The Bible and Satan

[EyeofOdin]

As a non Christian, I've always wondered, why do you believe in the bible so passionately?

You are against idolatry and deification of objects, but you also deify the bible, almost to the extent that it's a fourth segment of the holy trinity or something.

Also why would you take something written obviously with the biases of another culture and interpret it so objectively?

I come from an orally based tradition, not scripturally based, and I can't quite wrap my mind around the idea of basing all beliefs on a book, instead of seeing and experiencing the deity for yourself, usually through unverified personal gnosis. The person who wrote it in the first place may have been lying. I mean I can see using the bible as a reference, guide, or just as a way to preserve traditional myths and lore, but using it as the entire bases of all spiritual beliefs and practices? Forgive me but it just seems a little silly.

There's also a verse talking about how Satan comes as a "being of light" or something, usually interpreted as Satan or evil in general comes to people as something holy or godly. Well how do you know that the bible isn't this "being of light" you speak of? It would make sense considering how much war, death and conflict it's created.

And as a side question, how would you know if a "being of light" is holy or not, if you subjectively say some seemingly holy and good things are satanic and others are godly? What if Satan's "being of light" is really Jesus? and you've all been deceived to follow Satan, and God's in the background trying to reach out to you, but you've been convinced that any other being of light that isn't God, which is actually Satan in this hypothetical situation, is actually Satan?Th

 

[Shiranui117]

As a non Christian, I've always wondered, why do you believe in the bible so passionately?

You are against idolatry and deification of objects, but you also deify the bible, almost to the extent that it's a fourth segment of the holy trinity or something.

Yeah, some of those who adhere to Sola Scriptura do sometimes seem to practice "Bibliolatry"... But not all Christians believe that Christianity is based fully on the Bible--rather, the Bible is a product of Christianity, and is simply the written part of the Apostolic Tradition. In fact, the vast majority of Christians (taking into account all the Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Assyrian Church of the East, all of which combined absolutely dwarf the Protestant denominations in terms of adherents) reject Sola Scriptura as an innovation that's not even 500 years old yet.

Also why would you take something written obviously with the biases of another culture and interpret it so objectively?

Because we have the writings of people who lived at that time and interpreted the Bible, so we know how it was meant to be interpreted--for example, we have a good amount of writings of two students of St. John the Apostle, the author of the Gospel of John, the Book of Revelation, and at least some of the Epistles of John. So we know what the early Christians believed and how they interpreted the Bible.

I come from an orally based tradition, not scripturally based, and I can't quite wrap my mind around the idea of basing all beliefs on a book, instead of seeing and experiencing the deity for yourself, usually through unverified personal gnosis. The person who wrote it in the first place may have been lying. I mean I can see using the bible as a reference, guide, or just as a way to preserve traditional myths and lore, but using it as the entire bases of all spiritual beliefs and practices? Forgive me but it just seems a little silly.

Yeah. It's a good thing that the Bible was never the only source of teaching and doctrine in Christianity; we also have the lives of various Saints, mystics, monks, preachers, bishops, hermits, priests, martyrs, laypeople... All of their lives are testimonies to Christianity, and many of them contain very useful teaching--such as the Desert Fathers.

There's also a verse talking about how Satan comes as a "being of light" or something, usually interpreted as Satan or evil in general comes to people as something holy or godly. Well how do you know that the bible isn't this "being of light" you speak of? It would make sense considering how much war, death and conflict it's created.

The Bible itself has never led to war or death--there have simply been twisted people who have distorted the Bible into what they want it to say. Jesus' multiple exhortations to love those who hate us, bless those who curse us and pray for those who spitefully use us should be proof enough that the Bible does not advertise for Christians to be violent, bloodthirsty people.

And as a side question, how would you know if a "being of light" is holy or not, if you subjectively say some seemingly holy and good things are satanic and others are godly? What if Satan's "being of light" is really Jesus? and you've all been deceived to follow Satan, and God's in the background trying to reach out to you, but you've been convinced that any other being of light that isn't God, which is actually Satan in this hypothetical situation, is actually Satan?Th

Discernment. Jesus said, "You will know them by their fruits." If a message leads to a greater love for God and neighbor, and we can discern that the way a message preaches is not simply dead, superfluous, empty, shallow, cheap, and untenable, but is rather full of life, mystery, fulfillment, depth, richness and can stand up to scrutiny, then it is true. Satan could not possibly give us a message or way that satisfies any of these criteria; his ways are death, sorrow, sin, blindness and loneliness, and that can never change. We as Christians have been working with and towards God, and struggling for two thousand years in our spiritual battles against sin, death and Satan, and many great Saints have given us methods to discern what is the work of Satan and what is the work of God. We're not amateurs when it comes to the topic of finding Satan out.

 

[Thief]

As a non Christian, I've always wondered, why do you believe in the bible so passionately?

I don't use the word Christian upon myself either.
Most Christians would say ...'nay' ...if I tried.

But the Carpenter is my Inspiration.
As for the rest of the text.....
I see useful truth in almost all of the bible.
There are conflicting notions but with some careful thought...not so much.

I think of it as a survival manual for the soul.
Different techniques are displayed.
I happen to prefer the parables.

 

[savagewind]

I don't use the word Christian upon myself either.
Most Christians would say ...'nay' ...if I tried.

But the Carpenter is my Inspiration.
As for the rest of the text.....
I see useful truth in almost all of the bible.
There are conflicting notions but with some careful thought...not so much.

I think of it as a survival manual for the soul.
Different techniques are displayed.
I happen to prefer the parables.

Nice but sad. I think I am also in the class "Most Christians would say ...'nay' ...if I tried" (calling myself Christian).
"a survival manual for the soul" Very good! I would frubal you but it won't let me do it again yet.

A survival manual is for using when it is needed. But the people are using the Bible for when they do not need it and they are thrusting it upon others when they do not need it. It is true we must know it for when it is needed. But it is not for using until it is needed. The Helper is there with it and in control but the people (in their own minds) have taken control away from the helper.

Food at the proper time it is.

 

[ChristineES]

Although I read the Bible to study my faith, I don't feel as though I worship it (or them, I own several translations).