"the bible is fiction"

[Lanolin]

Just wondering what you say or respond to people who think the Bible is fiction.

Do you just let them have their opinion, or do you ask them have they actually read it?
Or do you go to lengths to explain to them how its historical.

Or do you go the CS Lewis route and compromise and say well actually its a true myth.

I had this workmate who said this and it seems like she believes in science. But I then point out that there is science fiction which I dont believe at all. Maybe I should just leave it at that and only be worried if she starts pushing Scientology.

 

[Moses_Young]

Does she think all of the bible is fiction, or just parts? Does she ever wonder where Jews came from, or why so many people (Christians) believe that someone could rise from the dead, or how life even exists in the first place?

It's probably ignorant to believe the bible is fiction, unless you know a lot about it. And if the latter, it's about explaining those bits she thinks are fiction.

 

[Dino246]

Just wondering what you say or respond to people who think the Bible is fiction.

Do you just let them have their opinion, or do you ask them have they actually read it?
Or do you go to lengths to explain to them how its historical.

Or do you go the CS Lewis route and compromise and say well actually its a true myth.

I had this workmate who said this and it seems like she believes in science. But I then point out that there is science fiction which I dont believe at all. Maybe I should just leave it at that and only be worried if she starts pushing Scientology.

If the person is open to hearing an alternate view, then I would share the truth with them. If not, then I'd just pray for them.

 

[Benadam]

I would say "are you kidding?"Jesus is the Lord of history. Truth happened myth only points.

 

[Corban]

Don't be discouraged. Adam and Eve also thought that God's Words were fiction - and they were not fallen then. It takes light from heaven to see that God's Word is true. That must be your prayer for your friend.

 

[garee]

Just wondering what you say or respond to people who think the Bible is fiction.

Do you just let them have their opinion, or do you ask them have they actually read it?
Or do you go to lengths to explain to them how its historical.

Or do you go the CS Lewis route and compromise and say well actually its a true myth.

I had this workmate who said this and it seems like she believes in science. But I then point out that there is science fiction which I dont believe at all. Maybe I should just leave it at that and only be worried if she starts pushing Scientology.

A couple of things. One as much as it is historically 100% accurate. God hides the spiritual meaning from those who show no interest in parables, (God's prophecy ).They refuse to love that kind of truth and therefore do not search for the understanding of God as for silver or gold .

But parables are necessary in order to to teach men how to understand or walk by a faith that works in them needed to understand the unseen things of God.

So to one it could sound fictional. betimes stories, outer their limit in the Twilight Zone

 

[Lanolin]

I will pray for her but yes shes ignorant shes never had any church upbringing or even read it so why would she think any different I suppose. she hasnt been to Israel but I supoose she thinks its like a made up land or something, or that all stories are made up...

its just a bit disconcerting. as for scientists they are constantly making fiction and passing their stories off as true so I just wonder if fiction is just a catch all word for stories. (just so stories anyone?)

Everytime I read people going on about how dinosaurs were around millions of years ago and the earth, well some parts of it are million of years old and the mountains are formed by millions of years (and they bandy about different figures all the time) I just think well you wanna believe in more ridiculous things like that a mountain couldnt just be made in a day (or moved) then ok. its like ok maybe you believe a cake is made by adding the flour one grain at a time. So I am a bit inclined to scoff at many of the current scientific claims and the one that get repeated in practically every book on natural history, that humans have somehow descended from apes and we used to live in trees and had fur and walk around on four legs. and that maybe in future we wont need to use our legs at all and just roll around all the time on wheels after millions of years, not that people cant live in treehouses now or wear fur coats or wear rollerskates... ya know.

but then pointing out how ridiculous science can be I suppose is a waste of time. Havent really asked her about where she thinks Jews come from but I dont think shes ever met anyone Jewish or really been that bothered to find out.

 

[Corban]

I will pray for her but yes shes ignorant shes never had any church upbringing or even read it so why would she think any different I suppose. she hasnt been to Israel but I supoose she thinks its like a made up land or something, or that all stories are made up...

its just a bit disconcerting. as for scientists they are constantly making fiction and passing their stories off as true so I just wonder if fiction is just a catch all word for stories. (just so stories anyone?)

Everytime I read people going on about how dinosaurs were around millions of years ago and the earth, well some parts of it are million of years old and the mountains are formed by millions of years (and they bandy about different figures all the time) I just think well you wanna believe in more ridiculous things like that a mountain couldnt just be made in a day (or moved) then ok. its like ok maybe you believe a cake is made by adding the flour one grain at a time. So I am a bit inclined to scoff at many of the current scientific claims and the one that get repeated in practically every book on natural history, that humans have somehow descended from apes and we used to live in trees and had fur and walk around on four legs. and that maybe in future we wont need to use our legs at all and just roll around all the time on wheels after millions of years, not that people cant live in treehouses now or wear fur coats or wear rollerskates... ya know.

but then pointing out how ridiculous science can be I suppose is a waste of time. Havent really asked her about where she thinks Jews come from but I dont think shes ever met anyone Jewish or really been that bothered to find out.

I think we should make a difference between real science and scientific superstition. Real science, which is still taught in grade school, says the following:

1. Nothing cannot produce something. The end of this truth is that there is a Creator. That the so-called "Big Bang" came out of nothing denies true science
2. Something dead cannot make something alive. If there was a chaotic universe of inanimate matter, it could not produce life.
3. The lesser intelligence cannot produce the greater intelligence. The best of animals cannot even think of a Rolex watch.
4. Even if matter came from nothing, who made its Laws? How did water decide to be densest at 4°C/39°F so that the oceans would not freeze to the bottom. How did the atom decide on its orderly structure? How many million years must a box of sand be shaken until a Rolex pops out?

True science is on the side of Creation and Creator. Some brilliant scientists advocate things that they cannot demonstrate. They are dishonest. Sir Isaac Newton, whose formulation of the Laws of nature, and which stand unchanging over centuries, saw a monotheistic God as the masterful creator whose existence could not be denied in the face of the grandeur of all creation. That is a true scientist.

 

[Nehemiah6]

Do you just let them have their opinion, or do you ask them have they actually read it?

You could ask them as to whose propaganda they have been listening to, since only those of are ignorant would say such a thing.

 

[posthuman]

I then point out that there is science fiction which I dont believe at all.

i don't know of any science fiction book that has thousands of years of history of hundreds of millions of people changing their entire lives on the basis of it being true, facing persecution even to death for that belief.

my guess would be if she has ever read it, she did not understand what she was reading.
when people i know say this, i tell them they're wrong, hopefully in some way that challenges what they think is their authority. i don't try to start any kind of argument with them, but if they try to argue with me on any specific point i'll respond with defense. i want that - i want to have that conversation with them. but i want them to initiate it, because if they do it is a signal they are ready to hear, whether it's so they can become convinced or so that by hearing the defense they have no excuse if they continue as tho there is none. it is better that they come to me than that i play into some caricature of 'cramming my religion down their throat' in a confrontational way they are trying to draw out. i let them give their arguments and i knock each one down. and try to let my life speak for itself - in good conduct, in good work ethic, in peace and gentleness.

to say something like that, i take it they have some kind of familiarity with the book and some notion of the gospel contained in it - tho probably poor understanding of either. so it's not as tho i need to tell them the basics of our faith, like they have never heard it at all. they have to have heard something, and rejected it, already. you might ask what it is they heard? they probably heard something wrong.

 

[posthuman]

i let them give their arguments and i knock each one down. and try to let my life speak for itself - in good conduct, in good work ethic, in peace and gentleness.

if i act like a fool won't they have justification to think my gospel is foolish?
so i try to be wise, including not starting or getting drawn into arguments that have no good conclusion. sometimes people just want to fight. there's no need to talk to someone in that state.

 

[tourist]

A couple of things. One as much as it is historically 100% accurate. God hides the spiritual meaning from those who show no interest in parables, (God's prophecy ).They refuse to love that kind of truth and therefore do not search for the understanding of God as for silver or gold .

But parables are necessary in order to to teach men how to understand or walk by a faith that works in them needed to understand the unseen things of God.

So to one it could sound fictional. betimes stories, outer their limit in the Twilight Zone

I love watching the Outer Limits and Twilight Zone.

 

[Journeyman]

Just wondering what you say or respond to people who think the Bible is fiction.

Do you just let them have their opinion, or do you ask them have they actually read it?
Or do you go to lengths to explain to them how its historical.

Or do you go the CS Lewis route and compromise and say well actually its a true myth.

I had this workmate who said this and it seems like she believes in science. But I then point out that there is science fiction which I dont believe at all. Maybe I should just leave it at that and only be worried if she starts pushing Scientology.

Lanolin,
In my opinion, the best thing you can say to anyone who claims the Bible is fiction is, you believe what Jesus said.

 

[tourist]

Just wondering what you say or respond to people who think the Bible is fiction.

Do you just let them have their opinion, or do you ask them have they actually read it?
Or do you go to lengths to explain to them how its historical.

Or do you go the CS Lewis route and compromise and say well actually its a true myth.

I had this workmate who said this and it seems like she believes in science. But I then point out that there is science fiction which I dont believe at all. Maybe I should just leave it at that and only be worried if she starts pushing Scientology.

Mark Twain thought the bible was fictional too and would constantly belittle the Christian faith of his wife. One day his wife became very sick and was near death. He told her to draw on her faith for healing. She said that she couldn't because whatever faith that she had he took from her over a period of many years.

 

[Duskey]

Just wondering what you say or respond to people who think the Bible is fiction.

Do you just let them have their opinion, or do you ask them have they actually read it?
Or do you go to lengths to explain to them how its historical.

Or do you go the CS Lewis route and compromise and say well actually its a true myth.

I had this workmate who said this and it seems like she believes in science. But I then point out that there is science fiction which I dont believe at all. Maybe I should just leave it at that and only be worried if she starts pushing Scientology.

1st response: Jesus’ teachings and miracles are unparalleled, were witnessed by thousands of people and have yet to be duplicated.

2nd response: “you’ll see”.

 

[Deuteronomy]

Hello @Lanolin, if you've not seen this recent movie/documentary, I think it would prove to be useful in helping you answer questions like the ones you have in your OP (and I think you'll simply enjoy seeing it too ).

It's called The God Who Speaks, and you can watch it for free right now (if you are an Amazon Prime member) here: https://www.amazon.com/God-Who-Spea...+Speaks&qid=1593567041&s=instant-video&sr=1-1

The cast is made up of a number of well-known theologians, pastors, historians, apologists, and linguists, and it is extremely well-done.

Also, here's the movie trailer if you'd like to see it.

~Deut

 

[reneweddaybyday]

God tells us we are to share the gospel with others. We do not have to make others believe ...

We are workers together with God ... we plant and water ... so important that we plant/water God's Word, not our opinions or the doctrines of men.

1 Corinthians 3:

6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.


Not sure if this will help with your friend and hope/pray God gives you words to speak as you work together with Him.

 

[Lafftur]

Just wondering what you say or respond to people who think the Bible is fiction.

Do you just let them have their opinion, or do you ask them have they actually read it?
Or do you go to lengths to explain to them how its historical.

Or do you go the CS Lewis route and compromise and say well actually its a true myth.

I had this workmate who said this and it seems like she believes in science. But I then point out that there is science fiction which I dont believe at all. Maybe I should just leave it at that and only be worried if she starts pushing Scientology.

Interesting question.....you made me ponder science and I asked the Holy Spirit what should be said, He answered.....

“Ask them what they think about the ‘seed’ - any seed, where did it come from? Life is in the seed....the life cycle continues.....all things living have a ‘seed’.......

Then, spark their curiosity about an Incorruptible Seed that gives a person Eternal Life.......Jesus Christ!”

Truly, the Holy Spirit in us knows how to speak and witness to all people about Jesus Christ!

We need only say what we hear the Holy Spirit say when we witness to others....trying to speak with our human reasoning to others is fruitless!

 

[Lanolin]

Thanks for the responses I will pray a bit more on this to have an answer for my workmate in case she asks. I was thinking of moving the Bibles to the history section and the Richard Dawkins books to the fantasy section.

we both work in a bookshop you see.

 

[UnoiAmarah]

Nothing cannot produce something. The end of this truth is that there is a Creator. That the so-called "Big Bang" came out of nothing denies true science

The end of nothing cannot produce something is the conclusion that the universe has always existed.

The belief that the universe came forth out of nothing by a Creator is called "Creatio ex nihilo" It holds that everything that exists in this world was created into existence and was not formed out of any divine substance or existent matter.

The Big Bang is based the philosophical dictum of 'ex nihilo nihil fit ' which holds that from nothing can come nothing, in such the Big Bang is based upon the primordial atom, not nothing. Since nothing can come from nothing everything in the universe is believed have always existed.