The Bible

 

As previously indicated, the Bible is one of over 20 religious works claimed to be inspired by God.  There are the Hindu Vedas, the Quran, the Book of Mormon, etc.  If the evidence proves the Bible as actually being from God then any other religious book which contradicts the Bible’s teachings is automatically false and not from God. 

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Bank tellers are trained using a very exacting method enabling them to quickly spot most forgeries.  This very exacting method is simply the extensive physical handling of authentic currency.  They handle so much authentic currency that they become very familiar with it; with its feel, thickness, smell, sound, bendability, etc. They become so familiar with the authentic that when a bill which is a forgery simply passes over their fingertips, the teller knows almost immediately that something about the forgery is different from the authentic.  They don’t need to be trained in all the different forgery techniques, they just need to be very familiar with the authentic.

Counterfeit Detection

www.challies.com/articles/counterfeit-detection-part-1

www.challies.com/articles/counterfeit-detection-part-2

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This is why in this guide we will primarily look at the evidences for the Bible and not so much the specific challenges to the bible, nor specific differences between Christianity and most other religions.  The exception to this are the religions indicated in the subsection Challenges From Other Religions.  I indicate the reasons for including them there.

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Similar to truth being applied in the previous examples, if the Bible is proven to be from God then any other book claiming to be from God and contradicting the Bible is automatically false.  We then only need to be accurately educated on the Bible to detect contradictions in other works. 

 

This doesn't mean that these books don’t contain any truth, but if the Bible is from God and doesn't have error and these other volumes contradict the Bible in specific areas, that means that these other volumes have errors and can’t be from God.  For further study on the differences between Christianity and other religions check this link:  

Patheos Lenses - Side by Side Comparison

www.patheos.com/Library/Lenses/Side-By-Side

This will allow you to compare the teachings of different religions and Christianity side-by-side. 

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While we won’t be covering most other religions in any detail, it is important to address one claim many people make.  The claim is that

"Most religions are basically the same". 

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Many believe that if all the different religions teach a belief in god then they are essentially teaching the same belief.  And if they teach the same in this major detail, the differences must have to do with minor points.  This sounds reasonable, right?

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Greg Koukl uses the illustration of aspirin and arsenic to illustrate what is truly important when considering differences.  He states that while aspirin and arsenic are both white and come in powdered form, it is not the similarities but the differences that matter. 

The Christian Story – Greg Koukl

www.str.org/articles/the-christian-story

“When studying religions, the point is not to focus on the things that are similar, because it’s the differences that really matter.”  -  Greg Koukl

 

Frank Turek (http://crossexamined.org) indicates this as well.  He mentioned in his December 12, 2015 podcast that most people say that all religions teach basically the same thing, that we should love one another.  Frank indicates that while most religions do, some don’t.  He said,

“Satanism doesn't teach that we should love one another.  As well, some Muslims would say that Islam doesn't, and they use the Quran to justify jihad, and kill unbelievers-non-Muslims." 

 

An interesting thing to think about as do Muslims of this mindset and killing, is Proverbs 8:36,

Proverbs 8:36 "But whoever sins against me destroys himself; everyone who hates me loves death."

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Again, many people believe that all religions teach basically the same thing, and that they only disagree on the minor things.  The exact opposite is the true.  They may agree on small details but they disagree on the essentials.  In the same podcast, Frank mentions an article by writer Steve Turner.  Frank mentions that in his article, Steve states,

“Most religion teach to love one another.  They only disagree on the nature of man, the nature of God, sin, salvation, heaven, hell, and creation.”

Frank ads,

“Most religions don’t coexist because they come from the same God.  They coexist because morality comes from the same God."

The following links will provide much greater insight into this.

Aren’t All Religions the Same?

https://christiananswers.net/q-aiia/religionssame.html

Religious Stew

www.equip.org/articles/religious-stew

All Religions Are Basically the Same

www.str.org/blog/all-religions-are-basically-the-same

Aren't All Religions The Same? Don't All Religions Point to the Same God?

www.biblicallyshaped.com/blogs/are-all-religions-the-same

Religious Pluralism: Do all Religions Lead to the Same Goal?

www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=17&v=eRfOb3WL4cA

With So Many Religions, Why Christianity?

http://christianity.co.nz/2016/02/religions/
 

 

Some of the main challenges to the Bible are the claimed contradictions it contains by those committed to challenging Christianity and Christians.

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The links below cover many of the supposed contradictions in the Bible and answers to those contradictions:

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Solutions To Bible “Errors”

http://defendinginerrancy.com/bible-difficulties

If the Bible is the Word of God, how can you explain the contradictions of the Bible?

http://christiananswers.net/q-comfort/contradictions-bible.html

Supposed Bible Contradictions: Scripture Index

https://answersingenesis.org/contradictions-in-the-bible/scripture-index/

Contradictions in the Bible?

https://answersingenesis.org/contradictions-in-the-bible/

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The answers to these “contradictions” when combined with all the evidences presented in this guide should go a long way toward giving you greater confidence in what you believe if you are a Christian, and provide information to consider if you are not.

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Remember the concept of Truth, that if something can be proven true then anything that contradicts that truth is automatically false?  If the Bible proves to be true then you can have confidence in it.  And even if you don’t have an answer to a challenge someone might make you can still have confidence that there is an answer.

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If you look at the evidence supporting the Bible and apply the same standards to any other religious book, then you will see the tremendous amount of evidence in support of the Bible which is lacking in any other book claiming to be from God which contradicts the Bible.

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The evidences for Bible being from God which we will briefly examine are in four areas:

1.  Archaeological Evidences: The accuracy of history, places, and people indicated.  Does the findings of archeology confirm or contradict?

2.  Prophesy and Statistics: The probability of predicting the future, with very specific details.  What are the odds?

3.  Manuscript Evidence: The evidence for the credibility of the original documents and the consistency of those documents with each other.  How close to the original manuscripts are our current Bibles?

4.   Scientific Evidences: The scientific accuracy of historical writings.  Verifiable scientific principals are indicated and scientific concepts are described accurately well in advance of them being discovered through more modern scientific observations.

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       How Accurate is the Bible?

https://bible.org/article/how-accurate-bible

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Is the Bible Fact or Fiction? – Josh McDowell

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvNdqyrOVls

WHY YOU CAN BELIEVE THE BIBLE

www.everystudent.com/features/bible.html

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Next Page:  Archaeological Evidences
 

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