Is the Bible a history book, a holy book, both (or neither)?

Question

If it's a holy AND history book, well, WHY is it so? What's the point of regaling us with the primitive and inappropriate (in modern times) ways of past cultures when the "good book" is basically a spiritual instruction manual, and the inclusion of parts we "shouldn't concern ourselves with" would be highly confusing and misleading?

For example, why include how mockery of God was dealt with, or adultery, or same-sex intimacy? What's the point of showing us just how this ancient culture, whose ways are irrelevant to our lives today, handled these situations? Is it so we'll figure out what NOT to do? Is there some encrypted message from the Lord that I'm just not catching? Why is it there??

Craig, several Christians told me in a previous question that much from the OT is only applicable to past, outdated cultures. Take it up with them.

Answer 1

neither. (yawn)
fiction, and not even good fiction.

Answer 2

Neither. It's not holy just because it SAYS that it is inspired by God. The people writing it thought that they were doing a good thing, but that doesn't give it holy status. Some of the history is accurate, but most of it isn't...simply because all of it was written hundreds of years after the things happened that they are telling stories about. Moses was given credit for the first five books of the Bible, but it was written 300 years after Moses. It is an ancient guide for the people of that time. It doesn't serve much purpose today.

atheist

Answer 3

Both!
The whole book, all 66 letters are both history and instruction for people to follow.
The Hebrew Scriptures contain history and Laws that the people back then were to obey. The principle of those Laws are applicable today, in the sense for us to learn by, not exactly each law but the actions and events of the people when they failed to obey.
If you follow the new covenant you are keeping many of the laws that were given back then, but because we are no longer under the old laws, our unintentional mistakes can be covered over where as back then they were responsible for there actions.
You will find many of the same principles in the Greek Scriptures.
Today our heart should motivate us to follow our creators instructions. We do this by testing what we think we know with what the book says. 2 Timothy 3:16
To give you an example of what is right thinking and what is wrong thinking. People pray the Lords prayer Mathew 6:9,10, or they say the words, but do they try to understand what they are asking? Here is a few things they are asking for: Psalms 83:18 KJV, Daniel 2:44, Revelation 21:3,4,
What has the creator planned for his earth? Mathew 5:5, Psalms37:9-11,29.
The main reason the book is confusing to some is because God wants people to serve him out of a honest and complete heart. He gives us the free will to choose. He is looking at our heart attitudes, For example if you think man is better at ruling himself then don't bother to search for the answers.
If you want a better way of rule to live under then you will make the effort to find out what God requires of you?
You would do better at understanding if you ask questions.
Start with basics, Example: What happens to us at death?
Ecclesiastes 9:5,10 Ecclesiastes 3:19
If you are humble and sincere then feel free to ask and see if I can guide you to the scriptural answers. [e-mail]

Answer 4

It is a book of parrables condemning logic
the actual way we think.
It can be a reflection of our very own minds,
that will convey a negative message to our selves.

Or it can be accepted as truth non changing
as everything was made for harmony including ourselves, enhancing the incredible part of the spirit, where logic doesnt have to apply when god is all the logic we will ever need.

Answer 5

The Bible is a history book. It is not "holy" because it can be destroyed. It is just a book written by man to carry on some of the teachings of Christ. Christ didn't write the Bible, nor any of his direct disciples. Therefore, it should be interpreted in a wise and positive manner, and things in the Bible that depict adultery, etc. should be neglected. Learning from our past is indeed important for understanding how to deal with our future. As a Hindu, I can't tell you much more about the Bible mainly because I haven't delved into it as much. What is important is that one must reflect, meditate and concentrate upon God, rather than narrow his or her mind to one book written during an ancient time. The whole of understanding and spirituality is found through unification.

Answer 6

We Hindus have faith in Bhagavad Gita, which's a communicate between our God Krishna and Arjuna. rather Arjuna replaced into the pupil and Lord Krishna taught him the thank you to stay existence, which applies to anybody too. Are all of us the comparable? No, top? it incredibly is why we've distinctive Gods and distinctive information.

Answer 7

Why do most of the people who make sweeping assertions that the Bible is a myth or full of lies never explain how they arrived at that conclusion and what evidence they based their claims on so that we could rigorously test their arguments and see if they have a good case?

Answer 8

It's like a cross between Naked Lunch, Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy, and Dante's Inferno... Only less fun.

Answer 9

Considering the amount of violence in that book,genocides, murdering of babies, rapes, all in the name of God, it is quite obvious that the bible is just an HORROR book written by ignorant people to entertain other IGNORANT people of all times.

Answer 10

It's an instruction manual on how to deal with a population of simple, superstitious fools. The reason it endures, in spite of all the contradictions and ambiguity, is because superstition and foolishness are timeless.

Answer 11

It's a holy book set in the time frame of an actual historic period...and the people who wrote it added their own ideas (the for examples part)