Mythology and the Bible... what do you think of this theory?

Question

When mankind began to spread over the earth and formed into different nations, their history and stories of old would be past down from one generation to another. But as generations past, those stories would change and grow and become exaggerated, etc. So you would eventually have different civilizations believing different things about God- although they would share common themes because they did all originate from the same facts (i.e. stories of a Great Flood).

So God chose a group of people (the Hebrews) to reveal himself to, to keep the real facts straight, etc. In this way, we have the accurate truth being preserved at the same time as different variations of the truth were being passed down and continually morphed.

What do you think about this theory? I'd like to hear from Christians who know their apologetics, as well as the thinking non-believer who does not feel this idea could be plausible and explain why. I hope a get a lot of answers. Thanks!

Answer 1

Your first paragraph is certainly plausible, in fact, it's actually likely. You reference the flood; this is a good example, because we know the original story and can trace the others back to it.

Your idea about the Hebrews is an idea, but it's no more likely than revelations to the Greeks or the Chinese or anyone else.

Answer 2

Put down the Kool Aid. Ask yourself this, humanity existed for thousands of years before "God spoke to Moses." Why did he wait to long? If the point was to clarify or preserve what you think is the truth, why haven't we heard back since? There are now dozens of crazy religions, why doesn't God speak up and set everyone straight?

The answer, religion is, and has always been, a con. "I am your only God and anyone else who says they are God is lying!" You kidding me??? Religion only exists for a couple very simple reasons. We rarely question what are parents so adamently belive, people were very very gullible thousands of years ago (and still are today), and people who don't have the capacity to understand existance and the big bang (which is fact by the way - proven my cosmic radiation analysis) want to understand. So they belive in a more "simple" explaination.

I hate to break it to you but the only "Eye in the Sky" exists in Vegas and an old Alan Parson's Project song. Bad things happen because bad people exist and, something, it just happens. What happens after death is a mystery but based off what we know (not blindly believe) there is nothing after death. The brain is born blank. Gathers a lot of history that makes up our personality. Then we die.

We need to make the most of what we have. Life is more valuable then religion would have you believe. Thinks like freedom and human rights are worth dying for, not your God.

Answer 3

Like a generational game of telephone. Interesting.

Why just the Hebrews though? Why not reveal himself to the whole world?

Secondly, how would that revelation necessarily keep the "real facts" straight? For you would have to first accept the fact that the Hebrews were in fact "revealed to" before you could accept any of their accounts as legitimate.

Still, it seems like there are so many ideas circulating about God, many of them are directly contradictory to other ideas -- which means that some people must necessarily subscribe to false ideas.

Additionally, the "real truth" is probably not as appealing as a "seductive falsehood." I'm not sure how the confusion about God has been in any way mitigated by your theory.

At the end of the day, it seems like people will believe whatever they want to believe, or whatever they are led to believe.

Answer 4

The Bible is the very type of the "story that changed and grew and became exaggerated." But even taking it at face value, the "God" who revealed Himself to the Hebrews was a vicious, petty monster. Also a racist - why single out the Hebrews? Not that He was really doing them a favor! With a Friend like that, they hardly needed enemies.

Answer 5

The problem with the theory is that their isn't any real evidence so its not a theory. But as a critique of your actual proposition any civilization or religion can claim the role of keeping facts straight and accurate and in their opinion and belief system they would believe that to be true. So while in yours you've chosen Hebrews but someone else could believe something entirely different.

Answer 6

The most intelligent people in the world (meaning pure geniuses) have always believed in a supreme being. Einstein declared himself "a believing jew." Isaac Newton saw the divine hand of God in every scientific observation. Mozart and Geothe; Aristotle and Plato and Socrates; Euclid and Capernicus and Gallileo---the geniuses of this world sought knowlege of God, which does not mean they accepted the Bible as fact.

I believe the Bible to be a collection of carefully selected writings intended to prove what can never be proved: that there is a God and he loves mankind.

Answer 7

Obviously no thinking unbelievers want to answer your question.

To a point I think it could be true but the fact is that people rebel against God. They decide to turn from Him and find different explanations for their existence.

This is why atheism is a religion.

It would however point out the similarities in the stories. We just need to remember that many of the nations even by Abraham's time had degenerated into ... um... a culture not much differant than ours? This was a willful turning their back on God and his values for us.

Answer 8

What is 'right' will change and expand as your knowledge and enlightenment grows. Correct interpretations of text or correct information will only feed ego in short term. Seeking a consciousness change will be more permanent and give you a lasting peace. Move from seeking truth in correct information to understanding truth through experience and personal, life-tested states of mind - scientifically applied. Become more than you were yesterday in everything that is good, in overcoming your personal challenges, is all you will look at anyway, when your life ends. The CHOICES you made.

Answer 9

Why did god choose the Hebrews?? Why not the Chinese or the Egyptians, who were far more advanced at the time than a group of nomadic sheep herders?? And, why did God label these Hebrews as his CHOSEN PEOPLE? And, if Jews/Hebrews are his Chosen people, then why do you waste your life as a Christian?? Arent Hebrews God's favorites???

Why? Because God didnt do anything - the Hebrews invented God and allowed him to call them the Chosen Ones. Thats why.

Answer 10

This theory makes sense but it is just a theory. Why would He jsut pick the Hebrews? This would start conflicts among religious groups and He would foreshadow this so He would not do that. But good idea.