Warning: Do not take this post offensively! I’m only looking for some answers.
For those of you that do believe in every single word from the Bible; how can you take it so seriously? For the most part, I really have nothing against it. But how can you not question the validity of it? You have no proof of where it came from, who actually wrote it, and their credibility on the subject. Do you really know they were eyewitnesses? The story could have, and in my eyes it has, been passed down so many times that it was changed numerous times. Why do you believe in this particular text and not another one, say the Torah? How do you know the Bible has more credibility and validity than the Torah? Once again, don’t take this personally…I’m just looking for some answers.
It’s not like we’ve never questioned the validity of it, that would be ignorant. What about where plato’s writings came from, or if he actually wrote it, but you believe it’s true don’t you? I believe there were eyewitnesses yes, even so that the witnesses did not see the same thing, that to me is more truthful that them all seeing the same number of angels and so on. I don’t believe in the torah because it lacks validity, it contradicts at it’s core, as well as it’s unreasonable. I’m not going to bash the torah though, but I will say it’s better to be a Christian, to speak on why I am a Christian and nothing else, Christianity seems to outway the others in intellect, etc. Those are my answers and I hope you take it seriously. Thanks.
I will also add that while yes the bible has had minor changes, it’s minor word changes that aren’t changing the message. We still have the old scrolls as well, and the copys were more than many of the other old writings, after comparison we do have something to believe.
A good read on this subject is Josh Mcdowells “Evidence for Christianity”.
Plato presented philosophy and things to think about. It was more of a provoking presentation that he adressed his affirmation with. The Bible are stories of the past that in most cases have an underlying message. Completely different.
Another way to say this is that Plato’s writings stand for themselves and do not change in significance even if they were written by someone else. Whoever wrote them, they say what they say and should be judged on their own merits. One is free to argue or disagree with Plato, and one is equally free to argue or disagree with pseudo-Plato who actually wrote his allgeged stuff, should that be the case.
But the claims made for the Bible are far stronger and require far more proof. If those claims are true, then one is NOT free to argue with or disagree with the Bible. This is an extraordinary claim. It requires extraordinary proof – which has never been forthcoming, and evidence to the contrary abounds.
Moreover, the Bible cannot be taken as a single volume without proof that it should be taken that way. So if one were to find something remarkable in some portion of it (e.g., the wonderful poetry and mystical insight in the Book of Job, or the peculiarly powerful parables of Jesus reported in the Gospels – which, by the way, I have yet to meet a Christian who understands), that would mean no more than that that portion of it was worthy of study, not the whole book. And even if it were worthy of study, there is a wide gap between that concept and what Christians mean by “word of God.”
In fact, even if it could be shown that some portions of the Bible contained prophecies that came true (and I am not saying that is so), THAT would provide no evidence for the “word of God” notion, since there is always the alternate hypothesis of human psychic power, or of sheer coincidence.
Frankly, I can’t think of a single thing that could prove the Bible to be the “word of God” as Christians think of it. I do not even think such a thing is possible. The Mind of God cannot be expressed in any human language.
If you don’t believe the words of the Bible then surely you are going to hell, otherwise liberal Christians are merely picking and choosing and changing the writings in order for their declining religion to survive in modern-day society, reminds me of Anthony Flew’s analogy of the garderner.
In fact none of you Christians believe in the Bible, I’ll prove it to you as well. Read out the 17th and 18th verses of the 16th chapter of Mark:
“And these signs shall follow them that believe. In my name shall they cast out devils: they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them: they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover”
You can’t heal the sick neither can you speak new languages or cast out devils: but perhaps you can drink deadly things without suffering harm? I want every Christian to go to a science lab or something and drink deadly poison, make the event a big public thing as well so I can read about it in the news, then if it doesn’t harm you and I’m 100% convinced that you did drink poison I’ll know that you really are believers and that what you believe is the truth.
if they grew up in a Christian family (like alot of people have), then it has been spoonfed to them since the day they were born. they have no choice. (or they choose not to have a choice because they dont want to rebel or question authority)