Which Parts of the Bible Are Negotiable?

[Love's JAA 100]

The parts that weren't really sent by God.

[JoBri 548]

You know, this question got me thinking about my little 2 year old son, who I love with all my heart. He is so sweet and dear to me. So it made me think, what if HE asked me this question? What would I say? Well, since he is my son, I wouldnt tell him anything to hurt him, that is for sure. All I would want to do is help him. In this world there are a lot of people who dont want such help however. they just want to stir up strife and turmoil. Those people I wouldnt waste a breath on. But my own son would know full well what I believe and how I live my life. So in addition to what I would tell my son personally, and in addition to how he sees me live my life, I would also tell him (and this is for everyone else in the world apart from my son and those who are asking such a question in all sincerity). I would tell him to read the Bible for himself, and seek the counsel of godly men who he trusts and respects, and pray to God and ask him to answer his questions. And in the end it is between him and God, a very personal thing.

Edited November 27, 2012 by Brijo

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

But why should some verses have more weight in American society than others? Surely few of us would condemn wives who are not virgins to stoning, nor would we reject a linen-cotton blend. Why -- and I say this as a non-believer who is respectful of the faithful -- are certain beliefs given more credence than others, outside of certain universal morals seen in nearly every society (against murder, adultery, theft, lying, etc)?

[james&olya 1,121]

It has often occurred to me that those who speak so passionately of how they believe that everything in the Bible is literally the word of God and is all absolutely true have almost certainly never actually read very much of it!! It takes more than a little 'flexibility' to reconcile the outright contradictions found there! Taken literally and at face value there is an incoherency of message that gives one more than just 'seeds' of a basis for doubt about the entire document. To some, though, they seem to use these ambiguities to instead try to read whatever ideas they want into what was written. Thus you get so many widely divergent theologies, all supposedly based on what was written there!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

And I am discussing it in earnest. read it for yourself and answer your own question, that is my thoughts to you, in answer to your question. If you dont like my answer, tough. Take it or leave it or look to someone else's answer if you dont like mine.

Your initial response came off as dismissive and a non-answer. Forgive me if I misinterpreted your intentions. If I'm understanding you correctly, you are saying that it is entirely up to each person to read the Holy Bible and decide for themselves which parts are negotiable?

[decocker 7,198]

for all the folks here saying, read it and determine for yourself or by "discussing with godly men" (do they have a birthmark or sign that makes me easily identifiable? )..

this is why we have a zillion different denominations of christianity. everyone has their own answer and everyone is sure that their interpretation is correct. most christians do not care to know how the bible was formed (all the different versions) or which persons of power decided what to include, what to 'revise', and what to leave out. if i ever cared to revisit the bible looking for negotiable parts, i would have to see all the edits first.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The parts that weren't really sent by God.

But the Holy Bible is a collection of books that were decided upon over a millennium as being the Word of God. Unless you are a biblical contextualist, how does one decide that some parts weren't sent by God?

Edited November 27, 2012 by Lincolns mullet

[decocker 7,198]

But the Holy Bible is a collection of books that were decided upon over a millennium as being the Word of God. Unless you are a biblical contextualist, how does one decide that some parts weren't sent by God?

go to seminary. most educated preachers, priests, etc. do not believe that the bible is the infallible word of god.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

go to seminary. most educated preachers, priests, etc. do not believe that the bible is the infallible word of god.

That's not correct. The Catholic Church regards Scripture as the inerrant Word of God. The difference, however, is that the Church views the Word of God present in scripture as written by man, though divinely inspired, and because man is not perfect, the Holy Bible's text is filled with human imperfections, while the message (Word of God) remains true. Therefore the Catholic Church takes a contextual approach to understanding Scripture vs. a literal one.

That doesn't answer the original question though - which parts of the Bible are negotiable?

[decocker 7,198]

That's not correct. The Catholic Church regards Scripture as the inerrant Word of God. The difference, however, is that the Church views the Word of God present in scripture as written by man, though divinely inspired, and because man is not perfect, the Holy Bible's text is filled with human imperfections, while the message (Word of God) remains true. Therefore the Catholic Church takes a contextual approach to understanding Scripture vs. a literal one.

That doesn't answer the original question though - which parts of the Bible are negotiable?

um, it very much is correct. have you ever been to seminary? how many hours have you put into studying the bible, alongside others - also studying the bible? my bad, i see you don't want actual discussion - carry on asking an unanswerable question.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

um, it very much is correct. have you ever been to seminary? how many hours have you put into studying the bible, alongside others - also studying the bible? my bad, i see you don't want actual discussion - carry on asking an unanswerable question.

I was born a raised and Catholic. My father was an ordained deacon for 40 years and took many classes on Catholic Theology. I attended a Catholic HS. You're derailing this thread. But to hopefully silence your diversion to the original question:

David Bennett, a member of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars and co-owner of the Ancient and Future Catholics web site comments on the the early church fathers' beliefs about inerrancy. Bennett writes:

"The early Fathers held that the Bible was inerrant. The Catholic and Orthodox Churches affirm this as well. However, this is the case only when the Bible is properly understood, interpreted by the Church. This is inerrancy by ancient standards and

not

modern, fundamentalist standards. The early Fathers did not think that minor contradictions rendered the Bible errant, nor did they insist all stories were meant to be interpreted literally. For instance, the creation stories were often allegorized, interpreted in ways so as to prefigure Christ, or interpreted through the lens of the science of the day (or all three!). Thus St. Augustine could say each day in the Genesis creation story was equal to a thousand years, or that the science of the day should shape our understanding of the creation stories, without ever denying the divine inspiration of the Scriptures. So when a Catholic affirms the inerrancy of Scripture, the idea has far less baggage than the

fundamentalist understanding

."

http://www.religious...rg/inerran1.htm

....

Now lets please stick to the subject of which parts of the Holy Bible are negotiable?

Edited November 27, 2012 by Lincolns mullet

[decocker 7,198]

I was born a raised and Catholic. My father was an ordained deacon for 40 years and took many classes on Catholic Theology. I attended a Catholic HS.

my father was born and raised catholic. went to catholic school. then my father and mother converted and became southern baptist. if you want to know what parts of the bible CATHOLICS deem negotiable maybe you should be more specific with your title, as i suggested earlier. anyway i doubt you get any honest believers to bite at yer bait.

[JensJrny2Ray 367]

It sounds as if you want a cut and dried answer to the question, "which parts of the Bible are negotiable?" Like there's a textbook out there with all the answers. What parts do YOU think are negotiable?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

my father was born and raised catholic. went to catholic school. then my father and mother converted and became southern baptist. if you want to know what parts of the bible CATHOLICS deem negotiable maybe you should be more specific with your title, as i suggested earlier. anyway i doubt you get any honest believers to bite at yer bait.

Will you please stop derailing this thread? The Catholic Church has doctrine and hierarchy. Most people realize that. This topic is directed at those who are non-denominational Christians, but others Christians are welcome to explain which parts of the Bible that are negotiable. I don't need a lesson in Catholic doctrine. I'm merely asking an honest and simple question.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

But why should some verses have more weight in American society than others? Surely few of us would condemn wives who are not virgins to stoning, nor would we reject a linen-cotton blend. Why -- and I say this as a non-believer who is respectful of the faithful -- are certain beliefs given more credence than others, outside of certain universal morals seen in nearly every society (against murder, adultery, theft, lying, etc)?

The most important ones are the ones that condemn whatever sin the speaker is currently not committing.