Quote from: saundthorp on August 08, 2011, 07:41:01

Jan,
I thought this discussion board was broadly Christian so I was quite taken aback by what you said, because it was so dismissive of the Bible.
Christians don't regard the Bible as just a collection of ancient writings.
How do you react to this statement taken from the Catholic Encyclopaedia, regarding the Bible?

But Saundy - that is what the Bible is - it is a collection of scripture. It is not being dismissive of it - just understanding what it is. Some of it no doubt is inspired by God/Spirit and that would include Christs teachings of love & compassion etc. However you cannot get away from the fact that some of the content of the bible is downright evil! People were treated in a terrible way. Some parts contradict other parts. Some parts have been mistranslated. Some teachings are missing (it is an incomplete record).

I'm sorry Jan, but I don't recognise the Bible you describe there.
The Bible I am familar with tells the history of God's relationship with mankind. It tells the story of how God prepared humanity from the disaster of Original Sin to its redemption by Christs death on the cross and His Resurrection. In short it tells the story of the Salvation of humanity.
Here is a link to a course of study on Salvation History.
http://www.newcreation.org.au/courses/sh/127SalvationHistory.pdf