WHY DO YOU INSIST on clinging to the Bible as anything other than fiction?

by Terry 72 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  Terry

  Have you made the same effort investigating the history of how scripture was written down, compiled, redacted and selected as you did reinforcing your JW doctrines week after week at the Kingdom Hall?

  If you have; then you know it cannot be factual.

  There have always been agendas. The people with the agendas needed to wield power and using an invisible backup agent was a great device for controlling others.

  Somebody is always insisting they have an invisible and mysterious SOURCE of divine information and selling it like hotcakes and syrup. But, why are you still buying?

  Or, are you?

  When will you ever learn that this is a scam among many scams. It has many faces and the lyrics change from place to place but, the tune is always the same.

  The Faithful and Discreet Slave mysteriously have connections to God's own lips. Well good for them! But, bad for those who believe the feckless dreck they offer to those who will listen and follow.

  Do you insist on clinging to the Bible as anything other than fiction?

  Or, have you moved on?

  When will you learn to think for yourself? Because, you see, if you still believe in the Bible--then you are still slogging away reading some other mystical conman's interpretation of private source knowledge. You've traded one pair of handcuffs for another.

  Please tell me you've moved on.

  Face the truth: the real TRUTH: NOBODY knows anything that isn't available to every one of us. There is no "there" there.
• 

  Happy Guy :)

  Terry it's good to see you drop in. We had a thread like this about a week ago. Something along the lines of: Do you believe (in) the bible. You can try looking for it but I think the majority said no (paraphrasing as some made some good witty remarks indicating a negative).
• 

  gumby

  Have you made the same effort investigating the history of how scripture was written down, compiled, redacted and selected as you did reinforcing your JW doctrines week after week at the Kingdom Hall?
  

  If you have; then you know it cannot be factual.

  What is interesting Terry, is that thousands of honest men/women have examined both sides in earnest effort and STILL some believe. Could it be there is enough argumentation pro christian that people can say they STILL believe in all honesty? I'm not one to believe that ALL who have examined both sides are being dishonest with themselves if they still remain believers.

  Gumby
• 

  Brummie

  I'm not one to believe that ALL who have examined both sides are being dishonest with themselves if they still remain believers.

  I think you have got it right there gumby, thumbs up.

  Brummie
• 

  shamus

  Moved on, I don't cling to bullshit.

  To those that do, enjoy! Just differing opinions.
• 

  mjarka911

  For me, it was natural to research the bible after leaving the organization. After an entire lifetime of preaching that only the JW teachings were in harmony with the bible the question had to be resolved. If I believed in the bible but felt the JW org was not the right one - then which was?

  I really enjoyed this site:

  http://www.geocities.com/questioningpage/index.html

  It is well reasoned with no agenda. It logically follows a path of questioning that, if you are serious about doing the heavy lifting of research , can only lead one place. Also, I enjoyed Who Wrote the Bible by Friedman. It opened my eyes to all the things Fred Franz omitted in creating the NWT.

  In the end - I just feel free. Who knows if this life is all we get? Make the most of it doing what is important to you and leaving the world a better place after you're gone!

  P.S. Terry - I always enjoy the way your mind works.
• 

  avishai

  Nope, it's a crock
• 

  Big Tex

  WHY DO YOU INSIST on clinging to the Bible as anything other than fiction?

  Because I'm a foolish, idiotic, brain-dead and strange iconolocast who allows his idealistic hopes and dreams to intrude on reality and overwhelm logic and reason?
• 

  ohiocowboy

  I, too, believe that the Bible is a work of fiction for the most part. Sure, there are some things that really happened, but were exaggerated on by the writers. Keep in mind that hallucinogenic, mind altering drugs have been around since the beginning of mankind, and some of the stories that one finds in the Bible seem to prove the point...
• 

  Valis

  OMO the biggest reason people believe in the bible is because they find the metaphors appropriate for their life. One would hope it would not be the most violent and incredible portions of the text that attract them, but the notions of loving kindness. I guess it is like most things you do in your life where you buy into something and if you don't believe it whole heartedly then what is the use? No problem there. The problem comes when the bible becomes the exclusive reference for metaphors in one's life. So many other cultural references with similar stories and things to share that there are out there. Books like the Upanishads, Popol Vuh, Baghvadgita (Sp?), Black Elk Speaks, Be Here Now, etc.. Well worth looking into whether it be for the athiest or the biblical follower.

  Sincerely,

  District Overbeer