How much of the Bible can actually be proven true??

[psychdave]

According to internet resources only around 19% of the Bible can be verified via external sources (i.e. non Bible). Christians say that the Bible is 66 independent books so it proves itself..... However, in reality nobody can say with 100% certainty that the books of the Bible are true as clearly they were written down many years after actual events took place... If we were to take Deuteronomy literally for example, we would have a Christian terrorist organisation as we'd be killing non Christians, homosexuals, adulterers and rebellious teens.... If we were to take the new testament literally we'd poke out our eyes, cut off our hands etc if they caused us to sin and also literally believe if several people agree in something in prayer it would be done..... (NB, it doesn't happen!!)

Whilst Christians will argue that things in the old testament came to pass in the new testament, how can anyone prove that the new testament wasn't purposely written in a way to ensure it verified the old testament?

[polonius]

According to internet resources only around 19% of the Bible can be verified via external sources (i.e. non Bible). Christians say that the Bible is 66 independent books so it proves itself..... However, in reality nobody can say with 100% certainty that the books of the Bible are true as clearly they were written down many years after actual events took place... If we were to take Deuteronomy literally for example, we would have a Christian terrorist organisation as we'd be killing non Christians, homosexuals, adulterers and rebellious teens.... If we were to take the new testament literally we'd poke out our eyes, cut off our hands etc if they caused us to sin and also literally believe if several people agree in something in prayer it would be done..... (NB, it doesn't happen!!)

Whilst Christians will argue that things in the old testament came to pass in the new testament, how can anyone prove that the new testament wasn't purposely written in a way to ensure it verified the old testament?

RESPONSE: As sort of a history buff, I've been examining the Bible as a historical writing for a number of years. I completly agree with your summary. Very much of the Bible is folklore written long after the events described (assuming that they happened at all).

But I find a number of people are convinced that the bible is both "inerrant" and "inspired" and can't handle evidence that proves clearly that is not the case.

Please press on with your posts!

[polonius]

In especially the last couple of decades, archeologist using modern methods and the bible as a guide have been investigating its historical accuracy.

Unfortunately, the first seven books of the Bible are now considered to be folklore (the legend of Israel's founding) compiled between 800 and 700 BC. (long after the supposed Exodus).

Curiously, archeologists associated with the University of Tel Avie seem to be the most serious critics of the bible's accounts in Chapters 1 through 7.

[polonius]

From the Jewish Post regarding the Exodus

http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-Ed-Cont ... say-348464

“The Exodus is so fundamental to us and our Jewish sources that it is embarrassing that there is no evidence outside of the Bible to support it….
“For the account in the Torah is the basis of our people’s creation, it is the basis of our existence and it is the basis of our important Passover festival and the whole Haggada that we recite on the first evening of this festival of freedom. So that makes archaeologists reluctant to have to tell our brethren and ourselves that there is nothing in Egyptian records to support it. Nothing on the slavery of the Israelites, nothing on the plagues that persuaded Pharaoh to let them go, nothing on the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, nothing.�

[oldbadger]

How much of the Bible can actually be proven true??

It looks to researchers as if little can be proved about the earliest books, but on the balance of probabilities many of the early tales such as from Exodus etc could well have been passed down by oral-tradition, gathering some hyperbolic momentum on the way.

On the side........
But archaeologists can get it wrong! All that fuss caused by the remains of only one 1st cent building at Nazareth, when the likelihood of peasants carrying mud bricks up that hillside is a complete joke....... Mud-brick buildings were built where there was mud! 2nd order peasants would have lived in goat-hair tents, methinks = no archaeology at Nazareth!

[psychdave]

[Replying to polonius.advice]

Yes indeed. I know of Christian people who say they believe the Bible cover to cover. Either they are naive or just plain stupid.

Starting from the beginning if Adam and Eve were the only people in the world, where did different races emerge from and clearly incest must have been rife in order to reproduce from Adam & Eve and don't get me started on Noah..... Goodness know how the Polar bears, Aussie Kangaroos and American Alligators made their way to middle east and on to the ark.....

[catnip]

How much of the Bible can actually be proven true??

It looks to researchers as if little can be proved about the earliest books, but on the balance of probabilities many of the early tales such as from Exodus etc could well have been passed down by oral-tradition, gathering some hyperbolic momentum on the way.

On the side........
But archaeologists can get it wrong! All that fuss caused by the remains of only one 1st cent building at Nazareth, when the likelihood of peasants carrying mud bricks up that hillside is a complete joke....... Mud-brick buildings were built where there was mud! 2nd order peasants would have lived in goat-hair tents, methinks = no archaeology at Nazareth!

They have actually dug up a Jewish house in the Nazareth area from the first century (and note that it was dug up by Jewish archaeologists and this story is published in The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/d ... very-jesus

[polonius]

How much of the Bible can actually be proven true??

It looks to researchers as if little can be proved about the earliest books, but on the balance of probabilities many of the early tales such as from Exodus etc could well have been passed down by oral-tradition, gathering some hyperbolic momentum on the way.

On the side........
But archaeologists can get it wrong! All that fuss caused by the remains of only one 1st cent building at Nazareth, when the likelihood of peasants carrying mud bricks up that hillside is a complete joke....... Mud-brick buildings were built where there was mud! 2nd order peasants would have lived in goat-hair tents, methinks = no archaeology at Nazareth!

They have actually dug up a Jewish house in the Nazareth area from the first century (and note that it was dug up by Jewish archaeologists and this story is published in The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/d ... very-jesus

RESPONSE:

Please cite any passage where Nazareth is mentioned in the Old Testament. How could the prophets say that "Heshall be called a Nazprean" (see Matthew)if there was yet to be a Nazareth?

[Peppered Moth]

According to internet resources only around 19% of the Bible can be verified via external sources (i.e. non Bible). Christians say that the Bible is 66 independent books so it proves itself..... However, in reality nobody can say with 100% certainty that the books of the Bible are true as clearly they were written down many years after actual events took place... If we were to take Deuteronomy literally for example, we would have a Christian terrorist organisation as we'd be killing non Christians, homosexuals, adulterers and rebellious teens.... If we were to take the new testament literally we'd poke out our eyes, cut off our hands etc if they caused us to sin and also literally believe if several people agree in something in prayer it would be done..... (NB, it doesn't happen!!)

Whilst Christians will argue that things in the old testament came to pass in the new testament, how can anyone prove that the new testament wasn't purposely written in a way to ensure it verified the old testament?

Thread Title : All of it.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 1 by psychdave]

How much of the Bible can actually be proven true?

I don't know that one can put a figure to it or any other historical document. The bible has a stellar archelogical record but in the end, the only thing we can say for sure is that nothing in it has been proven to be untrue.