Lots of Questions Part I

[Guest shiloh357]

So thanks to everyone who responded on my last topic. You definitely answered my questions. So now I want to talk about the Sumerian Tablets, which apparently pre-date the Bible and even share similar stories like the great flood and creation. So how do we know that the Sumerian Tablets aren't true and that maybe the stories in the Old Testament were just copied from these tablets?

If you read the account of say, the Gilgamesh flood epic, you would not want it to be true, when compared to the Genesis account of the flood from an ethical standpoint. I don't think many people look at the two stories from the vantage point of the gods of the epic. vs. the God of the Bible.

 

in the epic, there is no moral motivation for the flood. The reason for the flood isn't given.   In the Genesis account, God grieves over the sinfulness of man.  In the Genesis account the flood is an act of justice whereas the epic pictures it as an act of impulsive retribution.

 

In the epic, there is no redemptive character in the gods.  No distinction is made between the main character, Utnapishtim, and the other people deserving of punishment.  In the Genesis account, Noah is shown to be "perfect in his generations" and he found grace in God's eyes.

 

In the epic the ark or boat is the means of escape through one god's deceptive actions whereas, in the Bible the ark is seen as means of salvation via the mercy of God.

[Temp Name]

So far my questions have been answered very well. So thanks again. This might be an easier question, but we'll see. How do we know that God isn't just an invention of man to explain things we can't/couldn't understand? I'm convinced that the story of Jericho is true due to pretty overwhelming archeological evidence, but is it possible that the Israelites took over the city themselves without the help of God and that they were the ones that burnt the city and not God?

[Fez]

So far my questions have been answered very well. So thanks again. This might be an easier question, but we'll see. How do we know that God isn't just an invention of man to explain things we can't/couldn't understand? I'm convinced that the story of Jericho is true due to pretty overwhelming archeological evidence, but is it possible that the Israelites took over the city themselves without the help of God and that they were the ones that burnt the city and not God?

Why do you say it is possible that God had no hand in the destruction of Jericho when the bible clearly says otherwise?

 

What leads you to this conclusion? Is it a matter of understanding part of the scripture, or just an opinion?

[Temp Name]

 

So far my questions have been answered very well. So thanks again. This might be an easier question, but we'll see. How do we know that God isn't just an invention of man to explain things we can't/couldn't understand? I'm convinced that the story of Jericho is true due to pretty overwhelming archeological evidence, but is it possible that the Israelites took over the city themselves without the help of God and that they were the ones that burnt the city and not God?

Why do you say it is possible that God had no hand in the destruction of Jericho when the bible clearly says otherwise?

 

What leads you to this conclusion? Is it a matter of understanding part of the scripture, or just an opinion?

 

That's what I'm saying. Couldn't they have just taken the city by themselves without the help of God, but attributed it to him anyway and so that's why it says that the Lord helped them take the city?

[Guest man]

If one doesn't believe in God they can pretty much interpret the bible anyway they want. The bible states that Jericho was handed over to Joshua by God. Since I'm a firm believer in the Almighty, I have no reason to question that. Could the city have been taken without the help of God? I don't know. I wasn't there. Anything's possible I suppose. But the bible makes it perfectly clear that God had a hand in the destruction of Jericho and that's what I'm gonna go with and if anyone asks, that's what I'm gonna tell'em.

 

 

[other one]

So far my questions have been answered very well. So thanks again. This might be an easier question, but we'll see. How do we know that God isn't just an invention of man to explain things we can't/couldn't understand? I'm convinced that the story of Jericho is true due to pretty overwhelming archeological evidence, but is it possible that the Israelites took over the city themselves without the help of God and that they were the ones that burnt the city and not God?

Now you are getting to the point of questioning just about everything in the Bible.  A non believing person can question just about anything reported in the Bible.  Either you accept it as true or you don't.  Actually you can do that with just about any book if you didn't experience everything in it yourself.

 

If you question it with this premise you can question anything,,, even your own mind.  How can you know that anything exists...  the matrix might really be our reality and you might even be nothing more than a day dream of God.

[MissPlaced_56]

@ Soggy Cactus,

I think the answer to this particular question is simple....

Mankind in general is a pretty self serving bunch, when we do something right, you can bet your last dollar that we want credit for it..

as in  you liked that did you?? you want to know who did that?? TA DAAAH! your lookin at em!!

 

So this being human nature, why would we give credit to anybody else???

 GBU!

[Temp Name]

Now you are getting to the point of questioning just about everything in the Bible.  A non believing person can question just about anything reported in the Bible.  Either you accept it as true or you don't.  Actually you can do that with just about any book if you didn't experience everything in it yourself.

 

 

 

If you question it with this premise you can question anything,,, even your own mind.  How can you know that anything exists...  the matrix might really be our reality and you might even be nothing more than a day dream of God.

 

This will give me a lot to think about it. Thanks for this.

 

+rep

Edited September 9, 2013 by A Soggy Cactus

[Guest shiloh357]

So far my questions have been answered very well. So thanks again. This might be an easier question, but we'll see. How do we know that God isn't just an invention of man to explain things we can't/couldn't understand?

Man would never have invented the God of the Bible.  Human nature invented all kinds of gods and deities over the millennia and the God of the Bible has stood far and away the most unique. Human nature is offended at the morality expressed by the God of Scripture.  The God of the Bible calls man a sinner in need of salvation.  The God of the Bible stands opposed to the moral relevatism of society.

 

The ancient Israelites were the first to introduce monotheism to the world. Until that time, the world had been polytheistic. Every culture or nation had its own collection of gods for every thing you could imagine. There were hundreds of gods and each culture would borrow and incorporate gods from their neighbors adding to a seemingly endless list of deities to keep track of.

Until the Koran came around in 7th century AD, the Bible was the only monotheistic religious manuscript in the Middle East. The Bible was birthed in a culture surrounded by Pantheism. The Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Hittites, Phoenicians, Philistines, Assyrians, et al., were believers in many Gods. The notion of ONE God was completely unique to that part of the world.

Furthermore, the gods of the other cultures like the Greeks and Romans for example, were fraught with limitations, character flaws, and in some cases need man's help when things got to difficult. Many of the gods possessed the same traits as human beings.

The God of the Bible revealed Himself as radically different, bearing no resemblance to the gods of the nations that surrounded Israel. For example:

• God of the Bible is omnipresent/gods of the pagans were limited to being in one place at a time.
• God of the Bible is non-corporeal/gods of the pagans had physical bodies.
• God of the Bible is not plagued with human character flaws/gods of the pagans are envious, petty, dishonest, sexually immoral, etc.
• God of the Bible is omniscient/gods of the pagans do not carry that capability.
• God of the Bible is omnipotent/gods of the pagans require at times, human assistance.
• God of the Bible offers forgiveness, redemption and expresses His everlasting love for mankind/gods of pagans do not love mankind, and in fact, tend to resent humans.

Mankind, left to his own vices simply would not have invented the God of the Bible and that is proven by millennia of historical gods that human nature did invent.

 

I'm convinced that the story of Jericho is true due to pretty overwhelming archeological evidence, but is it possible that the Israelites took over the city themselves without the help of God and that they were the ones that burnt the city and not God?

 

But the archeological evidence supports the biblical account of how the walls were laid flat.  The Israelites did not possess the technology or numbers to bring down the walls of Jericho.  One would be hard pressed to explain how a band of newly freed slaves possessed the machinery necessary to engineer such a feat, given that the walls were thick enough to ride chariots safely across the top of them.

[ayin jade]

According to romans 1, all of creation attests to the existence of God. So in that regard, that is proof He exists. Some try and explain it all away even so. 

 

Romans 1

19 ¶ because the thing which may be known of God is clearly revealed within them, for God revealed it to them.

20 For the unseen things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being realized by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, for them to be without excuse.

 

Having said that, once I believed, on faith as we are supposed to, He has shown me more proof of Him than I could ever require. 

 

Hebrews 11

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him , for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

 

Ephesians 2

8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,

9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

 

I know He is real. I know He is what the bible says He is. He is not an invention of man. He is not a figment of my imagination either. 

 

Romans 10

9 Because if you confess the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation.

11 For the Scripture says, "Everyone believing on Him shall not be put to shame."