and writings? For a non-supporter of the bible it is mere words on paper. Without the knowledage and study of symbols, reference, reasons for each act to apply, cultural enviorment, motivate and intent for God's lack of intervention or movement in intervening, one only assumes and often is mislead as well as misleading to others. So shouldn't all those questions that are asked or stated about the bible be left to those who know the bible or have study it and not unbelivers who have not at least study religion and the context of how it is defined?
2007-11-21 05:30:16 · 15 answers · asked by TTC 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
***********and in order to make a sound judgement call on what to agree to doesn't someone have to have a strong balance of information of both sides of the issue?*****************
2007-11-21 05:31:46 · update #1
Only one of you seem to grasp the question here. How can you have an opinion based on your limited understanding of what you are reading?
2007-11-21 05:38:50 · update #2
Big Blue and 8 Track: I consider you both well informed enough to base your decision on. Although we disagree and take different paths to life, I can atleast say you took the time to know why you don't agree with the bible. I can't say this about 75% of people who blow hot air on here....lol
2007-11-21 06:09:35 · update #3
I was a Minister who read the bible, and knew the intent of the scriptures. The more I studied it, and understood it's meaning, the further I grew away from it as being in any way a holy book. Now, I find it to be not even very good literature and I do my best to keep it from inflicting more pain and agony upon the world by encouraging people to keep it out of schools, keep it out of government offices, keep it out of political life, keep it out of lawmaking processes and keep their faith in this book to themselves. If you believe it, then I am all for you. I encourage you to read it. Read it every day until you can see what took me many many years of studying this book to see.
Peace.
2007-11-21 06:01:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
How about this as a question, can any believer who has not studied earlier near eastern mythologies understand the OT? and for that matter if they have only ever read the Septuagint do they really understand it seeing how mistranslated it is.
This applies even more to the NT which has so much earlier mythology incorporated that you would have to study many other pagan cultures to truly understand it's meaning.
I enjoy the bible a great deal, I just enjoy it as mythology, as I would the Iliad or many other ancient writings. As god written truth it is nonsense to me, but as a story of myth and allegorical stories it can be beautiful.
2007-11-21 06:01:22 · answer #2 · answered by Gawdless Heathen 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Atheists have studied religion at least as much as believers have, and consistently demonstrate far better understanding of religion - and the Bible - than do believers.
Your argument is based on false assumptions.
Now, the basic notion that interpretation of the Bible should be left to those who know the Bible seem sound to me. But of course that means that it is the believers who should stop referring to the Bible, not the nonbelievers.
2007-11-21 05:42:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
I read the Bible once as a believer, and again a few years later when I was in the process of becoming an atheist. I did not understand it any less the second time I read it.
2007-11-21 05:45:38 · answer #4 · answered by War Games AM 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All of the extra knowledge you talk about is also just the product of human minds and their interpretation; I believe that I am smart enough to read something and then decide on my own what I believe about it without being told that my version is "right" or "wrong".
Unless I missed something, God is interested in all people; not just those who are smart enough to figure him out based on a 5,000 year old text that has been translated time and time again and nobody seems to agree on anyway.
2007-11-21 05:38:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
At one time, the Bible WAS more than just words on paper to me.
Then I got real.
And I HAVE studied religion. Perhaps not as deeply as some Christians (*snort*) but I have, nonetheless.
It's still crap. I shouldn't have to "interpret" and twist the words to fit my belief system.
2007-11-21 05:45:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
That's similar to saying that if you don't support war, you can't make arguments showing the fallacies in a pro-war argument.
Just because you don't believe in something doesn't mean that you have any less right to argue against it. What you are speaking about above would lead to one sided arguments, which would stifle the social development of humanity.
2007-11-21 05:36:20 · answer #7 · answered by Big Super 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Have you read the original? If not why? You're just getting someone else's interpretation of it.
If you're going to base your life on something shouldn't you at least go to the small effort to learn to read the original?
2007-11-21 05:38:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I guess what you're saying is that until you believe in the Bible, you aren't qualified to understand what's in it. If you think about this for a microsecond, you'll realize just how completely nutters that is.
2007-11-21 05:35:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
The bible was written by people. Not GOD. Men wrote it and men make mistakes. It is just that, a book.
The BIBLE means,,,,THE BOOK.
2007-11-21 16:22:33 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋