I can't see how a person can read the Hebrew Bible and be a Christian. If the Hebrew Bible has merit, then Christianity can not. If the Hebrew Bible has no merit, then Christianity can not have merit either. To me it's simple.
Can a person believe that the Bible contradicts itself and be a Christian?
by booker-t 26 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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garybuss
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LittleToe
Didier:
I think one of the main differences between us at the present stage of our respective paths...
I like the way you phrased that. Life is a journey, and every expression of our position is but a waystop on the path...
So if I can call myself a "Christian" and at the same time state that I don't believe in the monotheistic "God", and acknowledge Jesus as a mostly literary and mythical character (which I do love btw), all right. But I sincerely doubt most Christians would accept such a loose use of their label, so I think more honest to them not to claim it.
See, now this is why I call myself an "unorthodox" Christian.
I would hold that the Christ that is presented to us, through the various books of the NT, is filtered through the eyes of the individuals. It is by comparing this to the template of our experience that we come to have an enlarged picture of who he was/is.I acknowledge that most Christians don't like loose labels.
Logical:Good to see you posting a little, again
You can always ask Him
Meanwhile you seem to have a pretty low opinion of everyone who was involved in the promulgating of the beliefs contained in this fascinating piece of literature. -
LittleToe
Gary:How do you reach that conclusion?
I don't see a dichotomy between reading something and befriending the one written about.
For example: I have befriended several on this board, over the years, some of whom are maybe held in low regard. Likely that is due, in part, to their writing style and perspectives. Nonetheless, why should I let that affect my relationship with them? -
frankiespeakin
"Can a person believe that the Bible contradicts itself and be a Christian?" Yes! Because no one has authority to judge another in this matter it is a purely personal beleif. Now if you asked: "Can a person believe that the Bible contradicts itself and be a Christain in good standing in this or that religion?" I would answer: "depends on the religion and the strictness of its tenants". I can call my self a christian even though I do not beleive in jesus or jehovah,,merely because that's the way I was raised. I don't have to drop the label,,even if some object,,it is all in how i interpet the term and how loose or restrictive my use of it is.
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Narkissos
Gary,
Christian gnosticism, and especially marcionism, would easily escape your conclusion: their specific version of the Christian faith is self-based, not OT-based. The apologetic and critical use of the OT in both Paul (who uses the Torah as Scripture, e.g. the story of Abraham, to devaluate the Torah as Law -- "added later by angels") and John (it is only "your Law") would point to the same general direction.
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what_Truth?
Yes. Every Christian church can be defined by what scrpitures they apply literally, symbolicly, the parts they stress and the parts they obscure or ignore. Therefor, it's not too much of a stretch to beleive that there are contradictions in the bible.
I even know some Christians who don't beleive in God at all. They call themselves Christians in the sense that they luse the biblical story of Jesus as a model of how to live their own life, weather it's true or not. -
AK - Jeff
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Ozzie - I would never attempt to countermand the scriptures. I suppose that what I meant is that as opposed to predestiny - the view that all is controlled or pre-ordained - I still think that even without such, God could work out good toward those who love him - within the framework of what is tolerated without predetermination.
Jeff