What is so good about the 'Good Book'?

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Originally posted by Brian Johnston:
This is a serious question, what is it that is so good about the Bible?
Can it really be described as the 'Good Book' or should it be referred to as something else?

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It contains elements which make for good reading - Sex, Violence, and Mystery.

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One thing that makes me doubt the 'Goodness' of the Bible is the use made of passages in the Bible (e.g. Joshua and Judges)to justify a 'Holy' or 'Just War.'
For example, ALL interpretations of a military conquest of Canaan by Joshua have been proven false, yet the conquest narratives have been used to justify all sorts of Christian atrocities, such as the Crusades. The suffering caused thoughout the centuries, all based on events that simply didnt happen, is incalculable.

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People will justify war even if all they can appeal to is simple survival instinct.

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How can the Bible retain its title of the Good Book when it has been responsible for some of the severest examples of man's inhumanity to man?

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Is Origin of Species responsible for atheism? Is Mein Kampf responsible for World War II?
The Bible is only a book. It retains its title because the title fits.

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So what is it that makes the Bible 'Good' ?

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--------------------- Sex - Violence - Mystery and Antiquity ---------------------There's some really good erotic poetry, a lot of wise old sayings, ancient laws and chronicles of kings, a bunch of genealogies, a smattering of cosmological commentary, and at least one very bawdy tale. Too bad that modern producers have failed to translate it effectively; but it has been my hobby for more than forty years and frankly, despite all the trouble related to its use and abuse in the world today, and yesterday, and probably far into the future, . . . . . .I like it!db------------------
Bachelor of Arts - Loma Linda University
Major - Biology; Minor - Religion
Anatomy and Physiology - LLU School of Medicine
Embryology - La Sierra University
Biblical languages - Pacific Union College
Bible doctrines - Walla Walla College

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Originally posted by nos482:
Unlike these others the bible IS responsible for much because it is a thing of worship and justification for hundreds of millions for nearly 1700 years. It's a matter of scale.

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How did people justify aggression before there was a Bible?How do people justify aggression when they have no Bible?Is the constitution responsible for America? No. Those who support the constitution are responsible.Is Betty Crocker responsible for my wife's lousey cooking? No. My wife is responsible. She may blame Betty's recipes but I am not persuaded.

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Originally posted by nos482:
... hundreds of millions for nearly 1700 years. It's a matter of scale.

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By this reasoning - If atheism is around 1500 years from now, then Origin of Species can be held responsible for atheism?I am all in favor of attacking abusers of the holy script. But the Bible itself doesn't hear a word I say. It just sits there, like it doesn't care. Maybe it's intellectually challenged. Maybe it's mentally incompetent. If that is true, then there is no court in the land which would hold it "responsible" for anything.I can understand why you link the Bible with the people who go off on it, but the next logical step would be to ban the Bible. That's already been tried. Banning books only makes them seem more important.So, how does one get rid of the evil Scripture-thumpers? Jews put rocks in their heads. Christians threw them on the Barbie. Muslims lift up their heads. But they keep on coming. I hear that Hitler had some success with gas. Oops! That's another story. At any rate, I don't need a book to tell me who my enemies are.db

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Originally posted by doctrbill:
How did people justify aggression before there was a Bible?

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Originally posted by nos482: They used their religious writings, and/or myths.

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Writing was invented about 5000 years ago. Was there no war before that?doctrbill - Is the constitution responsible for America? No. Those who support the constitution are responsible.nos - They don't compare because it is not the same concept.How not? You assert that the Bible is responsible for war. I say people are responsible for war.doctrbill - ... If atheism is around 1500 years from now, then Origin of Species can be held responsible for atheism?nos - Atheism is not a belief system and the person who wrote it was a Christian.Darwinism is a belief system but I don't think one needs Darwin to know that Godidit isn't the answer. I don't think authorship is particularly relevent to this issue. The question is whether a book can be held responsible for a person's bad behavior. In this country (U.S.) it cannot. Freedom of Speech you know.doctrbill - ... there is no court in the land which would hold it [the Bible] "responsible" for anything.nos - It is a means of justification.I know what you are saying, but it won't stand up in court. In the real world one doesn't kill people with impunity unless he is ordered to do so by his country. In such case, "The British Are Coming!!" is all the justification one needs.doctrbill - ... I don't need a book to tell me who my enemies are.nos - You may not, but a good many people do.No one needs a book to tell him that Osama bin Laden is our enemy.In wartime the Bible is used to comfort those who are about to die. But it is one's commander who points him to the enemy. He may quote Sargon, Alexander, Patton, or Joshua, but it is military command which assigns the enemy.I believe we must recognize a difference between the Bible and various organizations which purport to know, "the Will of God as revealed in the Bible." Whether they know it or not, and probably not, the "God" of which they speak is a long dead hanging judge or some ancient war-mongering Emperor. The problem with their ignorance is that they don't know they've got it. A more effective tack is to know the Bible better than they do. If that doesn't work, then perhaps a well placed grenade (Oh Please God).db

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Brian Johnston - message #1 How can the Bible retain its title of the Good Book when it has been responsible for some of the severest examples of man's inhumanity to man?

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db - msg #2 The Bible is only a book. It retains its title because the title fits.nos - msg #3 ... the bible IS responsible ... db - msg #6 You assert that the Bible is responsible for war. I say people are responsible for war.nos - msg #8 I didn't say any such thing.Really!?What was that then?