Is The Bible Still Relevant Today?

[zerrrr]

It is very relevant as a text and guide but the writings were written in parables and we tend to translate it inside our minds as a literal piece of text.

We have a hard time comprehending how ancient civilizations like the Mayans and Egyptians could be so advanced when they had none of our tools. That is a massive amount of hubris on our part to think that only we could have created such sophisticated societies.

But when you look back on what we have created it is not something to be proud of. A history littered with abuse, wars, politics, and other implements of destruction. We are so advanced indeed that our greatest accomplishments are new and creative ways to destroy each other.

[Prospero]

I agree with that and he's a great scientist though I've only read the first three chapters of the Blind Watchmaker. Although I am an atheist myself I always felt he was wasting a great deal of time on the lecture circuit talking about how he thinks there isn't a God. I mean he could have gotten his point across about the damage he thinks intelligent design and creationism have done to science generally, and that he thinks evolution explains the humble origins of mankind and then gotten back to his very important work. It's not that there aren't important issues ancillary to theism and atheism, it's just that a great scientist is wasting a good deal of his precious time proselytizing his non-belief.

Again, I say this as an atheist that I actually think the idea of non-belief is not that interesting or stimulating. It's worth a discussion or two but since it's non-belief, even my own non-belief, I don't think it is a way of life, a philosophy or a culture. I still hold to it though

[danthepoetman]

I can’t remember which member posted this, a few months ago. I just love it.

[yodajazz]

no its not relevant imo

The Bible is full of allegorical, and human stories which can be applied to today's living, when you start to see how little human behavior has changed over the centuries. Bill Clinton had sex with someone outside his marriage. King David, had the husband of a woman he was attracted to, sent into battle where he was killed. Joseph was wrongly convicted, yet he went on to become the second most powerful man in Egypt. Yes today, people are wrongfully convicted too. But a most important example, that Jesus, a man who literally performed miracles, (according to the Word), was executed. Yet we expect everyone to like us, and are deeply disturbed, if someone does not like us. Using this example, teaches us that the most important thing is not for everyone to like us, but to do good things and treat others right.

One striking example of Biblical allegory is Jesus story about three men who were given a valuable coin, which at that time was called a talent. The lesson of the story becomes super clear, when one substitutes the coin called talent, for the meaning of what we call 'talent' today. The master of the house, (an allegory for God), gave the three different amounts. He was most displeased with the one who buried his talents, rather than bringing it out into the marketplace. He took the one talent from the man who had buried it, and gave to one who used what he was given. And thus, this is still an essential lesson for all of us today.

I think that today many people dont understand the relevance of the Bible, because so many people who claim to believe it's word, don't live by the lessons it teaches, or don't understand what teachings are the most important for today's world. Jesus said nothing about 'gay marriage', yet he had lots of negative things to say about the people that thought they were better than others, because they knew more religious texts, or were wealthy.
If Jesus were to return to earth, and come to the US, he'd be restricted from a host of activities, depending on the state he resided in, due to his prior felony conviction. Forgiveness is a very important Biblical principle. Yet I never hear it being related to social policy. So called 'Christian values', are more about general things in life, where as many people think it only applies to sex and related activities.