There are so many Christians out there, who literally or metaphorically take the bible seriously as more than just a book. This is how I see it. The bible was just a really well written book written by some bitter old men, became popular like Harry Potter, and now today, years later, where you'd think we'd believe in science, rationale, and logic by now, people still believe in the bible. Gays are bad, etc. So here's a crazy idea, a question especially geared towards Christians. What if the bible isn't true? Like, you know, just a book... a fictional story? Why the big deal over a book?
Well.... I see the point to your rather sharp question... But the thing is... Every holy book of every religion has a lot of really good stuff to learn and live by. Regardless of whether the story is true or not. In fact, just about all of the stories told by Christ himself were fictional parables told simply to teach a lesson... The fact that every scripture considered holy by damn near any religion has good ideas to offer, the thought that "gays are bad, etc" and other hateful messages which I'm sure you're referring to actually play very little place in scripture. ** Yes there are superstitions that have no place in the world today ** However, if you actually read what they have to say as a whole, you'll see that religion isn't a bad thing. A great example that I could offer would be the first sermon given by Christ that appears in the King James Version of the Bible, the book of Matthew. He spends more time talking about how religion and matters of faith should be kept privately, not publicly, and definitely not in a judgmental way as a means to bring others down. The sermon is about loving your brother, helping those who need it, and avoiding the temptations of the greed that are so deeply ingrained in our society. Long and short, I'll offer you this, John Lennon said something along the lines of: Jesus was a pretty good guy, and I dig what he had to teach, but his disciples and apostles were a bunch of backwards thinking knuckleheads who lost the plot... So I guess the end to my pointed comments is that who cares whether or not any of it is true, who cares if Jesus really rose from the dead, who cares if Krishna ever held a mountain over his head with one hand, who cares if Muhammad really had a vision of a ladder, read the book for what it is, appreciate those who have faith in something, and find faith in something for yourself... don't try to belittle someone else's faith, just try to do what they are supposed to do and find a way to make the world a better place.
^^^^ great post, I agree entirely. ^^^^ Poetshappho, the problem with your question is that the christians who believe that the bible in its literal sense is exactly as it happened don't make up for every christian out there. They are a minority who use these fundamental extreme ideas to justify the wrongdoings they do. These are people who won't settle with arguing about their beliefs and the writings in the bible. They won't listen to other perspectives, they won't budge. So your question to them would be so far from reality that they wouldn't even want to answer the question. Many many other christians, however, do question their beliefs, and look for guidance from the bible, using it in its figurative sense, absorbing the good lessons you can learn from it without taking the stories in it literally.
Add me to the chorus of Amen sayers. I consider myself a Christian,but go along with Marcus Borg's dictum:"The Bible should be taken seriously, but not literally." And I do look to sacred books of other religious traditions and to great works of literature for spiritual guidance--even atheist writings. I take my inspiration where I find it, and am grateful for it. (I went to a book discussion a few days ago sponsored by an atheist group. Most of us hadn't read the book, but it was a great discussion. I had to restrain myself afterward from thanking God vocally for it. I thought that would be rude and get me funny looks).
