Atheist Appreciation of Biblical Wisdom and Inspiration

I'd second Buzz' suggestion that Proverbs is a possible place for you to go. I suspect however, that much of its wisdom will, on reflection, strike you as something you already know and that you'll recognise your 'trouble' as lying in the lack of wherewithal to apply that wisdom consistantly.Take the following proverb for example (often cited, incidently, as an example of the bible contradicting itself).

quote:

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Proverbs 26:

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4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you become like him.

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5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

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Combined, the proverb tells you that you that whilst it's wise to contend with a persons foolishness, it is unwise to utilise foolishness yourself in doing so. So when an EvC opponant pours scorn through the device of a strawman, by all means answer that foolishness - but just not through the device of a strawman (nor through any other foolish means). - otherwise you become a fool yourself. I don't know if you follow jaywill at all but if you do you'll see a polished practioner of this proverb.The wisdom is plain enough but the application of same the tricky point. Which brings me to the irrelevancy of the bible for the unbeliever.You point to the impact the bible has had on forming Western culture* but I think it would be more correct to point to the application of biblical principles which has had the impact. The welfare systems, hospitals, orphanages, educational systems, human rights activities, charities, etc. that have arisen as a result of the application of biblical principles have (those who were behind them would tell you) occurred because of the empowerment supplied to the individual by God. Without being plugged into that source, the wisdom would be stripped of it's motive power, and would struggle to rise above wishful thinking, New Year resolutions and sentimentality.Jesus warned that lusting after a woman was tantamount to adultery. His pinpointing such thoughts to be the thin end of a thick, destructive wedge is a wisdom most can, with a little experience in lusting, acknowledge. Without his motive power however, a knowledge of that wisdom leaves you lusting and being battered by the knowledge that it is a foolish, damaging activity.The bibles wisdom is wisdom without power for the unbeliever, wisdom with the power of God for the believer.*I'm taking the positive aspects of the bibles application for illustrations sake only.Edited by iano, : No reason given.Edited by iano, : No reason given.

The point being made was that examples of these human characteristics writ societal in scale (such a welfare systems, abolition of slavery, child labour, universal education, public hospitals and health systems, charities, etc) was something birthed in the West as a result of people being influenced by the Bible.Societies where the Bible was absent lagged behind in these regards (although there is no suggestion that the human qualities listed were absent)

I'm dealing with an OP who would agree that it is. If not in letter (anymore that the decrying of internet sex is there in letter) then in spirit. And it is the spirit which guided so many to do so much. Because I'm dealing with someone who appears to accept the Western values have been very significantly impacted by the the Bible. That is not to exclude the contribution of anything else.Which is all a bit beside the point. The point was that the doing of so many was through what they believed to be empowerment by God. Which limits the value of the wisdom unempowered so.