Is the Bible incomplete?

Post by **Sushan Ekanayake** » 08 Jun 2020, 22:08

Laurina_Olowo wrote: ↑07 Jun 2020, 09:51 Well, I would say that the Bible is complete. The author added these other stories based on how he thinks or to portray his own thought.

But the thing is that these stories are added in between the biblical stories, where the author noted some gaps

Post by **Sushan Ekanayake** » 08 Jun 2020, 22:09

gabrielletiemi wrote: ↑07 Jun 2020, 10:20 I don't think that the Bible is incomplete. The author filled some parts that aren't portrayed in detail in the Bible, however, it doesn't mean that they weren't in the Bible, even with less detail. But since it's a fictional book I don't think that there's a problem, the author is showing us his point of view after all.

That is correct. This book does not affect the bible. It is the author's point of vview

Post by **Sushan Ekanayake** » 08 Jun 2020, 22:11

Twylla wrote: ↑07 Jun 2020, 11:53 I don't think we can determine how 'complete' the Bible is. I think the best we can hope for is that it gives us a glimpse into God and all things spiritual. There are so many mysterious scriptures, especially in the Old Testament like Genesis 5:24, KJV: "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." We will never know what that means! It is fun to imagine the details as the author has in this book.

There are quotes, like you mentioned, that no one can interpret. That is where imagination comes in

Post by **Sushan Ekanayake** » 08 Jun 2020, 22:12

Amesthenerd wrote: ↑07 Jun 2020, 13:40 I took a class that just treated the Bible as a piece of literature, instead of treating it like the absolute holy book that a lot of people refer it to. I remember when I took that class that things that I had been taught suddenly didn’t make sense. I now think that there is stuff that has been left out.

When you consider the bible as a holy book, arguing on its stuff will be a sin. But if you consider its literary value, then there is a lot to discuss

Post by **Sushan Ekanayake** » 08 Jun 2020, 22:14

shannonkate8 wrote: ↑07 Jun 2020, 13:47
Sushan wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 10:06 The author gives additional descriptions, which are not found in the original Bible, to the story from creating Adam and Eve, up to the worldwide flood. Most of who has studied the Bible must have had his/her own thoughts regarding these lacking parts. Does this mean that the Bible is incomplete? On the other hand, is it righteous to add after-notes to a religious book like the Bible?
I think this is a really interesting notion. Personally, I think the Bible is definitely incomplete. It was written by a group of men. I certainly think their points of view were biased and I don't think there is possibly a way for them to know all this information. That said, I obviously can't be certain either as I was not present during any of those times. In addition, there is a lot of research into the Bible. Some of it supports notions you read there, others don't.
I also think part of the issue may be our interpretation of the Bible.

That is a fair point of argument. If it was complete, there would not have been any need for further research into the details

Post by **Sushan Ekanayake** » 08 Jun 2020, 22:16

shannonkate8 wrote: ↑07 Jun 2020, 13:49
Amesthenerd wrote: ↑07 Jun 2020, 13:40 I took a class that just treated the Bible as a piece of literature, instead of treating it like the absolute holy book that a lot of people refer it to. I remember when I took that class that things that I had been taught suddenly didn’t make sense. I now think that there is stuff that has been left out.
I also had a "Bible as Literature" class. It was wonderful to read it in a different light and look at it objectively. Now, I definitely think there are things missing.

When you discuss any book considering it as literature, you can find numerous short-comings

Post by **Sushan Ekanayake** » 08 Jun 2020, 22:20

shannonkate8 wrote: ↑07 Jun 2020, 13:52
gabrielletiemi wrote: ↑07 Jun 2020, 10:20 I don't think that the Bible is incomplete. The author filled some parts that aren't portrayed in detail in the Bible, however, it doesn't mean that they weren't in the Bible, even with less detail. But since it's a fictional book I don't think that there's a problem, the author is showing us his point of view after all.
I suppose if one considers it a fictional account (some don't), then one would be forced to assume everything the author(s) wrote was purposeful.

I consider that what you mention here as 'it' is the bible. Then I don't want to comment on whether it is fiction or not

Post by **Sushan Ekanayake** » 08 Jun 2020, 22:23

Gudamercy wrote: ↑07 Jun 2020, 15:11 The book is not challenging the Bible, the author is just trying to put in a human understanding. The Bible is mysterious and holy book, I don't think we will fully be able to grasp every aspect. Questions will always arise, and there is nothing wrong with being a bit creative.

Being creative as well as curious is the path to development, and it applies to any field

Post by **Sushan Ekanayake** » 08 Jun 2020, 22:24

Amesthenerd wrote: ↑07 Jun 2020, 16:38
shannonkate8 wrote: ↑07 Jun 2020, 13:49
Amesthenerd wrote: ↑07 Jun 2020, 13:40 I took a class that just treated the Bible as a piece of literature, instead of treating it like the absolute holy book that a lot of people refer it to. I remember when I took that class that things that I had been taught suddenly didn’t make sense. I now think that there is stuff that has been left out.
I also had a "Bible as Literature" class. It was wonderful to read it in a different light and look at it objectively. Now, I definitely think there are things missing.
I also thought it was a wonderful class. It was during an odd time in my life. It was that semester that I started breaking from religion and became agnostic. Despite this, I still enjoyed this class because while it was in the “religion” department, it was not religious per say. It was just another lit class.

Many avoid such discussions about holy scripture. But those are important even for a religious one to keep his/her faith

Post by **Sushan Ekanayake** » 08 Jun 2020, 22:29

Amesthenerd wrote: ↑07 Jun 2020, 16:51
Kansas City Teacher wrote: ↑07 Jun 2020, 09:28
AmyMarie2171 wrote: ↑01 Jun 2020, 16:12 I don't think the two are connected at all. If the Bible had included every detail about every story beyond what is absolutely critical, then we'd never be able to finish reading it. Since the Bible was put together by councils who chose what would be canon, we know that some of what was originally written was left out. Nevertheless, 2 Timothy 3:16 says that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God," so I tend to believe that what is in the Bible now is complete due to divine inspiration.
I have always wondered who got the final say of what goes and what doesn't go and why some things are left out. The Old Testament is particularly in unconventional time.
One thing I know is that it was people who always had the final say of what was “canon” and what is “non canon” so to speak. I think it would be interesting to find out how to determine to include something or why they wouldn’t include something.

Yes, that will be interesting to find out, but I don't think that anyone will ever find it out

Post by **Sushan Ekanayake** » 08 Jun 2020, 22:31

Julyet_Chris wrote: ↑07 Jun 2020, 16:52 This is a fictitious book which the author wrote to the best of her understanding so there is no need to compare and contrast.

It is not actually a comparison, but a discussion about the bible in the light of the new stories found in this particular fiction

Post by **Sushan Ekanayake** » 08 Jun 2020, 22:33

Xenolyph wrote: ↑07 Jun 2020, 21:40 The parts of the Bible found are found by man. Therefore, there is room for error. Some parts could be missing or the Bible could be complete as is. For now, I choose to believe that the Bible is complete. It seems that everything inside applies to at least one aspect of human life.

It is a subjective matter whether to believe that the bible is complete or incomplete. What is most important is having an open mind about that fact

Post by **Sushan Ekanayake** » 08 Jun 2020, 22:34

Glory Oghenerukevwe wrote: ↑07 Jun 2020, 23:19 I believe the Bible is complete but the details are a little bit scattered amongst the pages of the Bible. If you want to find out whether it's complete or not, you mustn't read it like you'd read any other fictional book but search carefully while reading.

Considering the manner in which the bible is written, merely reading it won't be enough to understand it

Post by **Sushan Ekanayake** » 08 Jun 2020, 22:36

Sheila_Jay wrote: ↑08 Jun 2020, 14:19 We can only say Bible is incomplete is we accurately know the whole story. However, we do not. Therefore, it is right to say that the Bible is complete as it is. We can only add few things in areas where we feel that there are gaps, just like the author did; and I do not see anything wrong with that.

Yes, none of us know the whole, correct story. So we have to accept what is available, and yet we are free to research as well as imagine

Post by **Sushan Ekanayake** » 08 Jun 2020, 22:38

Arimart99 wrote: ↑08 Jun 2020, 15:05 I don't think the bible is incomplete, it has just enough detail for what its purpose is. However, since this book is fiction, of course the author had to add details to make it interesting to a reader. If the bible included every thing that Jesus did and all other details, it would be extremely long to be able to read.

The length could have been a problem. But the area into which the author is concerned in this book, could have been described further in the bible