Why do people believe what they read in the bible?

I believe in GOD but don't believe in the bible does that make an ATHEIST....

There has been times when i have spoke to GOD and he /she has helped me get thro some difficult times, but i can not and will not believe in a book that has been rewriting more times to suit the needs of man...

Does that make me a bad person i don't think so..

you should see some of the so called salvation army people were i live they are more two faced than your local politician...

I do know one thing we will all find out who is right and who is wrong when we all die...

FINALLY MAY YOUR GOD BE WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES AND HE/SHE LOVE AND PROTECT YOU ALWAYS

It was through extensive study of the bible that I came realise the truth of it!

I once tried to read the bible and just could not make head nor tail of it and so pushed it away in disgust; shame on me!

It took Jehovah's Witnesses to show me what the bible is all about. They proved to me the prophecies, etc and encouraged me to ask questions.

When Jehovah talks of 6000 years old, perhaps it would help if you realised that to our Creator, that is as one day!

Like the making of the earth. It was not a literal 6 day's or 1 day for rest.

We, in our daily life, tend to say things similar, when we mean a long time or short time.

Not everything was recorded in the bible, and I have to disagree, but the bible does talk about dinosaurs; I think in Job.

The bible does not make any mistakes; I have read the bible many times now and use it daily and am never in doubt that I will find an error because every time I think something does not seem right, I do research and find it was right all along.

When one wants to something so much, would you not agree, that thorough research or looking, makes them find what they want?!

If you are willing, why don't you write what you think are mistakes and I will try and give you an answer!

Just to go back to what the bible doesn't say. I cannot think what the scripture is but I do know that it says that if the bible was to report all the happenings, it would take more than one library to contain them in pages!

If you also think: when people write their autobiographies, they do not tell all; just what is necessary for the book.

Hope this answers you?

I think that the Bible is meant to be a guide. Although, I am a Christian, I don't think that everything in the Bible is literal. I believe that the Bible was "inspired" by God, but written by men. To me that means that it was written with a certain filter that definitely effected the way the message was conveyed. I also think that alot of the stories in the Bible are parables, to help us get along in the world. Some stuff, I think was just folklore of the day. These people did not understand basic scientific facts, and they were trying to explain things that we still today can't altogether explain, such as the origins of the universe. Do I believe that the Earth was created in 7 days? No, but I do believe that the Earth was created. I guess that it basically boils down to faith, either you believe it or you don't. Also, I don't think that the Bible teaches that anything could not "possibly exist." There are lots of gray areas that leave room for specualtion and varrying interpretation.

Dinosaurs aren't mentioned in the Bible. The word Dinosaur was added to the dictionary in the late 1800's, the word did not exist before that. The Bible is much older than that, so can't contain words that did not exist. The Bible uses a word which has been around that long. Dragons are mentioned several times. Don't confuse these "dragons" with flying things that breathe fire.

We believe what we read because what I see outside the Bible correlates directly to what I see inside it. It just makes sense, and it's logical. Sciences can't duplicate it. That's a basic premise in science. That's why even science calls evoluntion a theory.

Oh, and the door frame thing, pleeeeeze!

They basically believe the Bible and what it says as truth because that is what they were taught by family members, friends, etc. If children were not indoctrinated at such a young age about the "truth" of the bible, there would be far less christians in the world today. If they were able to take a step back and not believe that before they even opened the bible, that it is the "word of god", chances are they would not believe most of what happens throughout the different books of the bible. If everybody around you constantly tells you something, eventually you will believe it.

I am saddened you ban us from inane comment, because it would be so easy.

However, I will respect your wishes.

The Bible does not say the earth is 6,000 years old.

It says man has been on the earth for a little more than 6,000 years.

If you read Genesis1:2 then you should know the building materials for the earth already existed before the Bible starts.

The actual planet could be eons upon eons.

Why should dinosaurs be mentioned?

The yellow-bellied sap-sucker is not mentioned, but that doesn't seem to bother you.

Like any decent book, the Bible has a theme. It sticks to theme.

Dinosaurs are not part of that theme.

Evolution proved based on door frames?

With all due respect, you would be laughed out of the scientific world.

You refer to 'clear' mistakes.

Sorry, they are not clear.

The Bible doesn't teach the age of the Earth. And the Catholic Catechism is explicit about that. Nor are there any more reasons to mention dinosaurs (which is a Greek word anyway, the creatures in job could well be 'dinosaurs'...do you need a name tag or their wrists stamped like at the Disco). Evolution is even more of a non-issue because in any case what makes a man a man is not Physical. Did you ever think about that. Of course not.

I am a scientist. My math, computer and biology knowledge would humble you to the dust...But I should have done what so many others will in fact do : Ignore you. You blowhard.

The mistakes are not in the Bible, but in your question.

Foe instance, you state you are neither a Christian nor atheist, but I am atheist. Are you atheist, or are you not? Your question is full of mistakes. The Bible does not have one single mistake.

Humans may be growing taller, but that is not proof we are still evolving, or that we have ever evolved.

You can claim a monkey for an ancestor if you wish, but all my ancestors have been humans.

Because dinosaurs are not mentioned in the Bible does not prove or disprove anything. Elephants are not mentioned either. Sharks are not mentioned. Rhino's are not mentioned. None of that proves or disproves anything.

I believe every word in the Bible. God does not lie, and all Scripture is inspired by God.

I wish you well.

Go in peace. And always remember: -- Jesus loves you!!

As I studied many religions and have been given the "evil eye" from many "Christians", I understand what you are saying. I know that there are many errors in the christian bible and many that I have talked to defend it without looking at the logic. Even priest that I have talked to failed to come up with real logical answers to my questions. Then the church that is suppose to be loving and understanding will persecute you for questioning. Look at what happened to Galileo.

I believe that the bible is suppose to be a guide, just like the many stories that teach a moral. The problem is that the people that tell the stories are too afraid to loose the "power" that they have. So they teach those that the stories are true and so the mass believe because of fear to ones "soul".

People often think that something being old grants it validity.

Look at Chinese/Native American medicine. People claim that it has value because it has been practised for thousands of years. However, this says nothing of its utility or effectiveness.

The same is true for religion which has managed to exist due to a series of events in less enlightened times that ensured its survival. For instance the conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity by the Emperor Constantine, the Crusades etc..

There is also the psychological element. It is only really recently (in historical terms) that science has granted us the ability to understand the nature of our world. Before the advances made by Newton, Darwin and the intellectuals of the 'Enlightenment' religious explanations provided the only available answers to the big questions. Nietzsche famously proclaimed 'god is dead and we have killed him' referring to the fact that the advances made in the 'Enlightenment' effectively eliminated the possibility of a divine being.

For an analogous example from our time, just look at Scientology. It is obviously nonsense yet it commands the loyalty of numerous individuals because it exploits a flaw in human character. We don't have complete understanding of the world we live in so people are inclined to fill in the gaps with Gods, idols or even a benevolent race of spacefaring aliens.