I always thought that they where probably one and the same and I also wondered what would happen if this where true. Talk about a conundrum for all the believers!

Zindo

As soon as some of the tale is suspect, all of it becomes suspect.

Originally posted by The Last Man on Earth
As soon as some of the tale is suspect, all of it becomes suspect.

No not really, because the Bible is not a scientific narrative which requires external proof. It is a cultural narrative which justifies itself in it's telling.


That would be like saying that Aesops fables should not be followed because there was never a talking lion.

There is still much wisdom in Aesops fables, talking lion or no.

I actually saw the episode (didn't read the article), and can recommend it to everyone (except maybe the Biblical literalists, and even they would find interesting things there.) There were lots of "huh... I didn't know that!" moments -- thing which confirmed parts of the Bible and things which contradicted some of the stories.

It was well done, I thought, and not at all negative in tone.

OT’s got a reality check for them! (all in love of course!)

R- Risen Savior!

E-Exalted One!

A-Alpha!

L-Lamb of God!

I-Incarnate One!

T-Trinity!

Y-Yahweh!

= = = =

C-Comforter!

H-Healer!

E-Everlasting one!

C-Creator!

K-Kingdom Builder!

Ok so many christians dont believe the Bible is literal but the message is good...okay excuse me for asking,but did you not kind of come to the conclusion yourself its not cool to murder or rape,and loving and caring is better than hating? Why on earth do you need these books to tell you this? thats what really worries me.That people actually need it down on writing by some God to know its not alright to murder etc...

I look at the bible as many things. First and foremost is the fact that the bible is the word of God. Second its a history book. 3rd a prophecy book. 4th The truth book.

Originally posted by ExistenceUnknown
What I don't get is why christians don't welcome this kind of thing more often. I mean this is real scientific study being conducted on the bible. If Christians are so sure the bible is true and correct why not welcome this background check? Another thing I don't get is how some of you christians will quote the bible LITERALLY to prove your points and then when its questioned the only response I see is "Isn't it the message of the bible thats really important"

[edit on 20-11-2008 by ExistenceUnknown]

come on...you know better than this. The funnymentalist say literal and the rest (or most) say message. Two different groups so two different responses.
...Me, I am the founder of the Consistent Christian Movement. (CCM)
we believe that the Bible is nearly as realible as a history book as any that we have. It is written by the victors, it is myopic, a snap shot of a group of people or experiences it gets lost in translation, it gets interpreted over and over and re-written like a one huge game of telephone.
Maxmar's first post in this thread is as pithy as it can get. That is what Christianity is about and what the CCM stands for. The Bible has some great stuff in it,use your heart and brain to understand what is and what isn't but remember that you can't fool yourself, or rationalize the hypocrisy found in the Bible and expect to have some understanding of who God is.....The CCM loves any type of historical or fact finding story's involving the Bible. It proved to us that Judus was probably the most honest friend Jesus had, we like that since Jesus Christ Superstar is our favorite movie...yeah the CCM has a favorite movie....
.....(hey, there are some of you not finding this CCM thing funny, relax, I just made that up to explain my type of Christianity, I'm kidding, don't send checks or money orders!)

Originally posted by ExistenceUnknown
What I don't get is why christians don't welcome this kind of thing more often.]

I challenge you to watch the History Channel show Exodus Decoded then come back and tell me what you think about Real Archeology and the Bible and how accurate the Bible is Historically speaking...

[edit on 11/25/2008 by theindependentjournal]

Originally posted by nyk537
Why is it that so many people feel compelled to "discredit" the Bible?

If you don't believe what it says, fine, but why go out of your way to "prove" to others that what they believe isn't true?

Seems kind of silly to me.

I don't see many threads trying to disprove any other religious texts.

Agreed. However, then what about the missive for all Christians to go out and gather in the sheep? To push the Word on the masses. To educate them in the path?

You see, it's a bit hypocritical.

However, I'm not a Christian basher. I'm a recovered Christian who truly does believe in His message but has, with due dilligence and honest review, found the Bible to be riddles with inaccuracies and flaws.

So, when you get on people for trying to point this out it is simply them doing what they feel is right. To try and educate the masses to the errors that can be found throughout the Bible. The same that the Christians do in furthering Gods Word.

Originally posted by Solomons
That people actually need it down on writing by some God to know its not alright to murder etc...

Well I think that is a valid point now I would like to explore this one, can I?

Why would people need a God to tell them right from wrong, hmmm well I think maybe the best way to tackle such an intriguing question would be to answer it from the evolutionist view, can I?

First let me ask you and all, how do you know right from wrong, where did it come from? Now let's move on...

If evolution is correct and we are all basically the accidental happenstance from natural selection and mutations, is there a right and wrong. If survival of the fittest is the test of the day, me killing you makes me the Fittest I know because I survived and you died. So am I right? of course I am under the counterview.

Now let me move a bit farther into this discovery of whee right and wrong comes from, can I?

Let's say your answer is instinct, that is to say that you say it is just instinctual to sane humans not to murder and rape and steal and lie. I have a question for you... How can you trust your instinct when you are NOTHING BUT AN ACCIDENT? Maybe the insane ones are the sane ones, maybe the mass murderer is the fittest for it is he that survived.

God had to write it down for us so we would know HIS Law, also remember that little diddy about Cain and Abel so it did seem that he needed to tell them in writing as they had done it before. Now if God had written down that commandment before any man had murdered another that would be ridiculous would it not. For instance if I made a rule in my house that we can't cut up puppies and smear their blood on ourselves, but I made this rule before my children ever did anything like it. Would they not think I was nuts? Now let's suppose that one of my children did have a puppy and cut it up and smeared it's blood on themselves. Now suppose that child comes back and asks me for another puppy, would it be right then to lay down the rules as above to that child and would I no look insane as in the first example?

God wrote His Law down because mankind has since the garden been breaking and forgetting the Law. Yes I agree that it seems to be common sense but history proves otherwise. Now if evolution is correct you have to question the accident called your brain and if it is right or wrong on this matter, sorry no pun intended.

I guess the simplest answer to your query is this - YES some people and most people need to be told not t lie and steal and kill and rape...

Thank God he did this for us or who knows where we would be by now, probably somewhere around "Are goat human marriages legal in Massachusetts?

Thank you for your query I love explaining things like this and to be able to do it from two sides is fun.

To those that will most undoubtedly say God didn't write it I will say now, yes he did he used his finger to write into the stone, watch the Ten Commandments with Charlie Heston that gets it right.

Actually who knows how many times God wrote with his finger in the Bible? That is for the Biblical Literates and students...