Why is it that when I point out flaws in the bible, people tell me to READ THE BIBLE?

Question

Where do they think I found these flaws? If everytime I read the bible I find a flaw, how productive would it be for them to tell me to read the bible? Are they telling me they want me to read it and ignore the flaws?

"You read it out of context", ....typical dishonest response

Joseph J, people who know the bible better agree with me.

Q@A Queen, don't flatter yourself. Nobody else is able to.

Here's three small ones:

Rabbits chew their cud.
Bats are birds of the air
Insects have four legs

Explain away...

Answer 1

Personally, I believe that it's because the unfortunate truth is that many people that claim to believe in the Bible and to be educated in it who really aren't. They either have not put in the work to learn about the Bible and to know about the flaws let alone understand them or they have not had the opportunity to deeply learn about it. Sending you back to the Bible eases the burden on them. I'm not advocating intellectual snobbery when it comes to religious texts such as the Bible. I'm advocating that people really learn that it's okay to say 'I don't know, let me ask ____ about that and get back to you.'

I agree with Peter M that there are many times that we try to treat the material in the Bible like a scientific textbook and things appear to make no sense (like a rabbit chewing cud). It's a historical work of many literary forms. Within some of the forms, things are not required to be literal (like the poetry in the book of Psalms). Part of the work is in knowing what form of literature the particular section that you are reading falls into. Is that to say that there are no flaws outside of those within forms that allow them? No. Next question - are the flaws that you have found significant enough to invalidate the consistent messages that run throughout the entire text?

Answer 2

In order to climb the stairway to heaven maybe you have to swallow your pride and walk across the flaw first.

I don't understand this word perfect bible notion that some people talk about it does not make any sense to me literally or contextually. The bible is a collection of 66 books; made of poetry, love songs, history, personal anecdotes and so on, that people have found useful in understanding God. I don't think you are missing the point. I think they are missing the point and that is why they get angry and shout. Don't ignore the flaw, but don't get stuck on it either. Maybe one day you will be able to help your friends understand the bible better.

Rabbits chew their pooh, bats fly, insects walk. The observations were not made by a scientist therefore a scientific report would not be expected but the words are close enough to get the meaning. What does it literally say? What does it mean? What is the context? Who was talking? Who was listening? Is the meaning : the creation is an amazing place? The bible is clear about that one. Who wants to get stuck on the first question when there are so many more interesting questions that follow.

Answer 3

Consistency must not be an attribute befitting atheists. I keep hearing about these so-called "flaws" in the Bible, and everytime you people post them you get humiliated by your own ignorance. The only thing that needs to be ignored are questions like this one.

Answer 4

There are many "alleged" flaws in the Bible. However, upon further investigation, and understanding the context, there are no actual "flaws" at the principle level.

At the individual word level there are places where an individual word has been mistranslated but this in no way can be taken to mean that the Bible is flawed.

No thought or principle or doctrine expressed in the Bible has been proven to be inaccurate.

I know this upsets the skeptics... But, hey, they're the ones that are trying to suggest that there are "errors" in the Bible... If this is true, why haven't they been able to prove one yet?

Answer 5

Simple!

You are not reading my bible the way ...

A, I read it.

B, it was read to me.

C, the way it is meant to be read, the words in the Bible are in code and only by believing in God will you have the key to that code.

D, we want you to read it.

Or any combination of the above.


ADDED Thanks for thumbs down!
I gave a simple answer (In the form of an example) to the question, but it is a true answer.
By adding more words it would only become a confusing answer.
Did you thumb me down because you found it offensive to your way of thinking,
Or because you didn't take the time to think?

Answer 6

Why not post a few of these "flaws" you find. I would be happy to research and find an answer for you if I can. I am happy you are reading the Bible. .

List a flaw and maybe we can come up with an answer for you. You may not like the answer, but I am sincere and caring in offering.

Answer 7

Yep, you keep telling yourself that Giggly.

They think they know the bible. What I want to know is who do they think they are to analyze the bible? Maybe it means exactly what is says. Maybe it's just an evil book!

You want flaws? Read the whole book of Job

Answer 8

It's just like every time you point out a flaw, you're "taking it out of context." Yet they can pick and peck and single verses and are told they are "glorifying God."

Double standards.

Answer 9

Don't you know? You are supposed to read without thinking. You are not allowed to "study" it. Just read and let the "word" wash over you. Throw all intellect out the window... be a lemming...

Ah... ignorance is bliss...

Edit:
And to all of you who want examples... start in Genesis... there are two different versions of creation...

It continues from there.

Answer 10

As an Eggnostic, no matter what you read you will always find a flaw. Just as a pessimist will always find something wrong or negative in a situation or circumstance, likewise an agnostic will.