StarTrekAngel,
I think the problem is the way the JWs put the Scriptures on a pedestal unimagined by those who wrote its contents and even by those who were involved in the canonization.
For the JWs, the Bible is a compendium of theology, the complete and final revelation of true religion.
But for Jews, Catholics/Orthodox, and a large number of Protestants, the Bible was never the foundation of religious belief. Scripture is only the reflection of it.
For the JW formula to work (i.e., religious truth is based on the Bible, and thus all in the Bible must be perfectly true), the Scriptures would have had to be composed and canonized before any form of true religion began. That is illogical.
The Hebrew Scriptures were composed by religious Jews who already practiced a very well-established religion. Think of King David who, it is said, composed many of the Psalms. The Psalms are songs of true worship. True worship had to exist first in order for David to compose songs of true worship. This means that true worship comes from a source outside of Scripture, otherwise how could David ever become a true worshipper and compose a song and prayer to be used for true worship?
The same thing goes for the Christian Scriptures. How could people write the Gospel without first coming into contact with Jesus? If the Scriptures are the last word on revelation from G-d, why did Jesus ever need to come in the first place? Why have apostles chosen? Why not just write things down and tell people to believe in them?
This is because the true religion of Christianity existed outside and before the New Testament was composed. A written compendium of beliefs was never made a requisite by Jesus. Most of the apostles never wrote a thing down that we have today. The reason for the college of apostles is because the Church needed living witnesses of the events of Jesus' life. If it was all about following what was written in a book, why have such a college or why have someone outside of it, Paul, compose the majority of the Christian canon?
Scripture is still used by Jews and Catholics and Orthodox (and a few Protestants) the way it was intended when first composed. Have you ever seen a breviary or book used to daven? If you never have, you don't squat about Scripture--I know that might sound insulting, however...
Liturgy was the reason for Scripture. The tales of the origin of the Jewish religion were lived from day to day across the yearly calendar. At first they were told orally, but eventually they became written down. If you note when you read Scripture, a lot of it is poetry. That is because Scripture was designed to be sung or chanted in public worship throughout the year on a calendar we now call the Liturgical Calendar.
Christians followed the same pattern, adding days or feasts based on events in the life of Christ. Texts were composed to be read during the Liturgy for these specific days of the year. You don't believe that Mary literally sang the Magnificat of Luke 1.46-55 do you? Why would the Gospel of John begin with a song? Why is so much of Isaiah and most of Job written as poetry? When was the last time you read a theological treatise written in poetry or verse?
Sorry, JWs, but the Bible was made for worship services, the Liturgy, and not as a revelation of basic truths. It is still chanted and sung to this day in synagogues, churches, and homes by Catholics, Jews, and the Orthodox. The Bible is the product of religion, not its basis.
Christianity is not based on the Bible. It is based on Jesus Christ, a person. The Bible (New Testament) is based on Christianity.
The same goes for the Hebrew Scriptures. They are not the basis for Judaism. Judaism is based on the Great Theophany at Sinai, not the Scriptures. The Hebrews in slavery in Egypt did not, like Joseph Smith, dig up the Bible from the ground, read it, and decide to build a religion based on its words. Instead the Jews lived for centuries on their land and eventually composed books based on their religious beliefs, practices, and mythology.
Religion first. Book last. That is why the words therein don't have to be perfect.
The JWs have it backwards: Book first, religion last. That sounds like Mormonism to me.
