Why, when you read the Bible, are you not left in awe?

Question

Why doesn't a book written by an omniscient being leave you with a sense of wonder and amazement? If you are reading a book written by the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving creator of the universe, wouldn't you expect to be stunned by the brilliance, the clarity and the wisdom of the author? Would you not expect each new page to intoxicate you with its incredible prose and its spectacular insight? Wouldn't you expect the author to tell us things that scientists have not been able to discover yet?

Yet, when we open the Bible and actually read it, we find it is nothing like that at all. Instead of leaving us in awe, it leaves us dumbfounded by all of the nonsense and backwardness that it contains. If you read what the Bible actually says, you find that the Bible is ridiculous. A book that advocates senseless murder, slavery and the oppression of women has no place in our society today.

Answer 1

Hector-this is a really good question and I've never thought of that analysis. I did study the "Bible as literature" in a English class in college and was amazed at how badly portions were written and how beautifully crafted and simplistic Psalms was written. (Psalms is the exception, in my opinion.)
The archaic and harsh laws of the Bible that you have pointed out really need no comment. No thinking person could possibly believe they reflect "God's Will", but when you (Hector) have challenged them on this, they simply note it is "out of context" or reflects the Jewish laws of the times or say "that's from the Old Testament." How could a non-changing, all-powerful, all-wise God have ever approved of such utter cruelty? There has never been a logical defense on these pages of the items you raise in your second paragraph.
There are books that have left in in awe. The poetry of Rumi and Robert Frost; Macbeth and the soliloquy of "Romeo and Juliet." There are modern books that fill me with awe at the skill of the writer--like "The Old Man and the Sea" or "The World According to Pi", but no serious person can defend the Bible as great literature.

Answer 2

well first you have to remember that people spoke differently in thoughs time. perfect example Shakespear. Not everyone will get it at first you have to do a lil research so you can understand all of the old text and usage of words. Priests and preachers study this for many years before they are able to convet the reading they do every sunday into a launage that we will understand. now you also have to remember in the old testament jesus had not died for our sins yet. An God was someone to be feared if you didn't obey by his laws. An when people did wrongs they would sacrifice a pure spirted person or animal so that their sin could be forgiven. Yes this is in the Old testament and people did do such things. The new testament is when jesus walked the earth. Now god sent him here so he could die for our sins, but there was a catch not everyone gets. Once jesus became human he had free will, like all humans. an truthfully if he didn't want to die for us he could have pulled him self off that cross a lived. Then he would have sinned by not obeying him father. Now if he would have done this where would we be today, no one knows. So maybe do a lil research on the launguage of the times and try again you may uncover things that you never knew where in the bible. good luck

Answer 3

You’re generalizing from an “unbeliever’s perspective” and you’re never going to get that sense of wonder from that point of view.

Many believers will tell you that you need to be “born again” and led by the “Spirit” in the Word before you get that feeling.

Although different sects will interpret it differently the one thing they all do have in common is that they come to scripture with an unyielding belief in it’s sacredness beforehand.

You’re expecting it to affect you like some spell book and that is not going to happen unless you believe it IS what many if not most people believe that it is: the actual word of God.

You have to bring a faith in it, in order to get something out of it otherwise you will view it as a mere book.

Same thing applies to the Koran in fact to all “sacred” scripture for that matter.

Answer 4

Exactly. And your question is very well written.

I think that Jesus Christ would agree with you wholeheartedly. I don't see any indication that he was asking his disciples to memorize scripture verses... and NONE of them carried around those temple scrolls. He was up to something else... which is more mysterious than we know.

Jesus was talking about the WORD OF GOD long before the New Testament was composed, so he was not talking about Paul's letters!

You are absolutely correct. The Bible has some GREAT phrases and a few brilliant passages, but taken as a whole is very poorly constructed.

Answer 5

Interesting, I got the opposite effect. The bible is a beautiful book, with some incredible teaching. Knowledge and wisdom is on every page.Nothing ridiculous about that.

Answer 6

Amen. Very well said.

I've read dozens of books that are better in every way than the Bible. Why wouldn't a book written by an omniscient creator of the universe be a LOT better than the Bible? Why wouldn't it be full of interesting insights, new information, and so on?

Answer 7

i think of it extremely is a valid component, yet awe is in all probability subjective. some literature and song leaves me in a state of awe that would surely be nudged into incredibly worship if I have been so prone and if there have been extra people who considered the respective authors to be prophets.

Answer 8

I am so in awe that sometimes I cry and sometimes I scream hallelujah and sometimes I am ashamed of myself. I have a son, hes a grown man and most days is far from having it all to gether. I would never give his life for anyone elses. Unconditional hes my boy and rather he is an angel or behaves like the devil himself I love him with all my heart. I too am loved that much... God sent his only son, for those days I just am far from getting it right. Wow I am loved unconditionally, my price has been paid and my shackles removed and I am free and everyone on the planet, no matter what they think or feel every single soul I lock eyes with Christ loved enough to dye for. To read about how that came about and why he did it and how I can bring more joy to myself and the world that God so loves AWESOME BABY
AND SOON WE WILL CELEBRATE THE BIRTH PURPOSLY THE BEGINNING OF MY AND YOURS IF YOU WANT IT --ETERNITY. Is there an AMEN in the house???? ps try the new living translation in our modern speech it may bring light to those words for you.

Answer 9

I used to think the same thing until I found the courage to face God in my sin. I now "see" the truth of Scripture and it fulfills me. It is a book that is unlike any other book in the world for to gain it's insight - you must ask God to reveal it to you. He changed me, I now see what the Bible is. You cannot know until you come to this revelation.
Good Luck.

Answer 10

In order to understand the Bible, you have to be close to God. Someone who just picks it up one day, while still dead in their sins and unrepentant and reads it, won't see the wisdom that's there.


We can't understand everything in the Bible while we're still in corrupt bodies. The Bible is meant to keep us on the right track while we're like this.



God says in Galatians 5:17



"For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire."



We see from the flesh, when we see from the spirit, we understand more.