What is the Purpose of the Bible?

Discuss philosophical questions regarding theism (and atheism), and discuss religion as it relates to philosophy. This includes any philosophical discussions that happen to be about god, gods, or a 'higher power' or the belief of them. This also generally includes philosophical topics about organized or ritualistic mysticism or about organized, common or ritualistic beliefs in the existence of supernatural phenomenon.
User avatar
Thinking critical
Posts: 1793
Joined: November 7th, 2011, 7:29 pm
Favorite Philosopher: A.C Grayling
Location: Perth, Australia (originally New Zealand)

Re: What is the Purpose of the Bible?

Post by Thinking critical »

The purpose of the bible is to indoctrinate the minds of those who feel life is meaningless and can't be understood unless a higher power which transcends our own reality is some how involved and invested in the nature of the Universe.
I use the word indoctrinate, due to the fact that it's content is full on inconsistencies, tautological dogma and false claims in regards to the state and evolution of both life and the Cosmos, yet the followers of the religions still hold the bible as a credible account of history and claim that it be of devine providence. It appears reason and logic can be momentarily suspended it order to protect and justify the pillars which ones entire belief system is built upon.
This cocky little cognitive contortionist will straighten you right out
User avatar
LuckyR
Moderator
Posts: 7914
Joined: January 18th, 2015, 1:16 am

Re: What is the Purpose of the Bible?

Post by LuckyR »

Thinking critical wrote: June 6th, 2018, 8:06 pm The purpose of the bible is to indoctrinate the minds of those who feel life is meaningless and can't be understood unless a higher power which transcends our own reality is some how involved and invested in the nature of the Universe.
I use the word indoctrinate, due to the fact that it's content is full on inconsistencies, tautological dogma and false claims in regards to the state and evolution of both life and the Cosmos, yet the followers of the religions still hold the bible as a credible account of history and claim that it be of devine providence. It appears reason and logic can be momentarily suspended it order to protect and justify the pillars which ones entire belief system is built upon.
There are plenty of christians who (rightly) feel the bible is literature. Not meant to be a word for word microexamination on how historical events happened nor how the universe works. In other words they perfectly comfortable with cosmology and religion.
"As usual... it depends."
User avatar
MidiChlorian
Posts: 295
Joined: August 20th, 2013, 6:59 pm

Re: What is the Purpose of the Bible?

Post by MidiChlorian »

The purpose of "The Bible" or a bible is to promote a religion or cult as defined by the editors of said writings to encourage followers to a specific way of thinking. Otherwise in general "the sacred writings of any religion."
The Reality of knowing what Wisdom is, is in the Experiencing of the Philosophy of using Knowledge.
User avatar
Father
New Trial Member
Posts: 4
Joined: June 9th, 2018, 5:46 pm

Re: What is the Purpose of the Bible?

Post by Father »

The purpose of the Bible is to provide man with answers to unanswerable questions.
User avatar
MidiChlorian
Posts: 295
Joined: August 20th, 2013, 6:59 pm

Re: What is the Purpose of the Bible?

Post by MidiChlorian »

Father wrote: June 9th, 2018, 6:12 pm The purpose of the Bible is to provide man with answers to unanswerable questions.
My post here is not to disagree with your statement but to ask, what answers might be considered as unanswerable?
I'm sure there are many questions that could be posed from within the Bible or are the "answers" you indicated from outside the Bible? Could you provide an example or two?
The Reality of knowing what Wisdom is, is in the Experiencing of the Philosophy of using Knowledge.
User avatar
MidiChlorian
Posts: 295
Joined: August 20th, 2013, 6:59 pm

Re: What is the Purpose of the Bible?

Post by MidiChlorian »

jerlands wrote: February 7th, 2018, 6:21 pm [. . .]
That short version of history requires we fill in the blanks. It's really not in context because the context of the origin of the Bible isn't really understood other than a date estimated around 800 BC. The Exodus however is thought to have been an event occuring between the dates of 1500 BC to 1200 BC but those dates also reflect space time which is in a sense astrological.

So within those dates we have the Phoenicians, the Canaanites, the Israelites, the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines and so forth and each step or evolution in time there is establishment of some principles that have become incorporated into our western civilization. So what role has the Bible played in these evolutions? First and foremost the Bible offers man this concept of "God." Secondly I believe the Bible offers man a beautiful rendition of the law in the commandments and, I believe, completely expressed in the new testament. Thirdly I believe the Bible offers man a sense of history, of the past and a sense of evolution in that "one thing leads to the next." The Bible seems to me to have structured our thinking through this exodus in time to the so called promised land.

The Bible is full of contradictory notions however that make it very puzzling. The story of Adam and Eve and the forbidden fruit and the notion of never returning to Egypt. The Bible literally plays with our minds and casts these images of concepts (i.e., "God," Creation, Law) that I question whether or not man would have had if the Bible didn't exist. So why did the Bible come into existence? Was it really to lead man to the promised land?
Having just had an opportunity to read the OP (opening post) the title of this topic takes on a different nature.
Based on the information noted above, one of the questions here is where did the "Old Testament" come from where it seemed to be from a different time line, which would be true?

The primary text came from the "Septuagint" which came from memory but also was influenced by the Babylonian, Sumerian Text. There are some Sumerian text which are similar to what was presented in the "Septuagint" although what was presented in the Bible (OT) is not the complete script from the "Septuagint". And from certain translations of Sumerian text, the so-called Flood was not from water covering the Earth, which is supported in other apocryphal and pseudo-apocryphal text.

Therefore, the real question is, why is the Bible a collection of individual text or scripts abridged from all of the original works available that have been selected? If we ask why were only those specific books or sections selected to be present in the Bible? Then would the topic title "What is the Purpose of the Bible?" have more meaning and also have some possible answers?
As it is, the topic seems to have taken on an open discussion not necessarily related to OP above.
The Reality of knowing what Wisdom is, is in the Experiencing of the Philosophy of using Knowledge.
Belindi
Moderator
Posts: 6105
Joined: September 11th, 2016, 2:11 pm

Re: What is the Purpose of the Bible?

Post by Belindi »

Father wrote: June 9th, 2018, 6:12 pm The purpose of the Bible is to provide man with answers to unanswerable questions.


So that is what you use The Bible for.

What is your approach? I imagine that you have been told by someone that this or that text will apply to this or that problem. Or do you open the Book at random and trust that God will make eyes alight upon the text that you need?
User avatar
ReasonMadeFlesh
Posts: 744
Joined: September 2nd, 2013, 11:07 pm
Favorite Philosopher: Jesus Christ
Location: Here & Now

Re: What is the Purpose of the Bible?

Post by ReasonMadeFlesh »

The Bible is a mystical text end of story.
"A philosopher who does not take part in discussions is like a boxer who never goes into the ring." - Ludwig Wittgenstein
User avatar
LuckyR
Moderator
Posts: 7914
Joined: January 18th, 2015, 1:16 am

Re: What is the Purpose of the Bible?

Post by LuckyR »

ReasonMadeFlesh wrote: June 14th, 2018, 8:51 am The Bible is a mystical text end of story.
What do you mean by mystical? Many would assume you mean: "difficult to understand"
"As usual... it depends."
Belindi
Moderator
Posts: 6105
Joined: September 11th, 2016, 2:11 pm

Re: What is the Purpose of the Bible?

Post by Belindi »

ReasonMadeFlesh wrote: June 14th, 2018, 8:51 am The Bible is a mystical text end of story.
That may be the end of the story for you.
All texts are published or communicated in some way. The purpose of the text's author(s) whether that author be God or someone else, is thenceforth beyond the control of the author and that purpose is of historical interest only to readers.

It's true that some people use The Bible for what may be called 'mystical' purposes. Others interpret The Bible in other ways. There are as many ways of interpreting The Bible as there are people who know The Bible.
User avatar
ReasonMadeFlesh
Posts: 744
Joined: September 2nd, 2013, 11:07 pm
Favorite Philosopher: Jesus Christ
Location: Here & Now

Re: What is the Purpose of the Bible?

Post by ReasonMadeFlesh »

LuckyR wrote: June 14th, 2018, 10:54 am
ReasonMadeFlesh wrote: June 14th, 2018, 8:51 am The Bible is a mystical text end of story.
What do you mean by mystical? Many would assume you mean: "difficult to understand"
Belindi wrote: June 14th, 2018, 2:03 pm
ReasonMadeFlesh wrote: June 14th, 2018, 8:51 am The Bible is a mystical text end of story.
That may be the end of the story for you.
All texts are published or communicated in some way. The purpose of the text's author(s) whether that author be God or someone else, is thenceforth beyond the control of the author and that purpose is of historical interest only to readers.

It's true that some people use The Bible for what may be called 'mystical' purposes. Others interpret The Bible in other ways. There are as many ways of interpreting The Bible as there are people who know The Bible.

No, no. It is JUST a mystical text, but that's all it is. It makes no difference to anything. It's merely a description of everything as it truly is, but this does not change what will happen in the world.
"A philosopher who does not take part in discussions is like a boxer who never goes into the ring." - Ludwig Wittgenstein
User avatar
LuckyR
Moderator
Posts: 7914
Joined: January 18th, 2015, 1:16 am

Re: What is the Purpose of the Bible?

Post by LuckyR »

ReasonMadeFlesh wrote: June 16th, 2018, 1:45 pm
LuckyR wrote: June 14th, 2018, 10:54 am

What do you mean by mystical? Many would assume you mean: "difficult to understand"
Belindi wrote: June 14th, 2018, 2:03 pm That may be the end of the story for you.
All texts are published or communicated in some way. The purpose of the text's author(s) whether that author be God or someone else, is thenceforth beyond the control of the author and that purpose is of historical interest only to readers.

It's true that some people use The Bible for what may be called 'mystical' purposes. Others interpret The Bible in other ways. There are as many ways of interpreting The Bible as there are people who know The Bible.

No, no. It is JUST a mystical text, but that's all it is. It makes no difference to anything. It's merely a description of everything as it truly is, but this does not change what will happen in the world.
Still not clear what you mean by mystical, unless you mean that it is "a description of everything as it truly is". If so, you're going to need more than the declaration to make the point
"As usual... it depends."
User avatar
Cosmogenes
New Trial Member
Posts: 13
Joined: February 7th, 2017, 1:23 pm

Re: What is the Purpose of the Bible?

Post by Cosmogenes »

“The Bible” is a short term for the HAGIA BIBLIA or "sacred books". Most believers see or attempt to see it as a unified whole, “the Word of God”, but in fact it is just a collection of select books, a library bound into one volume because we invented printing. And those books reflect the often contradictory ideas, speculations and fantasies of numerous writers at various times and places, often with clearly political/propaganda tendencies.
Overall, though, one can discern a Jewish history of polytheism with numerous gods and goddesses, then a consolidation of YHWH worship under king Josiah who exterminated his opponents, then a Neo-Zoroastrian monotheism in the "second temple" period, and finally the Pauline gentile, paganized "Christianity" reflected in most of the "New Testament".
Belindi
Moderator
Posts: 6105
Joined: September 11th, 2016, 2:11 pm

Re: What is the Purpose of the Bible?

Post by Belindi »

I guess that the OP's attitude is that God did in fact reveal truths to people; and did so by way of a big book.
User avatar
LuckyR
Moderator
Posts: 7914
Joined: January 18th, 2015, 1:16 am

Re: What is the Purpose of the Bible?

Post by LuckyR »

Belindi wrote: September 2nd, 2018, 11:20 am I guess that the OP's attitude is that God did in fact reveal truths to people; and did so by way of a big book.
A common understanding that holds up to cursory scrutiny.
"As usual... it depends."
Post Reply

Return to “Philosophy of Religion, Theism and Mythology”

2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise
by John K Danenbarger
January 2023

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023

The Unfakeable Code®

The Unfakeable Code®
by Tony Jeton Selimi
April 2023

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
by Alan Watts
May 2023

Killing Abel

Killing Abel
by Michael Tieman
June 2023

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead
by E. Alan Fleischauer
July 2023

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough
by Mark Unger
August 2023

Predictably Irrational

Predictably Irrational
by Dan Ariely
September 2023

Artwords

Artwords
by Beatriz M. Robles
November 2023

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope
by Dr. Randy Ross
December 2023

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes
by Ali Master
February 2024

2022 Philosophy Books of the Month

Emotional Intelligence At Work

Emotional Intelligence At Work
by Richard M Contino & Penelope J Holt
January 2022

Free Will, Do You Have It?

Free Will, Do You Have It?
by Albertus Kral
February 2022

My Enemy in Vietnam

My Enemy in Vietnam
by Billy Springer
March 2022

2X2 on the Ark

2X2 on the Ark
by Mary J Giuffra, PhD
April 2022

The Maestro Monologue

The Maestro Monologue
by Rob White
May 2022

What Makes America Great

What Makes America Great
by Bob Dowell
June 2022

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!
by Jerry Durr
July 2022

Living in Color

Living in Color
by Mike Murphy
August 2022 (tentative)

The Not So Great American Novel

The Not So Great American Novel
by James E Doucette
September 2022

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches
by John N. (Jake) Ferris
October 2022

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All
by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
November 2022

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity

The Smartest Person in the Room
by Christian Espinosa
December 2022

2021 Philosophy Books of the Month

The Biblical Clock: The Untold Secrets Linking the Universe and Humanity with God's Plan

The Biblical Clock
by Daniel Friedmann
March 2021

Wilderness Cry: A Scientific and Philosophical Approach to Understanding God and the Universe

Wilderness Cry
by Dr. Hilary L Hunt M.D.
April 2021

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute: Tools To Spark Your Dream And Ignite Your Follow-Through

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute
by Jeff Meyer
May 2021

Surviving the Business of Healthcare: Knowledge is Power

Surviving the Business of Healthcare
by Barbara Galutia Regis M.S. PA-C
June 2021

Winning the War on Cancer: The Epic Journey Towards a Natural Cure

Winning the War on Cancer
by Sylvie Beljanski
July 2021

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream
by Dr Frank L Douglas
August 2021

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts
by Mark L. Wdowiak
September 2021

The Preppers Medical Handbook

The Preppers Medical Handbook
by Dr. William W Forgey M.D.
October 2021

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress: A Practical Guide

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress
by Dr. Gustavo Kinrys, MD
November 2021

Dream For Peace: An Ambassador Memoir

Dream For Peace
by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah
December 2021