The bible... why take it seriously?

[robvalue]

Hi Michael

Well we know that the bible has a lot more to do with the community than with being any actual word of god, as it has been heavily edited over time and a group of men even voted on which words of god to keep and which to get rid of. My point is, how can this book be considered any kind of good evidence when you have to rely on other people telling you it is true, without them providing any further evidence? Besides them just having been told it's true? That's just exactly the same as any other myth that is believed for no reason.

If this bible is just the sum part of a community putting their experiences together (and I would say even that is a generous description) then that is fair enough, but that's a far cry from "real" or "word of god".

PS: yes exactly, approaching it in isolation is what I am referring to. Any other book which contained truths could be approached in isolation, and then you could test the truth of it against other sources and with reality. The bible does not pass this test. In isolation it is either (a) a story book or (b) fevered rantings of an ancient civilization trying to control everyone. Either way, I think it's time this was finally admitted.