Originally Posted by champlain_islander
Is the Bible fact or fiction?

Well, that is a good question. There is a good amount of fact in the bible- many geographical locations and descriptions are accurate enough that places and buildings have been located and verified. Also, the listing of the families in the old testament is a historical reference to which the accuracy can and has been traced for lineage.

Since the Bible was put together some time after Jesus' time, and relies on stories which have been told and retold for centuries and interpreted by different sects of the Christian faithful it can't be relied on substantially to be factual in all matters. Also, due to the many interpretations by different sects it was a great battle to decide which interpretations were include in the final text and which were discarded. Also, since much of the bible is formed as story telling to teach in parables, the meaning is more spiritual than factual and must be interpreted by the faithful to gain meaning IMO...

This particular discussion could go on for quite some time...


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