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1. The bible does not say which books should be in the bible. The Roman Catholic church voted for these books. So how can you be so sure they are the correct ones?
2. If faith in God guides you to believe in the bible, have you ever asked yourself why you connect the two? Why does your faith mean you have to believe a collection of literature chosen by a totalitarian theocracy?
3. Some books in the bible reference each other. What about the ones that don't? Why even consider them holy in the first place?
4. There are many correct and accurate predictions made by prophets in the bible. This is often used as "proof" of it being God's word. Why aren't the accurate predictions made by other religions, pagans, and atheists considered holy?
5. Why are you convinced that it is unChristian to question the validity of scripture? Especially since you have no idea which books are really "God's word"?
6. If you admit that it is, indeed, man that decided on what you should be reading regarding God, do you believe that they are all inspired by God? If so... what scriptual evidence to you have that says contemporary religious leaders are inspired by God? In fact, the bible says the opposite and to beware those who will decieve.
Originally posted by Dezero
Well if you find bibles from a lot of other countries they contain more books than our western Bibles do.
My personal belief is there are some books that should have been left in, but there are also some that seem to be very hard to understand, which is why I believe they were left out
Originally posted by Dezero
Depends on where you've been guided. Of the 3 main religions Christianity makes more sense to me, and is more about forgiveness. That being said I think those who search for truth will eventually find it.
Originally posted by Dezero
4. There are many correct and accurate predictions made by prophets in the bible. This is often used as "proof" of it being God's word. Why aren't the accurate predictions made by other religions, pagans, and atheists considered holy?
Because a prophet is not from God if he makes an error or incorrect prophesy
Originally posted by Dezero
If you read some of the books you may understand why they were left out. While others Remember if God wants people to believe, why would he let his true word be witheld from mankind?
Originally posted by Cuervo
reply to post by SuperiorEd
Thank you. Those were very thought-provoking answers and it is obvious that you are one of the "good guys" when it comes to faith. The problem is that you are only convincing me that God is good and that people who believe in God are enlightened. I already believe that.
What you didn't explain was why you are so sure that the bible is the absolute authority. You actually expressed that doubt is part of being a Christian. By your rationale, would it be acceptable for a Christian to not believe that the bible (and every book in it) is the one and only true word of God?
Originally posted by goldentorch
reply to post by SuperiorEd
How on Earth did the printing press come to being because of some theological arguments between the Catholic Church and Luther when woodblock printing was known in China in the 800's, they also invented moveable type printing much to the dismay of your Eurocentricity. They did not know Christianity so your intimation that everything arises from Christian theological discourse is patently false.
Originally posted by Cuervo
If they left Revelations in, I don't think the issue was ease of consumption.
Revelations is deliberately hard to understand, and also you can reference a lot of it from other parts of the bible. When I say hard to understand I mean there are books (like the book of Enoch) that confuse rather than inspire people. In the translators R.H. Charles own words to the effect - there are parts that seem like it was written by many authors and the book jumps from place to place
So because you find Christianity to be the most palatable, you find it's holy book to be the absolute authority of God? The one and only?
I made one reference to why I believe in the bible and you jump on it like a dog on heat. I have many, many reasons why I call myself Christian. If this was the only one I had I'd be a very weak Christian
But there have been others who have given accurate prediction. Some just as startling as biblical texts.
Name a prophet who was accurate in every prediction he/she made that wasn't from the bible. Someone who was never wrong in their prophecies since they became a prophet
I have read the others that were removed. They gave certain impressions that men did not want people to have about the church. Again, I don't think that was God's doing.
The bible is not perfect, but it has enough in there for salvation, and is very inspiring. Man is not entitled to Gods pure word since we are so sinful. This is my belief anyway