Do you think the Bible could be the word of G-d? /for atheists & agnostics

[Rick O'Shez]

Do you think that the Bible, *could be the word of G-d? Or divine? This question is for atheists and agnostics, but specification is needed for what type of agnosticism or atheism you are claiming.

Yes, it could be. But more likely it's a story about what some ancient people believed. If you're looking for the divine you might be better looking within yourself.

 

[columbus]

So your answer is a hesitant yes, it's a possibility.

Yes, just like it is possible that unicorns live on a magical island that becomes ineffable when non believers approach.
"Hesitant" doesn't begin to describe my confidence that old literature is not from anyone but humans.

Who proposed that, some religious group? That has nothing to do with the OP.

Yes, in fact it is asserted by many religious groups. They disagree with each other, but they commonly assert that their book is from God.
And yes, it is what the OP is about. Even if you don't grasp that fact.
Tom

 

[Desert Snake]

Yes, just like it is possible that unicorns live on a magical island that becomes ineffable when non believers approach.
"Hesitant" doesn't begin to describe my confidence that old literature is not from anyone but humans.

Yes, in fact it is asserted by many religious groups. They disagree with each other, but they commonly assert that their book is from God.

And yes, it is what the OP is about. Even if you don't grasp that fact.
Tom

Not only is this incorrect, it doesn't even make sense.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

No.

 

[columbus]

So, your answer is no, but you can't just say n

If you were as willing to describe what you mean and believe as you are to tell people you barely know what they mean and believe, you probably wouldn't keep starting repetitive threads on this subject.
Tom

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Do you think that the Bible, *could be the word of G-d? Or divine? This question is for atheists and agnostics, but specification is needed for what type of agnosticism or atheism you are claiming.

*Or some, /any parts of the Bible

I dont know what you mean by claiming "what type" of atheist I am. I just dont believe God/s exist. God/s as in actual deities rather than just spirits, personifications, and archeytypes.

To answer that question, I'd have to assume a God exists. If He does, Id say Holy Books are written by "people" inspired by God." The book is not inspired in and of itself, its the people who wrote it.

I personally believe the Buddha's suttras are sacred. If I compared it to the God/Holy Book concept, I'd say the Book/s are revered because they contain words that describe whats in us. They are books of our lives through other people just like we are. What I write is inspired by my nature and may be used as inspired work by my family who keeps it if I were to pass before they.

If a God existed, I dont agree that any book is directly inspired by Him/Her. That is a personification of the Divine; I dont agree with that. Rather, God inspires people. That-is what I would believe if God existed.

If you mean God inspired book, no. If you mean God inspired message, yes. Books are not inspirations. Messages are.

 

[columbus]

If you mean God inspired book, no. If you mean God inspired message, yes. Books are not inspirations. Messages are.

This is the point.

God could send messages to anybody at any time. If God does that, humans have no way of distinguishing which messages are from God and which are not.

"Revealed religion" is human beings claiming to speak for God. This is entirely different from a message from God.
If God wants me to believe something I do. Humans I am less trustful of. They are not very reliable, as evidenced by the plethora of religious people out there claiming to speak for God.
Tom

 

[Shadow Wolf]

As an agnostic, one thing I am certain of the Bible cannot be the "word of God" given just how human this god is.

 

[dust1n]

Ok, a hesitant yes..

It's a yes. Anything could potentially be anything.

 

[Robert.Evans]

If there was a god. I'm sure she could have written a much better, meaningful and clearer book.

So, no The Bible is not the word of a god

"she"? Generally, God is refferred to as male. 'It' might have been acceptable, which would or could included both.

 

[Robert.Evans]

All the failings and contradictions of the Bible aside, I just can't take the idea seriously that an omnipotent and omniscient god's best idea for how to communicate to all of humanity is to dictate a book to someone.

Perhaps you just don't understand the argument enough

 

[columbus]

It's basically a yes or no question, and then explain whatever, if one wants.

It is not a yes or no question, at least not the way you phrased it. Some of us have thoughtful and nuanced opinions on the subject. So "yes, no, maybe, and sort of" are all reasonable answers to your OP.
Tom

 

[Robert.Evans]

I see no reason to believe that the Creator gives a whit about what we humans do or believe.
So while it is possible that some parts of the Bible are from God, so might be the Vedas, The Lord of the Rings, Quran, or Mein Kampf.
Best bets are the Humanist Manifesto and George Carlin.
There is no reason to believe that God stopped talking after the ancient priests, warlords, or popes. That is just ridiculous.
Tom

Why?

 

[Robert.Evans]

As an agnostic, one thing I am certain of the Bible cannot be the "word of God" given just how human this god is.

Perhaps that confirms him, not denies him.

 

[columbus]

Perhaps you just don't understand the argument enough

What makes you think you understand the argument better than penguin?
Tom

 

[columbus]

Why?

Why what?
Tom

 

[Terryj]

As to the OP question: "Could the bible be the word of God": It is obvious that the bible was written by man, these men believed in the existence of a God and therefore believed that what they were writing was from God, so for the person doing the writing it is most definitely the word of God.

Now if your asking my opinion on this, this starts to get away from your original question. The question wouldn't be "Could" but "Do you believe" the bible to be the word of God. So which is it?

 

[Laika]

Voted "Other". This is sort of a circular problem, as if I say god is impossible, the bible cannot therefore by definition be written by god because it is impossible. it would be unfair for me to pretend otherwise and just throw a "no" around when really its because I'm unwilling to entertian the possibility. Plus I don't have any background knowledge on the history of the bible and it's authorship to support such an argument. So I'm too ignorant to comment on the authenticity of the bible.

you know... apatheism.

 

[columbus]

Obfuscation.

That's your middle name.
You keep starting threads about the same thing because when you get a clear response you don't like it.
So you obfuscate in another thread. It's like you're practicing for a career in Christian ministry.
Tom

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Perhaps you just don't understand the argument enough

What argument?