I think the claim of the Bible being Gods Word really rests mostly on (a): archaeological events that prove the SUPERNATURAL events in the Bible, not just historical events. I dont see how getting historical facts right any way proves a book is divinely inspired. One could write a fiction book set in Rome and get all the details correct, but the fictional story is still fiction. Im talking about stuff like chariots under the Red Sea. How does the Bible getting certain place names have anything to do with its claims to be divinely inspired? Secondly, the prophetic claims. Indisputable prophetic fulfillments that could not have been fulfilled after the fact in writing. For instance, proof that Jesus was born in Nazareth, and of the Crucifixion and Resurrection accounts. If there is no proof of this other than the Gospels, there is no proof these prophecies were fulfilled. Arguments about its unity, its authorship or what people thought of it are weak or incorrect. For instance in the OT sheol is mentioned as a place where there are no thoughts, whereas in the NT theres supposedly a place of conscious torment/bliss after death (the intermediate state before the eternal destination)... One would also have to believe the Council of Nicea was divinely inspired when they selected the 66 books in the Biblical canon. Unfortunately, there isnt much of this in Biblical apologetics. Other than this, I see it as blind faith to make claims about the Bible. Ive scoured the internet and read several books, but havent found much (a lot of them are thin on solid arguments), so Im wondering if anyone has found anything convincing? I find the atheist/non-Christian side also has weak arguments, both sides do. I dont think anyone really takes the Bible literally anyway, or if its possible to or SHOULD be. I dont want to totally give away my faith, but I want to really look at the foundation of it, to see if theres any real foundation, beyond emotional experiences. I reject the idea that one has to have a relationship with God before understanding and then magically being able to believe. One should have some basis to be able to believe, some are ignorant enough to believe anyone can merely choose to believe. Also the Bible is a book, after all, written by humans. Anyway, it doesnt add up, though, I dont want to be duped by fear or whatnot. Years of fearing being lost or unsaved or being a backslider have taken their psychological toll. Its probably hard for anyone else to appreciate what being told as an 8 year old that you will burn in some never ending lake of fire can do to a psyche, not even the sensitive psyche. Hence, when any doubts naturally arise, the natural response is an existential panic. No peace can be gained without faith. It is rather frustrating, certainly. This is more just focusing on the Bible alone, which is the basis of Christianity, not other things. I think Fundamentalists do a disservice to Christianity. On one hand they say the Bible isnt a scientific textbook, yet dont confront the obvious geological inaccuracies (e.g. stars falling to earth, stars in the firmament, all kingdoms on earth being visible from a high mountaintop). Such passages are seen as not literal because they are obviously scientifically inaccurate. Or Jesus predictions of his second coming. I have no doubt some will respond to this post with defensiveness: after all, to doubt and be sent to never ending torture by a God who supposedly loves you is a price nothing seems worth paying for. Even if theres a 0.1% risk, the consequences are too dire. Or being stripped of eternal life. I admit, this is a prospect that depresses and scares me. Obviously it kills any objective assessment of the facts/evidence. But I hope some will be reasonable enough to see that my purpose is not to directly attack Christianity. Im just tired of trying to force myself to believe in things I find hard or impossible to believe in (not the faith as a whole, but a lot of things about it, to the point where the holes make my whole faith shaky). The fact I am even trying to glean out something to bolster my waning faith shows I still hang on to faith in God, Jesus.etc, even if some might see that as irrational. But there comes a point when you have to question when the implausibility factor just becomes too high. Basically, I just want to find a spirituality/faith where I can be comfortable in that makes sense. I realise some might accuse me of wanting a comfortable faith, of picking and choosing, but I realise the facts are sometimes hard to swallow. Its not so much just that, but that some things strike one as hard to believe. While God may be a God of justice, I believe he is essential one of love and mercy. Theres no way I could believe that God is both all-loving yet would knowingly choose to make the vast majority of his creation suffer forever. Its both absurd and makes no logical sense. Signed, a Struggling Believer who sometimes doubts/feels like a non-believer, and a spiritual seeker
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 11:59:44 +0000
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