How can we trust the Bible if it's not inerrant?

[otseng]

From the On the Bible being inerrant thread:

How can you trust something that's written about god that contradictory, contains errors and just plain wrong at times? Is there a logical way to do so, or do you just want it to be god's word so much that you overlook these things like happens so often through the history of christianity?

The Bible can still be God's word, inspired, authoritative, and trustworthy without the need to believe in inerrancy.

For debate:
How can the Bible be considered authoritative and inspired without the need to believe in the doctrine of inerrancy?

While debating, do not simply state verses to say the Bible is inspired or trustworthy.

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Thread Milestones

• Case study of Hezekiah
• Start discussing global flood / Flood Model summary
• Recap arguments of authority of the Bible
• Start discussing Tower of Babel / Tower of Babel summary
• Start discussing archaeology / Philosophy of science / Origin of alphabet / End of discussion on archaeology
• Start discussing cosmology / Concluding cosmology
• Start discussing Shroud of Turin / Summary top TS imaging theories / Created DefendingChristianity.com and TS subforums / Shroud of Turin summary
• Start discussing Bible and resurrection
• Start discussing the Messiahship of Jesus / Messiahship of Jesus wrap up
• Start discussing Old Testament ethics
• Summary argument of atheism and morality / God basis for objective morality
• Start discussing genocide / Genocide summary argument
• Start discussing slavery / Slavery summary argument
• Start discussing homosexuality / Homosexuality summary argument
• Old Testament ethics summary argument

[JoeyKnothead]

If God is going to inspire a guide for his loyal ones and that guide contains errors, then that guide is not safe ... nor is that God the God the Bible teaches about, a God to trust.

In the other side: who is so interested in making you to believe that? Your enemy ... not your friend. Will he give you any alternative to fill the blank? No, he won't ... he is not really interested in your wellbeing. Probably that person who is killing your faith is just doing a job and getting paid for it.

Or maybe they're presenting arguments that expose the folly of religious belief, and don't even get paid to do it.

[Eloi]

Really?

If I were to be atheist, I would get a real life ... like the one God have promised and atheists think they can have without him.

[JoeyKnothead]

Really?

If I were to be atheist, I would get a real life ... like the one God have promised and atheists think they can have without him.

My life is abundantly rewarding, and offers me the opportunity to help negate what I consider to be errant beliefs being passed of as truth.

Then there's the whole deal with Christian Nationalism here in the US, and my desire to ensure my two wonderful grandgirls don't have to grow up and raise their children in a Talibanized country.

[Eloi]

[Replying to JoeyKnothead in post #2]
I would like something much better for me, my family and friends. That's exactly why I am a Jehovah's Witness and not an atheist.

[JoeyKnothead]

[Replying to JoeyKnothead in post #2]
I would like something much better for me, my family and friends. That's exactly why I am a Jehovah's Witness and not an atheist.

I don't begrudge your wishes.

If I recall, your folks were instrumental in stopping compulsory flag saluting and pledge reciting. I'm thankful for their efforts.

[benchwarmer]

[Replying to JoeyKnothead in post #2]
I would like something much better for me, my family and friends. That's exactly why I am a Jehovah's Witness and not an atheist.

You became a JW because you wanted something better for your family and friends? I assume you mean that you are now going to (or already have) try to convert them? How are you going to feel when you may have to shun them?

Personally speaking, if I was picking denominations for the betterment of family and friends, JWs would the last place to look.

Just a small sampling of the way some JWs treat their family and friends:

Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses break silence on shunning: 'My mother treats me like I'm dead'
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/ ... 409695002/

The ex-Jehovah's Witnesses shunned by their families
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-40704990

[nobspeople]

[Replying to benchwarmer in post #36]

Personally speaking, if I was picking denominations for the betterment of family and friends, JWs would the last place to look.

Don't forget about Scientology

[benchwarmer]

[Replying to benchwarmer in post #36]

Personally speaking, if I was picking denominations for the betterment of family and friends, JWs would the last place to look.

Don't forget about Scientology

I'm pretty sure Scientology is not a Christian denomination, but I get your point Lot's of stuff out there to avoid.

[nobspeople]

[Replying to benchwarmer in post #36]

Personally speaking, if I was picking denominations for the betterment of family and friends, JWs would the last place to look.

Don't forget about Scientology

I'm pretty sure Scientology is not a Christian denomination, but I get your point Lot's of stuff out there to avoid.

It's not; it's better (at least according to some scientologists)

[JoeyKnothead]

[Replying to JoeyKnothead in post #2]
I would like something much better for me, my family and friends. That's exactly why I am a Jehovah's Witness and not an atheist.

You became a JW because you wanted something better for your family and friends? I assume you mean that you are now going to (or already have) try to convert them? How are you going to feel when you may have to shun them?

Personally speaking, if I was picking denominations for the betterment of family and friends, JWs would the last place to look.

Just a small sampling of the way some JWs treat their family and friends:

Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses break silence on shunning: 'My mother treats me like I'm dead'
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/ ... 409695002/

The ex-Jehovah's Witnesses shunned by their families
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-40704990

Good googly moogly, that's horrible. I'm at a loss for words.