Is the Holy Bible the only source of great religious teachings

If you were not a Bible snob, you would find value in this native American parable:

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith." The grand son thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?" The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Or this one on why we should not idolize the words of our bibles:

One day two monks were in a garden arguing subjectivity versus objectivity. The Zen master hearing them arguing approached the two students. The Zen master asked, "that rock over there, does that exist inside your head or outside your head?". One of the monks looked up at the Zen master and replied, "Well, our religious bible tells us that all truth is subjective so that rock over there only exists inside my head." At which point the Zen master replies, "Then it must be pretty heavy all day walking around with that rock in your head!"

For people who idolize the words in the Bible the words are like a giant rock in their heads!

Why is it that every religious teaching claims their path is the only one true path to God? There's a Japanese saying, "The first person to raise their voice in an argument loses." It this way of thinking it seems to me anyone who claims their way is "better" is expressing weakness and doubt in their own beliefs. The whole concept of evangelicalism is built on weakness. Getting other people to accept your beliefs as a way of confirming or supporting your own beliefs is not as strong as getting people to volunteer or choose to participate in your way of thinking because of your leadership by example.

Let's be honest - if you have read the Bible then you have already read many older religious texts that the Bible uses - Sumerian, Babylonian, various pagan religions. Of all the religious texts out there, the Bible is the biggest cut and paste of what came before it. The Bible pays tribute to many religions.

It's a Frankenstein religion, an amalgamation of many.

Why is it that every religious teaching claims their path is the only one true path to God?

My Dad is better than your Dad! My religion is better than your religion! That game of one-up has been taught to us all and sometimes the Zealots push it beyond what would be considered reasonable.

a reply to: dfnj2015

I have always gained a great deal from reading the I Ching and the Hermetic works.

The Bible has wisdom within its pages, but it's certainly not exclusive.

a reply to: QuietSpeech
Think of religious teaching as a map.
Then the issue is not "which one is prettiest, most pleasing to the eye", but "which one is going to get me home?"

You are doing exactly what you call the Bible snobs doing.

You’re saying “your bible is wrong, listen to this old Cherokee Indian and Zen master, they are right and it’s the only way”.

I say live and let live. I don’t care if someone is Mormon, or Wiccan, just don’t knock on my door to tell me I’m wrong and you’re right.

a reply to: Duderino

Spoken by a practitioner of Dudeism

"To thee own self, have like, your own story man"

a reply to: TexasTruth

I'm pretty sure hes just quoting them to add food for thought. I didnt read "the only way" in that at all.

originally posted by: Duderino
Let's be honest - if you have read the Bible then you have already read many older religious texts that the Bible uses - Sumerian, Babylonian, various pagan religions. Of all the religious texts out there, the Bible is the biggest cut and paste of what came before it. The Bible pays tribute to many religions.

It's a Frankenstein religion, an amalgamation of many.

Can you prove that the Sumerian and Babylonian texts are not copies of bible stories?

Silly comment based on your beliefs not valid evidence, you are embracing ignorance

As for the OP, I always thought most evangelicals thought they were saving you from eternal hell fire.

And you have a choice, choose or don’t, it’s up to you

a reply to: dfnj2015

There is only one belief that says you come to the father only through me.

No reason to argue about anything else.

a reply to: dfnj2015

The Tao Te Ching and Advaita (non duality..... not two) are all pointing to the same thingless thing, which is all that is.

The word 'God' makes it seem as if there is a person or thing named God and this just is not true.

The word 'God' points to no separation..... hence all one in Christ.

God also means timeless being..... but those obsessed with the bible are obsessed with stories of things in time.

originally posted by: DeathSlayer
a reply to: dfnj2015

There is only one belief that says you come to the father only through me.

No reason to argue about anything else.

Christ is the visible image....... this ever present image..... what is actually happening.

Christ is not some dude that may or may not have lived.......Christ is the light that is appearing, the way, the truth and the life...... this that is...
Is there any separation now?

A dream of separation can only happen if there is belief in time....... concepts can be deceptive....... they make believe that there are things that are not.

a reply to: DISRAELI

Think of religious teaching as a map.

As a map, OK. Religious teachings are all over the place, and usually there are several ways to arrive at your desired location. So what is the best route? Is it the one that has the shortest distance, safest roads, prettiest scenery, or saves the most time? The best route will vary according to preference, but that will not prevent Religions from claiming that their route is the best, for whatever reason.

Depends on the person I guess, and what they want really. I personally think the N.T, did take a number of lesson from Buddhism, with the whole attachment or idealization or idols. Even though it step down frkm what they practice in some sense I guess, but that probably cause of the O.T being it original platform, an how the west loves literature too.

The fact the Christian's believe the body is a temple or church, and should be as quiet as one with out uttering crazy catch phrases is kind of like inner peace.

Like rejecting animal, human sacrifices or crazy sex cults in extreme cases was a big shift in believes way back then for polytheistic pantheons, an hebrews.

a reply to: dfnj2015

The un-holy Bible is just a history book!

My, life is going on. Catch up!

originally posted by: dfnj2015
Why is it that every religious teaching claims their path is the only one true path to God?

There's a Japanese saying, "The first person to raise their voice in an argument loses." It this way of thinking it seems to me anyone who claims their way is "better" is expressing weakness and doubt in their own beliefs. The whole concept of evangelicalism is built on weakness. Getting other people to accept your beliefs as a way of confirming or supporting your own beliefs is not as strong as getting people to volunteer or choose to participate in your way of thinking because of your leadership by example.

Ancient primitive peasants were mostly poor, superstitious and uneducated. They highly regard scholars as divine persons. Therefore, it was much easier to scam this poor frightening people with nonsense. It works so well in the past.

It doesn't work that well today.

No Hablos Ingles...

a reply to: EasternShadow

Peasants scamming scholars.

A scam is still a scam.

Actually the bible is only matrix programming. It traps source players energies when they participate in religion.