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Do you feel reading through the bible in the past has benefited you at all?
by Hope4Others 39 Replies latest jw experiences
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OnTheWayOut
I think I can answer the question in the total spirit of how you asked it.
Great minds get together and discuss some famous scientist's book or
philosopher's book or psychiatrist's book. In other circles, everyone has
read certain novels. When we were kids, everyone was expected to
read Charlotte's Web, Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer, later A Clockwork Orangeor The Raven or something else. The Bible has them all beat for popularity.
More people know something about the Bible than any other literature.Even if it isn't true, it's good to know the actual story of Eden or the Flood.
It helps with your knowledge of the world to know what is actually recorded about
Jesus. You are the one who is not in the dark when people discuss beliefs or
holiday celebrations. When someone says "Isn't that a proverb?" you can say
"It might be a Chinese proverb, but it ain't in the Bible."A strange example from my dub days. This elder gives his first Memorial talk. I
tell him that his facts during the talk were "wrong." He said things from the movie,
The Ten Commandments as if they were in the Bible. (I am totally serious) I only
knew he was wrong because I read the book. Among other things, he said that
Pharaoh declared death to the firstborn of Israel so Moses told him, "From your own
mouth comes this last plague" or something like that. It ain't in the Bible. Well,
friends and co-workers say things or want to know what the Bible actually says.
Most former JW's would know.There are negatives also. If psychology swears that the best course is one contrary to
the Bible (corporal punishment, anger, etc.) it is hard to get the ingrained advice from
the Bible out of your thinking (Spare the rod, spoil the child). In morality, it is hard to
refrain from looking down on lifestyles condemned in the Bible. So it has warped me,
but so does television and family and life itself, along with other books I have read.Plus, how can I decide to think for myself and decide whether the Bible is truth or not
without personally having read it? -
free2beme
I think everyone needs to know what is in the bible, in order that you not get side swiped with someone who uses it to manipulate you.
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BurnTheShips
Do you feel reading through the bible in the past has benefited you at all?
Yes. Even if you are an Atheist, the Bible is one of the texts that shaped Western Civ, without a doubt. You cannot claim to be educated without a reasonable grasp of it.
Burn
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Hope4Others
the bible up there with Cinderella
This could be a good thing, there are similarities.
1. Its a well loved Classic
2. From rags to riches (hell to paradise)
3. Good girl gets the reward
4. Enjoyed by countless generations
5. Comes in paper back, hard cover or DVD
6. Handsome prince saves the day
7. You'll find great pleasure in reading it over and over
8. The author is from generations past
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Hope4Others
otwo
how can I decide to think for myself and decide whether the Bible is truth or not
without personally having read it?That's the whole crutch of the matter, whether we accept the bible or not it has it's benefits to have read it. The average person
will not have read the bible in its entirety in their life time.
Thanks for your insight,
hope4others
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Hope4Others
oompa,
Ever played the game "Tree of Life" I loved playing that we would have other couples over on the weekends it was great fun, along with a little wine & cheese.
Long time ago though.
hope
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nomoreguilt
I could never understand why there had to be so many tests on people. I just didn't make any sense. Then I would compare the referanced scriptures in the middle column of the nwt and it only made me wonder more about the truth of what was written and WHY??
Now that I know the TROOF about the fairy tales, it's all just history to me now.
NMG
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spanteach
As a Witness, we were taught that women should not teach the congregation, according to the apostle Paul. I decided to read through the accounts of the first-century Christians after Jesus' return to heaven, so I began with the book of Acts.
I'll never forget coming across Paul's words in one of his letters to the congregations. He basically said "I don't always know what I'm talking about." That gave me food for thought regarding some of the doctrines we'd been taught, including about women teaching the congregations (even though Hope4others, you said "aside from the doctrines") and was another nail in the coffin for me that caused me to eventually leave.
So in short, yes reading the Bible helped me.
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R.Crusoe
In my biased life experience, I'd have to conclude it to be - unquestionably - a negative contributor!
Alternatives could have been much better, but retrospect is a non existent perspective!
hope