What is the bible's place in the world today? Dustbin or Pedistal?

What is the value and usefulness of the bible in today's world? What is it's place in your life? Why?

Many an' argument spills into this area involving God and religion, many say that it is inconstant, self conflicting/contrasting/contradicting and misleading and still others say that it is inerrant and perfect.

As an ex-Christian, I believe that it is a human fabrication that is little or not at all divinely inspired by the alleged God outlined within it's pages. I believe that it has little historical accuracy, and is dangerous if taken seriously. But hay, that's just me.

What do you think is the place of the bible today? And why do/don't you believe the content within?







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[edit on 9/3/2008 by Good Wolf]

After reading through scores of discrepancies and contradictions I'm convinced that it is was a tool for power in the early Church between the council of Nacea till Martin Luther and the dawn of the protestant movement. I'm no expert, but I understand that in Catholic Churches, particularly in the earlier ones, it was the priest who read the book and the commoners who listened.

The dooms day prophesies and the damnation message attached to them, strike me as a fear-tool keeping the religious in church and in check.

The contrasting views that man has always had, when passed off as divine doctrine, create greatly varying sects and denominations of the church. This is what I attribute today's decline of Christianity to.

reply to post by Good Wolf

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I would say as a story book akin to Aesop's fables, there are some good messages in the book but too many take it too literally.

reply to post by blupblup

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Yes. Therein lies the danger.

If you are an ex-Christian why are you worried about what others think?

I don't get the point of this thread. Are you bored and just trying to strike up a conversation or are you afraid you may have missed something in the Bible because you came up, more or less empty handed in your studies and beliefs?

I wish I wish I wish that for even ONE day, everyone would forget about religion and focus on being human instead of 'children of God' or whomever.

The Bible belongs on the bookshelf neatly sandwiched between Erich Von Daniken's Chariots Of The Gods and Dr. Zuess' The Cat In The Hat.
At any time the Bible may be removed from said shelf space to make room for P.D. Ouspensky's A New Model Of The Universe.

reply to post by Good Wolf

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i read the scriptures several times a day and make use of commentaries and concordances to understand sticky points.
if there was no G-D then our life has no meaning so if that were true death ends it all.
if you look to the churches as your anchor in this life you will be severely disappointed --------it is best to read the bible for yourself and try to obey G-D's laws the best you can.
there is truth to the saying G-D helps those that help themselves.
G-D says:seek Me that you may live(amos5:4-6)
prayer and bible study and tithing to whoever you think best as you understand for now is about all anyone can do in this messed up world.

I'm not sure what the Bible's place in today's society is although I know its one of the most (if not the most) commonly shoplifted books. So apparently people don't care for the Bible's message, but they still value it in some strange way. Makes you think...