If the bible never existed, would Christianity exist?

Question

The book is, and has been, the basis for this entire ordeal. If all knowledge of this book was erased, what religion do YOU think would be prevalent?

Answer 1

Christianity would not have arisen without the Hebrew Bible, because Jesus was born into the Jewish tradition, and you can't make sense of Jesus' life or teachings without some knowledge of the Hebrew Bible (or "Old Testament"). The New Testament is important for preserving the memory of what Jesus said and did, and for promoting a certain theology and way of viewing the life and death and resurrection of Jesus. Without it having been written, it could have remained oral. But if Christianity remained an oral tradition, it would no doubt have been a much different religion, probably more open to change and (even) more diverse.

If all memory of the Bible were to suddenly disappear, I think the religion that everyone would be would be similar to Hinduism or Pagan religions. I say this, because these religions seem to be what people naturally come up with, when left on their own, without the indoctrination of a certain single authoritative book. I do not say this to disparage either Hinduism (I am a Hindu), Paganism, or Christianity, or any other religions of Books. I'm just saying what I think would happen.

Answer 2

If the bible never existed, would Christianity exist?

The book is, and has been, the basis for this entire ordeal. If all knowledge of this book was erased, what religion do YOU think would be prevalent?

No, it would not. The Bible is God's word. It explains why things are the way they are, clearly and honestly. If knowledge of the Bible was erased, then secular humanism would take over. That would not be a good thing.

Answer 3

You are profoundly mistaken.
Christianity developed independent of the Bible - the first record list of the 27 books of the New Testament didn't appear until over 300 years after the birth of Christianity. The first 'canon' of Bible books (identical to what you find in modern Bibles) did not appear until late 18th century. It has only been within the last 200 years that denominations have adopted exclusively "Bible-based" Christianity.

In short, Christianity based on, or derived from, the Bible is a very late invention. The ancient Church based its doctrines on canon law and liturgical traditions, and only used the Bible as a reference for pre-existing doctrine. The Bible was interpreted allegorically until the 17th century - it was only after the Reformation and Counter-Reformation that the Bible was interpretted literally in its entirety.

So, to answer your question, Christianity thrived under intense persecution for over three centuries before the idea of a "Bible" came to light, and it flourished for another three centuries after that before any kind of Biblical canon was universally accepted. So yes, Christianity would exist without the Bible.

Answer 4

The Old Testament portion of the Bible is the written account of what Hebrews once passed along solely by oral tradition. The same went for the New Testament -- though it was passed along those who believed that Christ was the Son of God (not all Jews). Without the Bible/Scriptures, I think the Jewish and Christian faiths would not be as widespread as they are today -- word by mouth only travels so far without any documentation, especially before electronic forms of communication had developed. So I really don't know where either religion would be today.

Answer 5

You are wrong. The book is the basis for Protestantism only, and they can't seem to agree on just what the book means. The original Christian Church grew and prospered in spite of ongoing persecution, for three and a half centuries before the Bible as we know it was compiled. During that period the Church taught the fullness of Christian truth, just as it had received it from its founder, Jesus Christ. If the Church had not decided to bind some of its writings into a book, it would still have continued to teach the same fullness of truth. The Bible is not the source of Christian truth. It is only a collection of writings based on those truths the Church was already teaching long before any of those teachings were written down.

The Bible today continues to be exactly what it claims to be - "useful", while the Church Christ founded continues to be exactly what the Bible says it is - "the pillar and foundation of truth". Sadly there are those who reject God's Word on this matter, and try to force the book to be the foundation of truth, instead of the Church that produced the book. As a result they continue in their 500 year old downward spiral, fragmenting into more and more unauthorized, conflicting manmade denominations, with more and more manmade doctrines based on faulty personal interpretation of the Bible, moving farther and farther away from the fullness of truth.

Answer 6

The LIVING GOD is the author of the Bible and He inspired men to write it over many centuries.

2. Tim. 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,...

2. Peter 1: 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

If God exists, then His Word will also exist forever. He will make sure of that.

"Your word, O LORD, is ETERNAL; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you." Psalm 119:89-91

If what I quoted from the Bible is true, then the last part of your question cannot be answered, because God's Word will never be erased from this planet.

Answer 7

Trick question! Xtianity preceeded the Buybull as we know it by about four centuries, and its precepts weren't codified until the Council of Nicea.

Prior to that, it was either an ascetic, messianic Jewish cult, or a Gnostic sect (Pauline epistles read absent the "gospels" are noticeably Gnostic) or an offshoot of Roman mystery religions like Mithraism.

If all knowledge of this book were erased, we'd all still be following the indigenous folk religions of our pre-xtian ancestors. IMHO, that would be a positive development, but that's because *I* still am.

Answer 8

In the first place, Christianity existed for hundereds of years before the Bible did, so your question is mostly irrelevant. It was answered two centuries ago.

On the other hand, Christianity was different then, and what we have as Christianity now certainly wouldn't exist. There would be no fundamentalism. That would be a good thing.

Answer 9

Christianity came well before the written word in the bible. Eradicating the planet of the bible has been tried and obviously failed. What cannot be erased is knowledge of Christ and Gods plan of salvation. Try as they might it has survived every trial and tribulation brought against it by Satan and his followers.

Answer 10

As the knowledge of Bible erased, now only true religion which has not changed a word ,even a letter is Islam. In 1400 years a single letter of Quran has not altered as revealed from the God Allah.

U can find more in the following links:
http://www.islamworld.net/true.html
http://home.swipnet.se/islam/quran-bible.htm
http://www.islam101.com/science/bucaille.html