Thread: The Bible

A great book isn't it! Some may call it a story & nothing else...but have you read it in it's entirety? So many scholars have tried to disprove it and failed. Quite a few of those who have tried to disprove it have become believers & even if they didn't become Christians, the attempt to disprove the Bible made them doubt their initial "doubt".

This "book" of books IS a great story, a guide to the way to live a honorable and good life, and will teach you about the greatest Man to ever walk this earth. For anyone who has not read the Bible, I challenge you this: Read it and tell me what you think. If you don't have one, I'll send you a NIV pocket version of the New Testament with Psalms & Proverbs.

For me, I tried to pick it up time and time again throughout my life. I had a copy of the King James version, then a New King James Version. I just couldn't follow along with the Shakespearian type language. Then one day I picked up either a New International Version (NIV) or English Standard Version (ESV) and all of a sudden I could read it. Was it that my level of maturity had grown enough to follow it or was it that I was more receptive...or the comforter? What I do know is that I had a void deep within my soul and this book lead/taught me to learn how to fill that void & become a better man. I'm far from perfect, but do strive to be a better person.

I bring up this controversial subject because there are some who do not believe in the Bible/God/Christ Jesus, but have not had an opportunity to read the Bible to really know what they are talking about & be objective. Knowledge is power anywhere in the world, educate yourself and tell me how reading and understanding the Bible has or has not influenced you one way or another...
Scott

Read it several times, in different versions!!!! No matter how much it is read, one will always find something they missed before. Then one can go to a different version and get even more out of it. I like to think of it as a library or an anthology! Even for those who might be against the idea of a single savior/Lord, it is a wealth of information.

Is there a cliffnotes version?

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

Is there a cliffnotes version?

No cliffnotes that I have seen. Although as I study for ordination I am using whole volumes written on small parts of the Bible

Oh, wait a minute, there is a cliffnotes version Given by Jesus himself:

One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Matthew 22:35-40 (NIV)

As Glen (and others) often say 'round these parts: Ask and you shall receive

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Luke 11:9 (KJV)

Originally Posted by shooter74743

A great book isn't it! Some may call it a story & nothing else...but have you read it in it's entirety? So many scholars have tried to disprove it and failed. Quite a few of those who have tried to disprove it have become believers & even if they didn't become Christians, the attempt to disprove the Bible made them doubt their initial "doubt".

"So many scholars" ... "Quite a few of those" ... can you cite anybody that fits these categories? How would one go about disproving Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter? If someone said, "Hogwarts is real!" how would you prove to them that it isn't?

Lee Strobel for one who pops into my head. Read: The Case for Christ

Editor's note from the book: A former reporter for The Chicago Tribune and former atheist presents a tough-minded investigation of Christian beliefs, interviewing today's scientists, historians, and philosophers to gather compelling evidence for the truth about Jesus. Simultaneous.

Using the dramatic scenario of an investigative journalist pursuing a hot story, Lee Strobel uses his experience as a reporter for the CHICAGO TRIBUNE to interview experts from the fields of science, philosophy, and history in an attempt to force the truth about Jesus Christ and Christianity out into the open.

Portions of this page Copyright 1995 - 2012 Muze Inc. All rights reserved.

NEXT.....

Great book it is and has affected so much into history, both in good and bad. There’s so many beautiful and humane texts to pick and use as a guideline in life yet there are those that might cause (and have caused) lot of misunderstanding and bad things (or things we keep bad today).
Many have tried to prove it or disprove it and failed.
The same can be said about Qaran and most religious texts of other world religions too.

Originally Posted by commiecat

How would one go about disproving Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter? If someone said, "Hogwarts is real!" how would you prove to them that it isn't?

Commiecat, please don't feel as if I am piling on. If someone were to ask to disprove LOTR or Harry Potter, I would look up the books, find out about the author and description of the books to find out that they are fiction. One might also go look for the places or mentions of the places in other literature. Those would be easy to disprove (especially since they are so new and the information is readily available). One might use textual criticism to prove the writings of LOTR, Harry Potter, To Kill a Mockingbird, or the Bible.

Shooter beat me to Lee Strobel

Originally Posted by shooter74743

Lee Strobel for one who pops into my head. Read: The Case for Christ

Editor's note from the book: A former reporter for The Chicago Tribune and former atheist presents a tough-minded investigation of Christian beliefs, interviewing today's scientists, historians, and philosophers to gather compelling evidence for the truth about Jesus. Simultaneous.

Using the dramatic scenario of an investigative journalist pursuing a hot story, Lee Strobel uses his experience as a reporter for the CHICAGO TRIBUNE to interview experts from the fields of science, philosophy, and history in an attempt to force the truth about Jesus Christ and Christianity out into the open.

Portions of this page Copyright 1995 - 2012 Muze Inc. All rights reserved.

NEXT.....

Congrats; one journalist. Let's move beyond my rhetorical question and your ignoring my pertinent one; can you provide some hard numbers for your claims of "so many scholars" and "quite a few of those"? Furthermore, can we separate out the scientific scholars from the journalists?

And back to the pertinent question, how would you disprove things like: Santa Claus, Hogwarts, or Middle-earth?

I have read it part by part, but never all the way through. I am working on that now. I am reading a chapter of OT and NT each morning before work. I am in Exodus and Matthew. The more I read it the more I realize I fall short everyday, but I am still loved and cherished. I think Proverbs 3:5,6 should sum up the whole belief/unbelief thing succinctly....Proverbs 3:5- Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding 3:6- In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.