m3l3ana Posted September 18, 2008 Share Posted September 18, 2008 Have you read it? How do you interpret it? Do you believe in it? What is your opinion on the book that has sold the most copies throughout the world? Are you religous? What does your religion think of the Bible? Basically.. Just your thoughts and opinions on the Bible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unstream Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 I've never read the whole Bible, mainly because I never really believed in it until sometime this year. It's definitely a hard book to interpret. I go to a Bible church, so we take every word of the Bible literally, as in when it says Jesus heals a blind man, it's not symbolically where the blind man sees that Jesus is the Messiah, but that the blind man was literally healed and could see again. I don't consider myself to have a religion. A religion is the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices. We don't really have practices in our church. The idea of our church is that a person should get close to God, and that our main goal should be to quench our thirst for Jesus and let it flow to others (therefore, our student ministries is called "Drink and Flow"). The idea is that you can do whatever you want to get closer to Jesus. I think Catholic is more of a religion, because everything seems so ceremonious, and that everything has a method. But I'm getting off topic here... I think you should read other books to understand the Bible. I read the "One Minute Bible for Starters: A 90 Day Journey for New Christians," which was really good with helping me get a good understanding of the Bible. I also read "The Shack", which is a guy meets God book. I just really liked it and I think it's made a lot more sense than anything else I've ever heard or read. But I think a main reason why the Bible and Christianity are so widespread because Britain was once the most powerful nation in the world, and the Bible came from that area, so the British influence might have helped to spread the Bible around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3l3ana Posted September 21, 2008 Author Share Posted September 21, 2008 I was born and raised Catholic. I went to Church every Sunday for almost 15 years (now I only go occasionally). I went to a Catholic Primary School and then a Catholic High School. So basically everything I learnt from the Bible came from my upbringing and School. However later I decided to read certain passages in the Bible again and now I see that people can interpret the Bible anyway they like and therefore it can create controversay. I believe in the Bible to an extent, I am still not 100% sure in my faith and am not a person who likes to pray in public. I believe that my relationship with God is my business and it doesn't need to be publicly acknowledge, hence why I no longer go to Church every Sunday. My children will be baptised because for some odd reason the knowledge of original sin has been ingrained into me and therefore I can not let my children go to Limbo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FutureTXTurkey Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 Alas, I too have never found the time to read the bible in it's entirety, but I have taken some very in depth study of various parts as they've come to me. Personally, I find it to be a very powerful book. With great inspiration and wise teachings, that even non Christians could benefit from if they were open minded and viewed it for it's philosophy and literary value rather then just religion. I am a Christian and technically I guess I am Church Of Christ. Though I don't make it up to church as often as I should. We also take a literal interpretation of the bible. And I do believe that the events the bible really transpired as they are written. However, I also believe that the stories have symbolic meanings and teachings outside of just what is on the page. I also believe that as humans sometimes we think we understand the literal meanings of the stories when we really don't. Because in some circumstances what we observe through human perceptions might not be how God saw it, like the "Seven Day Creation" story. But what I really love about my church, and why I continue to be Church of Christ even though I don't always agree with them, is that the backbone of our belief system is "The Bible: Nothing Added, Nothing Taken Away." Which I think is a very powerful statement. God gave us the bible as a road map to heaven, and that is not to say their aren't other ways to get there, and I would never attempt to judge another persons life, beliefs, or path, but why stubble around in the dark when you were given a guide? I think if you study the bible with a clear committed heart then and try to follow Christs teachings to your best ability then you will develop a strong spiritual health, and good relationship with God. Okay, I kind of got carried away babbling there, but I just think it was a brave and intriguing post by m3l3ana, and I wanted to give it a good solid response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadoWolf800 Posted October 5, 2008 Share Posted October 5, 2008 I am an athiest, but I still read the bible because it has some good things to live by. I don't like most of the views portrayed in it and how it contridicts itself sometimes, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob_the_Bunny Posted October 5, 2008 Share Posted October 5, 2008 I've read most of the Bible because I go to church every Sunday and there's a Sunday school. I suppose I mostly believe in it, though I am quite confused at some parts the teacher/pastor/whoever is speaking says are important. My opinion on it is that everyone should read it even if you aren't religious. There are some good points in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unstream Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 I am an athiest, but I still read the bible because it has some good things to live by. I don't like most of the views portrayed in it and how it contridicts itself sometimes, though. Yeah that is true. The Bible does contradict itself. Like I hear often that all sins are viewed as the same by God, and that all sins were forgiven by Jesus, yet at the same time, there are certain sins that are worse than the rest, and those sins can't be forgiven. Just right there are two contradictions, and when I asked my pastor about that, he was avoiding the question. But I want you to keep in mind that everything changed after Jesus died. Certain laws that had to be followed didn't have to be followed anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3l3ana Posted October 6, 2008 Author Share Posted October 6, 2008 It did and that is where, why and how the Bible contradicts itself. The old testament was the law before Jesus died for our sins and before he came back showed us the power of God etc. The new testament is the law that most people follow and the reason that our sins are to be forgiven, then again our sins are only forgiven if we repent and ask for forgiveness. It goes back to the age old saying that nothing comes free in life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirate Dante Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 I nevr believed in the Bible, but I read most of it. If the Bible says that Messiah heals a man, if this is not scientifically proven that this can be done, we can either think that Messiah was not an human (is it even proven he existed?) or that Bible is not basing on real facts. I persnally never believed in god, cause if he would exist, you would think life would be the crap it is now. I can look at the Bible as an amusing storybook with neat stories. I can find much more things that are not believable in the Bible, just can't bother to remember them now. If someone is interested, I can ive much more in-depth look of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moncsi Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 I am an athesit and i dont belive in the Bible niether. i think tzhey are nice stories with moral endings and thats all. I think its personally to interpret it cause someone takes it lireally and others says that is symbolical... Who know... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unstream Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 I nevr believed in the Bible, but I read most of it. If the Bible says that Messiah heals a man, if this is not scientifically proven that this can be done, we can either think that Messiah was not an human (is it even proven he existed?) or that Bible is not basing on real facts. I persnally never believed in god, cause if he would exist, you would think life would be the crap it is now. I can look at the Bible as an amusing storybook with neat stories. I can find much more things that are not believable in the Bible, just can't bother to remember them now. If someone is interested, I can ive much more in-depth look of it. The idea was that Jesus was 100% human and he truly embodies what humans were supposed to be before Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Jesus was able to do such things because he had an intimate relationship with God, and was able to let God work through him. And God, being the loving being He is, won't ever force any person to do anything. Think about it, wouldn't you be pissed if your parents decided EVERY SINGLE THING you did in life? God seeks for an intimate relationship with all of us, but because of His love, He won't force anything on us, because then He wouldn't be loving us. He provided us a way through Jesus. He's basically thrown the door wide open and is saying, "Please step it". The thing is, we decide not to. God lets us choose things, and since we like to make our decisions, which almost always end up being worse then what God has in mind, we have brought the world into its current state of chaos. It's our fault, not God's. He's just wants to let us lead our own lives. You have to make the choice to follow Him; He's not gonna force you to do anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m3l3ana Posted October 21, 2008 Author Share Posted October 21, 2008 I persnally never believed in god, cause if he would exist, you would think life would be the crap it is now. I can look at the Bible as an amusing storybook with neat stories. I can find much more things that are not believable in the Bible, just can't bother to remember them now. If someone is interested, I can ive much more in-depth look of it. And Thaladirith about sums what I was going to say too. God gave us the freedom to choose the way we live our lives and whether we are to follow him or deny him. It says that in the Bible except not in those words. We as human have bought the world into it's current state and we as humans are to blame for what the world has become and is yet to become. You can't blame God for giving us the choice to lead our own lives the way that we choose to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirate Dante Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 The idea was that Jesus was 100% human and he truly embodies what humans were supposed to be before Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Jesus was able to do such things because he had an intimate relationship with God, and was able to let God work through him. Scientifically thought, Jesus would have had to been some kind of mutation because it has not been proven God would exist... But when not thinking that way, it would be theorethically possible to hi being blessed by the Gods powers, and thus been able to do those things, which are not proven to be possible... And God, being the loving being He is, won't ever force any person to do anything. Think about it, wouldn't you be pissed if your parents decided EVERY SINGLE THING you did in life? God seeks for an intimate relationship with all of us, but because of His love, He won't force anything on us, because then He wouldn't be loving us. He provided us a way through Jesus. He's basically thrown the door wide open and is saying, "Please step it". The thing is, we decide not to. God lets us choose things, and since we like to make our decisions, which almost always end up being worse then what God has in mind, we have brought the world into its current state of chaos. It's our fault, not God's. He's just wants to let us lead our own lives. You have to make the choice to follow Him; He's not gonna force you to do anything. Eh, my parents don't do that, but some other persons do, and I am actually quite pissed in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meeptroid Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 Actually, there is historical evidence of the existence of Jesus. Several account of historians who lived during or near the time period of His existence mention Jesus in their work. Cornelius Tacitus, a widely accepted Roman historian, mentions how he blames the Christians for the fire set upon Rome. Tacitus goes on to speak about the founder of Christianity, Jesus Christ Himself. This guy also had hostility towards Christians and went on to say that the whole belief was nothing but a puff of smoke. However, due to Tacitus' recognition as a man who never betrayed historical records, he never once denied the existence of Jesus. If he were to go against historical records, Cornelius Tacitus would've hardly mention Jesus at all. Thallus and Phlegon, both famous historians, literally lived during the time of Jesus' crucifixion. They described everything turning dark during this event. The Bible mentions the same thing when it tells about the crucifixion. It's funny though. Many people who look for scientific evidence regarding Jesus discount the Bible as a "reliable source". Ironically, it is actually the most reliable source to date. Plus, it is a historical document like anything else. An Evangelist came to my church the other day. (He was a funny and great guy.) He brought up some great points regarding Christianity. One kid asked, "How do we know that Christianity is correct and Islamic, Buddhism, Voodooism, etc. is wrong? They say that their prayers are answered by their belief, so what makes us any different?" The Evangelist responds by stating how their prayers ARE answered, but not by God, but by Satan instead. Satan tricks them into believing that their prayers have been answered, turning them further away from God. Plus, the Evangelist mentions how easily he can tear up religious works such as the Koran in terms of fact. The Bible is the most accurate religion, it would appear. And I agree. Perhaps it didn't give too much insight as to why Christians are right, but the Evangelist was pretty powerful. Ya should've been there. It's also interesting to note that even atheists are spiritual, if only a sliver, no matter how much they deny it. When an atheist asks themselves, "Where do we come from? What is our purpose?", they are asking a spiritual question. Thus, atheism becomes its own little religion in itself. So if atheism is just another religion, what compels Christians to believe them? Besides, atheists believe in their own "god" (if you can call it that) known as science. Which leaves them just like the rest of us. ------- Then there is the evolution thing. The human body, so complex and mysterious, was created by chance? No, I refuse to think such a thing. The Big Bang? No... if everything came from the Big Bang, then where did the Bing Bang come from? If anything, God could have made the silly thing. The Bible states that God created the world, but it did not get too deep with detail. Heck, the Bible even mentions "dinosaur-like" creatures. ------- But this was all my two cents.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirate Dante Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 The point we started from is that how do we prove that things that happened in Bible are true, so how could we use Bible as an reliable source then? :P Even though Cornelius says that he blamed Christians about burning Rome down, and mentioned Jesus, he still doesn't say anything about him being special in other ways than starting Christianity. He seems like an senseful guy though, saying that it's just a puff of smoke. And I don't know who are Thallus and Phlegon, but they have never heard of weather? It is completely possible that just when Jesus were dying, there were an change of weather to a stormy and pitchblack. And right after that back to the normal. This is highly unlikely but still possible. I agree about Bible giving the most accurate explanations to things, also known as the so called "facts". ------ I think that the Big Bang thoery is so much more beliefable, especailly as it is proven that it happened... Or will be proven in a few months anyways. The Bible mentions that first God created the land (or was it water?). If he would have caused the Big Bang, it would have taken millions of years to happen... And thus God would have had to make the sun, and everything else too, but Bible does not tell us anything else than that God created the sky, which he did after creating the Earth, making people to think that Earth was the centerpiece, and everything else spinning around Earth. Which has been proved wrong. :D Also, Bible never claims that the world is round, which it is (ofcourse, it doesn't specifically say it's flat either). And because God created the land and all other things so long before making human, how would it be possible to humans to know God had made the Earth? I'min a bit of huury now, but I can give even more opinions on things later if needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unstream Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 I think that the Big Bang thoery is so much more beliefable, especailly as it is proven that it happened... Or will be proven in a few months anyways. The Bible mentions that first God created the land (or was it water?). If he would have caused the Big Bang, it would have taken millions of years to happen... And thus God would have had to make the sun, and everything else too, but Bible does not tell us anything else than that God created the sky, which he did after creating the Earth, making people to think that Earth was the centerpiece, and everything else spinning around Earth. Which has been proved wrong. :D Also, Bible never claims that the world is round, which it is (ofcourse, it doesn't specifically say it's flat either). And because God created the land and all other things so long before making human, how would it be possible to humans to know God had made the Earth? I think you have a bit of reading to do. God couldn't have caused the Big Bang because it took billions of years to form our planet, when in the Bible it says 7 days. It also does say he made the sun (see Genesis 1:14-16). Also, the Bible never claimed that the Earth was the center of the Universe. It's just some dumb people that made that false interpretation. In fact, there was a verse in the Bible that said how the Earth revolved around the sun. It also does mention that the Earth is round, because it talked about something going around the Earth, which wouldn't have been possible if the Earth was flat. And the Bible clearly states (I think in Exodus) that God spoke to Moses, who wrote the first few (I forget how many) books of the Bible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_Brightside Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 Why are you so sure that the Big Bang theory will be proven? (this is to Devilish Dante) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirate Dante Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 That is what they are trying to do with the test (with extremely small change of creating an black hole, which would devour the Earth). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie_Penguin Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 Well this is a delicate topic so we can't really "prove" anything. 1) The '7 days' thing is just an interpretation. It doesn't mean the world was literally created in 7 days. It just makes it easier for us to understand. 2) In order for the Big Bang to happened, there had to be a particle of some sort that started it all. Where did THAT come from? Did it just appear out of nowhere? As humans, we can't understand beyond that. And correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't they trying to prove what happened AFTER the Big Bang? 3) I see the Bible as a diary from the past. The Bible is a collection of letters found many many many years ago. I believe they have those letters in the Vatican and what they have found. It's not like they just found a book buried and that was the Bible. Back in the day, they didn't have the technology so that was the only way they could write down their own history. We're lucky we have all of this to record what happened during this century. Imagine if we didn't have it and thousands of years later, they read our letters about the world that is today. Don't you think they would also have a hard time believing? Even now after 9/11, there are conspiracy theorists who don't believe it even happened! And this happened only days after the incident. Our ancestors passed their beliefs onto us, but of course it is up to each generation to either believe it and follow it or not. Unless we have a time machine, we can't know for sure. We just have to rely on what the people from the past left us. Something DID happen back in those days, or we wouldn't be so divided. In the end, the message of the Bible is all about peace and love. That's the first thing you need to keep in mind before you read the Bible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unstream Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 Personally, I believe that the world was actually created in 7 days. Literally, 7 days. And that thing that could create black holes is a particle...well I don't really remember what it was called, but we did learn about it in science class and what they were basically doing was shooting particles at each other to either make them fuse or split. There was never a chance for a black hole formed by that machine to destroy the world, since there are bigger black holes that naturally appear in the Earth's atmosphere. And yes, the Bible is a collection of documents that were found, not a book written by a group of nutjobs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derick Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 Yeah that is true. The Bible does contradict itself. Like I hear often that all sins are viewed as the same by God, and that all sins were forgiven by Jesus, yet at the same time, there are certain sins that are worse than the rest, and those sins can't be forgiven. Just right there are two contradictions, and when I asked my pastor about that, he was avoiding the question. But I want you to keep in mind that everything changed after Jesus died. Certain laws that had to be followed didn't have to be followed anymore. Exactly. Most of the Jewish laws were put away after Jesus died. I am a new Catholic. I was Evangelical Free when I was little. Then we became Lutheran, and now we are Catholic. Some stories in the Bible are meant to show a religious truth, not nessisarily a story that actually happened. The story of The Tower of Babel, for instance, was to show that sin spread throughout every part of the world.. The story is not meant to show how different languages came to be. A lot of the books of the old testament were written in 587 B.C. during the Babylonian exile. The stories were pasted down, and a lot of it was probably exaggerated, like when it says someone lived to be 600 years old. What the writers were trying to say was that the person was favored by God. There is a lot of symbolism in the writing. It also does mention that the Earth is round, because it talked about something going around the Earth, which wouldn't have been possible if the Earth was flat. Saying that something orbits the earth does not justify the expression "The earth is round". That just doesn't make sense. Like I said, many of the early OT books were written around 587 BC. At that time, the people believed that the earth was flat, so that's how they wrote it. It doesn't mean that the Bible isn't true, it's just that the writers wrote the stories based on what they knew about the earth at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirate Dante Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 I know that it doesn't prove anything, or that it could be proven, cause mostly the bible is more of an thing of believe. I have to ask here that what happenen on 9/11? :P Or was it 11/9? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onemilcows Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 Well I have a theory but no way to back it up: The Bible was just an old fantasy story that got lost and then was found whenever and we said "Let's worship it!!!!" That is what they are trying to do with the test (with extremely small change of creating an black hole, which would devour the Earth). LHC (Large Hadron Collider). It makes a very small black hole and then gets rid of it. However, when they first tested it people were afraid it wouldn't get ridded of. Therefore it would take about 4 years to devour the whole Earth meaning December of 2012...as in the 12/21/12 theory. This post has been edited by a member of staff (Morbid Morgan) because of a violation of the forum rules. Please do not double post; use the edit button instead. Please check your user inbox to see if you have been contacted regarding this incident, then review our rules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirate Dante Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Keep in mind, that LHC is at full capacity in about 2 months, and that is when they are going to use it for scientificial research to make as accurate deductions as possible. Because it has more power than now, it will create bigger Black Hole, making the change bigger, and it would not take even nearly as long as 4 years it to devour Earth thn. This post has been edited by a member of staff (Morbid Morgan) because of a violation of the forum rules. Please stay on-topic. Please check your user inbox to see if you have been contacted regarding this incident, then review our rules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unstream Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 The LHC has NO chance of EVER making a black hole. Collisions in the atmosphere that create even larger "black holes" happen all the time. We are all perfectly safe and don't have to worry about being sucked into a black hole anytime soon. This post has been edited by a member of staff (Morbid Morgan) because of a violation of the forum rules. Please stay on-topic. Please check your user inbox to see if you have been contacted regarding this incident, then review our rules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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