The Bible Is Fictional Literature, Not The Divine Truth

» Home » Miscellaneous

I view the Bible as a fictional piece of literature, meant to teach the lessons of its time. While it can still be used as an amazing tool in today's society, many of the stories were written with lessons for their time and cannot properly be applied to today's society.

24 Feb 2008 06:25

(What's this?)

Add to Firefox

RSS

I totally agree. I feel that most stories in the Bible are not at all true; just the means of teaching a lesson. Besides, surely the Bible has been altered as it passed down from people to people?

Maggie1

29 Jul 2009 22:05

Add a Comment

Very true. I'm an atheist and don't believe a word the bible says. The fact that people believe it is like me picking up a Halo book and believing it and preaching it to my friends. LOL.

Tromanator

08 Sep 2008 15:02

Add a Comment

I am a Christian and all, but I totally agree with this. I also agree with the "Telephone" theory. Neither Jesus nor God wrote the Bible themselves.

DayBee

23 Aug 2008 09:20

1 Comment

But people who interacted with them did.

bookworm3

19 Nov 2008 04:14

Comment

The buybull and christianity are just the latest version of the biggest game of "Telephone" in history. With each retelling, a few details change but the main gist stays the same - some impossible supernatural being messes around with people.

Monotheism and polytheism have been, remain and will always be big steaming piles of brown.

03 May 2008 16:27

Add a Comment

Comment

I brought up this point earlier in a debate i took part in....and i strongly agree with this statement. And the fact of the matter is some people are so simple minded that they need people telling them what to do, what to think, what to wear, even what to eat or drink. Christians i know (by accident) don't drink at all..."they" claim Jesus drank wine but because these ppl are gods ppl they don't drink, but they do have tattoos though, and there 15 year old daughters pregnant ...everything is so blown out of proportion with bible thumpers...my opinion is a very clever author wrote the bible. If i were to write a book about little green men and everyone followed there word i wrapped this masterpiece in leather hid it in a cave and it was discovered a 1000 years from now...how would people decipher it?

aisle10

08 Apr 2008 01:18

Add a Comment

We’ve all heard the conundrum “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” The argument as to whether or not the Bible is fiction is similar: The answer depends on one’s faith.
The Bible is not God’s word. First, it is nothing but a translation (of a translation of a translation …) of the apostles’ observations. Indeed, there were many more of these that didn’t make the cut when the modern Bible was formulated.
All Bible stories are parables, not just those specifically labeled as such. Their purpose is to teach believers how to live the best possible life, according to moral principles very much restricted to Western culture. This means that ours is not the only way, like it or not.
Christ was not a historic personage, just an amalgam of many philosophers of his era. And he certainly wasn’t “the son of God”!

chispa

17 Mar 2008 19:18

1 Comment

YOU READ TO MUCH _ PARABALES, APOSTLES

mschool

18 Jul 2008 16:35

Comment

I agree (please no crazy Christian, or biblical comments). The Bible is like the story about Cinderella, or the little mermaid. Very beautiful... Yet evil... Completely false. A God that sends anyone to an eternal torment... Is not a Loving God... He is full of hatred he is a Devil.

Fromwithin

11 Mar 2008 17:04

7 Comments

I give it a day... not even a day... before they start leaving comments.

baconbust

11 Mar 2008 17:06

Comment

To call it fiction is a little bit off. Some of the events that the bible depicts did, in fact, happen. Proponents of the bible will claim that almost all the events in the bible have been proven to have actually happened, which is not the case. One of the most significant events being the existence of Jesus. Whatever the bible is, however, I completely agree that it is not the divine truth.

Moegreche

11 Mar 2008 15:05

9 Comments

I don't claim that almost all the events in the Bible have been proven to have happened.
Why do you believe it is not the divine truth?

Stranger

11 Mar 2008 15:56

Comment

StBalders, you say it contradicts "evolution." It definitely does contradict macroevolution but that is not a problem because macroevolution is not science. Just because it is accepted as established science does not mean it is. It is wrong because it contradicts entropy. Entropy says the opposite of what macroevolution allows. No low level of organization and complexity can become more organized or complex in isolation unless there is a "God." who wills to do it. The fossil record proves it did not happen and does not happen because there should be countless intermediary fossils that don't exist. If you have faith they exist, that's up to you, but do not say it is science. I respond here because a casual reader may look here, find attacks on divinity and claims for falsehoods as truth and see little opposition with evidence. I want other Christians to research and refute but most Christians who say they are don't seem to bother with research...
And for the potential casual reader: deity does not need an explanation for it's origin for only physical things do. "God" does not fall under the law of cause and effect. He is above all things as one could tell from the realization that he made the universe. No other reason works.

Yes, it is patently obvious to anyone who has even the vaguest ability to think for themselves that the bible is pretty much fiction.

Jahwobble

03 Mar 2008 14:14

25 Comments

Nothing you said was proof. All that you said was empty claiming.

Stranger

05 Mar 2008 14:22

Comment

Good point i say someone wrote the bible so that people had something to believe in the bible is for sure not a piece of truth but a story made up a long time ago

princess

26 Feb 2008 17:20

10 Comments

Back it up that "the bible is for sure not a piece of truth..." Find a lie if you can.

Stranger

27 Feb 2008 14:59

Comment

I'm religious I do believe in God, a supreme being... But I definitely don't believe in the Bible. It's too fictional for me... Show me something that I can relate to.... Where it isn't hypocritical in itself... And maybe I'll show some interest.

"A true fairy tale is the fact that anyone can believe in something, that contradicts what it teaches... Thou shall not judge.... However God judges us, the Devil judges us. Shouldn't God be setting an example for us? A God that sends any individual to hell for sin, is not a God but a Devil. He created us, and wanted us to have free minds, so he should except us, not shun us b/c of our petty mistakes. That is why I don't believe in the Bible."
-what fromwithin had originally posted before it was deleted... B/c people have too much "PRIDE!"

baconbust

25 Feb 2008 15:37

23 Comments

You can't relate to it? What have you read of the Bible?
How is it "hypocritical in itself"?

Stranger

26 Feb 2008 16:30

Comment

Baconbust:  All I can say is that you should not judge the Bible or what is written in it based on your opinion or experience with other people.  None of us are even close to Jesus.  I think that there are many stories in the Bible that are hard to believe and may not have ever happened.  But who is to say that there is not a lesson to be learned from them?  I would never judge you or your beliefs, but try to look at things from a different perspective.  Maybe the Bible is trying to send a message and not just document happenings.  There are many people in the Bible itself that opposed God and Jesus.  I find it hard to believe that a book would lead you to believe something when it doesn't show those who disbelieve.  Try an investigation regarding the proof of the Bible.  I think that it is safe to say that we are all hypocritical in a way, and that the Bible probably does have some hypocrisy in it, since it was written by humans.  But that does not mean that it is fictional as a whole.

Comment

It's probably a combination of myth and the truth as people saw it, but not divine truth.

Chell

25 Feb 2008 05:29

8 Comments

What is myth about it?

Stranger

26 Feb 2008 16:37

Comment

Chell,  I did not say because the Bible can't be disproven, that that proves it to be true. I said why I believe he resurrected: because he is the Messiah prophesied of in the Tanach ("old Testament"). I know that he exists because no other explanation besides a non-natural agent could be the ultimate cause for the origin of all nature. So far, that is why I believe there is a divine being. That is not observable but is the only explanation that does not contradict science. I believe he is the only true deity because the book about this deity is flawless except for when translators mistranslated some things. Its fulfilled prophecies and flawlessness makes the Bible unlike other "holy" books. What other one is flawless? That is some of the reasoning I have for believing. Faith is required, of course. Sound reasoning is also what I have. Here are the words you are going to love to hear: I have reasoning that makes sense and does not contradict science, not scientific proof for the resurrection and inspiration of the Bible by "God."
baconbust, I am wondering who "the two of you" are...me and who else, do you say? You claim that people have shown 
"factual information" that the Bible is a lie. What is that information?

Comment

Stranger, I appreciate the way you debate on this site. You present the reasons for your stances intelligently. However, I disagree with you on this issue in general. You said "If it is myth, it can be proven to be." That is like saying if it can't be disproved, it must be true. In this last comment, you say "because he is the Messiah prophesied of in the Tanach ("old Testament"). I know that he exists because no other explanation besides a non-natural agent could be the ultimate cause for the origin of all nature. So far, that is why I believe there is a divine being." So you base your belief on whether the Bible is fact on something in that same writing? What will you do as "other explanations," scientific facts, are discovered that contradict your beliefs on the origin of all nature? The Bible is not the only collection of words that have actually happened. The words of many have actually come true. All prophesy? Or could some of it be coincidence? Yes, the Bible does contradict science. One of the basic ways is that the dead really don't get back up and go fishing. When I owned a Bible, I saw flaws, contradictions, in it front to back. I believe in God(s) too, but I would never expect others to take my beliefs as fact just because some men wrote books about them. And books have been written. Facts can become stories as they are embellished on, and as pure fable is attributed to them. And that's what man tends to do. Embellish. Make bigger and exciting things up to awe others.

Comment

Thank you for your compliment.
You said that "That is like saying if it can't be disproved, it must be true." I did not mean that.  I was challenging you to prove that it is myth. I said it can not be proven to be myth. That is all I meant there. You said: "So you base your belief on whether the Bible is fact on something in that same writing?" It is in the Bible, but I base my belief on reason that no other explanation except deity can be the ultimate cause for all nature. No science contradicts deity's existence. If you believe macroevolution is science, then I see why you say that. The problem is that macroevolution is not science. It contradicts the scientific law of entropy that says things get less organized over time in isolation and it contradicts the fossil record. If macroevolution is true, there would be countless fossils in between an "ancestral" species and a "descended" species. Since "God" exists, miracles are possible. Resurrection is possible. The Tanach pointed to the Mashiach and said that he would die for our sins and resurrect. Yahshua ("Jesus") came and he alone could be the Mashiach ("Messiah") because of his fulfillment of "first coming" prophecies. I believe he resurrected because of that. Since "God" made the universe "from scratch," resurrection is not far-fetched. You said the words of many  have actually come true. What words and of whom? By the way, I never expect others to take my beliefs as fact just because some men wrote books about them. The Bible has been mistranslated, but the basic message is there, I think. We need him. He wants to be with us. Our sin gets in the way. Only perfect blood can take it away. He sent himself as a man and died for our sins so we can be forgiven by believing in him and not have to pay for our sins ourselves. I think you know the story but you need to be saved.

The Bible is a novel. It's a good novel but the people who live their lives by it are pitiful. There were many gospels written which were never included in the officially-sanctioned "canonical" version of the bible, the so-called Apocrypha. It's clear then, that the decision about what should constitute the official version of the bible was an arbitrary and human one, not the result of divine inspiration.

Hidell

24 Feb 2008 13:17

9 Comments

Do you know why other gospels were not included? It is because they were that- OTHER GOSPELS. There can only be one way. They can't all be right. One of them suggests that "Jesus" had sex with Magdalene. That would disqualify him from being the Messiah. It is obviously wrong. When the so-called Da Vinci Code book came out, I looked at some other gospels like the gospel of Judas. They contradict the Torah. The true gospel does not contradict the Torah. You are right about how it was man that brought them together into the Bible of today, but how are the books themselves not inspired? I think there may be books that were inspired by the Holy Spirit not in the accepted canon.

Stranger

26 Feb 2008 16:35

Comment

Without a doubt, it's no different than any of the other so-called Holy Books out there. It's how ancient, primitive man tried to understand the world around him and how a lot of primitive people today insist the world is, even though rational people know better.

Cephus

24 Feb 2008 09:39

32 Comments

No different, eh? It is the only one that tells us we can never earn heaven. It is the only one I know of that never contradicts science. It is supported by some prophecies such as the nation being born in one day (Israel) and the Temple of "Jerusalem" being destroyed with no stone left upon another. It is not polytheistic like the nature worshipping religions attributed to "primitive" people which fall into the category of "trying to understand the world." There was a god for different elements, as you know, in many of the religions. The Jewish books are the only ones that answer well the beginning and the end of life here for us all. Those who don't believe it have among their reasons that if it is true, then they have been blind and evil all along. They don't want to hear that. It is not convenient for them to. It is convenient for many to believe that we were not created like the Bible says and that the Bible is wrong because they don't have to give account for their actions and think they will get away with wrongdoing. Most of them, anyway. The Bible explains well, unlike most, or even all of the other books/religions the reason for our existence, death, and more.

Stranger

26 Feb 2008 16:45

Comment

No different, eh? It is the only one that tells us we can never earn heaven. It is the only one I know of that never contradicts science. It is supported by some prophecies such as the nation being born in one day (Israel) and the Temple of "Jerusalem" being destroyed with no stone left upon another. It is not polytheistic like the nature worshipping religions attributed to "primitive" people which fall into the category of "trying to understand the world." There was a god for different elements, as you know, in many of the religions. The Jewish books are the only ones that answer well the beginning and the end of life here for us all. Those who don't believe it have among their reasons that if it is true, then they have been blind and evil all along. They  don't want to hear that. It is not convenient for them to. It is convenient for many to believe that we were not created like the Bible says and that the Bible is wrong because they don't have to give account for their actions and think they will get away with wrongdoing.  Most of them, anyway. The Bible explains well, unlike most, or even all of the other books/religions the reason for our existence, death, and more.

Comment

No different, eh? It is the only one that tells us we can never earn heaven. It is the only one I know of that never contradicts science. It is supported by some prophecies such as the nation being born in one day (Israel) and the Temple of "Jerusalem" being destroyed with no stone left upon another. It is not polytheistic like the nature worshipping religions attributed to "primitive" people which fall into the category of "trying to understand the world." There was a god for different elements, as you know, in many of the religions. The Jewish books are the only ones that answer well the beginning and the end of life here for us all. Those who don't believe it have among their reasons that if it is true, then they have been blind and evil all along. They  don't want to hear that. It is not convenient for them to. It is convenient for many to believe that we were not created like the Bible says and that the Bible is wrong because they don't have to give account for their actions and think they will get away with wrongdoing.  Most of them, anyway. The Bible explains well, unlike most, or even all of the other books/religions the reason for our existence, death, and more.

Comment

Chell: It does not contradict science because since there is a God (what else could be the reason?) he could intervene as he pleases to defy physics. It is easy to understand that physics is made by him and he is not subject to physics. So, if he wanted to resurrect someone, he could do it, no problem. The website you told me to check out, I do not know, but if they say anything wrong, it does not mean I agree. If you mean "science" to include "macroevolution," then I see why you see a contradiction. The thing is that macroevolution is not science because it contradicts the scientific law of entropy which says that things get less in order over time in isolation from outside interference and macro-evolution is disproven by the fossil record. The Bible does not contradict any law of science. Science says things about nature. It can not be science if it makes claims about anything not of nature, like "God." It does not rule him out, though.

Cephus: There are different accounts but they all agree that he resurrected and that his tomb was checked out by some of his followers. The things they all agree on happened and certain details were missed by some. "John" did not mention an angel  or angels waiting at the tomb, so he missed that. Either way, they basically said the same story. Of course resurrection is in clear defiance of physics but since Elohim ("God") made physics, physics is under him and he can do what he pleases. To raise someone from the grave is not hard for him. Is his arm too short? No. And you know my points for his existence. We debate this stuff a lot.

Comment

Cephus:  The gospels say the same basic message. You said I keep making the same, "ridiculous" claim. Prove me wrong if it is so ridiculous. I repeat again the claim: no natural thing could be the ultimate cause for all nature. Your claim that my claim is ridiculous needs substance, a.k.a. proof.
Fromwithin: You said it is a contradiction that the Bible says God tells us not to judge and yet he judges. That is his job, not ours, simple as that. If you are a teacher and tell your students that they can't grade other's work, yet you do, are you being a hypocrite? You said a God who sends people who do "petty mistakes" to hell is a devil. First of all, rejecting the Messiah is no petty mistake. Neither is hating your neighbor, which he considers as murder and neither is lusting after someone not your wife or husband, which he considers as adultery. Who has not done these things, including me? Also, on the contrary, if the supreme being does not punish the wicked, that being is no better than them and is the real "devil" since it would not be just to let evil people get away with their/our crimes (the Bible says no one is good, so all are bad, a.k.a. evil, by the way- and this is compared to the standard of the Torah). Only through the Messiah can we not go to hell because he became our substitute. If we reject our substitute, then we will pay for what we did wrong ourselves.
baconbust:  I know people are good by the shifting standards of the world that are not constant, but I meant "good" by the standard of the Torah. I fail to keep the Torah so I am not good. I sin. Sin is bad. If I do what is bad, I am not good. I am forgiven by Yahshuah, though and stopped the messed up ways of mine. I have been a hypocrite in the past, but I am not being a hypocrite by pointing out that that is the way many think. If I gave names, that would be wrong, but if I keep silent when people continue the lie that most people are good at heart, I would be a hypocrite. I would be one because I have said that people should stand up for the truth.

Comment

Do you agree that no one is good compared to the standard of the Torah? I know most people don't use it as their standard, but compared to it, who is good? 
I know you realize that many people have different ideas about what is right and wrong and that they are not constant  because they are subject to change. Can something that is wrong to one person and right to another be both right and wrong in reality? Of course not. The truth, a.k.a. reality, is that it is either right or wrong or it does not have to do with morals. Nearly everyone has a conscience, if not everyone (because some seem to have lost it), and the Bible points out that those who die apart from the standard of the Torah perish apart from the Torah and are judged based on what their conscience said to them/ what they knew was right or wrong beyond doubt. In either scenario, we will fail because no one is perfect. You said that "The people that are truly good, don't need to follow a book...they know what is truly RIGHT." You are right that they know between right and wrong and that it is not necessary to read the Torah to know it but the Torah is clear about it, while our conscience can be warped or messed up such that our conscience would not be troubled if we do something we had previously known to be wicked. The message is clear in the Torah: love people, do not bring harm to them, hurting them. If you believed that someone said a big lie and did not attack the lie, would you be a hypocrite, having said in the past that people should stand for what they believe in? That is my case. That is why I don't think I am a hypocrite here. As for pride, I hate it. When I see someone with a look of boastfulness in themselves and they treat others as inferior, not even recognizing that they exist, I hate that behaviour of theirs (not them, their action). I have boasted in other commentaries saying things like "Bring it on!" and that is boastful. I should not do that because it sounds as if I have bad pride. So, I have been a hypocrite. I'll try not to boast like that anymore. But I am not a hypocrite for saying that no one is good. That includes me, after all.

Comment

Stranger by continuing to leave comments you are only proving what I wrote... perhaps this will help clear things up:

Why should God be merciful of anything? He created us, knowing all things... supposedly he knows the future... yet he does nothing and lets people burn? I don't think so, that is not a God... esp. if people in other countries don't get any word of it... your bible is not real... if there is a God he would never shun people into an eternity of torture... that is not love that is hate.

-Again you are deleting my comments/flagging them b/c of your pride when they are not abusive... too much pride is a sin.

-God has supposedly created us to have free minds, so he should except that. Your Bibles and Torahs are wrong, God does not Judge us if we are his "children," he creates us knowing what we will be. Your bible contradicts itself, I have done more then proven that just by interacting with you.

-I'm sure you'll be leaving another comment, because you think you've won if you get the last word, but you are not winning, you are making more people see the truth behind your fictitious beliefs.

Comment

Cephus, I do not claim I do all that the Bible says to do. I am not perfect, no doubt. The Torah that says not to hurt another is as relevant today as it was when it was given to the Jews through Moshe ("Moses").
baconbust, I don't think I win by getting the last word, and I don't expect this to be the last word because I want to talk to people, albeit electronically. You say I delete your comments, but I have not. I have not flagged anything as abusive yet. Maybe I never will. You seem to have a misconception saying that all people are his children. Where in the Bible is that said? We are all made in his image, yes, but not all are children of his. 
Is your idea of a loving "God" one that lets the wicked go unpunished? The "God" of the Bible provides a way for us/them to not be punished: Yahshua ("Jesus"). I do not know about people who never heard of him. That is my weak point which I allow you to exploit. I am looking for an answer, though. He does create "us knowing what we will be" and he knew beforehand that most of his created people would end up in torment. Here is why he made such people: "What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath- prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory..." (Romans 9:22)

Comment

You have faith that no one knows about the unreached. I have faith that someone does. That is what you meant, right?
You say it is ridiculous to point fingers at people who aren't following the Bible. I am not pointing fingers at any non-believer to tell them to follow the Bible. I want to show you that the Jewish books are not like all others. I want everyone to know Yahshua, who is salvation.
You agree, then, that the Torah is relevant when it says to not hurt. You say not hurting people can be done without religion. In a way, yes. But the Torah says that there will be retribution. It shows what is needed for retribution: blood. It is either the sinner's blood or the sacrificial lamb's blood. It points to salvation: Yahshua, the Lamb of "God." The Way to be rescued from damnation is very relevant. 
You are right that "God" and his chosen people destroyed a lot of other people, women and children included. How is that justified? 
1- The "Philistines" were not deserving of life just as no Jew or any Gentile (non-Jew) is deserving of life. Thus, "God" can kill them at will. They'd die and be punished, anyway. It was a matter of time.
2- They were on land belonging to "God"- all land is his, above all. He could have made them move to another country, but he chose to wipe them out for his plan of history. He does what he pleases. I know many do not accept that, but who can tell him otherwise?
3- "God" chose that land for his people and the Philistines could not co-exist with the Jews without influencing them negatively by their idol worship and sexual sins, for example. The Philistines would not want to move, either.

You said that they raped virgins at God's instruction. Where in the Bible is that said? Yes, they did genocide. Yes, they hacked through pregnant women. That  is in the Bible, I think. But raping? And raping virgins at "God's" instruction? 
You probably won't do it, but if you want  to, you can read where the Bible talks about punishment of whole populations in Genesis 15:16 and 18: 23-32. It shows how "God" can punish whole cities. 
You seem to think  this is immoral. What is immoral is to say to "God" that he can not punish a certain group of wicked people by using his chosen people (who were also sinners, too, but chose them) to carry out the executions in war. It was to have them in the land, so the Crusaders, for example, are not justified. They had Europe to live in. The Jews were wanderers.

Comment

I'd agree, i think that at the time the relevance of the manuscript allowed for far more direct application.
I'm amazed that people view today's laws and such like against biblical morals. I'm sure many Christians would object to stoning adulterers today, and yet gleefully oppose gay marriage.
Where as I will admit it has helped a lot of people, I believe that it has done a great deal of harm too.

Damian

24 Feb 2008 06:29

15 Comments

Be careful the Bile crew will be flooding your comment, with scriptures... and stories soon! lololol

baconbust

03 Mar 2008 14:08

Comment

Let me explain why stoning adulterers and things like that are not to be done anymore. To understand, I think we need to understand what "Jesus" did. I believe he kept the whole Torah and Od Testament requirements. The "Old Testament" was for Jews to live as separate from the heathen. To be different, they could not intermarry, the had to be circumcised, they had to do rituals, stone adulterers and people caught doing such things, keep the "sabbath," observe festivals and sacrifice certain animals every year. No Jew besides "Jesus" could keep the whole Torah all of their life because no one is good/ perfect. He came and kept it all. He became the Lamb sacrifice for all sins of all people and so no more animal sacrifices are needed. Anyone who believes in him will have his righteousness on them, like a robe. Thanks to him, strangers to the Jewish ways can be adopted into "God's " family of Jews through the King of the Jews. Now, his people do not have to do the requirements of the Torah that are not love (by that I mean things like loving your enemies) because he kept those requirements for them. I don't know everything, of course, but that much I understand. By the way, the Bible has done no harm because the harm comes from people who misinterpret and claim to know God. The Catholics of the Middle Ages, for example. They overlooked or blinded themselves to the part in the Bible that says to love enemies (I don't think the Catholic Church allowed people to read the Bible then and I don't think they could because it was only in Latin...). They did not love their enemies when they slaughtered them. The Muslims and Jews were minding their own business, albeit business on the Holy land and the path to it. I have done harm in the past, too.

Comment

Personally I'd disagree, i don't think it can be misinterpreted, because no one actually knows what the original was trying to say - thusly every interpretation could possibly be a misinterpretation.

Where there is war, or discrimination, such as the Bible and homosexuals, or the crusades, it's all because this one book exists. If the bible didn't say, go out and preach, the world would be much happier, as it would just be a personal religion.

I'm a pagan, and I have a "church". But no part of me wants to go out and impose my beliefs on anyone or anything, (as an example) like some of the southern Christian denominations are doing in pushing for censorship, or voting against gay marriage.
The only time i stick my ore in is if it is to counteract this kind of behavior.

Baconbust - i know what you mean, just look at the 700club, or the Westborough Baptist Church, or that fat dead dude.

I don't mind a long response as long as it is logical, and from it a discussion can come. This is why I don't mind Stranger's response, compared to some of the idiots who reply to my other posts saying "God is real, the bible proves it lol"

Comment

No person has the full authority to say what the correct meaning of things in the Bible are but a mistranslation is usually easy to spot. It is  when someone says something not consistent with the whole Bible. It can be found because mistranslations can be proven wrong. Not everything in the Bible is clear, but there are many things that are clear and among them are foundational things like the divinity of "Jesus" and his having come in a physical body like ours. How can one mistranslated clear things like that? There have been cult people that have but they overlook many parts in the Bible and were/are obviously wrong. It can be proven. One would have to erase verses and passages from the Bible to deny those things and be insane or something worse.      If you want to be consistent with your reasoning that without the Bible, the world would have avoided terrible events, you will have to admit that if science did not advance technology, we would not have nuclear weapons or the holocaust as we know it. Does that mean the world would be better without technology? Without advanced science?
I am not in favor of imposing my beliefs. I say what I believe, try to use reason, and attack what I believe are lies that some or many hold as truth. I don't like some of the things Pat Robertson and TBN people do. I used to watch them but I see that most or all of them are wrong in several things.

Comment

Damian, you are interpreting the Bible and making assumptions based on your interpretations.  How is this different from what the Christians are saying?  The Bible and Christ are not the only thing causing war and bloodshed.  There is always two sides to a fight.  What about the extreme fundamental Islamic movement trying to wipe out Israel and the West?  The Jews are not Christians.  We are involved in whats going on around the world, obviously.  But remember, there is a separation between church and state here in America.  This is not a religious war based on the Christian belief.  It is a war over oil, democracy and protection for innocent people of all religions and beliefs.  My point is that you are taking the Bible and interpreting it in a way that is putting blame where blame should not be placed.  People do kill people, but it makes it much easier when technology advances.  Also, if the Bible does not support Black equality, then why do we have so many Black Christian churches, like the one Obama attends, and many of my friends attend?  Are they misinterpreting the Bible?

Comment

Your argument, Damian, was that many horrible things would not have happened without the Bible. I say that many horrible things would not have happened without technology. Does that mean we should get rid of technology? No. The same goes with the Bible. I am not against the Bible (of course)or technology. I am against misinterpretations of the Bible and bad uses of technology. Do you know what I mean? Also, the holocaust was murder on a massive scale which would not have been as massive without certain technology (railroads, guns, etc.)
You say "guns do not kill- people do" I agree. Likewise, the Bible does not kill, some misinterpreters and false followers of "Jesus" kill. To be clear, I never said science kills.
"Leviticus" 18:22 says "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable." That says that homosexuality is detestable/an abomination, not that homosexuals themselves are detestable. They are to be loved while their homosexual actions are to be detested. Where does the Bible say that "black" people are not to be equal? 
You find eternal damnation to be wrong. What would a loving and just "God" do? Let the wicked go unpunished? He has given the Way to heaven: himself: Yahshua. We do not have to be punished. He was punished in our place. By believing in his blood for the forgiveness of our sins, we can be saved. 
Yes baconbust, you do need to prove what you claim about the Bible.  If you could, you would. I am not proof of your claims that the Bible is full of hypocrisy and lies. I do not say I never lied in my life. I have. I do not say I never was hypocritical. I have been. You make fun of me because I debate. This is a debate site, isn't it? I respond to defend my beliefs. What is wrong about that? It should be expected of anyone, you included.

Comment

It's some people's religion against yours. To many people the Bible teaches them how to live their lives according to God.

And of course it isn't supposed to be used for our society, but you can still learn lessons from there even if they are kind of old.

bookworm3

19 Nov 2008 04:18

Add a Comment

Blasphemy all ;-(

snowbunny

23 Oct 2008 02:44

Add a Comment

It has been upheld by historical scholarship time and time again so I would say it is an accurate historical document.

created

03 Oct 2008 14:22

Add a Comment

I don't believe it is completely fictional. I mean sure there's some parts that may have been a little exaggerated, but it still has areas where REAL people supposedly wrote. Its just hard to be completely proven when it has to deal with something SO old.

alexwins

05 Aug 2008 19:03

Add a Comment

No. The bible is written by 44 authors, and is historically proven fact.

Scorpion

21 Jul 2008 03:45

Add a Comment

Mark is right that the Bible is a very complex document. Some is historic events, some is laws of that time, some is metaphor. It is absolutely false to call the whole document fiction. BUT it is equally false to treat every single word like it came from God's mouth directly and can never ever be questioned.

Furthermore, the dialogues with Jesus told in the New Testamant were written many years after his death and I challenge any Bible literalist to tell me verbatim a 15 minute conversation they personally had last week much less years ago. It can't be done accurately. Same with Bible stories. The general context of the story may be true and have a lesson but a word-for-word dissection of the text hardly gives you a statement direct from the mouth of God. It gives you a contextual summary from the viewpoint of the storyteller.

Grenache

18 Jul 2008 16:57

Add a Comment

GOD MADE US, don't you see that ?

mschool

18 Jul 2008 16:33

Add a Comment

The Bible is an extremely complex document. You can't make a grand proclamation describing the whole thing, it's far too complex.

Mark

01 May 2008 01:03

Add a Comment

Well, if you're a non-believer, of course there are going to be some of you that want to make up a reason to what the Bible actually is. Believers don't need to, as they, well, believe what the Bible says is all truth. What more needs to be said?

Dan4096

30 Mar 2008 04:58

1 Comment

Not a lot, apart from ignorance is bliss.

Jahwobble

13 Apr 2008 01:37

Comment

The bible is the truth it is not fictional what do you think happened we got here from primates that is the weirdest thing i ever heard

viking435

08 Mar 2008 02:06

1 Comment

Well i am afraid to say that is pretty much what happened, you are just going to have to either deal with that or close you eyes and believe your fairy stories.

StBalders

12 Mar 2008 14:46

Comment

History is bound to repeat itself in anything as far as war or biblic things and for you to say "meant to teach the lessons of its time. While it can still be used as an amazing tool in today's society, many of the stories were written with lessons for their time and cannot properly be applied to today's society." you said it still can be used then said cannot be applied to today's society to me you sound confused and don't know what your talking about. And furthermore people who have read the bible (cover 2 cover) or people who go to church and study the bible know exactly how it can be applied and i suggest you go find one of those people so that they may enlighten you

ambercol

07 Mar 2008 15:25

3 Comments

Oh here we go, with the female vindictiveness, I called you out on something now you've got to come back and disagree w/ me. I'm not into the whole whinny girl stuff... so please feel free to not leave comments under my posts, and under my comments!

baconbust

07 Mar 2008 20:14

Comment

The bible is the most true book in the world- shun the non believers.

huntcowboy

07 Mar 2008 04:17

5 Comments

"A God that sends any individual to hell for sin, is not a God but a Devil. He created us, and wanted us to have free minds, so he should except us, not shun us b/c of our petty mistakes."

baconbust

07 Mar 2008 13:27

Comment

I think that the bible is right, because it says what other historical documents say. Nothing is accurate if a person found a papyrus that was written by Ramses the third, so everything is not accurate, but we don't call them fiction, don't we? So That is why I think that the Bible is accurate enough to say a divine work

Serin

05 Mar 2008 14:09

4 Comments

A God that sends any individual to hell for sin, is not a God but a Devil. He created us, and wanted us to have free minds, so he should except us, not shun us b/c of our petty mistakes."

baconbust

07 Mar 2008 20:21

Comment

Why would it be. You yourself have referenced to it some
Anyways the Bible is true. Prophecies have been fulfilled. Therefore, it is no fabrication. Prophecies such as:
- Jesus being born in Bethelehem.
- Beingf Gods son.
- Born of a virgin
Also, The Bible is a historical record. It kept track of events of the time.

-125_

02 Mar 2008 21:04

4 Comments

Since you Bible believers continuously post under other people's comments, I will continuously along with fromwithin post things under your comments... you can't report them unless they are abusive... these comments are not abusive.... if you really believe in the Bible you wouldn't have so much PRIDE.
"A true fairy tale is the fact that anyone can believe in something, that contradicts what it teaches... Thou shall not judge.... however God judges us, the Devil judges us. Shouldn't God be setting an example for us? A God that sends any individual to hell for sin, is not a God but a Devil. He created us, and wanted us to have free minds, so he should except us, not shun us b/c of our petty mistakes. That is why I don't believe in the Bible."
-what fromwithin had originally posted under your comment, but you had it deleted, obv. b/c the truth scares people

baconbust

06 Mar 2008 00:48

Comment

You are so wrong . Why do you think that

taco

28 Feb 2008 23:28

1 Comment

"A true fairy tale is the fact that anyone can believe in something, that contradicts what it teaches... Thou shall not judge.... however God judges us, the Devil judges us. Shouldn't God be setting an example for us? A God that sends any individual to hell for sin, is not a God but a Devil. He created us, and wanted us to have free minds, so he should except us, not shun us b/c of our petty mistakes. That is why I don't believe in the Bible."
-what fromwithin had originally posted under your comment, but you had it deleted, obv. b/c the truth scares people

baconbust

02 Mar 2008 19:06

Comment

The bible is the truth how do you think the world was created or do you think we evolved from monkeys

vgking13

28 Feb 2008 18:00

8 Comments

A true fairy tale is the fact that anyone can believe in something, that contridicts what it teaches... Thou shall not judge.... however God judges us, the Devil judges us. Shouldn't God be setting an example for us? A God that sends any individual to hell for sin, is not a God but a Devil. He created us, and wanted us to have free minds, so he should except us, not shun us b/c of our petty mistakes. That is why I don't believe in the Bible.

Fromwithin

01 Mar 2008 23:53

Comment

Did you read the whole thing? (Matthew 7) He says to not judge, lest you be judged. You probably know about the illustration "Jesus" used in which he said "How can you take the speck out of your brother's eye when you have a log in your own? First, take that log out of your own eye so that you can take out the speck in the other's eye" In that, he says to be clear from hypocrisy and then to judge the brother in love. Otherwise, it would be tolerance of sin in the family. By judging the brother, the brother is helped by getting rid of sin, which entangles and ruins, if they do so. It is just like when a psychologist tells a patient that they should stop a destructive behaviour (I used the British form of "behavior" 'cause I felt like it). Both cases help. That judging of a sibling in the faith by another sibling is "constructive" by pointing out what should be gotten rid of- sin, which destroys. 1 Timothy 5:20 says to rebuke. 1 Corinthians 5 also. If the believer does not choose to get rid of the sin they continue in, the judger can bring another sibling (in the faith) to say the same thing, pointing out what is wrong. If the person refuses to change, then they are brought before a whole congregation of believers and if they refuse to stop their wrongdoing, they are to be "kicked out" of the church. They are not supposed to be kicked literally, of course. All this is to prevent the whole congregation from falling into the same sin which is like yeast that makes the whole dough "infected." I don't need a psychologist,  but thank you for the super kind recommendation. It is very nice of you. It shows you care...

Comment

The Bible is a collection of testimonies written by people that none of us will ever meet in our lifetime. You can try to prove or disprove it, but the bottom line is that it has stood the test of time more so than any other book ever written. You can discount the messages and say that they are not relevant today. You can say that there are many hypocritical Bible believers out there. You can say that the stories told are fantasy and that there is no way that they could have ever happened. I think that if I were able to go back in time and tell people from the past of our world, they would probably stone me to death. My point is that none of us really know the divine truth. It just makes me sad that people are not able to get over other peoples beliefs when they themselves have no proof for what they believe or don't believe. Until we all sit through judgment day, whatever that is, then why not at least give something good a chance? And why do people work so hard to shoot something down? If I don't think something is good, or accurate, then why waste my time on it? Worry about your own beliefs, and care about others. Disprove my beliefs, tell me that I cannot accept homosexuality but I still have to believe in stoning adulterers or kids that wont listen to their parents. Tell me anything in the Bible, I will listen, respect your "interpretation", and then say "show me the evidence that the Bible is not real, and that it is a fairy tale." For some reason, nobody can ever do that. Why? Because they don't really know themselves.

roxanne

28 Feb 2008 10:25

1 Comment

baconbust

06 Mar 2008 00:48

Comment

I disagree
read it and tell me otherwise

gtbristol

26 Feb 2008 22:19

1 Comment

I did read it, and it's false.

Since you Bible believers continuously post under other people's comments, I will continuously along with fromwithin post things under your comments... you can't report them unless they are abusive... these comments are not abusive.... if you really believe in the Bible you wouldn't have so much PRIDE.
"A true fairy tale is the fact that anyone can believe in something, that contradicts what it teaches... Thou shall not judge.... however God judges us, the Devil judges us. Shouldn't God be setting an example for us? A God that sends any individual to hell for sin, is not a God but a Devil. He created us, and wanted us to have free minds, so he should except us, not shun us b/c of our petty mistakes. That is why I don't believe in the Bible."
-what fromwithin had originally posted under your comment, but you had it deleted, obv. b/c the truth scares people

baconbust

03 Mar 2008 14:09

Comment

By faith and reason I believe the Bible as inspired by Elohim ("God"). "The lessons for its time" are the same ones needed to be learned today and in future. We should love our neighbor as we love ourselves. That is the answer. To go to heaven, only Yahshua ("Jesus") can save us, says the Bible. In contrast, other religions say heaven can be earned (or Nirvana, a state of bliss, etc.). "Every word of God is flawless" Who can find a flaw? I know there have been flaws caused by translations, but besides that? I do still have some questions about the Bible but I have faith that there is an answer and I am looking to answer them.

Stranger

26 Feb 2008 16:29

10 Comments

baconbust

02 Mar 2008 19:03

Comment

The Bible is not a piece fiction, but it is instead a historical work. Not all history books and essays are entirely accurate and the Bible isn't either, yet what they all have in common is that none of them claim to be fiction, but purport to contain certain key "truths," both secular and religious.

The dozens of people who wrote the various books that comprise the Bible and the church founders who ultimately selected the 27 books of the New Testament were all motivated by the fact that they were writing historical accounts about specific events, institutions and individuals, which also conveyed central elements of ethics, morality and spirituality.

Few professional historians and other scholars who study the bible on an academic level believe that it is a work of fiction, even if they realize that these collected books contain inaccuracies and sometimes reflect the personal biases of the individual authors. The Bible is treated as a key primary document that sheds light on a Mediterranean culture and society that has long since disappeared.

mackenzie

24 Feb 2008 16:53

11 Comments

God gives us chances. All the time. He is merciful, loving, and also sent his son to die for us. He only judges those who refuse to listen.

-125_

02 Mar 2008 21:06

Comment

Sign In

Sign Up?

Login and Debate!
Username:
Password:
Forgot your Password?

For and Against Recent Activity

Latest Responses

Latest Comments

46 minutes ago

If you have a general idea of the plot and or the history of the "artist" who is creating the song, movie, or book you will... read more...

2 hours ago

No one has to pick up a dagger or flip a car for the scenes to be heart wrenching. One of the best. read more...

2 hours ago

If we get still get upset over 58,000 killed in just one Vietnam, shouldn't we get more upset over 1,000 Vietnams? The deaths... read more...

2 hours ago

I agree, it is a bad idea, and I am afraid as I type this it is a reality. My greatest sadness is the fact that it will... read more...

2 hours ago

If one believes in aliens, there are no brains involved in the first place. :) read more...

Related Debates

	Demi Cut Herself
	If Someone Tells Your Teacher A Lie About You And The Teacher Finds Out, The Teacher Should Give The...
	The Meaning Of Life
	96% Of People Are Going To Hell.
	Truth Is Objective, Absolute And Universal
	The Mighty Boosh Is Brilliant Because It Is So Random And Low Budget!
	Cursing Makes Things Funnier
	Porn Is Weird And Smells Odd
	Religion Is Affecting Our Morales
	Kids/people Shouldn't Be Able To Smoke

New Debates

	People Who Haven't Watched The Movie, Read The Book, Or Heard The Song Shouldn't Criticize The Movie,...
	Government Healthcare Good Or Bad
	Is Hydrogen Poroxide A Good Ingredien For Experiments Like Elephant Toothpaste.
	MacDonalds Should Be Banned
	Porche 911 Turbo Is A Noticable Car On The Streets.
	If You Meet An Alien It Will Suck Out Your Brains.
	Chicken Is Nice
	That My Brother Doesn't Have A Dick
	That Modern Technology Is A Plague On Human Relationships
	Technology Is Tearing Us A Criminal