Seriously...I'm just curious to see if you people actually know who wrote the Bible, when and why.\nAre you aware that the Bible is actually a selection and recopilation of several Christian texts done by the Roman Emperor Justinian, behind closed doors, to unify Christianism and keep the religion under his control?\nAre you aware that Justinian is believed to have remained secretly a pagan?\nAre you aware that most Christians celebrations (ie: Christmas and Mass) were originally Roman Pagan celebrations?\nAre you aware that Justinian deliberately excluded those texts in which Christ was shown to behave more human-like and less divine, from the Bible? Are you aware that, of the many followers and apostoles that Jesus Christ had, less than half of their texts are included in the Bible?\n\nI honestly don't know how some people can believe so blindly in a book that they don't know who wrote, and with which purpose. Think about this next time you want to bash gay people with your quotes, ok?
205582
Yes! I love that I've found someone else who knows this. (I watch a lot of History Channel and learned a lot about lost gospels that weren't included simply because of the politics of the day.) \n\nThe earliest gospel about Jesus was actually written about three decades after his death, and yet it speaks as if it were a first hand account. The author wouldn't have known Jesus. \n\nAnd I don't know why it's such an atrocity for Jesus to be depicted as human. He was. And he very well could've been married. Jewish men two thousand years ago were expected to marry. You couldn't be a rabbi without being married, and he was called rabbi. \n\nAlso, many Old Testament stories were much older in origin. Like for example the flood story came from the Epic of Gilgamesh, an ancient Sumerian epic poem. The bible is not history. It's a collection of myths and tales. \n\nAnd it's true about the older holidays. When the early church was trying to convert everyone to their religion, they overshadowed old religions' holidays to make the conversion easier for the pagans. Christmas is at the winter solstice when pagans celebrated the return of the sun, when the days would get longer. In the bible, it clearly says that Jesus was born in the spring when sheppards were out with their flocks. So it's obvious that they deliberately put the birth of their savior in the winter.\n\nReligions have always been fluid. They mix and interact with other religions and myths they come in contact with. Tales have been passed down for thousands of years and always change as they go. Nothing is original anymore.
211495
I think the site is very interesting. Conservative Christians believe the bible is the word of god, which is obviously not true, as people here have said, there is a difference between the old and new testiment... therefore they ignore parts of the bible, so people DO ignore some of gods words! I have always wondered how people decided what parts of the bible they to ignore and what parts they follow... and have posted a lot of questions about that.. no one has an answer, they say you feel it in your heart or through god... all this explains why in the past Christians were so racist and destroyed so many cultures... and why they are homophobic now. They are affraid to even question the bible, but by ignoring things (like the old testiment) they not only question, they judge and reject. The site is worth a read... as it comes to the conclusion.. lets just reject the lot!\nChristianity is like this weight dragged along by humanity, reinforcing old out dating philosophies. We drag them along.. and say to them... slavery is bad.. they argue its in the bible, its ok... then after time the accept, because its from society where they get their beliefs not the bible.
126984
The Gospel of Judas was written many many years after the apostles lived and their associates (Timothy and Luke). Where did you get your historical research? \nGive me a break. \n\nThe gnostic gospels are from beliefs that began in the 2nd and 3rd century, which meens that the writings come from a time period more than 100 years after Jesus ministry, far later than any New Testament book. Why in the world should we believe that these later documents tell us more about events than the earlier documents? They are simply not useful for trying to understand Jesus ministry and the shape of very early Christianity. (1)\n\nThe gnostic gospels were late arrivals, which is ONE reason why church leaders rejected them ... they lacked authority since their authors were neither (a) apostles of Jesus nor (b) persons associated with apostles of Jesus... and no one knows who wrote those gnostic gospels. (2)
102650
I agree with you on the bible.People do not seem to relize that God did not write the bible that man did.Their are so many things about it that just confuse the hell out of me. I think he wanted to see if we would choose him on our own based on all the different ideas of him floating around this world. We are just rats in a maze.Wouldnt it really be something if we were some science experiment for a more intelligent being
292155
1)Christianity is the religion of persecution and bigotry. It says it isn't but its history says otherwise. Ask the Jews.\n2)Jesus wanted all his disciples to be like him, which is to say, wandering penniless homeless celibate monks. No thanks!\n3)Jesus prohibits divorce except for adultery. Apparently Jesus had little experience with alcoholics. I cannot follow a teacher who puts such a blanket prohibition on divorce.\n4) Jesus was not the Messiah. The Jews were looking for a king who was a military genius (like Alexander the Great). They expected the Messiah to tackle Rome and drive the Romans out of Israel. Jesus denied he was this Messiah (my kingdom is not of this earth).\n5) The Bible is  a partisan document edited and compiled by men who were hostile to women. Gospels like "The Gospel of Mary" and the "Gospel of Thomas" were just thrown out as being heretical. \n6) Christianity embraces orthodoxy - thinking those thoughts that you are taught and which are allowed. Thinking your own thoughts about God leads to heresy. *uck this shit.\n7)The miracles are unbelievable.\n8) The Bible contradicts itself in serious ways. There is an entire literature of Biblical criticism devoted to this problem. Library shelves are full of books like this.\n9) The Bible lies and mangles history. Joshua did not stop the Sun.\n10) Some of the Bible's commands are horrible. If you doubt it, read Leviticus and Deuteronomy.
230599
There is no evidence at all that the Council of Nicea was infallible. There is no evidence at all that what we presently have as "the Bible" is what G_d intended mankind to have as the total picture of the message to humanity from G_d. When one reads, as a example, The Gospel of Thomas, it's clear that the sayings there are for the most part the earliest and clearest renditions of the words of Jesus the Christ. I say that first of all because of how they hit my inner man and the Holy Spirit within me and secondly because they are the only words attribited to Jesus the Christ that make sense and jibe with the historical record. The Jesus of the Roman Catholic approved Gospels is if not a total Systemoid, at least not very threatening. In fact its impossible to imagine that anyone encountering the guy in the four Roman Catholic Gospels would want to crucify him, BUT THE GUY IN THOMAS whould anger any entrenched powerful institution. He has the Hard edge to him of a prophet of G_d, just like one would expect Messiah to have.\n\nBut then I dont believe Pauls letters are scripture, nor do i believe he was a Apostle, or even a Pharasee.....So I'm a "heretic" so what?
139818
O.k. before I begin I'm also Christian, but not your average Christian due to the fact I believe in all religions.\n\nFirst Off I'm not exactly saying the Bible is a full of lies, I' just telling you my opinion on it (listen carefully)\n\nAfterwards I will answer your question about the virgin Mary.\n\nFirst off the Bible was written by man, not God. Man is not perfect.  Some of the things might be a little bit different then it actually was.  I mean think about it when the apostles were stranded on the boat and Jesus walked on water towards them who was writting down everything that was happening? No, it had to be written down later.\nCan you recall everything perfectly that happened to you yesturday, can you recite word for word what somebody told you?\n\nThis is the true reason why the Bible contradicts itself.  Because man wrote it.  Here is another intristing fact; Some kings in ancient times thought the Bible was boring, so they had someone spice it up a bit.  According to research it has been corrected, but with all these things how can anybody say it's 100% fact.  It even contradicts itself, Eye for an eye; if someone slaps your left cheeck.\n\nThe truth about the Bible is that it is based on truth, but it itself is nothing more then a tall tale. Kinda of like Santa Clause. There actually was a Saint Nick. He gave toys to girls and boys, but the stories have been altered and created a Santa Clause.  There is truth in there, but there are also embelishments, and so forth.  The Bible should be red for it's message, not the stories.  I mean think about it; which apostle was there when the soldiers were whipping Jesus, saying all kinds of nasty things.  Yes, it probably did happen, but it could not have been written down like it was in the Bible unless the person writting it was right there writting things down word for word.\n\nWith all these things combined the Bible is not exactly right, but if you were to talk about your days living with your parents you could easily discribe what happened, even though it might not exactly be 100%.  The message will live on, even though the stories might not be 100% accuarate.\n\nNow as for why some people might say Mary was no Virgin.  The truth is they use to say Jesus never exsisted, but now science and history has confirmed his exsistance. No they have not confirmed he is the Son of God or a lot of the other miricles, but they have confirmed his exsistance. So the people who don't want to believe in him need to find another way to doubt him.  They have chosen that Mary was not a Virgin.  This will be extremely difficult for anybody to prove or disprove don't you think?
617619
I agree with you 100%  Many of the morons who proclaim their atheistism have no idea what the bible has to say.  Also, so many say that Christians twist the meanings of the scriptures to say what they want to hear.  The the Atheist are 10 times worse.  The ones that actually do read the Bible can take an absolutely beautiful verse and twist it into something Hannis.  They are also notorious for taking things out of context, and picking one verse out of a complete story to bash.    It is also very interesting that some of these Atheist spends so much time reading the bible...that's the real kicker.  I have absolutely no interest in Pagan Cults, I do not believe and don't care too.  I leave it at that.  I don't read their books, and challenge their beliefs, I just ignore it.  Most of the proclaimed Atheist on this Q&A challange and read the Bible because they want to beleive in God, they just need our help to get on the right path.  As you can see there are more athesist crawling on the spirtuality and religion section than Christians.  If they didn't crave the Good News, they wouln'd follow this section.
21419
It was interesting hearing what you had to say because I'm currently taking a Biblical Ethics class, and I have decided to do my research paper on the Homosexual issue.  I will know better how to answer your question after the research, but for now, I'll just express my opinions.\n\nNot all religions view homosexuality the same way, and not even all Christians view it the same way.  It seems clear to me that the Bible clearly condemns male homosexual relations.  (Female homosexual relations are not mentioned at all in the Old Testament, but it was written by men, and mostly for male readers, so perhaps it is implied).\n\nThe Bible however did not come down from God in the way that traditionalists think.  It was written by different people in different times and places, and the different voices therein conflict.  So what we have in the Bible are different views of various people, and it is quite clear that some of those people were homophobic.  They called homosexual relations "an abomination before the Lord."  These people were just expressing their gut reaction to gays.  They were intolerant, they did not understand the phenomenon, and so they basically just said, "Yuck," and didn't think about it anymore.  They just assumed it was bad and evil.\n\nOf course, most Christians do not realize that the Bible is the word of men and not God.  They were raised to believe that it is the Word of God, usually by honest, good parents who do not otherwise lie.  Therefore they believe their parents.  Why wouldn't they?  Their parents seemed to be right about other things.  So they never come to realize that well-meaning people can be totally incorrect and they perpetuate the teaching that the Bible is the Word of God.  \n\nNow these people, in their heart of hearts, often have compassion for gay people and have a tendency towards tolerance for them.  However, the people are trained to NOT listen to their hearts!  They think their hearts are wrong, and go against their own consciences to follow the Bible.  They justify this by saying, "God knows better than me."  \n\nMy mom is just such a person.  I can tell that in her heart, she would like to be tolerant of LBGT people.  But she can't let go of her belief in the Bible.  So she just can't let herself live according to her own conscience on this matter.  It is a very complicated issue.  My mom is not stupid or heartless.  She has her reasons for believing in the Bible.  It is not as simple as saying, "People who believe in the Bible are just idiots."\n\nI am not a Christian, but I am a very religious person.  I support LBGT rights.  I would like to just point out these 2 things:  that not all religious people are anti-gay.  And that not everything about religion is BS.  True, there is BS in religions, but not everything in a religion is BS.  Our job as religious people is to be discerning about that.  We must be willing to let go of a religious belief if it is proven false.  We must not be attached to our religion.  Religion is merely a means to a goal, and too many of us won't let go of the religion to get to the goal!  \n\nBut there are certain religious practices that are very good.  Daily affirmations of what is good in life, time spent daily working on how to improve compassion within yourself, reading of certain Scriptures which teach wisdom and love, devotion and humility before other humans and God (for those who believe in God) -- these are all beneficial to someone (and the people around him/her).
585102
Okay, back in the day when the first set of pagans under Constantine converted to Christianity, a group of clergies and etc...got together and collected all the books every written by those who lived in that era of Jesus.  They sat in a council and decided which books they wanted to include in the bible and which ones they would throw out.  The people who wrote the current books of the bible read many of the ones who were not included, thus leaving us with a half written story of the bible.
599773
It's all a load of nonsense. The whole 666 thing came from the Bible, which was put together by a bunch of Romans who wanted to control people. Why is it people still believe in the Bible despite the fact it is just a selective history? They take it as gospel, at face value. There were hundreds of books but only a few were chosen to go in the Bible, the ones that reflected the view of the Romans and gave across the views that they wanted to give across. Know a story when you read one!
658221
The bible was written by human beings, so who is to say that any of it is true? Show me something tangible, and not just something that is written down by people, who for all we know, could have just been yankin our chains. As for priests, pastors and the like, every one of them has their own interpretation of the bible, so if you believe, why in the world would you need someone to be a "relay" from you to god??? I don`t know how many times I have heard the saying, "god hears all prayers", so why go to church to have the priest or whoever, tell you what is what, when you could do it in the privacy of your own home, and I will even answer that as well, $$$$$$$, have any of you ever checked out how much the catholic church is worth, tunzamoney, thats how much, not too mention the real evil types, the televangelists, who rake in who knows how many millions a year, and look at all the trouble they are constantly getting into, and yet, there are so many Gullible people that still continue to send them money.  Religion=Money, and none of it is intended for your benefit.
142316
No version of the Bible is correct. They can't even get Jesus's name right (Isa) or answer why the concept of the Trinity didn't show up in the original manuscripts of John, and yet it started showing up in the Latin translations out of no where.\n\nAny Christian 300 years believed that the Bible is the word of God, and yet it was neither written by God, nor by Jesus, only by people who were assistants to the disciples of Jesus, and wrote what the disciples remembered Jesus saying 50 years after Jesus's ascension into heaven. Also if the Bible is the "complete word of God", then why is it that even to this day, there are extra passages and scriptures being included into it and being found (i.e. The dead sea scrolls)?
281664
God didn't write the bible. It was written by man, way after Christ lived.\n\nI would take what is written in the bible with a grain of salt. There are tons of contradictory things written in there, and since it wasn't written by God himself, you have to wonder if some of their "human" agendas got in there...
671052
I find it ironic that people pick and choose what they want out of the Bible... what about the rest of Corinthians? When those letters were written they did not have chapters and verses... that is something King James concocted. So should you not consider the writing as a whole?
669307
If you notice, everyone seems to have a different idea to so Fundamental a question. Everyone seems to have a different view. People can have different interpretations of the same book and this is the case of the Bible. Also the Bible has been passed on from one generation to the other by scripts who rewrote the book and made altercations on the way. No Original bible as such exists, the one we have now is a continuosly revised edition of the first. And the bible was not written in the presence of christ which is clear however you look at the fact. All Religions lead to the same end, heaven. As long as we have faith in our hearts, we dont have to worry about anything else.
580691
Well, no, though I see your point.  Aesop was purposefully and knowingly writing fiction, and that does not appear to be the case with the Bible... though the sources of the various ancient texts that make up the Bible are vast, varied, and often contradictory... and we have no means of authenticating authorship.\n\nPeople have used the Bible, and other sacred texts, for their own purposes throughout history, no question.  And, historically, rulers have been wise enough to see the practical aspects of a principled religion, whatever that religion happens to be.\n\nI'll use an ancient example.  There was a pharoah who used the religious belief of the ancient Egyptians that cats were demi-divinities in his favor, telling people that they could care for the cats during the day, but at night they should always be with the pharoah (who was also believed to be a divinity in mortal form).  This way, every night the pharoah would have countless cats at his disposal... which he put to work in the country's grain silos, hunting mice.  In the morning, the cats could go back to their homes.\n\nSo there's always opportunity to inject man's word into what is supposedly God's word.  Given the period the writings of the Bible come from, and the lack of evidence to back up anything beyond a few verifiable persons and place names, it seems unlikely it was ever anything but man's word to begin with.\n\nMorality is an important part of religion.  And religion, for all its flaws in the modern era, was an important stepping stone in social evolution that helped to bring about civilized societies with codes of ethical conduct.  I just hope we can outgrow contemporary religions, most of which are living mythologies that still serve as community-strengthening organizations based in peace and love, but which globally cause more harm than good due to the inherent mutual exclusivity in the tenets of most major faiths.