"If" The Bible Was Man-Made What Would It Look Like?

[Craig Paxton]

I’m guessing that it would be full of myths, fables and untrue stories. It would weave actual historical events and combine them with myth. It would have claimed histories of individuals who never existed in reality. It would be heavily influence by the myths and stories of surrounding civilizations. Since man made books can’t predict the future with any accuracy, it would be full of false predictions and failed prophecies. It would be full of miraculous stories of miracles, angels and other godly creatures that don’t exist in the real world and can’t be duplicated under controlled circumstances. In other words it would look pretty much like it does right now…

While the Bible, unlike the Book of Mormon, has been shown to included stories about real cities and civilizations that actually left behind evidence that they existed, it is full of fabricated untrue myths and fables…and has every mark of being a man made book written by men to look like it came from a god.

Edited June 27, 2012 by Craig Paxton

[mfbukowski]

Very simplistic. So what?

[zerinus]

If the bible was man made what would it look like?

It wouldn't be the Bible.

[Damien the Leper]

I’m guessing that it would be full of myths, fables and untrue stories. It would weave actual historical events and combine them with myth. It would have claimed histories of individuals who never existed in reality. It would be heavily influence by the myths and stories of surrounding civilizations. Since man made books can’t predict the future with any accuracy, it would be full of false predictions and failed prophecies. It would be full of miraculous stories of miracles, angels and other godly creatures that don’t exist in the real world and can’t be duplicated under controlled circumstances. In other words it would look pretty much like it does right now…

While the Bible, unlike the Book of Mormon, has been shown to included stories about real cities and civilizations that actually left behind evidence that they existed, it is full of fabricated untrue myths and fables…and has every mark of being a man made book written by men to look like it came from a god.

I'm curious as to the direction you are trying to take. Please specify your intent.

[mfbukowski]

Clearly if God wrote the bible, every copy should have flashing lights in kind of a strobe pattern from no apparent source - no batteries no glow in the dark stuff- just a mysterious light

In fact it should keep you up at night, so you would have to put it under a black cloth or something.

[Pahoran]

Clearly if God wrote the bible, every copy should have flashing lights in kind of a strobe pattern from no apparent source - no batteries no glow in the dark stuff- just a mysterious light

In fact it should keep you up at night, so you would have to put it under a black cloth or something.

Here's a perhaps more relevant question: if the Bible were divinely inspired, would there be more or fewer flippant, superficial attempts to dismiss it like the OP?

And if it were not? Same question.

If it were not, I think there'd be far fewer. The fact that smug dilettantes find a need to notice it even if only to find a reason to dismiss it ought to tell us something.

Regards,

Pahoran

[Craig Paxton]

I'm curious as to the direction you are trying to take. Please specify your intent.

I'm merely trying to understand what the the Bible would look like IF it were man made....would it really look any different that it already does? If so in what way?

[Avatar4321]

speculate all you want. No matter what conclusions you come to it wont change the fact that the Bible contains the Word of God. Nor will it invalidate any of the Revelations we've recieved from the Lord.

[GreyHat]

Here's a perhaps more relevant question: if the Bible were divinely inspired, would there be more or fewer flippant, superficial attempts to dismiss it like the OP?

And if it were not? Same question.

If it were not, I think there'd be far fewer. The fact that smug dilettantes find a need to notice it even if only to find a reason to dismiss it ought to tell us something.

Regards,

Pahoran

Here's a perhaps more relevant question: if the Bible were divinely inspired, would there be more or fewer flippant, superficial attempts to dismiss it like the OP?

And if it were not? Same question.

If it were not, I think there'd be far fewer. The fact that smug dilettantes find a need to notice it even if only to find a reason to dismiss it ought to tell us something.

Regards,

Pahoran

So people trying to disprove something is in itself evidence that said thing is true? I'll keep that in mind next time someone criticizes Scientology.

[zerinus]

I'm merely trying to understand what the the Bible would look like IF it were man made....would it really look any different that it already does? If so in what way?

That is a dumb question. It is like asking, "If my date and walnut cake was not made of dates and walnuts, what would it be made of?"

Edited June 27, 2012 by zerinus

[theplains]

I'm merely trying to understand what the the Bible would look like IF it were man made....would it really look any different that it already does? If so in what way?

I think if the Bible were man-made it would:

a) avoid any references to hell.

b) avoid any references to homosexuality.

c) avoid talking about the sinful nature of man and portray people as inherently good.

d) teach that there is the more than one path to God.

e) have little or no fulfilled prophecy.

f) talk more about angels and less about God.

g) teach that most people will end up living a much better life than on this earth after the resurrection.

h) make it more man-centered (what man can do to please God) rather than on what God has done to save man.

i) quote the sayings from other people so it would be more accepted by people of different religions.

j) include more psychology and less spirituality.

k) exclude Satan, demons, and demon-possession.

Regards,

Jim

[mfbukowski]

Who do you think made it?

Inspired men. You think God has a fountain pen?

[Deborah]

I'm merely trying to understand what the the Bible would look like IF it were man made....would it really look any different that it already does? If so in what way?

In spite of the errors of men and the "mythical" stories the Bible has a certain continuity that runs through out. Given the different writers and times I would think if the Bible were man made we would not see that.

[mfbukowski]

So people trying to disprove something is in itself evidence that said thing is true? I'll keep that in mind next time someone criticizes Scientology.

Uh oh....

[mfbukowski]

Here's a perhaps more relevant question: if the Bible were divinely inspired, would there be more or fewer flippant, superficial attempts to dismiss it like the OP?

And if it were not? Same question.

If it were not, I think there'd be far fewer. The fact that smug dilettantes find a need to notice it even if only to find a reason to dismiss it ought to tell us something.

Regards,

Pahoran

I'd give you a rep point for that one but all it would do is increase your lead.

I will never catch up as it is!

[GreyHat]

Uh oh....

Care to elaborate? Since apparently criticism is an indicator of truthfulness it would appear that Scientology is true. I mean they get negative PR all the time. Why would that happen if Scientology wasn't true? They're so persecuted wikipedia blocked them from editing pages about them.

[CV75]

In other words it would look pretty much like it does right now…

No, it would look like materials procured from "Bodies: The Exhibition."

[bluebell]

I honestly don't know that it would 'look' all that different if it were man-made, except that there might be less 'supernatural' stuff in it, depending on when it was written and the culture of the people you were trying to convince.

[Calm]

I'd give you a rep point for that one but all it would do is increase your lead.

I will never catch up as it is!

I passed you up a couple of days ago .....you need to post more.

And I've got my sights on Pahoran.....

Edited June 27, 2012 by calmoriah

[mfbukowski]

Care to elaborate? Since apparently criticism is an indicator of truthfulness it would appear that Scientology is true. I mean they get negative PR all the time. Why would that happen if Scientology wasn't true? They're so persecuted wikipedia blocked them from editing pages about them.

It's kind of like that moment when Popeye takes out his spinach can you know the bad guy is in trouble. Just give the fuse a little time....

[Pahoran]

So people trying to disprove something is in itself evidence that said thing is true?

Evidently you think that remark bears some relationship to something I posted.

I fail to see why.

I'll keep that in mind next time someone criticizes Scientology.

Ah. "Damnation by association." When did that become a valid argument? I must have missed the memo.

But apart from that: welcome to the forum.

Regards,

Pahoran

[mfbukowski]

I passed you up a couple of days ago .....you need to post more.

And I've got my sights on Pahoran.....

Oh really? I hadn't noticed....

Just a few superficial scratches is all

[Freedom]

While the Bible, unlike the Book of Mormon, has been shown to included stories about real cities and civilizations that actually left behind evidence that they existed, it is full of fabricated untrue myths and fables…and has every mark of being a man made book written by men to look like it came from a god.

And your evidence that it is full of fabricated untrue myths and fables is...

Of course, the Book of Mormon has been shown to include stories about real cities and civilizations that actually left behind evidence that they existed so your argument is based on a false premise.

[cinepro]

Based on the footnotes in my Bible, I would have to assume the whole thing would read like the Song of Solomon

[CASteinman]

I’m guessing that it would be full of myths, fables and untrue stories. It would weave actual historical events and combine them with myth. It would have claimed histories of individuals who never existed in reality. It would be heavily influence by the myths and stories of surrounding civilizations. Since man made books can’t predict the future with any accuracy, it would be full of false predictions and failed prophecies. It would be full of miraculous stories of miracles, angels and other godly creatures that don’t exist in the real world and can’t be duplicated under controlled circumstances. In other words it would look pretty much like it does right now…

While the Bible, unlike the Book of Mormon, has been shown to included stories about real cities and civilizations that actually left behind evidence that they existed, it is full of fabricated untrue myths and fables…and has every mark of being a man made book written by men to look like it came from a god.

Nonsense from top to bottom.