Are there any good reasons for doubting the inspiration of the Holy Bible?

Answer

Yes there are many reasons for doubting the inspiration of the Holy Bible. Please see the web link "Inspiration of Bible [sic] by Robert Ingersoll" to the left for several complete answers to this question.

Answer

I'm not a big theologian and I don't have a degree in Biblical studies but I do have one thing to say about the Bible. Had it not been for the Word of God I would have been lost in religion and died in my sins believing I was saved. I grew up in a southern Baptist church and all my life I thought I was saved. It wasn't until I read in Matthew 7 that a "good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit" or in Romans 8:13 that living after the flesh would bring death to my soul that I was able to come unto repentance and ultimately salvation. A leper won't seek help if he does't know he is leperous and a sinner cannot come to salvation but by the knowledge that he is a transgressor before God. My friend the devil wants to deceive you and steal your soul; don't give into his lies. I believe God and I believe His word. I feel Him when I pray and when I sing. He's the bread that I eat and the water I drink. He changed me two years ago when he saved me. I found out what it means to be BORN AGAIN. And God wants to do the same thing for you. Are you a sinner? If you have ever told a lie or stolen anything or taken God's name in vain or broken any other commandment then you are in danger of God's judgement. The wages of sin are death. Listen God loves you. That's why he sent His Son Jesus To die for the sins of the world that we all might be saved. He saved me and if you'll fall down in repentence for YOUR own sins He'll forgive you too. It doesn't matter who you are or what you've done or what color your skin is God loves you and He wants to be your Justifier not your Judge. I can't tell you whether what this other man said is true or not, I didn't even read it. I just know what God has done in my life and in my soul. The same Bible that told me about Jesus also tells me of how God in all His greatness formed the Earth. I know the Bible is inspired just as I know that Jesus is LORD> God Bless you and I hope to meet you in heaven one day. Praise GOD!

Historical Context

Since the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment, society seems to be concerned with factual credibility, the authenticity of something. We are not content with mere belief, we need evidence in order to believe. However, back during the time the Bible was written, this was not the guide for historians. History was meant to show the inner nature of events, rather than depend heavily on facts. Another aspect is that when we look at old texts of the Bible, we can see there are always subtle changes as they are recopied and recopied. Many would take this as a sign that the Bible was not divinely inspired, but an amalgamation of texts over a period of time that have the same inaccuracies as oral history. However, rather than look at it in such a modern way, it is best to look at it as how the Jews did at the time; the meaning is what counts.

Clarifying the Question

A couple sub-questions must be addressed before we can even start with the main question.

Firstly, what is the Bible? The answer seems self-evident especially to those of us who grew up with the Protestant canon, classically represented by the 66 books of the King James Version (KJV). However, at minimum, there is the alternative canon represented by the inclusion of the Apocrypha and other additions in the Roman Catholic canon. The Ethiopian Christians recognize other ancient writings as scripture. Going further, there is the scholarly enterprise of establishing the most ancient original text--for the Old Testament there are the alternatives to the Masoretic Text (MT) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masoretic_text) and the alternatives of the Textus Receptus for the New Testament (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textus_Receptus). The biblical manuscripts found among the Dead Sea Scrolls gave support some of the alternatives to the Masoretic Text.

Secondly, what do we mean by the "inspiration" of the Bible? If we mean by inspiration that the Bible is without error, than I think there are hundreds if not thousands of reasons to doubt that the Bible is inspired. The Bible cannot be used as a guide to science, history or any number of intellectual endeavors. Indeed, I question if the Bible provides a framework for ethics or morals.

Do I therefore think the Bible is useless? Not at all. It is a very important cultural document, maybe the most important document for Western culture. It is very interesting reading (at least in part). It provides many passages that can stimulate profound thought. I guess, that I am not sure that it is Holy.

== Yes, unfulfilled prophecies ==

here are only a few;

1. God says that the Israelites will destroy all of the peoples they encounter. But according to Joshua ( 15:63, 16:10, 17:12-13) and Judges (1:21, 27-36, 3:1-5) there were some people they just couldn't kill. Deuteronomy 7:24

2. These verses falsely predict that Babylon will never again be inhabited. Isaiah 13:19-20

3. This verse prophesies that Damascus will be completely destroyed and no longer be inhabited. Yet Damascus has never been completely destroyed and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities. Isaiah 17:1

4. Jeremiah prophesies that all nations of the earth will embrace Judaism. This has not happened. Jeremiah 3:17

5. God says he is going to punish Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians for what they have done to his people -- even though God Himself is the one who made the Babylonians attack and enslave Judah! As part of the punishment God will take the land of the Babylonians and "make it perpetual desolations." A false prophecy, since present-day Iraq is quite occupied. Jeremiah 25:12

For full list go to http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/proph/long.html ....

* On Science

Plants are made on the third day before there was a sun to drive their photosynthetic processes Genesis (1:14-19). 1:11

God makes two lights: "the greater light [the sun] to rule the day, and the lesser light [the moon] to rule the night." But the moon is not a light, but only reflects light from the sun. Genesis1:16

"The earth ... shall be stable, that it be not moved." It doesn't spin on its axis or travel about the sun. 1 Chronicle 16:30

"Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not."
The earth is fixed and the sun travels about it. Job 9:7

* On History

"And they returned to the land of the Philistines." But the Philistines didn't arrive in the region of Canaan until around 1200 BCE -- 800 years after Abraham's supposed migration from Ur. Genesis 21:32, 26:1, 8, 15, 18

God led the Israelites through the land of the Philistines, hundreds of years before the Philistines were established in Canaan. Exodus 13:17

In Joshua 8 the Israelites destroy Ai and make it a desolate heap. But Ai was an abandoned city by the time of the Israelites and this story is a myth invented to explain the ruins of an ancient city that the Israelites encountered. See Archaeology and Biblical Accuracy by Farrell Till. Joshua 8:1-29

"Belshazzar the king"
Apparently, the author of Daniel knew of only two Babylonian kings during the period of the exile: Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, who he wrongly thought was the son of Nebuchadnezzar. But Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 BCE and was succeeded by his son, Awil-Marduk (referred to in the bible as "Evilmerodach" [see 2 Kg.25:27 and Jer.52:31]). In 560 BCE, Amel-Marduk was assassinated by his brother-in-law, Nergal-shar-usur. The next and last king of Babylon was Nabonidus who reigned from 556 to 539, when Babylon was conquered by Cyrus. It was Nabonidus, and not Belshazzar, who was the last of the Babylonian kings. Belshazzar was the son and viceroy of Nabonidus. But he was not a king, and was not the son (or any other relation) of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 5:1-2,11,18,22

* On values;

Exodus 6:20, "Amram took ... his father's sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses."
Moses and Aaron were the products of an incestuous marriage. Such unions are condemned in Leviticus (Lev.18:12 and Lev.20:19).

God tells the Israelites to make slaves out of their neighbors and their families. The "heathens" and "strangers" are to be their possessions forever. Leviticus 25:44-46

When one of the Israelite men brings home a foreign woman, "Phinehas (Aaron's grandson) sees them and throws a spear "through the man .. and the woman through her belly." This act pleases God so much that "the plague was stayed from the children of Israel." But not before 24,000 had died. Numbers 25:6-9

For impaling the interracial couple, God rewards Phinehas and his sons with the everlasting priesthood. Numbers 25:10-13

Under God's direction, Moses' army defeats the Midianites. They kill all the adult males, but take the women and children captive. When Moses learns that they left some live, he angrily says: "Have you saved all the women alive? Kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves." So they went back and did as Moses (and presumably God) instructed, killing everyone except for the virgins. Numbers 31:1-54

If you have a "stubborn and rebellious son," then you and the other men in your neighborhood "shall stone him with stones that he die." Deuteronomy 21:18-21

Abandon your wife and children for Jesus and he'll give you a big reward. Matthew 19:29

Peter and his partners (James and John) abandon their wives and children to follow Jesus. Luke 5:11

Jesus says that his disciples must hate their families (mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, children) and themselves. Luke 14:26

You should help a widow only if she 1) is over 60 years old, 2) had only one husband, 3) has raised children, 4) has lodged strangers, 5) has "washed the saints feet," 6) has relieved the afflicted, and 7) has "diligently followed very good work." Otherwise, let them starve. "But the younger widows refuse [to help]: for ... they will marry; having damnation." Besides the young widows are always idle tattlers -- "busybodies, spreading things which they ought not." He adds that "some are already turned aside after Satan." 1 Timothy 5:9-15

In relation to her husband, the wife is "the weaker vessel." 1 Peter 3:7

"I [Jesus] will kill her children with death." Revelations 2:23

see links on left;

• Prophecies in the Bible
• Science and History
• Bilical Family Values
• Women in the Bible
• Contradictions in the Bilble
• Interpretations in the Bible
• Absurdity in the Bible
  

Answer

No from archaeology. This continues to produce more and more support for the inspiration of the Bible as more discoveries are made.

No from out of context and mis-understood scriptures. To set up a straw-man by misrepresentation and mis-quoting does not touch the solid rock of inspiration one bit. It doesn't even scratch it because it is dealing with a view not held by the Bible but only in the minds of its opponents.

No from supposedly un-fulfilled prophecies. When looked at in context and properly understood these provide encouragement and not doubt.

Answer

One good reason to doubt [doubt does not imply dismissing an idea out of hand] is our will-- our freedom of choice, given to us by God, according to believers. If a person's faith in divine inspiration is shaken by inquiry, then that person's faith is of no account. If a person must have evidence in order to have faith, that person's faith is of no account. Because you are wired to do so, you must question, learn and conclude. If you are a person of faith, your dilemma will be that the need for proof kills faith. Grasping after 'proof of divine inspiration' with much learning, many verses, and scraps of logic, will amount to a pile of rubble for you.

The corroboration of scriptural materials by archeology neither supports nor refutes divine inspiration, which is the key concept of the question. No one would conclude that any ancient writing that makes accurate reference to an archeological find is inspired by God.

There should be no need to critique the argument that there is no room to doubt the divine inspiration of scripture, because scripture is inspired by God. There is every reason to doubt (not necessarily to dismiss).

Related link

See the related link ' Ancient Days - Locating Biblical Ai Correctly' to the left.

This resolves the supposed discrepancy between the census in 6AD mentioned by Josephus and that mentioned by Luke 10 years earlier during the first governorship of Cyrenius.

Answer

The prose is terrible.

One would assume that a divine entity would be capable of producing divine prose.

Answer

There really is no evidence for the bible not being divinely inspired. It is a non-falsifiable statement. It is impossible to even come up with an idea for what evidence could be found to prove the statement false. For instance if I found another book by one of the authors of the bible where the author claims they just randomly made up their part of the bible it could still be argued that the author was just unaware that they were divinely inspired.

This does not mean that the bible is divinely inspired however. As although there is no evidence it is not divinely inspired there is also no evidence that it is.

For instance there is also no evidence that Harry Potter, the koran, the book of Mormon, or the Origin of the Species are not divinely inspired.

I can not provide any evidence of the Bible not being divinely inspired. I can say however that the chances of it being divinely inspired are about the same as that of any other religions text being divinely inspired or for that matter as probably as an invisible being controlling everything.

A Further Answer

In the 'divinely inspired' Bible Paul specifically commands that widows (with or without children) under the age of 60 are to receive no help from the church [1,2], no matter how poor or starving they are. He also strongly commands several times that those unable to work or those outcasts that no one will employ are to receive no help from any Christian [3], not a single scrap of bread should be fed to to them, they are to be left to starve [4]. He also commands that women are never to be suffered speak in church [5], and that their heads should be covered at all times while in the church, as it is a shame on the church for women to have an uncovered head [6]. He then decrees that long hair is a shame for a man [7] even though most agree that Jesus had long hair, thus directly shaming Jesus. He then commands several times that any who do not obey his 'infallible' teachings to the letter are to be ostracised and cast out of the church. He also frequently boasts of his many achievements. Would you say that Paul was inspired by God when he wrote these commands that the majority of Christians zealously obey (after having been told by their leaders that Paul's teachings are infallible because they were included in the Bible) ?

[1] Matthew 23:14.

[2] 1 Timothy 5:9.

[3] 2 Thessalonians 3:6

[4] 2 Thessalonians 3:10

[5] 1 Corinthians 14:34,35

[6] 1 Corinthians 11:5,6

[7] 1 Corinthians 11:14

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