What is my problem, I believe in God, but I don't believe the whole Bible is the word of God?

Question

(Some things in the Bible seem to be just too petty to come from a supernatural loving creator.)

Am I alone on these thoughts?

I really don't mind their little amusing stories, my family genealogy has a few yarns (or windy's), but they are called that, they are not presented as facts.

Answer 1

I'm the same way; I believe that there is a god, but not that he's an author.

The Bible was written by various people at various times. Now, look at it this way... if I wrote a book, and said that it was from God's mouth to my ear, would you believe me?

Why not?

So why believe those men who wrote the bible? Just because they're really, really old? Not a good reason.

All the bible is is just old folk tales, laws, stories, whatever, all collected together as a set of rules and morals to live by. Then the new testament is a chronical of the life of Jesus, who may or may not have been the son of god. (I believe he existed, but not that he was the Son of God... just the son of god.)

You don't have a problem. And I find the Old Testament God to be one of the great figures of comedy! I particularly like the mindgames he played with Pharaoh. Talk about a lose-lose situation!

My favourite bible story is the one just ~after~ Sodom & Gommorah. The one where Lot's daughters (daughters-in-law?) get him drunk and do the nasty with him cause they're horny. Love that one! I guess God was so busy patting himself on the back for destroying Sodom that he didn't notice that bit of rampant incestuous fornication going on?

Answer 2

Have no fear friend. The problem with the bible isn't actually how far fetched some of the miracles are. In fact the miracles that can't be proved by science are the ones that come true.
You are not alone and you are right. The bible was written by humans and that is the crux of it all. It wasn't all written by the person who experienced these miracles or if they did they had their own interpretation of the events that happened.
The bible was written and rewritten in the views of certain people. Peter and Paul to be exact and later some of the other popes. These edits are not entirely factual and there's no way to disprove them. The only way to disprove them is through logic. If some parts of the bible have been "lost" or are not included then it is logical that the editors of the bible didn't want people to read these parts of the bible. Logically it would make sense that the edits are therefor false and have no basis of fact. Your opinion or view may be different but as a whole the reason for the bible are guide-lines for human kind. It doesn't matter what happened or how far fetched the miracles might be the lessons the bible teaches are reasonable. Treat other people with kindness and support because that's what you deserve. The golden rule of "Do unto others as you would have done to you" is the most important and viable rule. It's a good thing to follow and it builds up your Heavenly bank account. This is a metaphor for good will. If you do something for some one else that person is more inclined to help you later.
Be good to others and they will be good to you!!!!

Answer 3

Everyone has a preconceived notion of what God is or should be but what actually is is a different story. You shouldn't get caught up in trying to understand an infinite being... simply gasping the concept of something or someone being infinite is almost impossible since everything we experience in the history of life on this planet has a beginning and an end. The bible is a guide to soul salvation not a geological record of the earth's creation so evolution is another story that isn't the focus of what is God's word. Belief in bible stories, well I guess that's why following God is called faith... to believe in something greater than you that you can not explain. As for all the atheists that believe God is a waste of time... thinking Christians and those of ofter faiths are miss lead... thinking that those religious freaks have wasted there life believing in a higher power... believing we will die and the joke is on us, no God to come back and take us home... but say, on the freak chance that we are the ones that are right...

Answer 4

Ignore the people that tell you to find a new religion. I do not believe that the Bible is perfect. You are not alone in this belief. Now, honestly, you will get a good amount of people that tell you that you aren't a Christian and even other unnice words. Ignore them. Your relationship with Christ is between you and Christ--no one else. Realize that if you settle into this belief and continue to be a Christian that many conservative and fundamental Christians will be against you. With that said, this is what I believe. I just want to show you that you are not alone in this. The Bible is a book that was put together over a long period of time. It was translated over and over, and there isn't even a complete Bible in the original form. We have bits and pieces in different manuscripts. There are missing pieces and pieces that are out of order. There are many stories in the Old Testament that are repeated and put next to one another beause there are multiple authors telling the same story. Example, there are two creation stories. There are also two flood stories. There are some things that the gospels disagree on, and few pieces of the letters in the New Testament that are missing. Despite all of this, I am still a Christian. I do not believe because we have pieces missing or the dates wrong in some spots that the event didn't happen or it isn't something we can learn something from. We may have to dig a little deeper to find the meaning, but if we study consistently, and continue to allow God to reveal things to us, then we can indeed learn from our book of faith. However, I do not think the Bible is perfect. I think that it is the history of a people that are trying to figure God out. I think it's beautiful to watch all of the changes people go through to finally get to the conclusion where they find out that God is love. I find that beautiful. I don't think the Bible is perfect, but I do think the word of God is perfect. Let me explain. I believe that the word of God or the revelation of God is perfect in it's truest form -- Christ. Christ is perfect. It is through him that we are given the chance to see God and learn about him. It it through our creator revealed in the flesh as Christ that we can come to a wonderful understanding of what our faith truly is. You are not alone. I hope this helps.

Answer 5

Nope you're not alone at all. The Bible, to me, isn't entirely real either. It's a book that's been hand-written/copied by thousands of religious figured over a period of thousands of years. Many of the people who copied the book couldn't read or write their own name. Others, were very intelligent and most likely added their own creative flair to the stories to make the Almighty seem more so.

The Bible reminds me of the game Telephone, where one person whispers something into the person's ear next to them.. But the time the message is passed from person to person, it's not the same message as it was when it began.

One fact remains, though- the Bible is about an extraordinary man who did extraordinary things, and won the respect and love mankind through his actions and compassion. The Bible is a book about love.

Answer 6

You know, when I have doubts or questions or feel a need to research some timeframes etc: certain doctrines;
I ask the Lord and then wait for the answer; sometimes His answer comes by revelation, sometimes through another person that comes as a witness in my spirit, sometimes through the Word or even animals at play or a natural thing but gives an illustration to my mind and I know it's God talking to me; but always, I "know" it's an answer from God~
One time I asked Him about a certain scripture and it took awhile for the answer to come, I heard the subject discussed by a reputable, at one time missionary, retired, who was teaching an evening class at church (he didn't know my question, I only asked God) and it didn't witness, I heard it preached by a youth pastor on a sunday evening, still no witness; then I visited a couple from the church and the husband began to minister on the subject (without knowing my question) and it was the third teaching different from the other two, but it witnessed in my heart that that was the answer
all bible related~ god wrote the book so He knows all~if it's a watered down version He will show you what is right if you only ask Him

Answer 7

Not alone, certainly.
To regard the pastiche of fables that is the Bible as the literal word of God is foolish. Not only does God's very nature change over the course of the book (for instance, He was not the only deity in the Old Testament, just the God of the Hebrews), but many of the tales and lessons in the Bible are contradictory.
No, you are not alone. You are a deist.

Answer 8

I understand where you are coming from. I, too, question some things in the Bible but I continue to trust that I don't have to know everything or understand everything the bible says. So much of the bible "speaks" to me and that is good enough for me. Take what you need and pray about the rest.

Answer 9

No you are not alone. The bible was written by men, translted from another language, it was parsed, interpretted, edited by men, Men decided which passages were to be included, which were to be left out, then kings didnt like that version and had it rewritten again. I believe in a creator, attempt to live my life accordingly, but I do not worship a book.

Answer 10

No, you are not alone. I also do not believe every word as it is written. I believe the concepts put forth are inspired by God as He has shown me many of the same things in my walk with Him. However, the book itself was written by man and (in my opinion) it is quite likely that the writers perceptions played a role in how things are worded.

Please seek your own personal relationship with God. He will tell you everything you need to know and you will know the joy of being in his presence.