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Posts Tagged ‘interpretation’

Can We Stop Saying “Biblical Values” – What Are They Anyway?

Posted in Acceptance of Others, Bible, christian living, Love of God, tagged , , , , , , , on September 23, 2025|

by Mike Edwards

If you read my weekly Post you are probably tired of my harping on the Bible. The word Bible has occurred over a hundred times in the title of my Post in the past decade or so. See here. Honestly, I sometimes share some of the same content, just change the Post title to look at the topic asking a different question. Christian leaders assume to much when saying we as a nation or people should adhere to biblical values! We all don’t agree on what those values are when interpreting the Bible, and we shouldn’t push supposed principles on those who don’t have the same beliefs regarding God or the Bible.

 Where do our rights come from?

There is debate in the public arena where our rights come from. America Founders personal beliefs were that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. The founders rebelled against the idea that our rights come from government or man, to avoid government overreach regarding freedom of religion, freedom of speech.

The truth is if there is a Creator, God or universal laws should be the same – rape is evil regardless. I would express it this way – Our right come from God/Creator or universal laws. It depends on if what your personal beliefs are in a Creator. Our Constitution does guarantee freedoms concerning religion, Government cannot restrict the press or rights of individual to speak freely. 

We must respect freedom of belief in our language toward others

It is often implied supposed biblical values are a mandate for all. The presence of so much evil in the world, without God’s interference, suggests God’s respect for freedom of belief. Force loved is an oxymoron. A relationship with God is an invitation. It can’t be genuine love unless there is the freedom to enter such a relationship. For leaders to suggest we are a Christian nation is to disregard individual freedom of belief. This seems to imply not mandating Ten Commandments for public display. This doesn’t lead to a lawless nation as there are universal moral principles all should believe in regardless whether contained in their holy book or not.

Truth is Christians don’t agree on what biblical values are

Christian leaders of companies or religious institutes often claim they are guided or adhere to biblical principles. This implies biblical understandings are agreed upon by all who follow the Bible, and non-followers have less than ideal morals. Ancient literature subject to human interpretation (you could be wrong) cannot be the definitive word on truth. Besides, it can’t be proven God inspired all written down about God in their cherished book. I’m not convinced the writers always understood God perfectly. See here.  Biblical scholars who respect Scriptures don’t agree what the Bible teaches about many moral values – women rights, gay condemnation, and the afterlife.  See here.  See here.  See here.

 What values can we agree on?

Common moral sense isn’t the enemy. Good and evil existed before any Holy Book came into play. Universal values include: kindness, goodness, thankfulness, self-control, love, etc. How are these just biblical principles? You don’t have to be a Christian or reader of the Bible to know those are simply humane principles. The problem is that supposed biblical values thrust on all are: spanking of children, capital punishment, that God condemns gays, that mutual submission in marriage isn’t biblical, etc. Biblical scholars don’t agree what the Bible teaches on these morals and others.  

No, truth isn’t determined just on feelings. A murderer or sexual predator cannot claim innocence because they felt their actions were justified. Laws aren’t possible if there aren’t differences between good and evil such as rape, physical abuse, etc. Some truth is self-evident.   

How to be together in a diverse world

Faith in God is a freedom or invitation not demand. That is how a God of love acts!. We can be respectful of others who believe differently. We don’t need to imply Truth only comes from one’s view of their Holy Book. I would personally share that my God only seeks to love you like you wish you were always able to love others. This is the God you can believe in to live a purposeful, meaningful live. I am a better friend, husband, father because of a belief in my God.

See further rants on the Bible here.

Mike Edwards was added as a writer and has been a great addition to the site. Mike provides many interesting views and various ways of looking at things. He is not afraid to ask questions and he keeps an open mind as to teachings of the institutional church. Mike also has his own site where he writes at What God May Really Be Like 

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Why Are Christians So Dogmatic?

Posted in Bible, christian living, Love of God, tagged , , , , , , , on July 6, 2025|

by Mike Edwards

Okay, I admit more than just Christians are dogmatic. It seems many people, regardless of beliefs, are unable to discuss their different opinions in an open-minded, civil manner. This seems to be the case regardless of the arena – whether it be religion or politics. I am not trying to be judgmental. When younger I fell into the same trap many Christians do because of their view of the Bible.

Assuming God inspired the Bible can be a problem

One often believes they are speaking for God based on their interpretation of Scriptures. It is assumed God approved everything written about God in the Bible. The problem is God isn’t always portrayed as loving. See here.  Anyway, even if we could prove the writers of the Bible always understood God perfectly, the truth is biblical scholars who have a deep respect for Scriptures don’t agree what God believes according to the Bible about many moral values impacting billions of lives – gays, women, unbelievers. A possible uninspired Book doesn’t lead to such problems. A Creator surely loves the ways their creations ought to love one another. Perfect Godly and human love must be the same. A supposed inspired Book must not replace our discussion of common moral sense given to us by our Creator.

People demanding or preaching certainty is a problem

One pastor I deeply respecter once told me a good leader comes off certain (confident what the Bible says). Yet, they attended seminary where different interpretation of the same biblical passages were explored. The truth is we don’t always know exactly what truth is, according to the Bible, whether it regards the afterlife or other moral issues. Laypeople often find comfort psychologically in certainty rather than uncertainty. Certainty rather than unknowing causes less anxiety. Assume uncertainty if you have one rational friend who believes differently from you whether it’s about religion, science, or politics. It should be intuitive those who reject diverse opinions is unloving and controlling. Most don’t except such behaviors in their personal relationships. Having good intentions by believing you are right for the whole doesn’t matter if you could be wrong. Religious leaders seem hell-bent in telling people what they must believe about God according to their understanding and interpretation of the Bible. Scientists or Politicians who refuse debate of their policies are no different. 

Assuming to know the greatest good is a problem

The best decisions are often those that accomplish the most good for the most people. Making decisions, assuming you know the greater good than others, is playing God (Superior) in the lives of others. Free speech is necessary to allow the battle of ideas when certainty doesn’t exist. A preacher can’t claim God condemns gays because the Bible says so. Many of us don’t believe the Bible says any such thing. See here. Most of us believe except true racists that all humans are created equal, not that one’s skin color determines superiority. Yes, the KKK is allowed to state their hate speech on public platforms. I like my chances of winning that argument in the free market of ideas.  I want racists being exposed for their ideas. The only free speech that should be censored is that which encourages others to commit violence toward others. You must peacefully protest. You can’t say “any Jew you see should be killed.”

Attitudes to avoid dogmatism

  • If only religious leaders didn’t always claim their biblical interpretation is correct and at least acknowledge literature requires interpretation despite supposed divine intervention. Stop calling one another a heretic or conspiracist that have a different opinion.
  • If we listened to everyone’s opinion civilly and sought to discern together what was the most loving action according to the circumstances. Morality is rooted in human natures, rather than just a product of religion influences. Biblical interpretations that go against our moral intuitions may be wrong.
  • If we only closely guarded one’s freedom to choose when the possibility exist you could be wrong, rather than calling others heretics or conspiracists

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Mike Edwards was added as a writer and has been a great addition to the site. Mike provides many interesting views and various ways of looking at things. He is not afraid to ask questions and he keeps an open mind as to teachings of the institutional church. Mike also has his own site where he writes at What God May Really Be Like

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We Are Not All Going to Agree So Let’s Work on Loving One Another

Posted in Acceptance of Others, christian living, Love of God, tagged , , , , , , on June 20, 2025|

by Michael Donahoe

Do you notice the fact that no matter what you believe, or what your interpretation is someone always has a completely opposite view. You get excited about hearing some truth that really connects, and the next thing you read an article by another Christian that completely disagrees with what you just heard.

Even more than that, most of us Christians get mad when someone disagrees with us and is different. We get on Facebook and make ourselves look crazy because we talk about brotherly love, then we fight and argue with someone because they interpret things differently, and mostly about things we cannot prove one way or the other.

Overall, this is really not that unusual because we are all different. We have different backgrounds, different viewpoints and opinions, and different ideas on how to live. We really have to stop and think that whatever it is we believe, whatever our interpretation, everyone is not going to agree with us. There is no reason for us to get mad at someone else for being different.

This life is all a matter of faith. No matter what it is spiritually speaking, no one can really prove what is right and what is not. Just because someone has a different interpretation does not mean they are right or wrong.

We need to keep our ears open to the leading of the Spirit, and follow on our own path looking to Jesus. That does not mean any and every path is the right one, but we cannot be the judge of who is right and who is wrong. Jeremy Myers, in his book ‘Dying to Religion and Empire’ states, “The beautiful thing about following Jesus is that while He leads us all in the same direction, there are millions of different paths He can take to get us there. His goal, of course, is to advance the Kingdom of God on earth through the people of God who are being conformed into the image of God”. Our goal is to follow Christ as he leads us individually, and then be ready to love all people, no matter if they are on the same path or not.

Let’s stop arguing, fighting, and demanding that everyone agree with us, and love and accept those we meet along the journey. I think God is big enough to lead us all to the truth in proper timing.

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Michael Donahoe was added as a writer for Done with Religion as his views fit perfectly with those that are shared on this site. He and his wife have been outside the walls of religion for fifteen years. He enjoys writing about his experiences and thoughts, and he wants to encourage others who are going through the religious deconstruction process. He also writes on Substack at https://personalmeanderings.substack.com/

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What Is God’s Love Really Like?

Posted in Acceptance, Bible, christian living, Love of God, tagged , , , , , , , on June 9, 2025|

by Mike Edwards

I write a lot about this topic as I named my blog over 15 years ago  What God May Really Be Like  I used the word “May” because I was countering dogmatism growing up in church. Who knows what God is really like unless God talks to you directly? Be humble. But, if you are told something about God that goes against your moral intuitions, question it. Most accept God is love.

How do we best determine what God love like 

There is a problem claiming the Bible is the definitively word on what God’s love is like. Ancient literature is subject to interpretation. Even if the writers understood their God perfectly, which we can’t prove, we can’t claim our interpretations are perfect. The truth is biblical scholars who have a deep respect for the Bible don’t agree what God thinks about gays, women, hell, and other moral issues. See here. See here. See here.  Gays are supposedly condemned, women’s leadership roles are limited, despite their gifts and a fiery torturous afterlife awaits infidels – all in God’s name!

Why wouldn’t God be most like what our moral intuitions suggest. Our inborn sense of good and evil, not an ancient Book, tells us sexual abuse or murder is immoral. If a Creator exists, it is only intuitive that a Creator loves the ways their creations ought to love one another. We all seem to know the question we ought to ask ourselves – am I loving others perfectly? Or am I loving others like I want to be loved. Many times, when one believes contrary to universal moral intuitions (infidels should be destroyed in this life), it is because of their interpretation of a supposed inspired Book by their God.

Surely, perfect human love is the same as Godly love

The only God worth believing in must be perfectly loving as opposed to in any way hateful. God’s love surely is the same as supreme parents – other-directed not self-consumed. Love gets excited when we do well and make a difference in the lives of others. Love anticipates, hopes for my success, believes in me, pulls for me even when failing, because I do the same for my children. We doubt God but God still loves. Parents bring children into the world hoping their children freely reciprocate their love for authentic relationships. Why would God be any different.

How you imagine God’s love can determine how you relate to others

  • If we think God is hard to please and pissed off about sin rather than what sin is doing to us, we may judge others just as harshly rather than showing patience and mercy
  • If God is really a warlike God according to the OT, we will use such behaviors to possibly justify going to war when we shouldn’t
  • If God condemns gays, we will condemn gays out of devotion to God
  • If God thinks men have authority over women in some positions, that will filter down to your wives, daughters, and friends and stifle their gifts
  • If God can prevent evil and doesn’t, isn’t that like a parent who arbitrarily decides to watch their child being sexually abused or not? Maybe God can’t love perfectly by controlling freedom. God can only stop evil with the help of others or not create freedom!

I’m convinced belief in a benevolent God, according to common moral intuitions, makes you kinder. We often treat others the way we think God treats us.  How has God’s threats of punishment helped you break away from bad habits or behaviors you long to change? I guess fear God if helps to avoid consequences of destructive actions. But if struggling and need encouragement and mercy, a loving God awaits with open arms. Grace or authoritativeness doesn’t guarantee change, but I believe we best change because of a friend’s or God’s love and acceptance. See It Matters If Your God Is Nurturing Or Authoritative!

Mike Edwards was added as a writer and has been a great addition to the site. Mike provides many interesting views and various ways of looking at things. He is not afraid to ask questions and he keeps an open mind as to teachings of the institutional church. Mike also has his own site where he writes at What God May Really Be Like 

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Why Is It Important To Consider Bible Not Inspired?

Posted in Bible, christian living, Love of God, tagged , , , , , , , , , on February 9, 2025|

By Mike Edwards

Most hearing claims that God inspired the Bible assume all characterizations in the Bible about God are true. They assume inspiration means God approved all recorded by the writers. They don’t think of inspiration as meaning that God encouraged or motivated writers/editors to record their history with God, thus possible being right or wrong.  I felt inspired to write this Post about God. That doesn’t mean all I claim about God is necessarily true. I would suggest biblical writers were motivated to record their assumptions about God – possible right or wrong. We can’t prove God controlled the thoughts and pens of the writers. When we don’t assume God inspired the Bible, we are more likely to question if the writers’ assumption about God are right.

Our interpretation can give the wrong image of God, thus turning others away from God 

Ancient literature subject to interpretation cannot be the definitive word on truth. Biblical scholars who have a deep respect for Scriptures don’t agree what the Bible says about gays, women, hell, and other moral issues. It is seldom acknowledged our interpretations could be wrong. Gays are often condemned, women’s leadership roles are limited despite their gifts, and infidels face a torturous afterlife – all declared to be true in God’s name. People often reject God because of such claims made about God. When we don’t assume God inspired the Bible, interpretations are more likely to become discussions rather than definitive declarations about God. 

We quit using our moral intuitions, therefore possible trusting wrong interpretations

Many who claim that God inspired all written in the Bible to be true about God suggests we are made in God’s image. (Gen 1:27) If God is good, this suggests God created us with an inborn sense of good and evil. Self-evident rights aren’t hidden in the Bible or any Book. Even the Bible suggests we aren’t morally clueless. We are encouraged to be perfect like God (Mt. 5:48) or follow God’s example. (Eph 5:1) Interpretations about God’s love that don’t match how most know you ought to love your neighbor may be amiss. When we don’t assume God inspired the Bible, we are more likely to use common moral sense when interpreting the Bible.  

An inspired Bible can “inspire” violence

Many interpret the Quran or the Bible advocating killing Jews or condemning gays respectively, because Allah or God supposedly approves such actions. Most, especially extremists, don’t acknowledge their interpretation could be wrong. God supposedly orders Israel to commit hundreds of atrocities in the OT – “… put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys” (I Sam. 15:3). God’s possible justification of violence can lead to imitation of violent solutions such as capital punishment, blowing up abortion clinics, or unnecessary wars in the name of God. 

The Bible still can inspire useful thinking about God. 

Our relationship with God should be our focus, not the Bible. The Bible is God’s story beginning with Israel and culminating with the life of Jesus that we don’t possess in other documents. God may have inspired/encouraged the writers to write but didn’t necessarily approve of everything written about God. When reading the Bible, contemplate what a loving God is really like. Enjoy what God is trying to reveal to you about your Creator and how to treat others. A Book must not replace our relationship with God and common moral sense. Questioning the Bible may lead to knowing God better!

Why Is It Important To Consider Bible Not Inspired?

Mike Edwards has been writing for Done with Religion for some time and has been a great addition to the site. He couldn’t find enough people to discuss God openly so he started blogging years ago. Mike also has his own site where he writes that can be found at What God May Really Be Like  He can be contacted by email at: medwar2@gmail.com

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How The Bible And The Quran Can Be Dangerous!

Posted in Bible, christian living, Love of God, Word of God, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on November 12, 2023|

By Mike Edwards

Both Books make controversial statements contributed to God. Many interpret the Quran claiming Jews are not only infidels but enemies. See here.  The Bible supposedly says gays will not inherit the kingdom of God (I Cor. 6:9). I am not suggesting all Muslims or Christians interpret their Book the same, but many assume God (Allah) condemn Jews or gays because their inspired Book does. Most don’t acknowledge their interpretation could be wrong. The greater danger may be many don’t question if words recorded are really inspired by God. This leads to interpretation, right or wrong, overruling moral sense. Did writers always understand God perfectly? 

When one assumes a Book is inspired by God (Allah)

When believing something is inspired by God or Allah, one naturally assumes anything written is approved by God. An exception would be if the writer claims they are speaking for themselves and not necessarily representing God’s thoughts. If God is interpreted to condemn Jews or gays in a Book, a believer naturally shows devotion and obedience to God by imitating God. Keep in mind one can’t prove a Book is inspired – that God controlled the thought or writings – other than accepting a writer’s claim they were inspired by God. I am convinced it is best to assume a writer’s words may not be inspired by God. 

The slippery slope toward assuming interpretations are inspired

I am more familiar with the Bible, so I will offer an example that I believe is relevant for our discussion. I don’t believe God is opposed to women priests or preachers. I don’t believe God condemns gays. Biblical scholars agree with me, some don’t. See here. See here.  All literature, even if inspired, requires interpretation. It is rarely admitted one’s interpretation may be wrong or that the biblical writers may not have always understood God perfectly. I admit both. We avoid the slippery slope toward supposed inspired interpretations by accepting the Bible may be fallible.

How can we know God then?

A Book cannot be the sole determinate of what God is like since the same passages are subject to different interpretations. Also, the majority of people born in this world did not have a copy of the Bible. We are left to wonder how a Perfect God, the only God worth believing in, truly loves. It is only intuitive that a Creator loves the ways their creations ought to love one another. We all seem to know the question we ought to ask ourselves – am I loving others perfectly? Or am I loving others like I want to be loved. It isn’t presumptuous to imagine what a loving God is like through our moral consciences. See here.

How should we act toward others in the name of God?

A loving God surely desires to inspire and encourage you to become the person deep down you want to become. Consider a Book’s writer or editor didn’t understand God fully if your interpretation of a text is contrary to your moral intuition of a loving God. No reasonable human being doesn’t respect the universal compulsion to treat others like we want to be treated. Moral truths aren’t hidden in any Book. Obviously, sexual abuse is immoral is obvious to most rational people. We must have open discussions which actions best imitate a loving God for the greater good of all.  

How The Bible And The Quran Can Be Dangerous!

MikeEdwardsprofilepic125

Mike Edwards has been writing for Done with Religion for some time and has been a great addition to the site. Mike also has his own site where he writes that can be found at What God May Really Be Like  He can be contacted by email at: medwar2@gmail.com

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How Do We Know Our Truth Is The “Truth?

Posted in Bible, christian living, Love of God, tagged , , , , , , on August 20, 2023|

By Mike Edwards

It is common to hear Christians claim truth is discovered through the Bible. One may claim their version of biblical truth and says things like “how is this hard for people to understand – this is what God said” or “if you back down from this issue you are abandoning what God has said is the truth.” The truth is one’s interpretation of biblical truth could be wrong. See here.

Truth isn’t just found in a Book

You telling me that people who’ve never had a Bible (majority born in this world) don’t have some ideas of what a loving Creator is like. We all are in the same boat because bible-folks have to translate the Bible. Christians leaders often claim we must be guided by biblical principles. They assume their interpretation is correct. It is common to hear one argue “The Bible says” without adding “according to my understanding.” The truth is contrary biblical interpretations exist for many moral issues. Hell, we can’t be sure if there is a literal Hell according to the Bible.  See here.  No, one can’t just always follow their own heart!

Where is Truth found?

Moral truths are not determined by a Book, popular opinion, or by a few in power. We all have an inborn sense of good and evil. There are universal values that most rational people agree on such as murder, stealing, even equal justice for all. We must have open discussions which laws are the most caring for the greater good concerning non-universal matters such as immigration or climate policies. Most religions agree the overriding moral guide is to love others like you want to be treated. Belief or lack of belief in God doesn’t give you an excuse to not treat others like you want to be treated. Personal beliefs about God can be shared in the public arena without imposing or assuming we all agree what biblical truths are.

Truth in relationships is perfection 

What actions in relationships should guide us? Perfect ones of course. We may not always know what perfect love is, but we somehow know we ought to love others like we want to be loved. A parent’s perfect love surely is the same as God’s love. I don’t know one person, whether a church-goer or not, that doesn’t think any God worth believing in must be a perfect, loving God. Even atheists would agree if they thought a Supreme Being existed. The Bible even implies such an idea: “Be perfect, therefore as your heavenly Parent is perfect” (Mt. 5:48). We still must decide what perfect love is, but God surely didn’t create us to be totally clueless.

Imagine a world …. 

  • What if Christian leaders didn’t always claim their biblical interpretation is correct and at least acknowledge literature requires interpretation “according to their understanding?”
  • What if we examine all Books about religion to discern what seems the most universally true? What are Christians afraid of if they have the truth?
  • What if we listen to everyone’s opinion and sought to discern together what was the most loving action according to the circumstances?
  • What if we didn’t push God on everyone but encouraged them to consider the possibility that a God exist and what actions a perfect, loving God might seek to inspire?

How Do We Know Our Truth Is The “Truth?

MikeEdwardsprofilepic125

Mike Edwards has been writing for Done with Religion for some time and has been a great addition to the site. Mike also has his own site where he writes that can be found at What God May Really Be Like  He can be contacted by email at: medwar2@gmail.com

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Which Interpretation Of The Bible On A Subject Is Best?

Posted in Acceptance of Others, Bible, christian living, tagged , , , , on March 23, 2020|

By Mike Edwards

You may believe God inspired and approved every word written down in the Bible. We still must discern the writer’s meaning and application to our circumstances. Personal interpretations are not infallible. Opposing sides often demonize one another by declaring their view of God according to the Bible is right. It is said since Jesus was God in flesh, Jesus is the final authority in understanding God. We still though have to interpret Jesus’ words. Scholars hardly agree what Jesus advised on divorce. Which interpretation is best when two reasonable interpretations exist?

Did you know scholars disagree about women and gays according to the Bible?

Bigotry or a Book, where every word is thought to be inspired by God, are main reasons different treatment of women from men are justified. Two plausible interpretations exist on most major issues when speaking of God’s character. Many defend that the Bible teaches God proclaims women cannot be in authority over men in roles such as a priest or pastor. Scholars also proclaim the Bible teaches roles are based on gifts not gender. See here. Scholars disagree if the Bible condemns monogamous same-sex relationships. See here. These views have impacted billions of lives!

How would a Creator convey what like since any Book is subject to interpretation?

Is it possible a universal, inborn desire to treat others like we want to be treated is one way a Creator would communicate what is good versus evil? After all, half the people born in this world didn’t possess a Bible. I don’t know any God or non-God person that doesn’t advocate the golden rule being a valuable guide in relationships. How would we want to be treated if in that person’s shoes? Which view is most loving from a human perspective?

Even those who claim God is a mystery imply God speaks through our moral intuitions.  

Many claim God is a mystery because their interpretation of Scriptures suggest God appears evil from a human perspective. Such interpreters, who would agree humans were created in God’s image, are using their moral intuitions to imply God and human love are the same. It is certain that we don’t always know what perfect love is, but this doesn’t mean anything goes. Only terrorists, because they don’t question a Book, believe a good God encourages beheading for unbelief.

Choose understandings of God with fewer negative human consequences.

Many recognize as bigotry if we chose business leaders based on gender than gifts. Putting men in leadership positions over women can encourage dominance on the man’s part, which can be conducive for abuse and other atrocities women face at the hands of men. It is hard for men to twist mutual submission to suggest husbands make the final decisions in a stalemate. It doesn’t make moral sense why God would condemn gays when they can no more chose who they love than straight can. Ask them! Why would anyone choose to be gay based on the condemnation and bigotry faced? Which interpretation? Err on the side that doesn’t contradict your intuitive sense of a loving God. Discuss with others. You are free to choose the most loving way.

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How To Read The Bible Without Losing Faith Or Rationalizing To Others!

Posted in Acceptance of Others, Bible, christian living, tagged , , , on March 9, 2020|

By Mike Edwards

There are many things we can’t prove. We can’t prove God exist; we can’t prove God doesn’t exist. We certainly can’t prove that God inspired every word of the Bible, controlling the writers’ thoughts to understand God perfectly. The writers may have been on the same spiritual journey we all are on – discovering what God is really like. Not questioning or reading a Book with an open mind has led to sick and weak minds carrying out immoral acts contrary to common moral sense.

Did God really always inspire what the writers claimed about God?

  • God supposedly would send wild animals to kill the children of the disobedient (Lev. 26:22)
  • God supposedly orders the murder of women, children, infants, and animals in war (I Sam. 15:3)
  • God supposedly ordered killing boys and non-virgin women but sparing virgins for the warriors (Num. 31:18)
  • God supposedly approved rebellious children put to death (Lev. .20:9)
  • God supposedly approves a wife’s hand being cut off when grabbing another man’s genitals (Deut. 25:12)
  • God supposedly insisted on animal sacrifices but later OT writers say God prefers contrite hearts over animal sacrifices (Ps. 51:16-17, i.e. Jer. 7:22, Micah 6:6)

Writers/editors of the Bible didn’t intentionally lie about God but were honest about their understandings of God. We simply don’t possess in other documents the Israelites’ beginnings with a God different from the other gods at that time. The Bible is the main document of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. God didn’t necessarily intend for recordings to not be questioned. These stories are written down for our reading, reflecting, and discovering what God is truly like.

Why it matters how you read the Bible. 

There are contrary biblical interpretations for most major issues. Scholars rightly debate if the Bible condemns monogamous same-sex relationships. Families are destroyed because parents out of devotion to God condemn their child for feelings they can no more control toward those of the same sex than straights can control toward the opposite sex. You have every right to doubt a loving God tortures anyone forever, which serves no lasting purpose, when humans wouldn’t even create a place such as Hell for their worst enemies.

Read the Bible with a questioning and open spirit.  

Those not growing up in church don’t understand all the fuss. Who thinks literature subject to interpretation should be read so dogmatically? We must question interpretations about a loving God that make no moral sense. It only makes intuitive sense that a Creator surely love us and others how we were seemingly created to love others. Even extremists want to be treated with loving kindness. We may not always know what perfect love is, but surely God’s love and perfect human love are the same.

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Why Best To Question If The Entire Bible Is Inspired By God?

Posted in Acceptance of Others, Bible, christian living, tagged , , , , , , on February 17, 2020|

Mike Edwards

I have written on this topic ad nauseum. Issues not addressed in this Post see here. Many scholars acknowledge the Bible has numerous contradictions which is reason enough to question the Bible’s inspiration since God is assumed to be perfect. Does God take pleasure in destroying (Deut. 28:63), or does God take no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezek. 33:11)? Does God punish children for the sins of parents (Ex. 34:7; Num. 14:18), or does God never punish children for what parents do (Ezek. 18:20)? Questioning the Bible may lead to knowing God better.

Why wouldn’t we question since we can’t prove the Bible is inspired by God?

Circular logic is used to argue the Bible is inspired by claiming the biblical writers make such a claim. Besides, the passage most commonly used to defend inspiration is – “All Scriptures is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16) – is subject to different interpretations. God-breathe could literally mean God-spirited, meaning God uses writings to touch our spirit. Humans are said to be God-breathed and we aren’t infallible. Also, this passage can only refer to the Old Testament since the New Testament and Jesus’ words hadn’t been collected.

Questioning avoids the slippery slope of inspired interpretations.

It doesn’t matter if you believe the biblical writers/editors always understood God perfectly because the Bible is literature which requires interpretation of a writer’s meaning and application to personal circumstances. Biblical scholars who respect the authority of Scriptures interpret differently what God thinks about divorce, gender roles, homosexuality, and the afterlife which impacts ever person every born. Infallible Books, as opposed to fallible Books, often lead down the slippery slope of justifying interpretations as if infallible.

Questioning avoids justification of violence and other immoralities in God’s name.

The idea of an infallible or inspired Book has led to assuming God’s views on morality only come from a Book such as the Bible. Terrorists kill infidels in the name of God. Extremists don’t question putting men in authoritative positions over women. One country only recently loosen restrictions on women’s ability to travel without male guardian permission. WHAT! Such ideas could only come from a supposed infallible Book about God. Imagine if terrorists or extremists had to question if God didn’t endorse words in a Book. A fallible Book may actually lead to less violence and violation of rights.

We must question if God really condemns women, gays, and other religions!

How could a loving God favor men over women in leadership roles which has encouraged centuries of domestic abuse and other atrocities women face? How could a loving God condemn gays, who have to hide their sexuality because of bigotry and hostility, when gays can no more choose who they are attracted to than straights can? How could a loving God approve only Christians go to heaven, when the majority of people born into this world rebel or adhere to the religion where born. Is God a God of chance? 

Jesus as the final authority on God isn’t the solution.

Even if we argue all of Scriptures must be understood through the life and death of Jesus, since Jesus was God, this doesn’t solve knowing what God would do. We still have to interpret Jesus according to a Book. Rational people don’t agree on God and violence according to Jesus. When Jesus said love your enemies, does this mean He would say never to kill to love innocent victims when no other option seems to exist? We can’t always know when Jesus spoke about certain subjects without stating exceptions or used hyperbole for emphasis. It is better to question than go down the slippery slope of an inspired Book by God.

It is claimed we can’t know God if not through the Bible. 

Only a perfect or good God is worth believing in! Who doesn’t know a good God hates beheading people because they don’t share your beliefs unless a supposed infallible Book supposedly speaks for God? God doesn’t get enough credit for communicating through our moral intuitions. Criminals often don’t defend their actions; instead, they deny committing such crimes. A Book couldn’t be God’s only type of communication because a copy of the Bible and knowledge of Jesus hasn’t been available to the majority of people born into this world. Problems often begin when we stray from common moral sense and insist on our understanding from an inspired Book. How can we decide what God is really like? See HERE

Is certainty really better than uncertainty about the Bible?  

Total certainty is an illusion because even if God is Truth, we still have to discern what is Truth. Biblical scholars can’t agree if God desires preachers or priests be women or gay? It is suggested viewing the Bible as “inspired imperfection,” or we should view all of the Bible through Jesus’ eyes. As mentioned, even if Jesus was God in person His words still require interpretation. Uncertainty, not certainly about God, protects against imposing beliefs on others which is not God’s nature. Different opinions, expressed without physical or verbal aggression, can stand side by side as we continually evaluate the most loving approach.

What good is the Bible if we don’t know what passages are inspired by God?  

I believe the Bible has God’s blessing. There is so much wisdom to be gained from interacting with it. The viewpoint that God didn’t inspire the Bible, or at least admitting one’s interpretation isn’t inspired, could lead to less violence in God’s name and forcing other immoral opinions on others. The Bible can be viewed as recorded experiences of beginnings with God and Israel culminating with the life of Jesus that we don’t possess in other documents. Question biblical texts by writers that give qualities to God morally questionable. Aren’t we created in God’s image? 

God never intended a Book to take the place of a relationship with God and others. Even the Bible tells us the Word of God isn’t a Book but Spirit who lives in us (Jn. 14:16-17). As long as we read the Bible with a questioning spirit motivated by love rather than blind obedience, the Bible allows God’s spirit to influence making unselfish decisions for a better world. Certainty has only gotten us more violence, sexism, homophobia, etc. Discuss different views of God by defending our reasoning, respecting the opinions of others, and committing to growing in understanding.

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