| Jun 11, 2006 @ 1:30 AM |
The Bible - Fact or Fiction?
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chinabull2000
Posts: 7,012
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As far as I'm aware, neither God nor Jesus had anything to do with the writing of the Bible, and it was written by MAN... not even just one man, but lots of men. And we all know that men (and women) love to exaggerate, often lie, twist the truth, or simply say whatever comes into their heads at that present time.
So people, why is the Bible so often taken at face value and not questioned? Yes yes, I know that some people believe that parts of it are just fairy tales (such as the eating of the apple and the poor little serpent who had his legs chopped off by God), but who are we to decide what is, and what is not, true?
I am sure that there was a man called Jesus, and that he was a great man, a great leader of men, but the Son of God? Come on people, how likely is that?
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| Jun 11, 2006 @ 5:08 AM |
The Bible - Fact or Fiction? |
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lacyvsq
Posts: 6,161
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What you have written sounds very logical, except that there are mysteries in life -- realities that defy logic.
What is quite remarkable about the Bible is its congruencies -- that prophecies in ancient books are quoted and shown as fulfilled in later books. Much of the historicity of the Bible has also been verified by other findings -- as the plagues in Egypt and the exodus of the Isrealites. What makes it so confusing and controversial is that we each read it and base our understanding on our own experiences. We fail to understand that so much of it was poetic, metaphoric ... written in a manner influenced by a culture very different from EuroAmerican.
As to the "good man" Jesus being the Son of God...for being a good man, he said so many things by which he claimed to be more. "I am the way, the truth, the life. No man comes to the father but by me." "He who has seen me has seen the Father." "Who do men say that I am?...who do you say that I am?" "You are the Christ, the son of the living God." If he wasn't all that he said he was, he wasn't a good man at all -- he was a fraud and a liar and the most arrogant person who ever lived.
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| Jun 11, 2006 @ 6:58 AM |
The Bible - Fact or Fiction?
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chinabull2000
Posts: 7,012
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Great answer Lacy...  ... although I am still undecided which he was.
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| Jun 11, 2006 @ 7:25 AM |
The Bible - Fact or Fiction? |
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omkeerpunt
Posts: 511
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A factual handbook of God's character....
Good post Lacy
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| Jun 11, 2006 @ 10:41 AM |
The Bible - Fact or Fiction?
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sail_dancer
Posts: 9,865
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Excellent post Lacy. 
Actually I think the bible is a little of both. Some of the stories in the bible are probably fairy tales designed to instruct people on what is good or evil.
But the prophesies of the old testament, I feel were God inspired. Note I said inspired, because as China said the actual recording of the scriptures was done by man and man is not perfect.
The new testament tells the story of Jesus, whether you believe that he is the Son of God or not, I think that if you follow his words (remembering that again man recorded them) it will make you a better man and if everyone followed his teachings the world would be a better place.
I happen to believe that Jesus was the Son of God and that we also have a spiritual side to ourselves. If we live in spirit and not of the flesh, only good can come from it.
Peace
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| Jun 11, 2006 @ 2:39 PM |
The Bible - Fact or Fiction? |
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Angel54214
Posts: 18,199
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I was not always a believer in God or Jesus, my own research and inner spiritual awarness over years brought me to become a believer of the word of God. One important factor that made me not ignore they exist is archaology. The further I researched, the more my inner being became overwhelmed. Here are some findings below:
King Solomon's Gates and Wealth
King Sarton's palace - Khorsabab, Iraq (recordings of Ashdod on his palace walls)
The Ebla archives of clay in scirptions on the Patriarchs in
Canaan, Nuzi and Mari
The Hiltites inscriptions of Bogazkoy, Turkey
King Belshazzar of Babylon, inscirptions of him and his son Nabonidus
The Ossuary Sarcophagus of high priest Caiaphas and his family tomb (inscribed), Jeruselum
The Roman ruins of Caesar Augustus
Tomb of the patriarchs, Sara, Abraham, Isaac, Rebeka, Leah and Jacop in Hebron cave (the cave of Machpelah)
Sarcophagus of Joseph in Egypt (robbers stole his bones), inscribes on the limestone.
The Egyptian tombs of the 'Valley Of The Kings' and 'Valley Of The Queens'
The bones of Uzziah, King of Judah (inscriptions found on Mout Olive), for he was a leper and was not to be buried with the other kings that are tombed on the bank cliffs.
Stone tomb of Cyrus King of Asia, son of Cambyses found in Persia with inscriptions.
King Darius of Persian Empire 522-486 BC
These are just a few findings through my own research in the past and held knowlege gained from university scholars. One can only find his or her own way into wisdom of faith to what we have access to in our times.
The best I can tell anyone is do research from the bible itself. Don't assume anything, research and prove to yourself for the answers are there. Be absoluely sure and genuine with in yourself. Find your proof before denial, test your proof before denial. You may find mystery does unfold before your eyes and heart.
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| Jun 11, 2006 @ 2:54 PM |
The Bible - Fact or Fiction?
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sail_dancer
Posts: 9,865
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Angel,
I agree with you that the bible contains a wealth of historic information.
Peace
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| Jun 12, 2006 @ 11:56 AM |
The Bible - Fact or Fiction? |
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kattsmeow
Posts: 22,628
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I believe the Bible to be Fact.
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| Jun 12, 2006 @ 6:29 PM |
The Bible - Fact or Fiction?
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sealacamp
Posts: 3,681
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To answer your question China:
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.
That's why. Notice that Paul says all scripture is inspired by God. All not some or most, ALL. Christians believe that. Case closed. Not that you will buy it.
S
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| Jun 12, 2006 @ 7:02 PM |
The Bible - Fact or Fiction? |
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Jankia
Posts: 11,900
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So people, why is the Bible so often taken at face value and not questioned?
China,your questioning it right now as well as many others that seek the answers it contains.How can you say it isnt questioned?
And we all know that men (and women) love to exaggerate, often lie, twist the truth, or simply say whatever comes into their heads at that present time.
Not in being particular about your thread but my love isnt in exaggerating,sure we all lie at some point in life but most people that I know,like myself,dont simply say things but think about what they will say before doing it.Those that dont arent given much credence by those that do.
I dont know of anyone other than Jesus that could cure blindness with just the touch of his hand or feed thousands with only enough fish for a few.The son of God had the gifts God gave to him,doesnt that seem likely either?
Have you ever known another person whose mother was a virgin? Its impossible unless it was done by someone that nothing is impossible for...God.
Fiction is a lie so the Bible is fact.
By the way,good answer sealacamp
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| Jun 12, 2006 @ 7:46 PM |
The Bible - Fact or Fiction?
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FeliciVagano
Posts: 2,152
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http://www.godstruthfortoday.org/Library/loudy/GodsEonianPurpose/GodsEonianPurpose01.htm
The Sacred Scriptures
ARE the Scriptures of God or man? is a question uppermost in many honest hearts today. In other words, Did God write them, or are they simply a collection of the writings of men? If they are simply a collection of man's writings, without divine guidance, then they are no more reliable than fallible man. But if God wrote them, they must be true and we can depend on their admonitions and teachings, prophecies and promises. ......
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THE SACRED SCRIPTURES
It is quite clear from the character of the Scriptures that they are not the work of man, for man could not have written them if he would, and would not have written them if he could. Why do I make such a statement? Because the Scriptures detail with scathing and unsparing severity the sins of its greatest men, like Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, and Solomon, charging them with falsehood, treachery, pride, adultery, cowardice, murder, and gross licentiousness. They present the history of the sons of Israel--the chosen people of Jehovah--as a humiliating record of ingratitude, idolatry, unbelief, and rebellion. Therefore, it is safe to say, that the Hebrews, unguided and undirected by the spirit of God, never would have chronicled the sinful history of their nation and its greatest men......
EXACT WORDS
That the prophetical writers spoke the exact words which God gave them is clear from their own statements. Moses complained to Jehovah, when commissioned to go to Pharaoh, that he was "not a man of words" but was "slow of speech and of a slow tongue." Then Jehovah said to him: "Who appointed a mouth for man, or Who appointed him to be dumb, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I Jehovah? Now therefore, Go, and I will be with thy mouth, so will I direct thee what thou shalt speak" (Ex.4:11,12).
The prophet Jeremiah says: "Then Jehovah put forth His hand and touched my mouth. And Jehovah said unto me, Lo! I have put my words in thy mouth" (Jer.1:9). Ezekiel, Daniel, and all the prophets make the same claim.
The expressions, "The Lord said," "The Lord spake saying," "Thus saith the Lord," etc., occur 560 times in the Pentateuch, 300 times in the historical and prophetical books, 1000 times in the prophets--24 times in Malachi, alone--in all, over 2000 times in the Hebrew Scriptures, thus verifying the statement of Peter, that "prophecy was not at any time carried on by the will of man, but holy men of God speak, being carried on by holy spirit".
FULFILLMENT INSPIRATIONAL PROOF
The fulfillment of prophecy is a valuable argument for the "inspiration" of the Scriptures. And this is made more evident when it is submitted in the simple form of "compound probabilities." For example: If I should predict an earthquake in Johnson City, Tennessee next year, the chance would be one in two that it would occur. If I should add that it would be in the daytime, the chance becomes decreased one in four that it will occur. And if I should add another detail, that it would be on the Fourth of July, the chance becomes decreased one in eight. And if I should add ten details to my prediction, the chance becomes decreased one in 1024 that it will so occur.
SCRIPTURAL PREDICTIONS
Keeping the foregoing example in mind, let me call your attention to the fact that twenty-five specific predictions were made by the Hebrew prophets, bearing on the "betrayal," "trial," "death," and "burial" of Christ. These were uttered by different prophets during a period of five hundred years, from 1000 B. C. to 500 B. C., yet they were all fulfilled in twenty- four hours in one person--the Christ of Whom they spoke.
Apply the law of "Compound probabilities" to this, and the chance becomes decreased to 1 in 33,554,432 that the twenty-five predictions would be fulfilled! Should one prophet make several predictions as to some one event, he might by collusion with others bring it to pass. But when a number of prophets, distributed over five centuries of time, giving detailed and specific predictions as to some particular event, the charge of collusion cannot be sustained. The only way to satisfactorily account for these marvelous facts, is to admit that the writers were inspired, and the message they have given us is God's Word--His revelation to mankind.
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| Jun 12, 2006 @ 7:55 PM |
The Bible - Fact or Fiction? |
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Jankia
Posts: 11,900
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Thanks FeliciVagano for a far more intelligent answer than I could provide.
remember,I'm just that simple old ex-farmer guy.
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| Jun 12, 2006 @ 7:58 PM |
The Bible - Fact or Fiction?
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sail_dancer
Posts: 9,865
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Felici,
I think most people feel that the bible was God inspired when it was recorded. The problem is that man translated it to the point where there are dozens of bibles now, and if the translated bible a person is using to debate a piont doesn't fit what they want, they make up their own interpretation of what is written in it.
Peace
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| Jun 12, 2006 @ 8:27 PM |
The Bible - Fact or Fiction? |
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jamminjerry
Posts: 4,085
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how about: "the bible! fact and fiction!!!"
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| Jun 12, 2006 @ 8:55 PM |
The Bible - Fact or Fiction?
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Angel54214
Posts: 18,199
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'Lacy', your post is pertaining to "The Battle At Gibeah. It's a long story, so if you want to indulge your reading, go to the book of Judges.
Judges 19-20
All of the rest of Israel attacks and defeats the Benjamites in the Battle at Gibeah, in retaliation following a disgraceful incident. To complete the defeat, all the civilians, including women and children, in the Benjamite towns and villages are then killed, and the other tribes vow that they will never allow their women to marry Benjamites ever again. However, so as to not exterminate a tribe of Israel, they then provide four hundred virgins, spoil from another town they have massacred, as wives to the Benjamites, and also allow them to raid a festival and carry off some of the women.
Later, when the Kingdom of Israel was divided, the Tribe of Benjamin joined with the Tribe of Judah to form the Kingdom of Judah, while the other tribes formed the reduced kingdom of Israel which was subsequently conquered and the people exiled. Benjamin was very much the minor partner, as the ruling House of David came from the far more numerous and powerful tribe of Judah. Thus it was the tribe of Judah who in time became identified with the entire people of the southerly Israelite kingdom, and gave their name to the Jews.
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| Jun 14, 2006 @ 9:03 AM |
The Bible - Fact or Fiction? |
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doc65270
Posts: 833
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well the way i see things you have to believe in something and if the bible is true of which i believe it is then your in for torment for eternity if you don't make that altulimate dicission in your life. now about the bible fact or fiction. i believe it is true. the bible was wrote by several people but it was inspired by god. there is not one place in this great book that counterdicks another place. people now days can't even write a novel with out making mistakes. the bible was wrote by many people and there are no mistakes. the bible is more than just a learning book of history and the things that has taken place back in those days but they also give us instruction of how we should live our life today as well. it gives us instruction on marrage, raising children, faith in god and so many more things. as i said it is a instruction book as well as a history book.
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| Jun 14, 2006 @ 9:10 AM |
The Bible - Fact or Fiction?
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doc65270
Posts: 833
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LACY shame on you. jesus was not all those things you said he was. he was a great person he was a healer he was so many things. how could you say those terrable things about jesus. you said he was not good! that he was a fraud etc could you explain how you found out these things and how jesus was not all that he said he was. that is just down right mean to say those things and the unfortunate thing of it all is your going to have to stand infront of god one day and explaine what you said. and unless you make that ultimate dicission in your life you will find out that all jesus said is true for you will be in torment for eternity.
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| Jun 14, 2006 @ 9:21 AM |
The Bible - Fact or Fiction? |
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doc65270
Posts: 833
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sail yes there is more than one translation of the bible. and there is more than one religion also. translations are as one gets what they read from the bible. i would believe that there was only one church in the beginning but someone got mad and started up another church etc and it just continued to go in that direction. i believe that if your catholic, baptist, lutherun, methidost or what ever of any of the main denominations that you all worship the same god. just as the bible you read, you choose to read that translation because maybe you can understand it better or what ever the reason.
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| Jun 14, 2006 @ 9:26 AM |
The Bible - Fact or Fiction?
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 18,606
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Doc...whoa!!! Lacy was using something called 'irony'...her point was that either Jesus was a good man, and spoke the truth about being the son of God, or else he was an arrogant liar...he couldn't be 'a good man' as China had said, without also being the son of God.
There are alternative theories though...that he may have been somewhat deluded, while still being a good man, or else what he said may have been distorted by those who wrote the actual words down a couple of hundred years later.
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| Jun 14, 2006 @ 10:02 AM |
The Bible - Fact or Fiction? |
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Angel54214
Posts: 18,199
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'doc', you missed the whole point of Lacy's post!
Jesus died as a good man that committed no crime. King Herod and P. Pilot so no crime he committed. The people (jews) accused him of those things, therefore he was cusified by a unanimious vote of the people that did not know who he really was.
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