The Authority of the Bible?

Question

When asked to prove God's existence, the Christian will often open
the Bible and say "The Bible says God exists, so he must." The
problem is that if we ask a Hindu, a Muslim, a Sikh or a Jew the
same question they too will point to their respective holy books
as proof of the existence of their Gods. Why should we believe
the Bible but not the holy books of all the other religions? Using
the Bible to prove God's existence is only valid if we already
accept that it alone contains God's words. However, we have no
evidence that this is so. In fact, as we will demonstrate later,
there is strong evidence that the Bible is a highly unreliable
document.

http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/beyond-belief02.pdf

Answer 1

It is not that The Bible, and other holy writs, may be unreliable but, rather, it is that nothing can be presented to absolutely refute the writs in their entirety;...
...therein lies the catalyst for the mind-numbing circular arguments between those who believe and those who do not...

Theists found the arguments for their beliefs in much the same way that one would argue that carrying a rabbit's foot brings them good luck:...
Not because THEY can absolutely PROVE it,...
...but because YOU cannot absolutely DISPROVE it.

{ IT IS THIS WAY because there is no proof that IT IS NOT THIS WAY }
This type of flawed logic, -placing the burden-of-proof on the challenger which requires proof of a negative-, is the hallmark of fundamentalist theists, - as well as brass-bound atheists.

Answer 2

As an agnostic and mystic, I have traveled some of these paths, looking for God and enlightenment. To me, the evidence was in the experience, thinking all paths lead to God. Christianity made the exclusive claim that it alone was the true path. I tend to disbelieve such claims, but I was willing to accept the possibility that Jesus was who He said that He was, and that He did what He said He had done. Love was the motivating factor, which I was in agreement with. Love was our purpose in life, according to my philosophy at the time. I used the Bible as a guide, and prayed to the Universal God and Creator to reveal the truth to me.

This brought me to a place where I became repentant of sin in my life. I found the Bible to be a spiritual book, containing more truths about life and the human condition than anything I had read and understood before. I had come to the point that I accepted Christ as Savior, figuring I could always go back to my old ways if I did not agree with what I found.

That was more than 20 years ago. I have no desire to return to my former way of life. I had found the living God. The journey and the experiences I have with Him have been more than anything I could have ever dreamed. I have a loving and dynamic relationship with Him. God is the authority of the Bible, written by men who where also in relationship with Him, through His Holy Spirit. The validity and evidence of it and the existence of God is found by walking the path. Jesus is the way, the truth, and life.

Answer 3

The CHURCH is the truth, as stated in the Bible itself (1 Timothy 3:15). The Bible is our guidelines on how to live a proper Christian lifestyle. The Bible is not and was never intended to be our sole authority. The Bible doesn't state this, which is quite resounding due to the fact that many Protestant sects believe that the Bible alone is the sole authority. As stated above, the Bible teaches that the Church is the "foundation of truth." Therefore, the Church is our authority and the Bible is but a tool, albeit a very important one. The question that a Christian should ask him/herself is this -- "If the Church is the sole authority, and there are thousands upon thousands of churches who teach different ways, and contradictory statements cannot logically be true at the same time, then which one of the many Bible-based churches out there is the one true Church.

Careful study of Scripture, ancient Christian tradition and early writings of the Church fathers and an open mind will lead all to the one true Church, which is the Holy Catholic Church..... God's Church, the pillar and foundation of truth.

Answer 4

The authority of the Bible is given by Christ's Church as part of the authority given to the Church by Christ under His authority to bind and to loose. The Bible is not meant as a proof of the existence of God. The Bible tells us this truth when it says that creation is ample evidence of His existence. While the Bible may be unreliable and I believe that it is only unreliable when it is understood outside His Church, it is the Word of God. For a person to claim that God does not exist with or without a Bible shows the inherrent ignorance of that person. The question the Bible deals with is not whether He exists but what is His true nature and His true will for His creation.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 5

You need to get your facts straight. There are strong arguments that the Bible is unreliable. But there is strong evidence that the Bible is what it says it is.

You just have to deal with it. God placed the Bible within your reach. What you do with it is your choice. But come judgment day (and your's is coming too) you will be judged according to the words contained therein.

See you there.

Answer 6

It is only logical that each religion will go into itself, the things it knows, as a means of proving itself. The problem is that because these are matters of faith, they are usually separated from matters of science which is what unbelievers usually look to for proof.

Many people reach a point in their faith where they have seen enough evidence through their faith and received enough results in their own lives that everything else is irrelevant.

Answer 7

I don't know what belief you follow but the site you direct us to is very convincing. Personally I think that all religions are man med in an attempt to justify our existence as something that cannot be explained. Therefore i feel that we are just the highest order of animal on the planet and that when we die we die. That's the end. Because people are afraid of death they have invented the 'afterlife' as a 'Heaven' to go to for eternal life. sadly they never get there because it is just an invented concept.

Answer 8

This is what the Bhagavad Gita(Song of God) has to say

sarva dharmAn parithyajya maamEkam saraNam vraja aham thvA sarva pApEpyO mOkshayishyAmi mA sucha:

(Meaning): "Completely relinquishing all DharmAs(religion), seek Me alone for refuge. I will release you from all sins. Grieve not".

This means throught every means(religions) God had tried to make understand we humans to seek refuge in Him.....

But they always move away from Him...

Answer 9

the bible is THE truth. the other "holy" books aren't. besides, you're wrong, there's more evidences of god then you know or accept knowing and there are a bunch of books that tell true stories, like Jesus Freaks by DC talk.

Answer 10

The only authority any book has is the power man gives it .