Tract #24: Tough Questions About the Bible
Published June 23rd, 2009Tract #24, Tough Questions About the Bible, is ready for you to download and review. Download it, see page #3 for printing instructions, and let me know your comments! Thanks!
Tough Questions About the Bible
It’s possible to be both philosophically rigorous and believe that the Bible is God’s word, but far too many Christians have not asked themselves enough tough questions about the Bible to make sure that they are indeed rigorous. Here are a few they might consider:
- Which parts of the Bible are literally true and which are stories that have been simplified so they could be understood by the book’s original audience?
- What parts of the Bible do you think are okay for children? Do you think the “adult” parts of some Bible stories should be edited for children, or should children not learn those stories until they are older?
- If the Bible appears to contradict science (as it does in Genesis, for example), should you doubt scripture, doubt science, or doubt both?
- If the Bible was written under God’s direction, why doesn’t everyone agree what it means? Shouldn’t it be perfectly clear?
- There are scriptures that did not make it into the Bible. How can you tell true and false scripture apart?
- Is it moral to punish children for things their parents did? (Genesis 9, for example)
- Why did God “harden Pharoah’s heart” when Pharoah wanted to let the Israelites go? (Exodus 4-9)
- Does God still like how animal sacrifices smell? (Genesis 8, for example)
- Why doesn’t the Bible condemn slavery? (Exodus 21)
- Why did God order Moses to kill children? (Deuteronomy 3, for example)
- What precisely does “Thou shalt not kill” mean? When is it okay to kill a person?
- How can you tell which of the Jewish laws (such as the Ten Commandments, or eating lobster and being homosexual being abominations) should be obeyed by Christians?
- Are the Jews still God’s chosen people?
- How can you tell which Old Testament passages are the ones that have a “hidden” second meaning as a prophecy about Jesus?
- Did you know that there are at least two different endings for the book of Mark?
- Why did Jesus curse a tree? (Mark 11)
- Doesn’t Jesus’ rampage in the temple (John 2, for example) contradict turning the other cheek?
- Doesn’t Jesus want you to give away all your possessions? (Luke 14:33)
- What do you think happened to all the people who rose from the dead when Jesus died? (Matthew 27)
- Didn’t Jesus’ followers think that the second coming was going to happen soon? (Matthew 16)
- Why does Jesus think God has forsaken him if he is God? (Mark 15, for example)
- The Gospels don’t agree on a number of things, such as Jesus’ last words or the number of people who found the empty tomb. Can you explain how these are not contradictions, using reasoning that you would allow in the discussion of other topics?
Godwin on June 25, 2009
Answers to these easy questions.
It is clear to any Christian what parts of the Bible are allegories.
There is nothing dirty or inappropriate in the Bible, but some concepts are difficult for children.
The Bible never contradicts science.
The Bible was perfectly clear to its original audience.
False scriptures are not part of the Bible.
God may punish children for their parents sins.
God hardened Pharoah’s heart so that he could continue punishing Egypt and thereby glorify himself.
God never liked how animal sacrifices smelled. You are misquoting.
Slavery in the Bible was merciful and benefitted everyone.
Moses didn’t murder children, but he did order his armies to kill the enemies of God’s chosen people.
It is okay to kill someone in self defense or when it is just.
Jesus canceled all the Jewish laws.
The Jews are no longer the chosen people.
The OT passages with dual meanings are mentioned in the new Testament.
There is only one true text of Mark.
Jesus cursed the tree for rejecting him. It’s a metaphor.
Jesus’ “rampage” in the temple was justified.
Jesus wants what is best for his people and poverty is not for the best. Jesus wants his children to be successful.
Those who rose from the dead when Jesus died eventually died again.
Jesus’ followers knew that nobody knew when the second coming would be.
Jesus and God are separate persons with one substance, not one person.
Jesus said everything all the Gospels said he said on the cross, but they didn’t all record everything. The Gospels talk about different people finding the empty tomb, but they don’t say “and nobody else was there,” so there are no contradictions.
This was so simple it was almost pathetic. You don’t know crap about religion.
Zach on June 27, 2009
1) If it is clear to any Christian what parts of the Bible are allegories, are you saying that many people who say they are Christian are mistaken? If there is only one correct interpretation, then there are few Christians indeed.
3) So the people who take Genesis 1 literally are not actually Christians? (Since Genesis 1 must then be allegorical)
4) Why isn’t the Bible still perfectly clear to today’s audience?
5) How did the people who compiled the Bible tell which were true and false scriptures?
6) That wasn’t the question. The question was, is it moral to punish children for their parents’ sins, not can God do it.
7) So, if God hardened Pharoah’s heart, Pharoah isn’t really to blame for what happened, since it was all God’s doing and he didn’t have a choice?
8) So, how should I interpret Genesis 8:20-21, “Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the Lord smelled the pleasing odor, the Lord said in his heart, ‘I will never again curse the ground…’” (NRSV)?
9) So, should we still have slavery today?
10) God ordered Moses (and Joshua) to murder the children of their enemies. Would you say it is moral to, if you are at war with another country, to kill every inhabitant of that country?
11) When is it just to kill someone?
12) So Christians do not follow the 10 Commandments (or at least, don’t follow them in a religious sense)? Also, when Jesus says in his Sermon on the Mount, “‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished’” (Matthew 5:17-18 NRSV), he is not referring to Jewish law or Jewish prophets, even though he is talking to a Jewish audience? Or am I misinterpreting what he said?
13) Didn’t God promise the Jews that they were always to be his chosen people? Was that promise voided as well with Jesus?
15) Which is the true text of Mark?
16) Did the episode when Jesus cursed the tree really happen though? Or, if it’s just a metaphor, then it seems the whole New Testament is opened up to being taken like a metaphor.
17) So, when Jesus said, “‘But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also’” (Matthew 5:39 NRSV), he should have amended that with “unless of course it is just to attack back”? Seems like an awfully important omission.
18) So, there is another way to interpret Jesus saying, “‘None of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions’” (Luke 14:33 NRSV)?
19) When Paul writes about how it is better not to marry and talks about the “impending crisis” (1 Corinthians 7), he is not talking about the apocalypse? What is he talking about, then?
theblackbook on September 2, 2009
“The Bible never contradicts science.”
I wish I could say that this was the most idiotic statement I have ever heard in my life, but I’ve heard worse. This definately makes the top ten list, though. The Bible holds that the world is 6,000 years old. Science provides evidence that the Earth is actually 4.5 billion years old, and the universe is over 11 billion years. How is this not a contradiction?
“Jesus canceled all the Jewish laws.” “Matt 5:18 “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” Yep. Sounds like cancelling to me. (Saracasm)
“Slavery in the Bible was merciful and benefitted everyone.” Did God tell you this? I’m sorry if it sounds like I’m mocking- I’m serious. How do you know what the slaves were feeling at that time?
“That was so easy it was almost pathetic”… it was so easy because you refuse to answer a question. You’re being evasive.
Jesus also said that some of his disciples would still be alive at the second coming- how’s that working out?
Xjak on September 14, 2009
*And the “Christians” Rejoices when confronted with logic of Atheism*