What is the bible? Where did it come from?

It came from minds of humans trying to answer questions they had no idea how to answer. Also some were letters written by humans. Then eventualy all the “books” where chosen and thrown together by humans. Coincidentally a few other books where thrown together too.. some containing a few of the same stories.. then wars started.. torture.. genocide.. you name it! good times. :-] I jest!

waits for those who think said book is the “Divine Word Of God”...

It’s almost like there was some important christian holiday recently.. as there has been an absence of christians on here lately…

I’d heard summit about a holiday…It seemed to involve a chubby chap in a red suit…

well that doesn’t sound christian… sounds pagen to me

Someone needs to found the church of saint Nicholas.

I worship him online…VISA,MC,AMEXPRESS…

It came from minds of humans trying to answer questions they had no idea how to answer. Also some were letters written by humans. Then eventualy all the “books” where chosen and thrown together by humans.

Largely true. The OT was a Hebrew oral tradition, combined by scholars during the Babylonian captivity, and seriously revised along the way to reflect several things that were…umm…more legendary than actually true, as well as smoothing over some difficult inherent theological conflicts, such as the huge conflict between the Yahwist and Elohist temple cults.

During the time of Christ, there was a ton of writing going on, from a lot of different sources. No real complilation until Nicea, where politics and expediency formulated what would stay and what wouldn’t.

Sorry, fellow Christians, it is what it is. Perfectly OK to say the Bible was “inspired by G-d,” as long as we’re also able to realize it was constructed by men- inspired men, yes- but men.

As for the “divine Word of God”, sorry folks, but that’s not the Bible. It’s Christ; so it is written in the first chapter of the Gospel of John.

It’s a pet peeve of mine, when people call the Bible the “Word of God”. Especially with a capital “W”.

Excellent point, Swiss.

Do we know what is the word of JC except from the Bible?...Voice recording was rare in those days…

No, RB, Swiss’ point: Christ Himself was the Word of G-d, not the Bible. So says John, and so says esoteric Christian tradition. The “Logos.”

RB, there is also the Gospel of Thomas, among others.

JC was/is the word of the God creature…?...vey odd that…

Uhhhh….damn. That could take a whole ‘nother thread.

Done, Satol. ;-)

G-d, thanks loads, dude. Just left a particularly meandering ramble there.
RB, SC’s suggestion of Thomas is a good one. It’s a lot like John, but the feel is different. More ethereal. More commanding. More cool. And, more in the tradition of a true mystery faith. You can find it all over the ‘net, if you’re of a mind too. The 4 Gospels Nicea gave us aren’t all there were.

what about the book of thomas or the book of Judas? why are they not part of the word of god? And if they aren’t valid, then what makes mathew mark luke and john valid?

Political expediency, and spiritual tyranny.

“what about the book of thomas or the book of Judas? why are they not part of the word of god?”

Because no book can be a part of the Word of God. ;-) Seriously, that’s idolatry where Judaism is concerned. I’m surprised the Christians don’t also view that as idolatry.

Yep. The misc. books are, well, the word of the Word of G-d, or the teachings.
And yeah, technically that’s idolatry. Back when I tended to be a little more confrontational, I used to refer to Bible- thumpers as “book worshippers.”

No offense intended to anyone here.

And I had this really weird thought the other day, while talking with a Wiccan buddy. With her, it’s all about her Book of Shadows and the G-ddess. Man. What does that sound like?;)

“Back when I tended to be a little more confrontational, I used to refer to Bible- thumpers as ‘book worshippers.’”

Heh… you’re a better man than I, my friend. I’m still in that stage.

“And I had this really weird thought the other day, while talking with a Wiccan buddy. With her, it’s all about her Book of Shadows and the G-ddess. Man. What does that sound like?;)”

Don’t get me started on Wicca. I have a lot of respect for Wiccans; along with other assorted Pagans, they constitute the largest religious group of my family, friends, & support network. But having said that, I have a bone to pick with those (Neo-)Wiccans who prattle on about The Goddess™. I love to point out that their version of The Goddess™ is nothing more than the Christian fundamentalists’ God in drag. ;-)

Needless to say, I’ve received kinder responses calling Bible-thumpers “bibliolatrists”.

I love to point out that their version of The Goddess™ is nothing more than the Christian fundamentalists’ God in drag. ;-)

BWAAAHAHAHAHaa….
Precisely.

“I love to point out that their version of The Goddess™ is nothing more than the Christian fundamentalists’ God in drag. ;-)”

I think that might be a little harsh…