So...they pick and choose which parts to believe. How can they know what is real and what is not? And aren't they basically saying that not all god says is true?
2007-10-22 17:24:17 · 20 answers · asked by Helga G. Pataki 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Because even (some) Christians admit that a lot of it is too ridiculous to be taken literally.
2007-10-22 17:29:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Bible is not free from err. some scriptures have reached the standards for canonicity while some has not . and up to now, it is not clear which is which. things and events in the bible have this literary forms. for example, the creation story in the book of Genesis is a symbolic expression of religious truths or ultimate realties and stuff. like Adam epitomizes the humanity and the serpent symbolizes temptation and the garden is like a peaceful place etc. and so, if one does not really know which genre the story is in, and puts ones own meaning into the text, Eisegesis is being made. one would think that there was really an Adam, seprent and there was a garden of eden.
it will cause confusion and will then make the reader think that such events are impossible to happen. Eisegesis is the like taking the literal meaning of the text. While in the other hand, Exegesis, is an in-depth study and a process of drawing out the meaning that comes from the text.
I guess knowing the different literary genres and with a guide of someone who knows the subject well will make everything clear. Plain research would not be enough as a very clear and definite explanation would be needed.
Theology is a pre-req subject in our university whatever course you are taking as i come from a frantically religious country and most of its universities are catholic ones.
This is basically what i know and im not saying that these are the standards. This is just how the catholic church views it.
2007-10-23 01:06:20 · answer #2 · answered by A Paradigm Shift 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible was written by man, and man has been wrong many times. I heard the Bible says something like God will strike down anyone who added anything to the Bible that isn't true. That's my brother's defense for why he believes everything in the Bible, but I ask him, "how do you know those people weren't struck down and their lies just remained in the Bible?"
2007-10-23 00:38:55 · answer #3 · answered by UpTheDownwardSpiral 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Simple Logic and common sense. Not everything makes sense in the bible.
For example, the overall message of the New Testament, specifically the gospels, say that God is an all forgiving God which is a total paradox to the god of the Old Testament, who selects those he wants to save and kill the sinners(Cities in flames, great flood...)
With this in mind, should you believe everything in the bible?
There are things you should and should not believe.!
2007-10-23 00:29:47 · answer #4 · answered by Aga 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think it would be very difficult for a true Christian to not believe the entire Bible. Of course I can't judge anyone's heart and Im certainly not trying to, but if even just ONE part of the Bible is not true, then the entire faith would just go to the crapper in my opinion.
2007-10-23 00:28:57 · answer #5 · answered by bedazzld1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe everything in the Bible. However, I understand why some people do not. The old and new testiment are indeed different in a lot of ways. However, I think the New Testiment is simply a evolution of the old.
2007-10-23 00:39:48 · answer #6 · answered by fred g 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it simply does not make sense. It was PEOPLE that wrote and edited the bible! They were touched by the divine, and it was how they interpreted that touch that influenced what they wrote. Also the times they lived in and the understanding of the world around them as it stood then.
2007-10-23 00:30:11 · answer #7 · answered by dizzkat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, they just know God in their hearts and that God is living, God is real and He IS their/our Loving Father. They know that God is not a book and a book should not be worshiped. God is much more than any book can capture anyway. That's why. They KNOW God. You can, too if you want.
2007-10-23 00:41:40 · answer #8 · answered by Holly Carmichael 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible is not a very easy thing to interpret. It's just not healthy to take everything as it says word for word.
2007-10-23 00:33:53 · answer #9 · answered by Otaku in Need 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Do not belive everything you read simply because it is print.
One has to reason out what they think is real/truth.
These "Christians" may pick and choose what parts of their HOLY Bilble to support their idealology/beliefs/ideals/etc.
2007-10-23 00:32:29 · answer #10 · answered by sescja 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋