---

Simply put, I have no reason to believe in it. Oh sure, it's got relevant metaphors and such and is an important text historically, but beyond that it holds little meaning for me.
:5800:

---

my opinion is this also

-------
No MSG.

---

To the OP: What, exactly, do you mean by "believing in the Bible?" Do you mean believing the Bible as entirely, literally factual or do you mean believing that it is entirely, spiritually Truthful?

---

What does it mean for something to be "spiritually truthful"? How does this differ from factual truth?

-------
"The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the
shoreline of wonder" (Ralph W. Sockman)

---

Quote: from exceedinglyrare at 7:29 pm on June 28, 2009

---

To the OP: What, exactly, do you mean by "believing in the Bible?" Do you mean believing the Bible as entirely, literally factual or do you mean believing that it is entirely, spiritually Truthful?

---

What does it mean for something to be "spiritually truthful"? How does this differ from factual truth?

---

Something that isn't factual can still convey deep truths. Consider the philosophical works of Plato, which are almost always written as fictionalized accounts of conversations between Socrates and someone else. The fact that they aren't factual accounts does not detract from the philosophical and spiritual truths that can be found in them (if, in fact, you agree with Plato).

Also consider Aesop's fables. The fact that ants and grasshoppers don't talk and grasshoppers don't spend all summer dancing for the fun of it does not change the Truth that it's better to be prepared for the day of necessity than to assume that you'll never need more than what you currently have.

-------
Let yourself be enchanted,
You just might break through
To ever ever after

But I cannot help by wonder if the truths you've presented are factual truths as well, rather than someone "spiritual". Surely "that it's better to be prepared for the day of necessity than to assume that you'll never need more than what you currently have" is factual, since you can test it pragmatically?

I'm afraid I still don't understand what "spiritual truth" is or how you differentiate that from mere factual truth. Maybe I am beyond all help?

-------
"The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the
shoreline of wonder" (Ralph W. Sockman)

That said, however, for this instance, the differentiation between "literally, factually accurate" and "spiritually True" is the difference between "I believe that the world was created in six days and Jonah was eaten by a giant fish" and "I believe that the world exists because of God's will and that God has a sense of humor when we're being dipshits about doing what He asks of us."

-------
Let yourself be enchanted,
You just might break through
To ever ever after

---

But the truths displayed in Plato are factual truths, even if they are fictional discussions. Similarly, a fictional thriller that includes the claim that water consists of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms, this would not somehow be a nonfactual truth or a spiritual truth.

But I cannot help by wonder if the truths you've presented are factual truths as well, rather than someone "spiritual". Surely "that it's better to be prepared for the day of necessity than to assume that you'll never need more than what you currently have" is factual, since you can test it pragmatically?

I'm afraid I still don't understand what "spiritual truth" is or how you differentiate that from mere factual truth. Maybe I am beyond all help?

---

---

You likely are; however, I wonder that you call the philosophical Truths of Plato's works "factual," since nearly all of them make claims about the metaphysical and aren't things that can be empirically proven or disproven.

That said, however, for this instance, the differentiation between "literally, factually accurate" and "spiritually True" is the difference between "I believe that the world was created in six days and Jonah was eaten by a giant fish" and "I believe that the world exists because of God's will and that God has a sense of humor when we're being dipshits about doing what He asks of us."

---

I'm afraid I don't really understand the difference between those two.  

-------
"The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the
shoreline of wonder" (Ralph W. Sockman)

---

Quote: from Moridin at 12:41 pm on June 28, 2009

---

But the truths displayed in Plato are factual truths, even if they are fictional discussions. Similarly, a fictional thriller that includes the claim that water consists of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms, this would not somehow be a nonfactual truth or a spiritual truth.  

 But I cannot help by wonder if the truths you've presented are factual truths as well, rather than someone "spiritual". Surely "that it's better to be prepared for the day of necessity than to assume that you'll never need more than what you currently have" is factual, since you can test it pragmatically?  

 I'm afraid I still don't understand what "spiritual truth" is or how you differentiate that from mere factual truth. Maybe I am beyond all help?

---

What is your signature?

---

That statement is empirically testable. The more things we know, the more areas of inquiry open up and the more awe people who like knowledge will feel. It is clearly empirically valid or invalid.

-------
"The larger the island of knowledge, the longer the
shoreline of wonder" (Ralph W. Sockman)

---

Quote: from Forever Angel at 8:50 pm on June 28, 2009

---

Quote: from Moridin at 12:41 pm on June 28, 2009

---

But the truths displayed in Plato are factual truths, even if they are fictional discussions. Similarly, a fictional thriller that includes the claim that water consists of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms, this would not somehow be a nonfactual truth or a spiritual truth.

  But I cannot help by wonder if the truths you've presented are factual truths as well, rather than someone "spiritual". Surely "that it's better to be prepared for the day of necessity than to assume that you'll never need more than what you currently have" is factual, since you can test it pragmatically?

  I'm afraid I still don't understand what "spiritual truth" is or how you differentiate that from mere factual truth. Maybe I am beyond all help?

---

What is your signature?

---

That statement is empirically testable. The more things we know, the more areas of inquiry open up and the more awe people who like knowledge will feel. It is clearly empirically valid or invalid.

---

Perhaps you are right. You don't understand what 'spiritual' means.

-------
"God does not play dice" - Albert Einstein
"God does play dice" - Stephen Hawking

Bohica