in contradictions in the Bible do so because they can't allow themselves to believe that there's a God who knows what's best for everyone at any single period throughout the course of human history.

Answer 3

This is simply because you cannot understand anything taken out of its context. For example, there are whole verses in the Bible describing the way Jesus will come into the world, how the three shepherds and Magi would come to visit him,and then, all of a sudden, you run into Isaiah 50 and read it and find so much suffering... it is also about Jesus and the pains He would go through so that humanity could be saved. If you haven't read the Bible before then you can say it is a contradiction, which it isn't. It shows the way Jesus understood to love us: up to giving His life away. This is the supreme sacrifice. Love up to giving one's life away. I wonder whether one could do this today.

Answer 4

You should keep in mind that the Bible is a book that has been written over a long period of time. Each book was addressed to specific audience that is why there's usage of symbols and parabols in it. The society 2000 years ago wasn't the same as now. Writers had to abide by the norms and the rules of the time when addressing people. Now, we cannot tolerate to be addressed using the same language. That's why Pastors try to rationalize the scripts to make people understand what is the Main idea behing the lines. They try to make them see what is important (the meaning not the shape).

Answer 5

There Are TOTAL contradictions in the bible, you can't just say, "Oh, take that on blind faith". Justify believing in it. Stand your ground.
The reason there are contradictions is it is a book written by , oh my gosh, people. Fallible, biased, opinionated humans. If god wanted to write a book he could just do it in a sweep and be done with it, why drag it out over a thousand years? Oh, sorry, forgot I wasn't supposed to ask questions.
It comes down to this. It's a book. So is Harry Potter. doesn't make it true no matter what anyone says. Unless you wanna play some wicket.

Answer 6

Rationalization occurs when you cant get actual facts, because there are no "facts" to see, touch or smell. Few artifacts exist and nothing rational can be determined. To a person with this "faith" they claim to feel Gods presence but I have never felt that. Contradictions such as, oh lets see,umm the parting of the Red Sea? or such as A virgin gave birth? and on an on ad nauseaum.

Answer 7

Hi XXI,

The bible or any Scripture does not need to be rationalized. It does need to be taken and considered on its merits, understanding as best we can the context, time and situation in which the events were written.

Men choose to rationalize that which they have not a confirmation of truth to justify that which they want to believe. It is true of all men, by nature and is what followers of God try to overcome.

Answer 8

The Bible actually has been proven to be true over & over again!! They have found evidence of an ark (Noah's Ark), and many other things. I couldn't tell you everything that they've found!! However, a lot of what I've seen has been on the History channel.

Answer 9

There is no contradictions in the Bible only people who read it with a close mind and preset of ideas

Answer 10

Because there is much to be learned in resolving the apparent contradictions.