Why a book? (please read on)?

Question

Pretend you're God, and you want to convey Truth to your creations. Why use a book, especially when so few people could read?

Put yourself back in Jesus' time, or even earlier during the Old-Testament time. People just believed what the holy men told them, because they couldn't read this book God had had written for them.

Don't you think God would have used a more efficient method?

I'm not saying the bible can't be useful. But why is it necessary? Doesn't God have other ways of showing us Truth, like when we sit in nature quietly?

So many people use things like a child's smile, a beautiful sunset, and true love to "prove" God. If that's proof enough, again, why do we need the bible? NEED, as in, we can't be good enough for God without it, as so many Christians believe.

Oh, and anyone who responds with scripture obviously doesn't get the question so I won't read your answer. Not to be rude, but if you don't read my whole question, why should I read your answer?

Oh really Gracie? If God was aware that most people wouldn't be able to read until the 1800's, I repeat my question.

Tuberoot, I agree about the holy spirit. That's why I don't think the bible is necessary.

Answer 1

Ummm........maybe that's why God sent Prophets and his own Son, so everyone could hear the word back then, and then the word spread. God also knew that through time, lots of people would learn to read. God has the bible for a reason. It is your choice weather to accept or reject.


He did it by word of mouth!!!!! Some people STILL can't read....but they can hear!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hear the word of God.

Answer 2

Yea I have always thought if the God book was truly a God inspired book it would have shown up in every culture at the same time. That is the only way the bible would have been legitimate in my eyes. Without everyone else knowing God's words billions of people have already enter into the gates of hell. This makes the idea of God fallible from the start.

You have a good point about the beginning of religion. Look at the head of religions like our own government. You have no idea what is going on behind the scenes. This is how your own constitution is being rewriting in the form of new laws that render it null and void. Over the next generations the children taught in the government school will only learn what they are told while never learning accurate history. If anyone dare challenge their knowledge they would call them crazy. Much like what is happening with religions today.

Man's modes operandi has not changed over the years. It is the same today as I was back in the times of the inception of the bible. So yes I think if there was a God in direct control of everything he would have had many checks and balances to make sure his pure truth got across effectively.

Religions are all about man's agenda.

Answer 3

Not to be rude either, but, are you really certain that so few people could read in Jesus' time or Old Testament times? I'm not saying I know either as I have never done any research on ancient literacy, but I do know that way back in the civilization of Sumar they used written records of things like everyday financial transactions. So, I'm not too sure that most couldn't read. I would love to know where you found that information. Seriously, I'm not trying to be rude--just wondering.

But I see what you are saying about a more efficient method. I agree that God has other ways of showing us the truth. Sorry, I have more questions than answers here. Interesting thought.

(edit) I know this still isn't an answer, but I think if I personally had been given the choice between having one, the other, or both, I would have chosen both. I love to see God's work in nature and in things all around me. But that doesn't give the detailed information that the Bible does. It's like you said, I do believe that we can't be good enough to go to heaven without the information that's in the Bible--the way to salvation just can't be obtained by looking around and seeing God's miracles. It's nice, but not detailed enough.

Answer 4

Even if I were God, I would not have been able to write a book as brilliant as the Bible. It contains the history of Chronicles, the poetry of Psalms, and the common sense of Proverbs. The Old Testament foreshadows what is to come; the New Testament fulfills the promise. Different writers, different languages, different time periods; yet it all comes together flawlessly.

It is both practical and supernatural. It has action, romance, and a happy ending where the good guys win. No wonder it is the best seller of all time.

God knew that not everyone could or would read the Bible. That is why we Christians are commanded to share our faith. I'm telling you, God is simply brilliant!

Answer 5

You know, that's a really good question. One I honestly don't have an answer for, to be honest.

However, I do really believe that it was a creation of mankind. The book was originally used as an item of control (obviously, that idea worked). Before the mass populus could read, they HAD to rely on the interpretations of others and what others read to them. Therefore, control the ignorant, you control the world. As far as I'm concerned, "touche" to the Christians... they hit that one on the nose.

I'm sure that "God" merely meant to communicate directly through "his" prophets and nothing more. But then, they started writing all that down. I think a lot got lost in translation, really. The Pharacies of ancient Judah used the same tactic. They inspired fear and demanded respect by reading the pages.

Great... we have all these Christians running around because they're mindless sheep. Who didn't see that coming?

Answer 6

Because they needed a way to transport the bullcrap around the earth to brainwash pagans, and make sure they didnt contradict each other, you know...if your gonna lie better make sure that everyones got their story straight,

Plus if they didnt write the stories in a book then where would they record them, stone tablets werent reliable enough cause they cant seem to find the ones moses had, or maybe they were too heavy to carry.

Anyways they had to bring credibility to the stories so that people would fear god enough to bring food and riches to the monistaries without question,

This also encouraged people to learn to read so they could see for themselves that it was true!

and god wants us to know the truth cause the wholly spirit told me so and i am the divine messenger saying that spirituality doesnt need a book of stories that we can no longer believe, just an experience that will effect us.

Answer 7

So go and burn all the bibles you find.

No, really, the bible is important, yet it isn't the only way used to reach out. God can't be kept in a box. He doesn't only use the bible, he uses lotsa other stuff. (you're right there)

We need the bible cos it's like a guidebook. It's not a place to just find God, it's something to use to wholly understand God and his nature and the history of Israel etc.

So we may not have the Bible. Doesn't mean we're not good enough for God. The bible wasn't made for God, it was made for us. To satisfy our hunger for more knowledge of God. To strengthen our faith in him as we read more about him.

God takes us just as we are.

Answer 8

Because in the ancient world, the most common way to convey information was through stories, which were passed down through generations. Obviously this meant that many of the stories got changed and modified (think Chinese Whispers), so my theory would be that God decided to get it all written down so that it wouldn't be changed. And I know you don't want us to quote Scripture, but there is that verse about not adding to the Word of God... I forget where it is, probably in Deuteronomy or Leviticus! :)

Answer 9

The Bible is a collection of the words of Prophets whom the Lord spoke to. In the book of Amos we are told "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." That is an eternal truth. God works through Prophets, men called by him to tell the world of his word. Those men when moved upon by the Holy Ghost will speak God's word, and that word is the most valuable thing for you and I to hear.
Now I do not in any way attempt to say that the bible is unimportant, for if you put at not any of God's word you will start on the path to loose all of His word, and I need too greatly the blessings of following God's commandments to risk loosing any of His blessings.
I know that the Bible is the word of God.
I know that God has spoken to men and still does speak to men. And I know that there is a prophet on the earth today. A man who like all of the ancient prophets receives revelation from God for the benefit of mankind.
And I know that anyone can come to know as I have that the way God speaks to all of us is not only through sacred scripture written by His servants, but also by a prophet who lives and breaths today. God has said that " If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."

Answer 10

God does not only use the Bile to communicate with. So here is an answer that you were not expecting? I think that nearly everyone has heard of the Holy Spirit. That's how God reinforces the believer along with the words in the Bible. Now I know that people who never experienced this have umpteen jackass things to say about that, but I am telling you the truth. God's Spirit is ultra important to guiding me to the truth, His will, and even the desire to listen to Him.

Answer 11

The sacred books, bible, vedas, quran etc ... are so to speak the manual for us given by God so that we can conduct our day to day activities efficiently.

In ancient times, of course, there were no books, but the knowledge (Veda) was handed down from guru (master) to shisya (disciple) through aural reception. That is why Veda is called as Sruti (that which is heard). Only very recently, the Vedas, bible or quran etc. .. have been written down because the memory of people are not so sharp to remember just by hearing.