How is it so many people can fully believe in books written and edited by fallible men?

Question

This question includes books from all religions. I understand a lot of people will say that every book is written by fallible men, so why believe everything we read today either? I really don't, I just take what seems to make sense and from what I've experienced. I do know that if I had a truly religious experience and wrote about it, not many religious people would believe me. Hopefully someone can answer this without smart *** responses. I would really like a good answer as I have questioned and lost my faith over the past several years.

Answer 1

Consider that early religious traditions began with people whose education and scientific knowledge were essentially nil. People who could write were considered to be above the run of the mill humanoid just by that single fact alone.

Consider that religious leaders have also frequently assumed political power over their followers.

Now, if you have consolidated political and religious power, what else do you need? People to believe that you are a repository of god's knowledge and will. Then it becomes easier to enforce your personal will and pass it off as god's and, in effect, justify everything you do and put the fear of divine chastisement on those who might otherwise dissent.

The ignorant throngs are taught to believe and obey at an early age so that they think the belief system is normal and rational. Teach them also that the scriptures are divinely inspired and then anything in violation of them can be damned, thereby increasing the power of those who have been blessed with the "right" to interpret and apply the scripture.

That used to work in the christian world and still works pretty effectively in the muslim world.

Answer 2

Not wanting to be smart, but there are no other type of books, other than those written by men. So, if you can believe a work of non-fiction, you can certainly believe in the bible, because so much of it is coming true in our life time. For instance, I would lead you to Luke 23:27-31. It is clear that Jesus was speaking about abortion, and insemination way back in the bible days. If you believe as the holy spirit has taught me that a green tree is a fertile womb, and the dry spoken of is a barren womb, then nothing else makes sense. No other explanation before in history could have explained the abortion movement, because it didn't exist until now. But there it is written way back then, saying to the mountains fall on us, and to the hills cover us.

Global warming, surely we can see today that is happening. If you read Revelation 16:8 & 9, we see men being scorched with great heat. Isn't that what scientist predict for the future? It was unheard of a century ago.

And as time goes on, and we get closer to the time of the end, more bible will be seen coming true, other than just earthquakes, etc. which have always occurred. That is why Daniel said shut up the book until the time of the end. For the words are closed and sealed til the end of time.

Answer 3

There's a lot of talk nowadays about "the wisdom of crowds". The idea is that a group of people are more likely to come up with the answer to a question than a single person.

The Bible is like that. The Old Testament chronicles how one group -- the Chosen People -- developed its understanding of the nature of God and its relationship to God. The New Testament continues that quest from a Christian point of view.

Clearly, people's understanding of God (and of themselves) changed over the course of time. The Hebrews originally thought Yahweh was a national god, a champion of Israel against its enemies. Later, some of the prophets envisioned God as being the God of all mankind, not just the Jews.

The Bible seems to contain many contradictions. This is because its authors explored the idea of God from many different angles and seemed to come up with contradictory answers.

The Bible must be seen in its entirety, comprehensively. The same general idea permeates Scripture from beginning to end: that God exists, man's life has meaning, and there is more to life than our brief span. The rest, as the saying goes, is commentary.

Answer 4

People believe what suits them. This may be cynical on the face of it but look at the hypocrisy and harm done in the name of Christ, a man who preached love and tolerance and has a church that prescribes against more things than almost any others and this applies to Islam and pretty much all other religions except, possibly, Sikhs and Buddhists. In terms of written idealogy at least. The problem for me is not the teachings but the political translations that use them to gain power and control. It is the organisation of a 'religion' wherein lies the fault. When a person communes with their god in private and keeps it to themselves, in theory anyway it should be OK. I do not personally believe that in a group it is possible to have a profound religious experience but mass hysteria can be very real. This needs a proper and lengthy debate to make any real sense of it.

Answer 5

Just believe whatever makes sense for you to believe in, you do not need to explain it to anyone. Be a good person and good things should happen, hopefully in life and after.

People need something to believe in that makes life (and death) worthwhile, and religion does that for many. The bible and other books were based on myths and legends passed down verbally for generations. Each generation would have made subtle changes in the tales. When they were finally written down, it was according to the morality of that time. Jesus Christ was a real person, there is absolutely no proof that he was the son of a god. The Vatican apparently added that part.
The stories are flawed but they give some people hope.

Answer 6

Not all math books are correct in the solution as there are various answers. Historians are somewhat dependent on the information gathered through word of mouth or other writings. But man has always depicted their versions of religious stories and those have been adapted to language for the modern man. It's the meaning, the storyline that allows you to believe, or not believe in your case.

Answer 7

I've never read a book that wasn't written and edited by fallible men (or women). Even books written as scientific fact can never be proven 100%.
If you read something that helps you grasp life a little better, why does it matter who wrote it?

Answer 8

Good question. However, consider that God inspired these fallible men to write them down. Then fallible men inspired themsleves as to the interpretation. That's the thing with religion today. I

Answer 9

I have no idea, sorry, but I can say this: I think religion is different from spirituality, and I think faith has more to do with spirituality, and the religion part has more to so with the "technical" stuff like the Bible and other books and what not. I do hope you get your faith back...life is a bit calmer with it.
If you ask me it is religion that drives some people crazy.

Answer 10

There is some truth in what you are saying. I am sure if you read a history book today and then read the same information in a history book from 100 years ago I bet the information would be much different.