Does the Bible provide information that is useful and applicable in modern life?

[Zzyzx]

Does the Bible provide information that is useful and applicable in modern life?

1. What, if any, information or guidance provided by the New Testament is useful and applicable in modern life and modern decisions?

2. What, if any, information or guidance provided by the Old Testament is useful and applicable in modern life and modern decisions?

3. Is any currently useful information provided by NT / OT original or unique to the Bible (not common in other cultures and ideologies)?

[bjs1]

Of course. But what good has presenting information done before?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Rule

You used the same source that I did. From start to finish this source contradicts the claims that you have made. For instance, it says that early Egyptians used the ethic of “That which you hate to be done to you, do not do to another." As I pointed out in post 10, this is not same as what Jesus taught. You claimed that my statements were false, but then cited a sours which says that my statements are true. In post 36 you rather condescendingly accused theists of not reading. I am forced wonder if you failed to read your own source.

[Willum]

[Replying to bjs1 in post #42]

But it is the Golden Rule in some form.
What more do you want?
Do you wish philosophy from 1000 BCE to be as advanced as 70 CE?
Do you want language and writing to be equally advanced as well?
That is not very reasonable.
Egypt expressed it as well as it could, Jesus screwed it up as well.

They are both expressions of that thing called the Golden Rule.
The negative expression arguably being less relativistic and flawed than Jesus’.

And so...

[bjs1]

[Replying to bjs1 in post #42]

But it is the Golden Rule in some form.

You may call any standard you wish "the Golden Rule."

It is not the Golden Rule that Jesus taught.

[Zzyzx]

It is not the Golden Rule that Jesus taught.

Where did Jesus teach 'the Golden Rule'? Would that be the Sermon on the Mount reported in 'Matthew' (the same writer who told of many saints arising from their graves and going to town – never to be heard from again or by anyone else)? Did he get the sermon tale right?

Did 'Mark' mention that great sermon? Did 'John'?

'Luke' seems to have thought it was on a plain rather than a mountain (memories seem to diverge when recalling events and conversations from decades earlier).

Is there assurance that whoever wrote 'Matthew' and whoever wrote 'Luke' were present to hear the sermon Jesus preached on the mountain (or the plain or wherever it was)?

[bjs1]

It is not the Golden Rule that Jesus taught.

Where did Jesus teach 'the Golden Rule'? Would that be the Sermon on the Mount reported in 'Matthew' (the same writer who told of many saints arising from their graves and going to town – never to be heard from again or by anyone else)? Did he get the sermon tale right?

Did 'Mark' mention that great sermon? Did 'John'?

'Luke' seems to have thought it was on a plain rather than a mountain (memories seem to diverge when recalling events and conversations from decades earlier).

Is there assurance that whoever wrote 'Matthew' and whoever wrote 'Luke' were present to hear the sermon Jesus preached on the mountain (or the plain or wherever it was)?

Do you have a point? Perhaps something that has to do with this debate? Writing, “Jesus taught…” is a well-accepted shorthand that frees someone from needing to write out, “according to the document which is commonly called the Gospel According to Saint Matthew Jesus taught…” Are you questioning this established shorthand out of empty petulance and semantics, or is there actually something you want to say here?

[Zzyzx]

Do you have a point?

My intent, as always, is to point out flaws that occur when mythology and folklore are presented as truthful and accurate.

Perhaps something that has to do with this debate?

Since the subject of this thread is “Does the Bible provide information that is useful and applicable in modern life?”, questioning the validity of information provided by Bible tales seems quite appropriate.

Writing, “Jesus taught…” is a well-accepted shorthand that frees someone from needing to write out, “according to the document which is commonly called the Gospel According to Saint Matthew Jesus taught…”

Is that assurance that Jesus taught the words attributed to him?

Are you questioning this established shorthand out of empty petulance and semantics, or is there actually something you want to say here?

It is understandable that Apologists resent having the truth and accuracy of their favorite ancient tales questioned. However, those tales are not sacred here and the Bible is considered no more authoritative than any other book.

[bjs1]

Writing, “Jesus taught…” is a well-accepted shorthand that frees someone from needing to write out, “according to the document which is commonly called the Gospel According to Saint Matthew Jesus taught…”

Is that assurance that Jesus taught the words attributed to him?

Please point out where I made any claims of that nature.

Are you questioning this established shorthand out of empty petulance and semantics, or is there actually something you want to say here?

It is understandable that Apologists resent having the truth and accuracy

You have provided neither.

[Zzyzx]

Writing, “Jesus taught…” is a well-accepted shorthand that frees someone from needing to write out, “according to the document which is commonly called the Gospel According to Saint Matthew Jesus taught…”

Is that assurance that Jesus taught the words attributed to him?

Please point out where I made any claims of that nature.

“Jesus taught” is a claim that the words were those of Jesus. If you disavow 'Jesus taught', you are not expected to provide substantiation.

Are you questioning this established shorthand out of empty petulance and semantics, or is there actually something you want to say here?

It is understandable that Apologists resent having the truth and accuracy

You have provided neither.

Please point out where I made any claims of that nature.