I'm an atheist who recently moved from Europe to the USA bible belt, so I figured reading the Bible could be useful, to at least understand what the people in front of K-Mart are talking about when they ask me if I'm already saved.
So, I started reading.
My problem is, I've never met anybody that managed to be completely honest about themselves. Reality is as we perceive it, so even when a person is completely honest about himself, it doesn't have to mean he's completely telling the truth about his achievements, actions or whatever. It's just his perception of reality.
How can I be sure that God is capable of being 100% honest about Himself? The Bible seems to be God's word, but can God be so impartial and unjudgmental about himself that He can actually tell me the complete truth about Himself? Is that even possible?
2007-10-21 17:55:04 · 20 answers · asked by ? 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The fellow before me talks about looking up to see, “…the nothing of the night sky…”. Has he ever looked at the night sky? What is the world view, with or without faith, that blinds one to the night sky, I wonder? There are so many ways to see the world, and I know I will never understand most of them.
The Christian faith is pervasive here in the States Markyyy. It might help you to make peace with them. They are or course confused by their faith, and some are bellicose, but it is usually a harmless affection. Patience and understanding will serve you well. A confrontational approach will be of no service to you or them.
Please forgive the unsolicited advice, and welcome to our country.
2007-10-22 02:40:06 · answer #1 · answered by Herodotus 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
First, if you want to understand the folks at the K-Mart, why would you read the Bible? They are preaching an Evangelical tradition that is only (very) loosely based on certain segments of the Bible.
Second, the Bible is not the Word of God, and does not claim to be. If you keep reading, you will see that the work, as a whole, does not claim to have been written by God. At most, certain parts were inspired by their subject matter.
Third, if you want to understand the Bible, start by picking up some books on the subject by well-respected scholars. Understand what the Bible is about, how it was written, and how the academic community understands its contents. Then you can pick it up and actually understand what you read.
2007-10-21 18:01:45 · answer #2 · answered by NONAME 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
First of all the bible is not Gods word it is the word of man. Well I can't say the whole bible because the first five book is "supposed " to be the Torah the book of Moses.
God is the truth, Heaven is the truth and the Hell fire is the truth. I was ask that question before, R u saved?
How can you be saved from the hellfire just by saying some words that Jesus is our Lord and savior? This is not true, this statement will take you to the hell fire.
God is One God, the ruler of the heaven and the earth and everything in it. He is the one who processes all power. He has no partners, no daughter or sons. The owner and the only ruling judge on the day of resurrection. He is the giver of life and the only one who causes death.
Lailahaillallah None has the right to be worshiped except Allah (Arabic for God)
No one knows if they will be safe from the punishment from our Lord. The Prophets of God do not even know if they are safe from his punishment. They seeked his mercy and repented day and night.
In Islam we have five pillars that is the foundation of faith
Belief in Allah
in the angels
in his messengers ( Moses, Abraham, Jesus, Muhammad)
the holy books (Torah, Gospel, Psalms, Quran)
The last day
and Gods preordainment
Allah promised us if we performed good deeds, stay away from sin, perform our daily prayers, repent for our sin and do goodly works we will enter paradise.
Allah tells us in the Noble Quran that he resemble nothing, He is the supreme God that all creatures need and He needs nothing. He created us only to worship him. He also tells us that he did not create us out of mere play.
Allah rose over the heavens sitting above his throne in a way that fits his majesty.
He is the all-hearer, all-see-er, the all-knowing God. He knows what you reveal and what you conceal.
Mankind changes the words of Allah in his books. They don't won't you to know or understand God, But Allah tell us in his Holy book, the Quran that he will guard this book from corruption. So if you want to know The TRUTH about your lord and his commandments upon us. Make an investment in the Noble Quran.
Peace be upon you and your family
2007-10-21 18:31:56 · answer #3 · answered by Aqila 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In my opinion,the ONLY way to rad the Bible IS from beginning to end. No "study bibles", no "bible study" groups, just you and the book. Start at the beginning, read through to the end. It may very well convert you. A great many atheists became atheists by reading the bible in its entirety, some of them more than once. Hopefully, the same will work for you. Blessings on your Journey!
2016-05-24 02:52:33 · answer #4 · answered by meredith 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
first he isn't a he that is an ol' bearded dude flying in the sky rolling dice on your life.
imagine where you are lookout into the nothing of a night sky now if you can imagine space,and time doesn't exist you per se lick your index finger and draw a box and say this is time and space.
anywho I don't have the time nor the space to try and write my thoughts on this.
No it isn't possible for you in your current state of being to understand G-D like you do your nieghbor.
But you can know G-D by the laws/teachings not all of which were manufactured by man,and in so reading and understanding what you've read leaving out man's silly notions of science etc you can come to know G-D.
2007-10-22 00:57:14 · answer #5 · answered by stevenseeks 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to realize that while the Bible is known as God's word it is also written by men. Sure there are somethings inside of it that were direct quotes of Jesus but the Bible has been translated time and time again over the centuries. Most Christians would agree that you are not suppose to do every single thing that the Bible says but to take what the Bible says into account - for example : The Bible says over and over that certain people deserve to be put to death, but the Bible also says not to murder - so you have to think does the Bible want me to persecute those who dont follow its tenants or not? According to Christianity God gives us a free will so we have the right to choose to practice his laws or not to practice his laws and therefore the verses that say that certain people should be put to death for being "unholy" are sacriligious.
You just have to remember that there are over 30 Books and Over 20 authors of the Bible - human opinion is going to be thrown in with God's teachings - you have to look inside of yourself to see if what they say God says is what God actually meant - and if you pray about it you will get your answer.
2007-10-22 04:38:55 · answer #6 · answered by Mr. Nobody 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
God is not like anything you have ever encountered before. He is not human. He is on a totally different level. Why shouldn't He be honest with with us, He created us and would still be the same God if we hadn't been created.
One of the main aspects of Christianity is faith. I, as a "Christian", see a lot of things around the world and don't understand how it could happen without God. I also have faith that the Bible is real, and truly is His word.
2007-10-21 18:08:43 · answer #7 · answered by Ryu9 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
When you tell me "The bible seems to be God's word.." that makes everything else you say suspect. What kind of atheist says such a thing? I've read the bible. It doesn't seem like God's word at all. It seems like a bunch of old legends written by ignorant, iron age people.
2007-10-21 18:00:51 · answer #8 · answered by kc 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If you are asking about God's credibility as a witness, just treat it as you would for any witness, or any manuscript presented as evidence.
Listen to the testimony, examine it from both sides of the story (i.e. "expert" witnesses both for and against), check for bias and hidden agendas.
If you are looking for the truth, you will find it. Seeking is part of the process.
If you are looking for self justification, you will find that even easier, but you may miss out on the truth.
Start with the books of Luke and John, and then Acts. Read a comentary by scholars both for and against the veracity of these books, then examine your own motives. Are you looking for truth, or justification to do your own thing?
A judge who is testing the veracity of a witness can not do so unless he himself is honest about his own motives.
It's the most important story in world history. It is very complex, and is not something to be taken very lightly.
Have fun, and good luck.
2007-10-21 19:04:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
If we are made in HIS image , then you have a point . Good question . HE could just be the drunken blowhard , at the local celestial bar , and we're like the braggart's kids , or pets . We'd never know . We'd just think HE's a god or something . ;D
You 're always warping my mind , Markyyy ( more than it already is . If I get sent to the big hothouse, you're partially responsible. ;D)
2007-10-21 18:27:16 · answer #10 · answered by mikeinportc 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋