I cannot get over the circular reasoning of the good book being good because it says it is. I was taking part in a polite little discussion with my dad about my not accepting everything in the Bible (one more itty-bitty step to coming out). Everything I posed to him as incredulous, he came right back at me with Bible verses. I tried pointing out that if people are fallible and they wrote the Bible, wouldn't that mean it's flawed? His answers were all the same. They were inspired by God. (But what about everyone's copying the original authors? Were they fallible or infallible? Why are there so many interpretations if God's word was inspired and supposed to be preserved? Our eternal souls hang in the balance of the right interpretation).
Anyone else have a discussion with a loved one about the Bible not being inspired? How did it go?
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.It is simply not a good book. I refuse to debate or discuss it but I do encourage others to Google all they can about "how we got the bible." Do not use church approved literature for this as it will be biased in favor of that church or religion. You will go in circles.
Be aware that our bible came into existence some 300 plus years after the time of Jesus. Also be aware that in the 1700's it was believed that there was a "fountain of youth" in Florida. Many tried to find it, and that was just 300 plus years ago.
DenoPenno
Level 9
Sep 29, 2019
1
Or what about the councils of people that had to decide which books were canon, and which were "apocryphal"? If Constantine was inspired, then we owe our "Word of God" to a pagan tyrrant. Fun little fact: James was one of the books considered part of the Antilegomena. Those were books whose authenticity were disputed. Funny thing is: I learned about the Antilegomena at Bob Jones.
Auty89
Level 6
Sep 29, 2019
1
You’re asking the questions he was afraid to.. And as a father of daughters myself, he should be proud 
Regarding his deadend rebuttals.. I’ve had that ‘same go-round’ with preachers on the street. Their book/s were ‘written by men,’ not handed down by a god.. They’re also interpreted by the same, not explained by a god. Not even written in ‘our language,’ and limited to the knowledge on hand (a flat planet with a sun orbiting earth in a static sky), they are the equivalent of Grimm’s fairy tales to modern humans.
Again, he should be so proud of you..
Varn
Level 8
Sep 29, 2019
2
Aww thanks.
The problem with people who use the bible this way (and with trying to "reason" with them), is that they are convinced that this "book of books" was quite LITERALLY written by the hand of their mysterious, invisible "god." Therefore there is NOTHING anyone can say to that will open up their closed mind.
Daco2007
Level 7
Sep 29, 2019
3
It's a called "Begging the Question" (a term used incorrectly more than ever today):
"In classical rhetoric and logic, begging the question is an informal fallacy that occurs when an argument's premises assume the truth of the conclusion, instead of supporting it. It is a type of circular reasoning: an argument that requires that the desired conclusion be true. This often occurs in an indirect way such that the fallacy's presence is hidden, or at least not easily apparent. In modern vernacular usage, however, begging the question is often used to mean "raising the question"."
Daco2007
Level 7
Sep 29, 2019
2
Yes it is circular reasoning, and if you push any theist hard and far enough, you will almost invariably come down to two bits of nonsense. Either. The bible is right because the bible says it is. Or. You have to take it on faith and faith is good because the bible says it is good, and I have faith in the bible. Don't however think that you can win by reasoning, remember the old saying. "You can't reason someone out of something they did not use reason to get into."
Fernapple
Level 9
Sep 29, 2019
4
Yes, and this is sooooooooooo frustrating! I told my dad today that I didn't believe the words of Jesus, and he said he's sorry for me. :/
@Biblebeltskeptic Yes, and I do not think that you will get anywhere pointing out that those are probably not the words of Jesus anyway. Sometimes an indirect approach is the best way to get acceptance, such as doing some work with a secular charity, which is obivously good and has to be respected, yet is clearly inspired by none belief. Or introducing atheist friends who plainly set a good example of moral living.
But in the end those are hard tasks, and perhaps it is just best to hope that you will win your fathers respect in the long run, by just being who you want to be. I see that you only deconverted last August, that is not long, and you are it seems still talking.
Actually, it does Not say it is "good", it threatens you practically every other paragraph with all the horrible torments you will suffer if you do not OBEY.
And "coming out" is Not necessary! Ever!
AnneWimsey
Level 9
Sep 29, 2019
1
knowing about the council at nicea is much more damaging to their buy-bull's legitimacy
JeffMesser
Level 8
Sep 29, 2019
2
The Jesus seminar group also states that many of the bible things ascribed to 'Jesus' are malarkey.
I actually brought that up as well, along with the Apocrypha, and the evidence of Harry Potter to prove he exists.
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