I'm a former Christian. I was raised in a Protestant and Methodist family. Most of them are still Christians or, at least, monotheists in some fashion. Otherwise the majority of people within society around me are Christians so it's fairly difficult to break from the cultural conditioning after losing one's faith. Since my attempts to do so have failed, I'm re-examining the Bible for purposes other than debate. It is my understanding that Christianity has a lot of different denominations within different branches and interpretations by individual believers. I'm wondering if it's still within the confines of Christian thought if I were to make my own personal interpretation of the Bible and thus call myself Christian? I'm being honest here. I've started to make my own rationally consistent belief structures based on passages within the Bible and I think I could live with seriously adopting them in order to maintain better harmony with my surrounding cultural environment. You know, so that way my family could think that at least I'm Christian and I'm just doing what I think Jesus would do, even if they think differently. This might not work in some Eastern societies, but I think it should within modern Western society with its emphasis on individuality and reason. What do you all think?
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How do new Christian interpretations come about?
- Thread starter Straw Dog
- Start date
Biblestudent_007
Active Member
Dedicated Bible study in combination with the patristic writings of the ECF's.
Pegg
Jehovah our God is One
i would say, dont try and interpret the bible
Let the bible interpret itself because the bible is Gods word...it was inspired by him and it will be interpreted by him. If you are willing to do that then perhaps he will show you the interpretation.
For me, learning the history of how the Bible came to be helped me understand what it was really about, for me.
I was able to see what was happening in society at the time and how/why some books took the stance by pointing out certain things via the choice ,in selection, or importance ,placed on the meaning of, a metaphor/allegory/word.
After I learned a little more about the history of man, I was able to penetrate to what I consider the 'heart' of the message of the Bible's books.
I don't believe the Bible in the inerrant/infallible word of God, but I DO believe that people's ambitions speak loudly to God's Inerrant Truth to end suffering and have peace here on Earth.
50% of the Gospels say JC was born of a virgin.
(1)-25% Gospel emphatically says he existed before time/not begotten.
50% have a 'birth' story, which don't match each other.
50% doesn't say A word about it.
The Crucifying/Tomb/Resurrection stories vary.
If we combine the Gospels Jesus cleared the Temple twice then.
Once in the beginning and once near the end....
They all contain their own truth and reason for character-event selection.
Mark's Jesus seem to be confused until the end as to why he's been forsaken (He's completely innocent)
Even being mocked by both of the prisoners.
While Luke's JC is very confident and aware of the why. (He's truly THE Son of God)
One of the prisoners asks Jesus to remember him.
Saying Jesus is 'this, that and the other thing' essentially creates a '5th' Gospel of sorts.
We do this every Christmas when we have a Christmas pageant.
Nothing wrong with that at all really.
But for me, in the coarse of reading the Books horizontally, comparing I feel I still find Truth in the midst of varied historical accounts and theological suggestions.
Perhaps these are different 'faces' of Jesus that speak to us in our own way and circumstance?
I Do think there is meaning in the Gospels and the Bible, don't get me wrong.
So I suppose my suggestion to the question is read with a historical-critical eye, getting out of the devotional mindset somewhat and read closely.
To ME that exploring is still very much part of the devotional mindset, because you're still searching for God and to know His ways.
:namaste
SageTree
I was able to see what was happening in society at the time and how/why some books took the stance by pointing out certain things via the choice ,in selection, or importance ,placed on the meaning of, a metaphor/allegory/word.
After I learned a little more about the history of man, I was able to penetrate to what I consider the 'heart' of the message of the Bible's books.
I don't believe the Bible in the inerrant/infallible word of God, but I DO believe that people's ambitions speak loudly to God's Inerrant Truth to end suffering and have peace here on Earth.
50% of the Gospels say JC was born of a virgin.
(1)-25% Gospel emphatically says he existed before time/not begotten.
50% have a 'birth' story, which don't match each other.
50% doesn't say A word about it.
The Crucifying/Tomb/Resurrection stories vary.
If we combine the Gospels Jesus cleared the Temple twice then.
Once in the beginning and once near the end....
They all contain their own truth and reason for character-event selection.
Mark's Jesus seem to be confused until the end as to why he's been forsaken (He's completely innocent)
Even being mocked by both of the prisoners.
While Luke's JC is very confident and aware of the why. (He's truly THE Son of God)
One of the prisoners asks Jesus to remember him.
Saying Jesus is 'this, that and the other thing' essentially creates a '5th' Gospel of sorts.
We do this every Christmas when we have a Christmas pageant.
Nothing wrong with that at all really.
But for me, in the coarse of reading the Books horizontally, comparing I feel I still find Truth in the midst of varied historical accounts and theological suggestions.
Perhaps these are different 'faces' of Jesus that speak to us in our own way and circumstance?
I Do think there is meaning in the Gospels and the Bible, don't get me wrong.
So I suppose my suggestion to the question is read with a historical-critical eye, getting out of the devotional mindset somewhat and read closely.
To ME that exploring is still very much part of the devotional mindset, because you're still searching for God and to know His ways.
:namaste
SageTree
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sojourner
Annoyingly Progressive Since 2006
Except that's not the way it works...i would say, dont try and interpret the bible
Let the bible interpret itself because the bible is Gods word...it was inspired by him and it will be interpreted by him. If you are willing to do that then perhaps he will show you the interpretation.
sojourner
Annoyingly Progressive Since 2006
Xy isn't defined by textual interpretation. It's defined by living a life of intentionally loving God and loving your neighbor.
kepha31
Active Member
kosherzombie,
Scroll to paragraph 12, I think you will find plenty of reason on interpreting the Bible: Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation - Dei Verbum
Sample:
12. However, since God speaks in Sacred Scripture through men in human fashion, (6) the interpreter of Sacred Scripture, in order to see clearly what God wanted to communicate to us, should carefully investigate what meaning the sacred writers really intended, and what God wanted to manifest by means of their words...
Scroll to paragraph 12, I think you will find plenty of reason on interpreting the Bible: Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation - Dei Verbum
Sample:
12. However, since God speaks in Sacred Scripture through men in human fashion, (6) the interpreter of Sacred Scripture, in order to see clearly what God wanted to communicate to us, should carefully investigate what meaning the sacred writers really intended, and what God wanted to manifest by means of their words...
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Muffled
Jesus in me
That would fit in with Americn Baptist, Congregational or UCC with a prerequisite. The prerequisite is that the person has become a Christian.
pwfaith
Active Member
I am not being snarky or anything, I am curious about the bolded. Are you wanting to learn more about the Bible in order to simply fool your family so they will leave you alone about your new chosen faith/religion?