January 18, 2010 10:03 AM
Sam wrote:
It does appear that you and I think a whole lot alike....reread our blogs and you'll see a common thread, I think, of 'what?'.
Anyway, great to read your thoughts. You too, Dustin.....where is Big Willie?
Here we go, 18 January, more Exodus 'stories'...
Wow, sure is a lot (again) in these few chapters. It IS quite a story, if you look at it in that light. But, is it a TRUE story? Probably, but also probably, there might be some things in there that might not be as true as others. FORTY years? They were 'lost', wandering aimlessly for FORTY years? FORTY YEARS!! Think about it. I mean, even ONE year!, but FORTY??? Did Moses forget where Midian was? You know, the place he sent his wife and sons? For FORTY YEARS? NO, this is one part of the 'exodus' story that is very difficult to understand, let alone believe. I guess someday I will KNOW for sure. I can see why lots of people think the Bible is not real, that is, is not a true depiction of history. Maybe it is, maybe every single thing in this Book is absolutely, 100% true....most Christians will tell you it is. But then, most Christians haven't even READ the entire Bible, they only read bits and pieces, or hear bits an pieces in sermons on Sundays or Saturdays.
I am going to put in the next section of this blog some data taken by polls, and they might just surprise you.... Reply to this
The Bible Society undertook some research that displayed only 21% of of a group of more than 2,000 church attending participants read their Bible daily. Twenty two percent stated they read it at least weekly. The remaining 57% saying they either read the Bible occasionally or hardly ever - 22%. Similar studies conducted in the U.S. stated that only 12% said they read the Bible regularly.
(What group are you in?)
Now, read this:
Biblical knowledge (Biblical illiteracy is rampant):
* About 15 percent of Americans participate in Bible studies. * The number of people who read the Bible, at least occasionally, is 59 percent. * Less than 50 percent of Americans can name the first book of the Bible (Genesis). * Only 1/3 of Americans know who delivered the Sermon on the Mount (more people identified Billy Graham rather than Jesus). * Twenty-five percent of Americans don't know what is celebrated on Easter (the Resurrection of Christ, the foundational event of Christianity). * Twelve percent of Christians think that Noah's wife is Joan of Arc. * Eighty percent of born-again Christians (including George W. Bush) think it is the Bible that says "God helps them that help themselves."
And......in a Gallup Poll in the US:
Only half of adults interviewed nationwide could name any of the four Gospels of the New Testament.
Just 37% of those interviewed could name all four Gospels.
Only 42% of adults were able to name as many as five of the Ten Commandments correctly.
Seven in ten (70%) were able to name the town where Jesus was born, but just 42% could identify him as the person who delivered the Sermon on the Mount.
38% of Americans believe the entire Bible was written several decades after Jesus' death and resurrection (While this is true of the New Testament, the entire Old Testament was written hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus Christ).
12% of adults believe that Noah's wife was Joan of Arc.
49% believe that the Bible teaches that money is the root of all evil. (The love of money is said to be the root of all types of evil).
So, there you have a few 'facts and figures'. It is very discouraging. I applaud Dustin for his idea to blog about the Bible this year, taking one day at a time, and reading and blogging about a different set of chapters each day. Personally, I want to be in the top percentage, those who read, study and understand what God is saying to me in the Bible, and I know the only way to do it is to read this thing everyday. Yes, I, as well as Rich and the rest of you, will have questions, but that is how we can learn. We can answer each others' questions. We can actually (if you want to go out on a limb) RESEARCH the answers and share your findings with the rest of us. I hope more people join/rejoin, and dedicate more time to helping the rest of us understand this difficult book.
It does appear that you and I think a whole lot alike....reread our blogs and you'll see a common thread, I think, of 'what?'.
Anyway, great to read your thoughts. You too, Dustin.....where is Big Willie?
Here we go, 18 January, more Exodus 'stories'...
Wow, sure is a lot (again) in these few chapters. It IS quite a story, if you look at it in that light. But, is it a TRUE story? Probably, but also probably, there might be some things in there that might not be as true as others. FORTY years? They were 'lost', wandering aimlessly for FORTY years? FORTY YEARS!! Think about it. I mean, even ONE year!, but FORTY??? Did Moses forget where Midian was? You know, the place he sent his wife and sons? For FORTY YEARS? NO, this is one part of the 'exodus' story that is very difficult to understand, let alone believe. I guess someday I will KNOW for sure. I can see why lots of people think the Bible is not real, that is, is not a true depiction of history. Maybe it is, maybe every single thing in this Book is absolutely, 100% true....most Christians will tell you it is. But then, most Christians haven't even READ the entire Bible, they only read bits and pieces, or hear bits an pieces in sermons on Sundays or Saturdays.
I am going to put in the next section of this blog some data taken by polls, and they might just surprise you....
Reply to this
Here's some figures on polls about the Bible:
The Bible Society undertook some research that displayed only 21% of of a group of more than 2,000 church attending participants read their Bible daily.
Twenty two percent stated they read it at least weekly.
The remaining 57% saying they either read the Bible occasionally or hardly ever - 22%. Similar studies conducted in the U.S. stated that only 12% said they read the Bible regularly.
(What group are you in?)
Now, read this:
Biblical knowledge (Biblical illiteracy is rampant):
* About 15 percent of Americans participate in Bible studies.
* The number of people who read the Bible, at least occasionally, is 59 percent.
* Less than 50 percent of Americans can name the first book of the Bible (Genesis).
* Only 1/3 of Americans know who delivered the Sermon on the Mount (more people identified Billy Graham rather than Jesus).
* Twenty-five percent of Americans don't know what is celebrated on Easter (the Resurrection of Christ, the foundational event of Christianity).
* Twelve percent of Christians think that Noah's wife is Joan of Arc.
* Eighty percent of born-again Christians (including George W. Bush) think it is the Bible that says "God helps them that help themselves."
And......in a Gallup Poll in the US:
Only half of adults interviewed nationwide could name any of the four Gospels of the New Testament.
Just 37% of those interviewed could name all four Gospels.
Only 42% of adults were able to name as many as five of the Ten Commandments correctly.
Seven in ten (70%) were able to name the town where Jesus was born, but just 42% could identify him as the person who delivered the Sermon on the Mount.
38% of Americans believe the entire Bible was written several decades after Jesus' death and resurrection (While this is true of the New Testament, the entire Old Testament was written hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus Christ).
12% of adults believe that Noah's wife was Joan of Arc.
49% believe that the Bible teaches that money is the root of all evil. (The love of money is said to be the root of all types of evil).
So, there you have a few 'facts and figures'. It is very discouraging. I applaud Dustin for his idea to blog about the Bible this year, taking one day at a time, and reading and blogging about a different set of chapters each day.
Personally, I want to be in the top percentage, those who read, study and understand what God is saying to me in the Bible, and I know the only way to do it is to read this thing everyday. Yes, I, as well as Rich and the rest of you, will have questions, but that is how we can learn. We can answer each others' questions. We can actually (if you want to go out on a limb) RESEARCH the answers and share your findings with the rest of us. I hope more people join/rejoin, and dedicate more time to helping the rest of us understand this difficult book.
As Dustin says, God is good!!!!
Reply to this