This is a reply to the O.P - forgive my laziness, I haven't read the responses.
Why do you, personally, believe that the Bible is divinely inspired? (not necessarily as compared to any other religious text - even simply on its own, what makes you believe that the Bible was God's form of teaching us what we needed to know about Him?)
In it's entirety, I believe it because when I was basically a secularist, I didn't understand it. And apparently people still don't get it - or say it is contradictory etc. But it seems to go far deeper, I have came to understand what it means in places.
Also, the Theology of Christ and the NT really answer all the questions for me. The fruit of the Spirit being the explanation of how one can not be under the law.
But also, Genesis and other books - when talking about the creation, are accurate. Maybe not scientifically from a modern perspective - but rather, there is nothing ludicrous about the things written pertaining to life on earth. Example; God let the earth bring forth life - whereas a myth of another religion would say the earth was brought on a camel or something. But the first passage of Genesis doesn't describe how, This - for me, is tremendous - usually, if the writer was trying to give a reason, they'd make them up according to the understanding of their age. But Genesis 1 itself, begins with no answers for "how";
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And then it goes on to talk of almost boring, factual like statements (In the first chapter). That darkness was on the face of the deep etc...but no silly statements, for example "And God made the sun by the fire of his nostrils of flesh, and the moon with his inflamed hemaroid". (Dan-time)/
So for me - it just explains everything. But Jesus Christ is the main reason - I mean, he explains everything without selfishness, or human reasons. And he shows the nature of God.
For example - does this not reflect reality? -->
Satan tempted Christ - and God done nothing, they asked him to prove himself by coming down off the cross - and he done nothing. So God isn't tempted by doubters or evil. This kind of theology is crucial - it answers reality aswell. We all suffer - so did God and he was more innocent than anyone. ANd so many things like this. Hundreds of theological reasons.
This message has been edited by mike the wiz, 12-28-2004 16:24 AM
This message has been edited by mike the wiz, 12-28-2004 16:26 AM