Much of the Old Testament was passed down through word of mouth. If you've ever played a game of telephone or heard a rumor, you will understand where I am going with this statement.
Your thoughts?
2007-07-11 02:43:01 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am not bashing, simply interested in hearing opinions. It is not such a terrible thing to question your faith or other faiths. This is how you learn.
2007-07-11 02:51:55 · update #1
Oral tradition is usually a lot stronger than a game of telephone. These stories would be taught and learned as part of a religion, not just a grapevine.
But I understand what you're saying. Even with stories that are revered and passed down, things can get added, taken away, and exaggerated.
Traditional Christian view is that the Bible is "inspired" by God, meaning he directly revealed to the authors of the Bible the "truth."
2007-07-11 02:47:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
You know what, Im a Catholic, and I agree completely, even though I have no idea what the game of telephone is. lol But that's why I can't figure out why people argue so much about religion. Mine's right, no mine is. Whose to say they're not all right? It's all just an interpretation of something that nobody's been around long enough to really see. You want to know God and Jesus? Close your eyes and pray from the heart, that's all it takes. I've learned that the hard way. I love my religion, and I'm getting into it at the exact right time in my life, right now I just need an organized religion and I love the rituals and the community of it. But I still believe that it's not the end all be all of God and Jesus.
Sorry, woke up on my high horse this morning... I'll get down now.... lol
2007-07-11 02:56:41 · answer #2 · answered by I'm just me 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No it wasn't.
The job of Scribes was to copy the bible word for word.
They had a very special job and if any errors were made they burned the "paper" and started over.
They were very educated men.
We have the dead sea scrolls that dates 2nd century BC showing the OT is the same today as it was then.
We have more ancient documents of antiquity of the bible than any other work.
We have over 5000 documented, cataloged ancient findings of bible, all the same, many in different languages, all the same
In fact the Vatican just bought 2 Gospels dating 90 ad.
The bible is very reliable.
†
2007-07-11 02:51:07 · answer #3 · answered by Jeanmarie 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever heard the word "scribe". They were the ones who wrote down the events of the day - they are mentioned several times throughout the Old and New Testaments. Scribes were found in ancient Egypt (you know, the one mentioned in the second book of the Bible - Exodus).
Anyway.... yes I know where you are going with the question. Need a bat for that bashing?
For my "corrector" - thanks for the info - I didn't mean to disparage the job of the scribes, only to point out that it was written down by someone and then passed on to various peoples via the written, documented word. We are arguing on the same side of the issue - now that's silly ;)
2007-07-11 02:50:07 · answer #4 · answered by Patti R 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I have a much easiertime blieving the old testament than the idea that man walked on the moon. what if u had never seen the so called "video"... would u still bleve? Alot of the old testament is prophecy thats still being fulfilled 2day. What has buzz aldridge done 4 U lately
2007-07-11 03:01:52 · answer #5 · answered by chayal b 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In my opinion, the old testament is nothing more than a collection of folk stories and fairie tales passed down through the years to make people feel better, and somewhere along the way, the people started to believe their own stories. Who knows. Maybe 1000 years from now, a book will be written about the great god Bigfoot.
2007-07-11 02:48:54 · answer #6 · answered by Draven 3 · 5⤊ 2⤋
I have pointed this out many times...as I think this is very valid...
The Bible says it is the inspired word of God...II Timothy 3:16...but, we must remember it was written by humans who brought their own ideas, prejudices, customs and knowledge of the day into their writings...
and yes, finally writing down those things that were passed down verbally from generation to generation...
It seems that many people choose to worship the Bible...man's words...than God.
2007-07-11 02:55:41 · answer #7 · answered by G.C. 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I certainly remember that game. And you are right, of course, the end result is hardly a mirror image of the intent.
But it is not accurate to say that much of the Bible was passed down through word of mouth. The Bible claims to be inspired (literally God-breathed) of God. That is to say, God used some 40 men to record his word. He told them what to write, he sometimes told them verbatim.
It is pointless to suggest that the Bible is inaccurate because it was recorded by men. That men wrote it down is not in dispute. The question is was the Bible divinely inspired? Because if it was, then patently God would preserve it so that it reflected precisely what he willed.
If the question is "is the Bible truly inspired of God" then the next question is "do we have evidence of that?"
The short answer to both those questions is "yes" and "yes."
Hannah J Paul
2007-07-11 02:49:08 · answer #8 · answered by Hannah J Paul 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
You apparently haven't read the history of how the Old testament was cared for and preserved by the Hebrew of that era. If you had you wouldn't have made such a blatant misstatement... Jim
2007-07-11 02:49:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
We may never know this, but I suppose this is where our faith in our creator comes in. If we believe that God is the author of the bible and he inspired those who wrote it, we wouldn't think of the bible as just a book that was written like other books you find in the library.
2007-07-11 02:49:04 · answer #10 · answered by Rachel 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋