Gnostic Genesis vs Bible genesis

[Zaac]

I am a Christian. I just don't take the Bible literally. I see no contradiction in those two stances some do. I don't understand the belief that the Bible is inerrant, or immune from immune from poltical influence. I think these things are minor, and that overall it does what it is supposed to do which, is to reveal to us who God is and how to live in accordance with his will.

Why would something that contains errors be able to reveal to you the truth of a perfect God?

 

[BarbB]

That's what I was going to say, Zaac! Which parts should we throw out and which parts should we believe?

 

[Chrysalis Kat]

Why would something that contains errors be able to reveal to you the truth of a perfect God?

It's a matter of not confusing a map with the territority.

 

[BarbB]

Would a map full of mistakes allow you to understand the territory?

 

[Zaac]

It's a matter of not confusing a map with the territority.

It's a matter of accepting it as His Word, or not. God's Word is not something to be piece-mealed out.

Like newlamb said, which parts should we throw out and which parts should we believe?

If you can't place your complete trust in God's Word as His Word and His ability to maintain His Word, what reason would you have for trusting ANY of it?

 

[Zaac]

Would a map full of mistakes allow you to understand the territory?

Now that's what I'm talking about. Have you in New York when you're supposed to be in Kansas.

 

[Chrysalis Kat]

Would a map full of mistakes allow you to understand the territory?

It doesn't have to be an either/or proposition. There are more than two choices available than either all true or all false.


IF you can - analogize the bible with something or someone pointing at the moon. People get hung up looking at the pointer rather than at the moon that it points to.


If all your knowledge of God comes to you from a book then I think you are missing the bigger picture. None of us has complete understanding of God. You can’t fit all of God into a single 2,000+page textbook.


When you arrive at a destination, do you need to keep looking at the map?

 

[BarbB]

It doesn't have to be an either/or proposition. There are more than two choices available than either all true or all false.


IF you can - analogize the bible with something or someone pointing at the moon. People get hung up looking at the pointer rather than at the moon that it points to.


If all your knowledge of God comes to you from a book then I think you are missing the bigger picture. None of us has complete understanding of God. You can’t fit all of God into a single 2,000+page textbook.


When you arrive at a destination, do you need to keep looking at the map?

Sometimes I do need to keep looking at the map, because it is a new place to me. Even after I get accustomed to the place, I sometimes get lost and need the map again to renew my knowledge!

All my knowledge of God does not come from the Bible, but it was by reading the Bible that I began to understand what God was looking for from me.

 

[BarbB]

Now that's what I'm talking about. Have you in New York when you're supposed to be in Kansas.

Been there, done that!

 

[Chrysalis Kat]

It's a matter of accepting it as His Word, or not. God's Word is not something to be piece-mealed out.?

By not confusing Jesus the WORD, with words about God written in a book.

If you can't place your complete trust in God's Word as His Word and His ability to maintain His Word, what reason would you have for trusting ANY of it?

I bet that there are programs on your computer right now that you have never used and may never ever use.You don't know if they work or if there's corruption in them and it doesn't matter, does it? Does this in anyway take away the value and benefit that you receive when using your computer?

 

[Chrysalis Kat]

Sometimes I do need to keep looking at the map, because it is a new place to me. Even after I get accustomed to the place, I sometimes get lost and need the map again to renew my knowledge!

All my knowledge of God does not come from the Bible, but it was by reading the Bible that I began to understand what God was looking for from me.

In that case, I suppose that there are times you still need a map. That's fine.
I just don't NEED a written one at this point on with on my walk. God moves in mysterious ways

 

[Zaac]

By not confusing Jesus the WORD, with words about God written in a book.I bet that there are programs on your computer right now that you have never used and may never ever use.You don't know if they work or if there's corruption in them and it doesn't matter, does it? Does this in anyway take away the value and benefit that you receive when using your computer?

Nice analogy. But I didn't ask you about a computer and it's programs that were put together without the divine inspiration of God. I asked about His inspired Word.

 

[Zaac]

It doesn't have to be an either/or proposition. There are more than two choices available than either all true or all false.

Such as?

IF you can - analogize the bible with something or someone pointing at the moon. People get hung up looking at the pointer rather than at the moon that it points to.

There is a standard of absolute that God has ALREADY revealed to His people. It is the standard with which the Christian has been equipped to righteously judge ALL things. How would you be able to test the things that He tells you to test without the absolute assurance that His Word is His Word?

 

[Chrysalis Kat]

Zaac - would a single error in the Bible lead you to conclude that it contains no truth?

 

[Chrysalis Kat]

Such as

Such as people come to Biblical texts from many different perspectives and interpret them according to their community. If you believe that your faith is about mystery, you search the Bible for clues. If you are a rationalist, you apply reason to an understanding of life in the ancient world. If you are a fundamentalist, your eyes don't go past the printed word for its obvious meaning.

No either/or needed. It can all work.

 

[Chrysalis Kat]

There is a standard of absolute that God has ALREADY revealed to His people. It is the standard with which the Christian has been equipped to righteously judge ALL things. How would you be able to test the things that He tells you to test without the absolute assurance that His Word is His Word?

By having repeated sucess with experience.

 

[FullyAmbivalent]

Such as?



There is a standard of absolute that God has ALREADY revealed to His people. It is the standard with which the Christian has been equipped to righteously judge ALL things. How would you be able to test the things that He tells you to test without the absolute assurance that His Word is His Word?

The Bible is not the word of God. It is the word of Man. The bible is a collection of stories written by men (and maybe even women) tell help us explore our spiritual needs. The New Testament is the story of Jesus, but the text its self is not divine, it is the character it is trying to describe. It is a story, to remind us, and to teach us. However, it was written by man, and many years after the fact for that matter, as a guide of remembrance. The book is a book. It is what the book is teaching that matters. The book is not perfect, nor is the reader, nor was the writer. It is the idea that matters.

 

[BarbB]

Pardon me, but blah, blah, blah - you forgot to say "in my not-so-humble opinion".

 

[Chrysalis Kat]

Pardon me, but blah, blah, blah - you forgot to say "in my not-so-humble opinion".

I've never seen Zaac ever do that so don't hold your breath waiting for it. It's assumed that posts are opinions anyway unless stated otherwise and even then unless it's a well established FACT then it's still a matter of interpertation.

 

[~Wisdom Seeker~]

I have been doing a lot of reading into the Gnostic writtings. I have a question (which I already know the answer to). I want to see what others think.

What are the major differences between the Gnostic Genesis stories compared to the Genesis story in the bible. Which one do you believe is correct.

It appears from what I've read on this thread, that your question got more reactionary posts than answers. So, I'll give it a go.

The major differences between the Biblical Genesis and the Nag Hamadi Genesis is primarily in the creation story, Who the main characters where, or more appropriately the deaper, more profound meaning of what they symbolize.

Which one do I think is correct? In my opinion, the Bible that we have now. The one that so many people believe with all their heart is the "inspired inerant word of God" is abridged. As to what I believe about the Nag Hamadi...it answers a lot of questions the Bible created for me. And, it doesn't cast women as the skape goat of all the worlds ills.

But, I do not believe one over the other. I add it to my knowledge. And hope that God will lead me to a deaper understanding when I'm spiritually ready to receive it.