Is the bible the word of god?
No, dear Twitch (as always, peace to you!). My Lord, the Holy One of Israel and Holy Spirit, JAHESHUA, the Chosen One of JAH (MischaJah) is the ONLY Word of God. As the Bible itself states in various places.
Do all christians believe the bible is not the word of god?
Otherwise, it would seem a grave misunderstanding that's been going on for near two millenia then, no?
If so, then we should believe it and not any person's interpretation, yes?
If so, yes. Since it is not, though...
We should believe people's interpretations of god and not the bible itself as the word of god. Is this correct?
For by definition, any and every human cannot completely understand god.
God, no, not completely. His Son, though, yes. Completely. Which is what "the Bible" also states.
We can understand the son of god completely but not god. Also, we can trust the bible to understand jesus but not god since it's not the word of god but that of jesus then. Fair assessment?
If not, then why bother knowing it at all?
I've asked that question many times. Unfortunately, some do "need" it. They either can't/don't/won't.... or have not yet learned to fully... walk by FAITH... versus by sight. The Bible appeals to the sense of sight: you know, for those who need to see a thing "in writing."
You're saying that some need the bible as they don't have "fully complete" faith then? Is the bible a kind of "God For Dummies" book then, since it's not the true word of god and is not actually needed by someone who has learned to walk by faith?
We may be converging on an agreement here if so, lol
Aguest, I believe that what you and other christians believe is real to you.
Thank you... and why keep taking issue, then, dear Twitch (again, peace to you!)... unless you just want to understand (which is totally fine and understandable); however, to keep CONTENDING about it makes no sense at all, to me. You ask, we answer. You don't understand... so, why not just ask more questions? But you don't LIKE the answers... why continue even discussing, then? I mean, they're not going to change... contrary to what some of you may think/want...
I question in order to break it down and understand, for much of what you say is unorthodox and foreign to me. If it's any consolation, I also question my own beliefs just as much and have since I was able to reason enough to do so. Of course, my beliefs are different from yours and I suspect that much like yourself, I feel the need to espouse mine and challenge others to see what stands up to reason and what is "right" (for me at least). Also, like you I endeavor to help others of like mind to take what is discussed and draw their own conclusions. Perhaps this isn't about you or I at all in the bigger picture. However, it matters not to me if you or they agree or not with either me or you, everyone has a right to believe as they wish. So on that we do agree.
I just don't know why it's any more or less real than alternative beliefs about god.
Ummm... you're asking ME? I'm not the one asking folks about their [other] beliefs about [god]. People can believe... or not believe... whatever they wish. They don't answer to me. Now, if one is making false claims ABOUT the God I know... then I offer correction/accurate information. Even then, though, they don't HAVE to believe/agree with me. They can take it... or leave it. I wonder, though, if "you" are so much more intelligent than, say, "us"... YOU don't see it that way, too... but must INSIST that others believe/agree with YOU. What do you CARE?
Well, this was rhetorical and wasn't specifically asking you anything. But you believe in god, why not ask you about the subject of it? Other beliefs account for and even accept other concepts of god. Does yours? If not, why? If belief, faith and knowledge of god does not rely on a book but on personal experience, why is one person's experience any more or less valid than another's? Again, I don't insist that others believe what I say to be true. My opinion on truth as regards belief has always been that it's subjective and thus cannot be "insisted" on. There is no "absolute truth" that all agree on which is a fact in the world, is it not? In fact, I've never been a supporter of one absolute "truth", unlike yourself. Have you considered your own bias towards "us" perhaps?
Of course the question puts the burden of proof on you as a believer.
I have to refer you to my response to dear UC above: who says? I mean, since YOU are the one ASKING... why isn't the burden on YOU to prove what you DON'T believe? And why is that since you CAN'T prove what you don't believe (that there is no God)... how are you "right" in putting the burden on "us"?
I and other skeptics/atheists here continually provide evidence of what we don't believe, of this I'm sure you're aware. Whether or not you like or choose to accept the answers we provide is not on "us" ;) As for the question that still stands though, it seems quite simple really. You claim there is a god. Others make the same claim. The question is not burden of proof for god but rather what determines whether a god is real or fake. What determines a true god from a false one. What determines what or why the christian god is superior to others. As for burden of proof on proving something doesn't exist, that is of course a logical fallacy, so it is right that a question involving belief in god rests on believers.
I can only attest to what I experience and believe, not unlike yourself or anyone for that matter.
Yet, you take issue with me... for doing the EXACT same thing? My understanding is that that is what's called... wait for it... hypocrisy. Do you not SEE that, dear one?
I'm not the one who proposes belief in something that most do not see or hear and that which should be universal and clearly understood yet remains the most divisive and contended belief since time began. I say god is subjective, you say it is absolute. Of course such absolute claims would be contested and I see no hypocrisy in asking questions and putting it to the test. I ask a straightforward and simple question which you song and dance around and point some kinda finger at me. Your avoidance of answering the question and the subversion of it is all too apparent.
So the question remains, who or what determines whether a god is real or fake?
And the response remains... why don't YOU tell "us"... since whatever response we GIVE won't be "acceptable" TO you?
You haven't given an answer at all and assume what my reaction will be. Doesn't seem fair does it?
Seems a fair question to ask a believer what determines if a god is fake or not. Seems fairer still to apply it to all beliefs on god and see what answers are given. Perhaps a truth can be found there somewhere.
However, choosing to avoid the question still says something doesn't it?
