The Bible: It does'nt make sense

by Leander 34 Replies latest jw friends

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  Leander

  As I was exercising this morning I was thinking about my decision to step down as a ministerial servant and also to stop attending religious functions of any kind. I've often felt that JWs were somewhat flawed in their interpertation of the scriptures, but this morning it kind of hit me all at once that no 2 religions are going to have the exact same beliefs even though both religions might be using the same translation of the bible. This disturbing fact raises quite a few thought provoking questions:

  If God really wants us to know him, why would it be so difficult for mankind to get a similar or correct understanding of his word the bible?

  Why would Satan be allowed to corrupt or alter God's word when there are honest people truly seeking to learn about God thru the bible?

  Why are there no miracles, prophets or divine influence in modern times the way it was in bible times? Especially considering that our time period is one that has the greatest need of any other period in human history?

  If angels were persuaded to leave heaven and join in with Satan, why would God banish Satan and all his demons to the Earth where imperfect humans dwelled? If angels who lived in the very presence of God fell prey to Satan what hope is there for humans?

  Why have humans through-out bible history been punished with death, yet Satan and his demons have lived for thousands and thousands of years? Also has there been any human who has sinned against God the way Satan has?

  Those are just a few questions that we could ask about the bible and God. In order for a person to have faith there needs to be a basis or foundation for that faith to be built upon. In my 30 years of existence I've come to realize that the bible does'nt build a solid foundation at all, in fact a close examination reveals the bible to be on very shaky ground.
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  Farkel

  Of course the Bible doesn't make sense. It's all so "spiritually deep!"

  Farkel
• 

  Bang

  Why would Satan be allowed to corrupt or alter God's word when there are honest people truly seeking to learn about God thru the bible?

  That's close to the answer - try dropping the "honest" for a minute, and then consider, "what's so particularly honest about that?".

  Why are there no miracles, prophets or divine influence in modern times the way it was in bible times?

  There are, but those who seek for a sign aren't given one, except the sign of Jonah.

  June 16, 2002. Padre Pio, an Italian Capuchin monk who died in 1968 - recognised by church. " Doctors never found a medical explanation for his bleeding hands and feet which never healed but never became infected." And you're welcome to say it's a lie.

  If God really wants us to know him, why would it be so difficult for mankind to get a similar or correct understanding of his word the bible?

  Like we could have a deal with Him? The One we say we love - look after, protect. I shouldn't even speak so much.

  Bang
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  Undecided

  Hi Bang,

  What are you saying, Bang! I have found the answers to the bibles mysteries and all other religions are doing something wrong because they don't understand it like I do?

  Ken P.
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  Bang

  No, I'm skeptical of the motives of people that are looking for God in a book rather than in the people they see, and it gives an answer to the question asked. "You search the scriptures but don't come to me"

  And, that it's not like somekind of business deal where you're required to understand a written contract that you better get it right or you might lose in the deal - that's the thing with Judas and Esau - loss in a deal. It doesn't matter what religion you are really. I read the Dalai Lama say "My religion is kindness". Christ said "I want kindness". So to me the Dalai is a good Christian, but not just because it's written that Christ said that. That may well be, but my own sense of right and wrong agrees, or my yes is no and my no, yes.

  So many people people are looking for the "truth" in an effort to find where to measure out and pay the appropriate sacrifice - and they can't find it so they remain confused - "where do I pay?"

  I also believe in the current occurence of prophecy, miracles etc. and it's just that I don't like to talk very much about certain things.

  Bang

  Edited by - Bang on 8 July 2002 10:10:30
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  nancee park

  I'M A JAH CHRISTIAN ANSWERING EVERY ONE OF YOUR QUESTIONS:

  Q. If God really wants us to know him, why would it be so difficult for mankind to get a similar or correct understanding of his word the bible? A. The message is easy and summarized as love your neighbor. This is in the Christian Bible and also in other writings for Hindus, Buddhists etc.

  Q. Why would Satan be allowed to corrupt or alter God's word when there are honest people truly seeking to learn about God thru the bible? A. Scholars marvel that despite thousands of years the Bible's translation has held steady.

  Q. Why are there no miracles, prophets or divine influence in modern times the way it was in bible times? Especially considering that our time period is one that has the greatest need of any other period in human history? A. The sun rose this morning which is always a miracle. A child was born. A flower grew. Hubble shows an awesome universe. Prophets and divine influence we also see when we read the Bible or open our eyes. Since the greatest need is now the Bible is the now the most widely printed and available book in most all languages on Earth.

  Q. If angels were persuaded to leave heaven and join in with Satan, why would God banish Satan and all his demons to the Earth where imperfect humans dwelled? If angels who lived in the very presence of God fell prey to Satan what hope is there for humans? A. Because on Earth the issue of is God fit to rule us was already underway. There is hope because God can resurrect even the worst sinners. TV resurrects John Wayne all the time; cloning reconstitutes creatures with the same DNA. What do you mean there's no more miracles?!

  Q. Why have humans through-out bible history been punished with death, yet Satan and his demons have lived for thousands and thousands of years? Also has there been any human who has sinned against God the way Satan has? A. Satan not God caused human death. John 3:16 says God loves humans and will bring them back to exist forever.

  NOW ANSWER MY QUESTION: DID YOU READ THIS?
• 

  Silverleaf

  You pose good questions:

  Q. If God really wants us to know him, why would it be so difficult for mankind to get a similar or correct understanding of his word the bible?

  It would not. A true God would not place his important teachings in a book that has to be translated, interpreted and misinterpreted by a certain group of people. A true God would place the answers in the earth and the world around us so that anyone could understand them.

  Q. Why would Satan be allowed to corrupt or alter God's word when there are honest people truly seeking to learn about God thru the bible?

  A true God's word would not be corrupted. The idea that God created a being to oppose him and torture mankind is absurd.

  Q. Why are there no miracles, prophets or divine influence in modern times the way it was in bible times? Especially considering that our time period is one that has the greatest need of any other period in human history?

  I think there are miracles. Humankind has walked on the moon, eradicated certain diseases, life thrives often where it would seem impossible but it does, the universe continues. It is all miraculous. One of the greatest miracles is human intelligence - any religion that speaks against education or higher learning is obviously a false one.

  Q. If angels were persuaded to leave heaven and join in with Satan, why would God banish Satan and all his demons to the Earth where imperfect humans dwelled? If angels who lived in the very presence of God fell prey to Satan what hope is there for humans?

  It doesn't make sense that an omnipotent God would create a being to oppose Him and allow the fallout of this battle to effect humans. It's absurd. It also doesn't make sense that an omniscient God would need to 'test' humanity by allowing evil to rule to separate the wheat from the chaff. An omnicient God would know the good from the bad without a 10,000 year test.

  Q. Why have humans through-out bible history been punished with death, yet Satan and his demons have lived for thousands and thousands of years? Also has there been any human who has sinned against God the way Satan has?

  Because imperfect men wrote the Bible as a means to explain the inexplicable, justify their wars, their prejudices and their mysogeny and keep their children and their enemies in line.

  JMHO,

  Silverleaf
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  The_Bad_Seed

  Question: "Why would Great God Jehovah allow 32,000 of His children die of starvation each day?"

  Answer: "Because he is a loving God!"
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  Morgaine

  The questions are interesting ones for sure. To add in a few ideas with your explorations on the subject, I have recently found some links in my own searches that you may like... http://www.ffrf.org/bybarker.html (cool site - interesting thoughts here) http://www.religioustolerance.org/ (this site is good for getting a broad overview of all religons and thier major doctrines ... also has links for in depth reading within the articles as well.) http://www.ffrf.org/fttoday/ http://www.ffrf.org M.

  Edited by - morgaine on 8 July 2002 10:56:28
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  Dawn

  Hi Leander:

  I found the bible VERY confusing until I started to read it WITHOUT help of the WTBS Study Aids. They twist the scriptures so much that it is impossible to understand it.

  The bible was written in such a way that it has many meanings. For instance - take the scripture "You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free". To me that means something totally different than it might mean to someone who never knew about Jesus, or to someone who suffered depression and overcame it, etc. etc.

  There are details in the Bible that are argued by many different Churches - for instance, when will the rapture occur, was Jesus' words in Matthew (about this generation) directed to the Jews at that time facing the destruction of Isreal only, who is the "beast" in Revelation, etc. etc. We can focus on all these little "interpretations" so much that we miss the big picture - salvation through Jesus. That is the whole focus of the bible - the Old Testament leads up to the Messiah - the New Testament is all about the Messiah and gaining salvation through him - and him only. No religion, denomination, nothing else.

  Leander - most people will question EVERYTHING about the bible when they start questioning the JW's because for so long they WERE THE BIBLE. It's natural to question it all - and YOU SHOULD. Do your research and don't be afraid to question - if you don't ask the questions how would you ever look for the answers right? I found it helpful to start studying how I could prove if the bible was true or not by studing about prophecies written before they occurred. I've also found the Torah codes really interesting.

  Nancee Park - what's a Jah Christian? Is that a JW? Just curious