Who says The Bible isn't true?

[JoeTheJuggler]

I don't think there really is such a thing as "The Bible" as used in this statement:

The Bible is not meant to be taken literally.

In other words, the collection of very different kinds of writings in different languages from significantly different historical periods written with any one single intention (as to be taken literally or not).

Some books or at least portions of books of the Bible (like listings of laws) were most certainly meant to be taken literally. Some books purport to be history even though it's obvious they were written based on more than one oral tradition (where the same events are told in two or three different versions that frequently can't all be true).

 

[Moochie]

I thought that was Ferrris Bueller.

Well, if he also dispatches moneylenders from the temple and empathizes with whores, he's OK in my book.


M.

 

[volatile]

There's little doubt in my mind that whilst most of the OT and the Gospels are myth (and I don't believe in a historical Jesus), Paul at least was a genuine historical figure, and that at least some of Acts and the Epistles contain grains of historical fact. On that basis, I voted "a mix of myth and history", though there's significantly more myth in that mix.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authorship_of_the_Pauline_epistles)

 

[Loss Leader]

I voted for mostly myth with the proviso that myth may have some vague historical value. The flood, for instance, is a very, very old myth but it may point to a real event (which I think is the formation of the Black Sea but which might be something else).

 

[Frozenwolf150]

Okay, okay, I've got another one.

Can someone come up with scriptural support for the New Age practice of drinking your urine as a panacea?

Oh wait, that one's already been done.

Proverbs 5:15
15 Drink water from your own cistern,
running water from your own well.

Never mind that it was a warning against adultery, and a metaphor for remaining faithful to one's significant other.

Let me try to come up with a harder one.

Can someone come up with scriptural support for skepticism or atheism?

 

[Moochie]

Okay, okay, I've got another one.

Can someone come up with scriptural support for the New Age practice of drinking your urine as a panacea?

Oh wait, that one's already been done.

Proverbs 5:15
15 Drink water from your own cistern,
running water from your own well.

Never mind that it was a warning against adultery, and a metaphor for remaining faithful to one's significant other.

Let me try to come up with a harder one.

Can someone come up with scriptural support for skepticism or atheism?

Something about "false gods"? ...


M.

 

[Pope130]

I voted "Mostly myth....."

Someone claims that I said the whole thing was a load of tripe, but I was MythQuoted.

 

[Frozenwolf150]

Something about "false gods"? ...


M.

No, no, I meant to ask if anyone could come up with a quote from the bible that could be interpreted as supporting skepticism or atheism, not simply a quote about it.

 

[Achán hiNidráne]

Complete and utter ancient bunkum.... from Adam and Eve all the way to JEEEEEZ-us.

 

[volatile]

Complete and utter ancient bunkum.... from Adam and Eve all the way to JEEEEEZ-us.

And all the bits after Jesus? You don't accept the consensus position that St. Paul was a real person and he really did write at least some of the Epistles attributed to him?

 

[six7s]

Dunno about Mark, but just cos I think that JK Rowling is probably a real woman does not mean I believe that there's a real place called the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

 

[Damien Evans]

Well, I'm sure Kings and Chronicles had at least some historical events in them, unless you believe Judah and Israel never existed, so a combo of myth and history.

ETA: But mostly myth.

 

[Arthur Denton]

The bible is true, you can buy it and it goes well with christians when they visit your home and see it.

But, the contents are really ridiculously bad, so, if it's a matter of how well can you use it, damn, throw it away.

 

[Achán hiNidráne]

And all the bits after Jesus? You don't accept the consensus position that St. Paul was a real person and he really did write at least some of the Epistles attributed to him?

Paul most likely existed. But did he see JEEEEZ-us on the Damascus road? NOPE, not buying it.

 

[GreyICE]

You know, this poll forgot the Planet X option. Which is sad, because right now I've thought of at least two opinions not in the poll, which means there's probably dozens.

 

[Beerina]

[X] On Planet X, YOU imagine and create GOD.




Or maybe that's a Slashdot Yakov Smirnoff parody...

 

[six7s]

You know, this poll forgot the Planet X option. Which is sad, because right now I've thought of at least two opinions not in the poll, which means there's probably dozens.

Y'mean this isn't Planet-X? Wow! Am I ever lost!




I think Richard Dawkins described the bible quite well

The Bible may be an arresting and poetic work of fiction but it is not the sort of book you should give your children to form their morals.
antitheism.wordpress.com ... background-briefing-audio/

 

[RandFan]

I'd like to think that if there was a god he or she didn't kill children and tell his followers to kill rape victims.

I hope to hell the Bible isn't true.

 

[joobz]

I'd like to think that if there was a god he or she didn't kill children and tell his followers to kill rape victims.

I hope to hell the Bible isn't true.

It would definitely be a horrible existence to think we are to revere such a being.

 

[Brian-M]

You know, this poll forgot the Planet X option. Which is sad, because right now I've thought of at least two opinions not in the poll, which means there's probably dozens.

Damn... I thought the first option was the Planet X option. I guess I'll have to add Planet Y and Z options next time too.

I'm surprised so many people voted for the last one though. I'd say the stories have The Bible have a very strong historical value, in much the same way the stories in The Odyssey do.

Can someone come up with scriptural support for skepticism or atheism?

How about this one?

Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21

(Ironically, I found it on a Christian website.)