Do religious people question the holy scriptures that they read???

[mordorf]

My firm belief about that is when they start to question the holy scriptures then they will realize that they contradicts itself, and if you don't then you will probably never realize what a wonderful world you will be missing out on.

"If you don't ask questions then you will never learn"

 

[Kathryn]

"If you don't read books, you will never learn the basics of grammar."

That being said, it is SO TIRESOME to read yet another thread that makes the assumption that religious people don't question their faith or what they read in their holy texts.

I have questioned my faith, and God, quite extensively throughout my 47 years on this earth. My questions have led to a deeper faith and understanding of God and my Christian belief system - eventually - though at times my faith was shaken.

My Christian faith has AMPLIFIED the beauty of the wonderful world in which we live.

 

[mordorf]

I never assumed it was a question which is a big difference.
If would have made an assumption then i would have claimed that religious people never read anything but the holy scriptures and never question them.
Now that's an assumption not a question.

Here is a question what is faith to you?

Here is an assumption, when you questioned the bible did you always claimed a supernatural cause instead of a natural cause which would be an easier explanation.

Like the story of Noah do you believe that after that happened that all people which lives now has come to by the worlds largest incest party.

 

[Katzpur]

My firm belief about that is when they start to question the holy scriptures then they will realize that they contradicts itself, and if you don't then you will probably never realize what a wonderful world you will be missing out on.

"If you don't ask questions then you will never learn"

Some do; some don't. A lot of them question the scriptures they've never even bothered to read, or worse, skip the questioning part and just jump to the conclusion that they contain nothing of value.

 

[mordorf]

Some do; some don't. A lot of them question the scriptures they've never even bothered to read, or worse, skip the questioning part and just jump to the conclusion that they contain nothing of value.

Exactly my point if they can't explain it they always claim a supernatural cause.

and to claim faith doesn't explain anything.

 

[JamieDD]

Of course when reading through the Bible, for example, I may not understand something, but I won't just blindly bat it away blindly; I will actually think through it or ask someone else.

 

[MoonWater]

My firm belief about that is when they start to question the holy scriptures then they will realize that they contradicts itself, and if you don't then you will probably never realize what a wonderful world you will be missing out on.

"If you don't ask questions then you will never learn"

My faith has no holy texts but I do read and question greatly the holy texts of other religions and am constantly questioning and exploring and thus changing my own faith. And I do see the wonder of the world, my faith helps me to do so.

Besides the contradiction argument isn't much of an argument against religion or any holy texts when you consider the fact that when these holy texts were written the people weren't focused on consistency but on story and as such it didn't matter to them if different stories contradicted eachother, all that mattered was the story itself.

 

[*Paul*]

My firm belief about that is when they start to question the holy scriptures then they will realize that they contradicts itself, and if you don't then you will probably never realize what a wonderful world you will be missing out on.

"If you don't ask questions then you will never learn"

I always have done, especially when I first started.

 

[Katzpur]

Exactly my point if they can't explain it they always claim a supernatural cause.

and to claim faith doesn't explain anything.

Yes, but my point was that it works both ways.

 

[McBell]

Exactly my point if they can't explain it they always claim a supernatural cause.

and to claim faith doesn't explain anything.

It is also illogical to state that just because something does not make sense, it has to be wrong and or false...

 

[Riverwolf]

Contradictions are hardly a reason to abandon a certain faith.

I know of some Christians who acknowledge that the Bible has contradictions, yet still have faith in Jesus.

I also know many Christians who recognize the Genesis account is not supposed to be and never was actual history.

But every myth came from some element of truth. Take the flood for instance. Noah and the ark didn't exist, and no flood came in to wipe out a sinful mankind. HOWEVER, there was a known catastrophic flood at the end of the last Ice Age which inspired pretty much all of the ancient flood stories.

 

[LuisDantas]

My firm belief about that is when they start to question the holy scriptures then they will realize that they contradicts itself, and if you don't then you will probably never realize what a wonderful world you will be missing out on.

"If you don't ask questions then you will never learn"

Yes, people should certainly question scriptures, more so when they follow them.

Among other reasons, because true understanding can't come without such an effort.

 

[Kathryn]

I never assumed it was a question which is a big difference.

No, you did make an assumption with your opening sentence, which I will post to remind you of your own words:

"My firm belief about that is when they start to question the holy scriptures then they will realize that they contradicts itself, and if you don't then you will probably never realize what a wonderful world you will be missing out on."

A firm belief is not a question. Your firm belief is that when religious people start to question holy scriptures, then they will blah blah blah and otherwise they won't ever realize what a blah blah blah.

You're wrong to make general assumptions like this. Many religious people, and most certainly most MATURE religious people have sincerely and devoutly studied their faith and reached their own conclusions which they are now applying to the WONDERFUL WORLD they live in.

Here is a question what is faith to you?

Hebrews 11:11 - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Now - turn about is fair play - what is faith to YOU?

Here is an assumption, when you questioned the bible did you always claimed a supernatural cause instead of a natural cause which would be an easier explanation.

Tell you what - I answered your question. Your turn. When you answer mine, then I'll answer another one of yours.

 

[mordorf]

Contradictions are hardly a reason to abandon a certain faith.

I know of some Christians who acknowledge that the Bible has contradictions, yet still have faith in Jesus.

I also know many Christians who recognize the Genesis account is not supposed to be and never was actual history.

But every myth came from some element of truth. Take the flood for instance. Noah and the ark didn't exist, and no flood came in to wipe out a sinful mankind. HOWEVER, there was a known catastrophic flood at the end of the last Ice Age which inspired pretty much all of the ancient flood stories.

Yes most Christians will always have "faith" in Jesus that is simply because they make the contradictions fit into their belief system, and some are so narrow minded that no matter how many proofs you have that shows they are wrong they will never change.

Not every myth has some element of truth, that the earth is really flat and we have been wrong all the time, that the pictures that show a round earth are fake pictures.
Or that there is a Loch Ness monster or that Unicorns or Elf's exists.
But most of what is written in the new testament was written over 400 years after it had happened, now that makes the new testament even more harder for me to believe that what is written in that may only 10% be true and the rest is fake.

And if they claim to live as the bible says why don't they follow everything that's in the old testament, for example own a slave or take their child outside the city walls and stone it death for he/she had been disobedient, would a true christian do that?

And Christians most of the time claim to believe whats in the bible, but if they change something in it so it fits their belief system then why don't they re-write the bible and remove the contradictions and why haven't there been for 2000 years,anything from God why haven't he shown or talked to anyone about there will be a new messiah or anything new in the bible.
For all these years, why didn't he warn the people of the black death in the middle ages, or that over 20 million people will die in the first world war.

 

[Riverwolf]

Yes most Christians will always have "faith" in Jesus that is simply because they make the contradictions fit into their belief system, and some are so narrow minded that no matter how many proofs you have that shows they are wrong they will never change.

No, I've met Christians who accept the contradictions for what they are: contradictions. Not every Christian believes the entire Bible to be God-inspired; that is not a requirement for being a Christian.

Not every myth has some element of truth, that the earth is really flat and we have been wrong all the time, that the pictures that show a round earth are fake pictures.

To the naked eye, WITHOUT the aid of the earth's shadow on the moon, the earth DOES look flat. Don't forget that.

Or that there is a Loch Ness monster or that Unicorns or Elf's exists.

I can't say about elves and unicorns, but I know that the loch ness monster is based on reported sightings and a faked photo. (I don't believe the monster is real, BTW)

But most of what is written in the new testament was written over 400 years after it had happened, now that makes the new testament even more harder for me to believe that what is written in that may only 10% be true and the rest is fake.

No... the documents of the New Testament were written from 30 to 100 years after the crucifixion supposedly took place.

And the "truth" in the New Testament is not in the stories or Paul's letters in my opinion; it's in what Jesus the Sage (NOT Jesus the Messiah) taught.

And if they claim to live as the bible says why don't they follow everything that's in the old testament, for example own a slave or take their child outside the city walls and stone it death for he/she had been disobedient, would a true christian do that?

Not all Christians accept that as good behavior; in fact, most of them shun such behavior as much as you do.

And Christians most of the time claim to believe whats in the bible, but if they change something in it so it fits their belief system then why don't they re-write the bible and remove the contradictions and why haven't there been for 2000 years,anything from God why haven't he shown or talked to anyone about there will be a new messiah or anything new in the bible.

How do you know he hasn't?

What do you think would be the reaction to a new prophet? Yup. Just look at what happens to all self-proclaimed "new" prophets: they're shunned, locked up, exiled...

It would be a waste of time.

For all these years, why didn't he warn the people of the black death in the middle ages, or that over 20 million people will die in the first world war.

Why should he? Would warning us have prevented them happening?

 

[smitten508]

As a Christian AND a believer in science I must say that anyone who tries to say that because something is currently unexplainable that it must be placed in the category of "blind faith" or total invalidity is lacking a complete understanding of both FAITH and SCIENCE... Science must search for the truth, even if it means stepping over already established theories. Faith must ALWAYS work within the boundaries of firmly established facts... Who better to create evolution but the Almighty God who created gravity, electromagnetism as well as the strong and weak force?.. And what better way to find out about the true origins of our complex universe than to study it?

 

[MoonWater]

Yes most Christians will always have "faith" in Jesus that is simply because they make the contradictions fit into their belief system, and some are so narrow minded that no matter how many proofs you have that shows they are wrong they will never change.

Besides the contradiction argument isn't much of an argument against religion or any holy texts when you consider the fact that when these holy texts were written the people weren't focused on consistency but on story and as such it didn't matter to them if different stories contradicted eachother, all that mattered was the story itself.

So perhaps they are simply taking it in the context of the times.

 

[Twilight Hue]

As a Christian AND a believer in science I must say that anyone who tries to say that because something is currently unexplainable that it must be placed in the category of "blind faith" or total invalidity is lacking a complete understanding of both FAITH and SCIENCE... Science must search for the truth, even if it means stepping over already established theories. Faith must ALWAYS work within the boundaries of firmly established facts... Who better to create evolution but the Almighty God who created gravity, electromagnetism as well as the strong and weak force?.. And what better way to find out about the true origins of our complex universe than to study it?

I don't see how theistic views and science go hand in hand compatibly unless you would be willing to accept and classify God as a personal hypothesis. -NM-

 

[Smoke]

My firm belief about that is when they start to question the holy scriptures then they will realize that they contradicts itself, and if you don't then you will probably never realize what a wonderful world you will be missing out on.

However, questioning your scriptures doesn't necessarily lead to abandoning your religion. I remained a Christian for many years after I realized the Bible couldn't possibly be inerrant even in a non-literal, metaphorical sort of way. And I can count on my fingers the number of Catholics I know in real life who believe the Pope is infallible. But they're still Catholics.

 

[McBell]

Faith must ALWAYS work within the boundaries of firmly established facts...

I disagree, though it would be nice if it worked out that way in the real world.

Who better to create evolution but the Almighty God who created gravity, electromagnetism as well as the strong and weak force?.. And what better way to find out about the true origins of our complex universe than to study it?

Study what exactly?
Gravity, electromagnetism, strong and weak force or god creating it?