What reason is there to consider the Bible as a useful moral guide?

Question

Don't bother trying to argue from its own words. Let's see some EVIDENCE, not just claims made within the Bible itself.

Isn't it more rational to recognize that the Bible, like many other sacred books, contains material useful for moral teaching, as well as things that are not helpful?

Isn't it likely that you can derive sound moral lessons from the Bible, the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, the Egyptian Book of the Dead, Dianetics, the Book of Mormon, the Analects of Confucius, the Avestas, and Mary Baker Eddy's "Science and Health"? Why imagine that only one of them works?

Any book can make the claim that it is unique and special. Indeed, many do. What evidence (actual evidence, not just its own claims) does the Bible possess to justify considering it special?

Answer 1

The Bible is not intended to be a useful guide, remembered it was written by priests, and for priests. It cannot be read like a high school textbook, by people who have not been trained to understand the vagaries of the content therein. For this reason many people who read the Bible, reach erroneous conclusions about what its intent is, and what God through the Bible is trying to tell us.

There are many spiritual texts of the world that can provide readers with both comfort, and direction to lead a moral and upstanding life. I would not include the Egyptian book of the dead in that list, simply because it is an instruction for the dead about what they should do to have success in the afterlife, not how to live while one is currently alive.

Other than that I would agree with your assertion that there are many books that can be both a benefit and are spiritually inspired.

Answer 2

You are asking a very basic question. Yes, you can find moral teachings in all of the books that you have mentioned. The bible was written in part over 3,000 years ago by men who received these inspired saying from GOD. Now you may ask, why do I say this? Well, for instance at Isaiah 40:10, mentions how there is the one dwelling above the circle of the earth. It was several thousand years before man even discovered that the earth was round, many still believe it was flat. Now this only one example of how the bible had to be inspired by a Being that know more than man. If you want more info, please write back.

Answer 3

sacred... what makes a item sacred... because someone said it was.... you know I look at that word moral an awful lot.... the most common saying I could relate to is the moral of the story is... which tells me that the word moral has a meaning that the Christan's when using their condemning tone don't quite get... it means the lesson learned... now when talking about the great morality... what lesson are you talking about... I have some inside information... meaning I know that all these stories are spewed through time and come out as fairy tales.. note fairy tales always have a moral to the story clause... the fairy tale of Jesus is related to the life of John Lennon when we listen to what he tried to teach he taught PEACE ON EARTH. He was the "Scarlet Pimpernel" of the spirit world.... but the lesson he brought to humanity is to make peace and that peace matters... but that's not the end of the story for after him is to come a woman who will teach about NATURE... and all the lessons these fairy tales were meant to convey to the human race... the first is this... there is no room for religion on earth. there is no sacred text... common sense matters... it never did in religion...

Answer 4

Of all the books you have mentioned-including the Koran, no book has withstood the criticism that the Bible has. No other books has been so picked at, and survived. It remains the greatest selling book year after year. Anyone who seriously examines these books find out right away that there is a big difference. The Bible can turn a skeptic into a believer, and has done so many times.

Answer 5

I think this all goes back to the invention of writing, although oral tradition passed down generation to generation often passed on moral codes of conduct. Certainly with the advent of writing, there became a more 'permanent' record of the laws and taboos of that society. It also helped if you were literate, too. No sense writing a code of moral conduct if no one can read them.

As time evolved, so did the sophistry of script, and legends and myths were committed to clay, stone and papyrus. Morality as a concept or practice does not belong solely to any single group or doctrine, but has generally helped advance civilization - to a point. These legends and myths interpreted as the 'Word of God' has introduced a lot of bloodshed and misery in to humanity.
No one entity can claim they are the bastion of morality, in my opinion.

Answer 6

"Also, most other books tell you that being good simply means loving those who are good to you and hating your enemies, whereas the Bible says you should love everyone including your enemies. The Bible teaches moral absolutes, and other books just teach situational ethics"-this was an answer given to your ques.i don't agree.if the Bible says u shud love evryone,then why did christians KILL people in the past when they didn't convert to Christianity?!! i know what i'm talkin about cos i'm a sri lankan..conversion still goes on.people don't kill there days but they still go so low down asto bribing people to convert! PATHETIC!

Answer 7

I'm not sure I really understand the question. Are you asking "why THE good book, as opposed to A good book" or "is it even A good book"?

I'll answer both: "a good book" is all I'd give it and it's got a low enough signal to noise ratio to not merit a second read - it's a so-so book. I liked Leviticus for a history of "religion as science" but most of the genealogy and (mythologized) history is not very interesting.

Answer 8

The point of the Bible is to acheive salvation not merely to become a moral person. Also, most other books tell you that being good simply means loving those who are good to you and hating your enemies, whereas the Bible says you should love everyone including your enemies. The Bible teaches moral absolutes, and other books just teach situational ethics.

Answer 9

you're appropriate. you certainly do choose help. in extra techniques than one i might say. in case you incredibly choose to be a Christian you may desire to get out of the guidelines of the previous testomony and shop on with the classes of Christ interior the hot testomony. Quote a number of His teachings which be conscious to Christians. The Apostle Paul and many of the different early leaders of the church spoke against people who tried to interject the regulation into Christianity,so which you would be able to respire a sigh of alleviation which you do no longer could be in touch in those issues,in case you ever have been. once you're poring over the hot testomony attempt to no longer misconstrue the numerous reliable issues which will allow you to to enhance,because of the fact some people are not as easy as you're.

Answer 10

see
http://www.watchtower.org/e/200601b/article_01.htm

There are many ways in which the bible is truly unique and special. It really is God's message to us. What is the proof?

Look into these lines of evidence:
1) fulfilled prophesy
2) scientific accuracy
3) practicality of its advice and instruction
4) preservation and availability for all mankind
5) candid, super honest reporting
6) harmony of message presented by different writers over many years

see http://www.watchtower.org/e/t13/article_...

also obtain the brochure A Book For All People or the book The Bible God's Word Or Man's from Jehovah's Witnesses.