What Relevance Does The Bible Have In The 21St Century ?

[modeller]

I've just received another personal invitation to the monthly Theist Meeting despite upsetting most of them last time.

It's entitled ' What Relevance Does the Bible Have in the 21st Century ?

Your comments will be most welcome. Thanks !

[ludwig]

// What Relevance Does The Bible Have In The 21St Century ? //

It's easy to say none, but it's a valuable historical document. It shows how people used to think in ancient times. In that sense it's educational and relevant.

[beso]

It is extremely useful for showing why the world desperately needs to get beyond religion.

[WyeDyed]

Modeller - The point is there are over two billion Abrahamic believers in the world which must have some relevance even in this day and age

And, if you asked each and every one of them individually, you would have over two billion interpretations of the meaning that it portrays...

Therein lays the problem

[naomi24]

The bible is relevant insofar as it is the fundamental source of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, and by extension the chaos we are witnessing – and experiencing - in many other areas. Its content, along with that of its spin-off – the Koran - create nothing but mayhem and misery in this world. On an individual level, ‘Holy’ books, although claiming to promote altruism actually encourage self-obsession. The ultimate incentive in turning the other cheek, or in giving a man your coat, or in beneficence to charity, is the prospect of personal reward – of cheating death. Adherents no doubt find the writings reassuring, but that reassurance frequently brings with it the unavoidable imposition of poverty and disease, and therefore comes at a miserable price. These ancient works encourage division, hatred, and mistrust among human beings, and hence, offer nothing positive to a progressive, modern world. While such books wield unparalleled influence over the minds of men, there will never be harmony - and individual health and prosperity, can for many, only ever be an unattainable pipe-dream. Sadly, the bible is extremely relevant in the 21st century.

Incidentally, Modeller, the Koran is based on both Old and New Testaments – with bits from other earlier civilisations thrown in.

[beezaneez]

read the book of revelations and you will see that the end times are here. i personally believe it

[sandyRoe]

Don't go to the meeting. They might be working on the basis that some who come to mock stay to listen.

[Peter Pedant]

.

You should say it is an inspiration for modern living just as it was in the first century

( that will jerk them up)

then you should try - ..... ego he phone bo-ontos en ty eremy

and they will start murmuring holy mary mudder of God he is tarking in tongues....

that is John 1 - I am the voice calling in the wilderness....

and then say - one of the striking images of the week was the wife of the organist butchered for fun on his way to midnight mass, forgiving her husband's murderers

and then say: "I know this would not have occurred if she had not been a Christian and it is a truly powerful example of the effect of the word of God in the 21 st century. "

then shut up and sit down and see the effect....

[mikey4444]

In an age when almost all of us in the West have been recipients of a good education, it never ceases to amaze me how any religion, let alone Christianity is still going.

One unpleasant effect of the Bible would seem to be the millions of Americans that think that early man chased dinosaurs for their lunch, and that was only a few years ago apparently. There is lots more drivel in the Bible of course.

[goodlife]

You might disagree with such sweeping dismissals of the Bible but still wonder if everything in the Bible is relevant.

Well to the first-century Christian in Rome, Paul wrote: All the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4) and it the same for “True Christian” today,simple.

[mikey4444]

I can hear a feint sound of duelling banjos !

[Peter Pedant]

I dont doubt Romans 15 is :
All the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

and a fella called Paul wrote it..... ( Funny how people don't believe J existed but have no problem with Paul and dont' day - O I think he was a social construct and his name was really Wayne...)

and is surprisingly relevant for the discussion....

within a few years - the Christians had a council and decided they werent a sect of jews but were their own faith (Acts of Apostles - no need for circumcision)

which means they must have said The OT has different relevance for Jews than it does for us - the difference being the NT.

Interesting point:

the point being - there is internal evidence that the Christians were asking what relevance the Bible had for them in the first century.....

[Peter Pedant]

Mikey - men chasing dynosaurs is NOT an image from the Bible

I can guarantee the word dynosaur does NOT occur anywhere in the Bible - unlike Mikey that is the name of an archangel and I am not sure if it occurs...)

so you can blame the bible for a lot.... but not for that

[mikey4444]

But that is what millions of American Christians believe Pete.

I don't think its actually very important whether its in the Bible or not....they believe that nonsense and other drivel because they believe the Bible is fact. For me, that is the relevance of the Bible in the 21st Century.....it undoes education.

[mikey4444]

Sorry...meant to add this link ::

http://creationmuseum.org/

This isn't a hoax website !

[mikey4444]

Children playing with dinosaurs !

[chrisgel]

PP - "The Bible mentions two creatures that seem remarkably similar to the dinosaurs, the leviathan and behemoth, in Job chapters 40-41. It is the view of creation scientists that all the “dragon” myths came from real contact between human beings and dinosaurs. The Bible tells us that all animals were created around 6000 years ago and co-existed with human beings."

http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-dragons.html

[mikey4444]

Thanks Chris...more drivel ! How does any educated person believe this ?

[modeller]

peter //the point being - there is internal evidence that the Christians were asking what relevance the Bible had for them in the first century..... //

I like that : the 1st century and now in the 21st century we are asking the same question. or put it another way 'Why aren't we all Jews ' ?

[jomifl]

Beezaneez, you could read revelations in any era and convince yourself that the 'end times' (?) are near or here. You should ask yourself where the supposed 'authority of the bible comes from, certainly god didn't write it.