does the bible contain anything of value

[First Baseman]

So this forum is not true, nor is your experience of being on it posting this?


So then we shouldn't trust you... since you're a man (human)... or?

1. Whoa, wait a minute. God created in Gen. 1:1. This forum exists in creation so yes, of course it exists.

2. No, you shouldn't trust anyone completely but God.

 

[Ouroboros]

1. Whoa, wait a minute. God created in Gen. 1:1. This forum exists in creation so yes, of course it exists.

You said things outside the Bible aren't true.

2. No, you shouldn't trust anyone completely but God.

Then I don't trust you.

 

[First Baseman]

You said things outside the Bible aren't true.


Then I don't trust you.

But that does not include things God created, hence your previous assumption and this one are refuted.

I hope you don't trust someone you just "saw" on the internet. That's wise.

Who do you put your trust in?

 

[Iti oj]

But that does not include things God created, hence your previous assumption and this one are refuted.

I hope you don't trust someone you just "saw" on the internet. That's wise.

Who do you put your trust in?

repeatable and demonstrable evidence

 

[Ouroboros]

But that does not include things God created, hence your previous assumption and this one are refuted.

I see. You mean that all things that God created are true and can be trusted, except men.

I hope you don't trust someone you just "saw" on the internet. That's wise.

You're someone.

Who do you put your trust in?

Most of the time myself.

 

[First Baseman]

I see. You mean that all things that God created are true and can be trusted, except men.


You're someone.


Most of the time myself.

No, that's not what I mean.

Yes, I'm someone. At least I think I am.

But sometimes you make mistakes and you're wrong. This is true for all humans.

 

[Ouroboros]

No, that's not what I mean.
Yes, I'm someone. At least I think I am.

Which means that if I trust you about not trusting anyone, then I shouldn't trust you. That's a conundrum.

But sometimes you make mistakes and you're wrong. This is true for all humans.

Sure. But if you do wrong about hearing or obeying God. How can you trust God unless you trust yourself first? What if you're wrong about trusting God? After all, we shouldn't trust anyone, not even ourselves, then how can you trust your own idea that you're supposed to trust God?

 

[First Baseman]

Which means that if I trust you about not trusting anyone, then I shouldn't trust you. That's a conundrum.


Sure. But if you do wrong about hearing or obeying God. How can you trust God unless you trust yourself first? What if you're wrong about trusting God? After all, we shouldn't trust anyone, not even ourselves, then how can you trust your own idea that you're supposed to trust God?

Sir, you are a very confused individual. Further discussion is pointless because you simply want to tell me what I think instead of asking me what I think. Your assumptative stances are quite boring. You sound like a person who is desperate to argue without clear purpose.

Think what you will and kindly cease speaking with me.

I bid you God's blessings and a kind farewell.

 

[LegionOnomaMoi]

nothing good in the bible is unique .

Yet, somehow, if we examine carefully constructed collections of notable quotations, phrases, maxims, etc., such as The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, we find that the most popular, most well-known, and most influential contributions to the English language are from the KJV (next comes Shakespeare), that the KJV is not alone in shaping culture and language (the German language was heavily influenced by Luther's translation), and that so influential have various translations of the bible or components of it been (or extensions/conflations of it, such as Tatian's Diatessaron), that those looking to understand the meaning behind an obscure but very important (for those in fields like Medieval studies, historical linguistics, etc.) refrain in a little known literary piece called Deor end up concluding that the consistency of the refrain along with some other considerations warrant the belief that a folkloric Jewish tradition based upon the bible (namely, one concerning Solomon and his ring) is the basis for the refrain in Deor. The bible is the single most influential work in existence. Hardcore atheists like Marx couldn't rid themselves of the teleology of the NT, the Gothic language is known to us virtually solely from a translation of the bible, Latin remained a continuously spoken language unlike Greek because of the Vulgate, the bible provides our best historical sources available for a vast number of historical issues, Newton and those like him spent more time on biblical studies than on the "scientific" work they engaged largely because of the bible, and so on.

The bible redefined religion, including religions that hold the bible to be just another fiction (such as Hinduism). That it is not unique is to echo the proverb "there is nothing new under the sun", which is from the bible.

 

[habiru]

often people say dont throw the baby out with the bath water but to me it seems like sticking your hands in a vat of acid for a few shinny baubles found elsewhere . nothing good in the bible is unique .
@Orbit

Here's a video that explain that we still doesn't know much.

 

[Penumbra]

I don't find much unique value in it, personally.

 

[dogfishparisi]

this i would agree with but suggest the value is only gleaned with an anthropological view and not as a source of wisdom or morals.

I can understand your position. I believe that morality, and wisdom, can be attained in many ways. I also recognize that the Bible helps many people discern the proper path through life.
Francis of Assisi is widely quoted as saying that we should preach the gospel all the time, using words when necessary. This quote puts Christianity in perspective. The faith is about human conduct. Christians must emulate the life of Christ. What Christ taught, and what religious leaders preach, have diverged wildly throughout history.
If the Bible is taken in its entirety, with the New Testament as the culmination of all earlier texts, the teachings of Christ become the focal point and supersedes all else.
Christ taught to love, serve others, judge not, and so much more. What I'm getting at is this- the Bible in its entirety (No cherry picking!) Culminates with Christ's life and ministry, And those teachings are amazing. They can impart wisdom and morality beyond our years if we are open and listen.

 

[Iti oj]

I can understand your position. I believe that morality, and wisdom, can be attained in many ways. I also recognize that the Bible helps many people discern the proper path through life.
Francis of Assisi is widely quoted as saying that we should preach the gospel all the time, using words when necessary. This quote puts Christianity in perspective. The faith is about human conduct. Christians must emulate the life of Christ. What Christ taught, and what religious leaders preach, have diverged wildly throughout history.
If the Bible is taken in its entirety, with the New Testament as the culmination of all earlier texts, the teachings of Christ become the focal point and supersedes all else.
Christ taught to love, serve others, judge not, and so much more. What I'm getting at is this- the Bible in its entirety (No cherry picking!) Culminates with Christ's life and ministry, And those teachings are amazing. They can impart wisdom and morality beyond our years if we are open and listen.

interesting view

 

[jonathan180iq]

perhaps what i should have asked is do the other parts devalue the bible more than the good parts add value ?

I think so...
While I will readily admit that there are some decent nuggets of wisdom to be found, mostly all in the New Testament, the incredible amount of hokum and lunacy really distorts the overall message.

Let's say for example that there were 50 passages in the Bible that I thought were just fantastic examples of human morality and exemplary behavioral guidlines.
(Note that I don't even think there are that many to be honest, but just for the sake of argument let's roll with it.)
I'll bet I can find at least 200 atrocious teachings in the first few chapters of the Old Testament alone, and it's not as if the NT isn't also riddled with questionable moral lessons.

Not even in Baseball is hitting 50/250 considered a good deal. If the Bible is only swinging a .200 batting average, then it needs to be sitting the bench or sent back to the Minors, don't you agree?

 

[Iti oj]

I think so...
While I will readily admit that there are some decent nuggets of wisdom to be found, mostly all in the New Testament, the incredible amount of hokum and lunacy really distorts the overall message.

Let's say for example that there were 50 passages in the Bible that I thought were just fantastic examples of human morality and exemplary behavioral guidlines.
(Note that I don't even think there are that many to be honest, but just for the sake of argument let's roll with it.)
I'll bet I can find at least 200 atrocious teachings in the first few chapters of the Old Testament alone, and it's not as if the NT isn't also riddled with questionable moral lessons.

Not even in Baseball is hitting 50/250 considered a good deal. If the Bible is only swinging a .200 batting average, then it needs to be sitting the bench or sent back to the Minors, don't you agree?

This was well put and captures many of my feelings on this topic, there's still one i'm at a lost to articulate though.

 

[Underhill]

I can understand your position. I believe that morality, and wisdom, can be attained in many ways. I also recognize that the Bible helps many people discern the proper path through life.
Francis of Assisi is widely quoted as saying that we should preach the gospel all the time, using words when necessary. This quote puts Christianity in perspective. The faith is about human conduct. Christians must emulate the life of Christ. What Christ taught, and what religious leaders preach, have diverged wildly throughout history.
If the Bible is taken in its entirety, with the New Testament as the culmination of all earlier texts, the teachings of Christ become the focal point and supersedes all else.
Christ taught to love, serve others, judge not, and so much more. What I'm getting at is this- the Bible in its entirety (No cherry picking!) Culminates with Christ's life and ministry, And those teachings are amazing. They can impart wisdom and morality beyond our years if we are open and listen.

In it's entirety? Because there are some nasty bits in there...

 

[Town Heretic]

often people say dont throw the baby out with the bath water but to me it seems like sticking your hands in a vat of acid for a few shinny baubles found elsewhere . nothing good in the bible is unique .
@Orbit

Not that anyone can't have an opinion, but if I suppose that if I wanted to know about the value of a good barbecue the last person I'd ask is a Hindu. Or, what we value has a great deal to do with our context and the approach it gives us, don't you think?

Among the things I love that are found in scripture is the golden rule. Much of what approaches the rule outside of the faith is prohibitive in nature, more a "do no harm" approach, where the Christian is given an affirmative charge to love and care for his fellow as if that man were himself. That's one among many things I find valuable as a member of the faith.