Quote:
Originally Posted by dustpuffs
Why was the Bible written? My understanding from my church experience was that the Bible was written to spread the word of God. Yet in all of the churches I have attended, and in being lectured by the ultra religious of differing faiths, I have heard the same thing: We believe in the Bible as far as it is translated correctly. Now, I feel that if the Bible were meant to spread the word of God, and you believe that God is all powerful, then God would not allow it to be translated incorrectly. I was taught that his people were to read it and obey it's teachings. So I find it very confusing that people believe some parts and not others. Could someone out their give me their thoughts and ideas on this?
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As for my personal beliefs, I'm a member of the Universal Life Church, which I find fits me best as they encompass all belief systems and allow anyone to join, because as I said here I believe that everything is compatible. Personally, I find theology fascinating, and believe that there could indeed be a higher power. And, I believe that if there is a higher power, that power is non-interfering (as observations and experiments would be impossible otherwise).
The Bible was written to try to explain things in our universe that were not (and in many cases still aren't) understood by humans in an easily readable narrative fashion, and to provide a set of moral guidelines by which to live life (and as a recount of history, as Alcormortis said).
From a religious viewpoint, the Old Testament is the word of God as told by God and transcribed by men. The New Testament is a recount of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ by those who new him best.
Continuing looking at things from a religious viewpoint, as for God not allowing the Bible to be translated incorrectly, from a religious perspective, God's non-interfering nature is shown during the tale of Noah's ark. After God flooded the Earth as punishment, God made an everlasting covenant of peace with all the creatures of the Earth. From that point, he became non-interfering with the matters of life, letting all the creatures live their lives as they wish, leaving only the afterlife for judgement for the way they lived those lives.
I also don't understand how people can take the bible literally in some passages, and ignore others. I'm of the mind that since it's written that the Bible was transcribed by humans, rather than by God, the Bible is not infallible.
The stories within are mostly nice tales and some contain good messages about how to live your lives, but others are obviously written for how to live your life within the time period the bible was written, and don't apply now with modern values (passages which mention slaves for example: eg: Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property), and modern medicine (a man whose testicles are crushed or whose penis is cut off may never join the assembly of the Lord), and science.
It's impossible to completely live your life according to the Bible in today's day and age, and if you pick and choose, then you should be aware that the Bible is fallible. By all means, pick and choose parts from the Bible as guidelines for how to live your life (there are some good moral guidelines in some parts of the Bible after all), but don't use it against people who don't share the same values as you. Because, it's impossible to believe that a book is infallible when you live your life according to some parts and ignore others, and even if you live your life according to the entire book then you know that it teaches that it's a sin to judge others, as only God can be the judge of humans.