I believe in God, I believe in Jesus, but I don't believe in the bible. Anyone else and why?

Question

I just don't see how people can take it so literally when we know that stories tend to change when passed down orally, that books have been withheld and edited to suit political needs, and that, Mary Magdalene, a person nearer and dearer to Jesus than anyone has has been sorely misrepresented. There are other things that just don't make sense.

I believe in God because in all of the major religions he is a constant and because I feel and see him everywhere and in everything. Everything is too wonderous to be a fluke, and yet, I don't see why creation and evolution can't have occurred together. I Believe in Jesus as a man. A holy man who tried to spread the word of God's love, and yet again, I believe that word to have been corrupted by ordinary men with an agenda. Does this help you understand me?

I said edited for political purposes, not written for political purposes.

Answer 1

I agree with you...I do believe the Bible to be inspired by God...but, am smart enough, and sure enough if my relationship with God...to acknowledge that the Bible was written by mere humans...humans are fallable...and humans do bring into their writings, their own ideas, education, prejudices and customs of the day.

We can use the Bible as a guide book, a history book...but, I do not believe we should interpret it literally....I think more important is a person's walk with God, and personal relationship...I feel many fundamentalists are worshipping the Bible...which is man's words, rather than worshipping God...and by so doing are worshipping an idol.

Answer 2

it truly is impossible to "have confidence in the Bible" -- this is only an empty expression. The Bible became written by way of 40 authors with 40 diverse political agendas. And there are approximately 4 hundred contradictions in the Bible. listed decrease than are some examples: God is considered and heard Ex 33:23/ Ex 33:11/ Gen 3:9,10/ Gen 32:30/ Is 6:a million/ Ex 24:9-11 God is invisible and can't be heard John a million:18/ John 5:37/ Ex 33:20/ a million Tim 6:sixteen 5. God is drained and rests Ex 31:17 God is on no account drained and on no account rests Is 40:28 6. God is everywhere cutting-edge, sees and is conscious all issues Prov 15:3/ playstation 139:7-10/ pastime 34:22,21 God isn't everywhere cutting-edge, neither sees nor is conscious all issues Gen 11:5/ Gen 18:20,21/ Gen 3:8 8. God is all effectual Jer 32:27/ Matt 19:26 God isn't all effectual Judg a million:19 9. God is unchangeable James a million:17/ Mal 3:6/ Ezek 24:14/ Num 23:19 God is changeable Gen 6:6/ Jonah 3:10/ a million Sam 2:30,31/ 2 Kings 20:a million,4,5,6/ Ex 33:a million,3,17,14 it truly is particularly confusing to no longer have confidence in some aspects of the Bible. There are over 780,000 words in the KJV , and there are yet another a hundred scrolls that have been disregarded whilst the church empire became first prepared international huge - which you would be able to assert.

Answer 3

I agree with you wholeheartedly!

The bible is a book written by man who's stories have passed down from generation to generation and the stories were chosen by Emporer Constatine, which is why a lot of the missing gospels, well, were never put in -- the ones where Jesus talked about the church being everyone (not just a built institution), Mary Magdalene, Judas not betraying him... etc.

There are a lot of stories, which do not make sense to a person now because of the ways that they are interpreted. No one says that in order to believe in God or Jesus you have to believe in the bible. Again, its a book written by man.

Answer 4

We're on the same page.

I believe that many of the books of The Bible were chosen and altered to meet the agenda of the men who were in control at that time. From studying other writings from the time of Christ, we can see that both Mary Magdelene and Mary (Jesus's mother) continued to teach after his death -- Mary M. to the Greeks and Mary to the Romans. However, these facts have been traded for the misogynist writings of Paul.

People will say that if the crucifixion of Christ is in The Bible, how can I believe in Christ? I don't think that The Bible is entirely false; I believe that many of the stories of the Old Testament were parables that teach us important lessons. I believe there is truth to the Gospels.

Some may think that I'm "picking and choosing", and that's fine. However, I simply can't accept words that go against the teachings of Christ -- and I feel that many of Paul's do.

Answer 5

I know people who believe the same as you.

To me it sounds a little odd, no offense. I can understand that many people believe in gods apart from the bible. If I were to believe in a god, it would most definitely not be the biblical god, because he simply makes no sense to me.

But Jesus? The only document on this planet that people could use as 'proof' for the existence of Jesus is the bible. If you see the bible as a book of stories, why believe in Jesus? How can you possibly know Jesus wasn't one of those stories? Sure, Jesus is all over now, in movies, images, etc, etc. But all that is simply based on one book. And you discredit that book.

Don't get me wrong: feel free to believe all you want. I don't believe in any gods, so who am I to judge. But I just wonder.

Answer 6

So, then, how do you know about God? How do you know about Jesus?

True, stories handed down orally can change over time. But the Dead Sea scrolls give much evidence that the bible we have today is essentially the same as it was 3000 years ago (what there was of it then, anyway). As to books being withheld, much prayer and study was done to determine what writings about Jesus and the early church were worthy of being included in the Canon.
Just what evidence do you have to show that Mary Magdalene was misrepresented? According to scripture, she was freed from 7 demons. And she was a follower of Christ.

Answer 7

Well, everything written by man has to be examined carefully. But the Bible is the primary proof of Jesus. There are no birth records, no death records, there are no stones inscribed with his name. All we have comes orally and from the NEw Testiment.

Certainly people get things wrong. If you were in a group of 12 people who witnessed and accident and the police questioned each of you separately, there would be 12 conflicting reports, some, but not all of which, would have similar details.

We SEE as we write. Each of us has their own verbs, adverbs and adjectives

Answer 8

I can see where you're coming from. Don't mind the people above me who are freaking out about this. The bible is extremely old and has been translated countless times. Not only that, but the stories weren't put into the bible right after they happened either. It wasn't until years later that events were put in, so it's reasonable to think that some information might have been lost or simply embellished.

Answer 9

Those are some of the things that led me to Islam and the Qu'ran. I, like you, believe in Jesus but had serious issues with the inconsistency between the Old and New testaments...until I read the Qu'ran. Now God and Jesus make sense to me and as a Muslim I am Jewish, Christian and a Muslim. Here are a couple of sites that may help you out...
Washington State University Muslim Student Association:
http://cub.wsu.edu/msa/Islam.htm

Islam cracks the "code":
http://www.islamcode.com/

Peace

Answer 10

The bible is GOD's word... those are NOT just stories that someone made up one day.. they are true. And now they are finding evidence of it. And of course our version isn't EXACTLY word for word correct.. the original was written in Hebrew. It doesnt make much sense that you believe in God and Jesus, but you don't believe in the Bible.

John 1:1- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the WORD WAS GOD