It provided structure when I didn't have had any otherwise. Christianity wasn't my first choice, either, it's just the one which works best.
It must be tough for Christians specifically, because they have to deal with more than a few major problems. For one, our current "Word of God" has been edited; it's not the same book from 2,000 years ago.
I know. I don't require a perfect book in order to have faith. I require structure which supports personal growth. The bible can be as flawed as you want it to be and I simply don't care. I didn't become a christian because of the bible.
There could have been numerous little mistranslations.
There necessarily is. The OT is the Torah, and the Torah is written in Hebrew. Hebrew does not directly translate into English at all, the way Greek does for the NT. Even when you get a reasonably accurate English rendering of a Hebrew passage, there are still innumerable nuanced meanings lost in translation.
When it comes to the original texts of the Torah, however, there is a recorded chain of custody, and the documents themselves can be examined for modification.
That, and there could have been many additions and subtractions throughout the centuries.
More than that. More than simple additions or subtractions, there were entire books left out of the bible. The Catholic bible is different than the Protestant bible precisely because of the processed used in selecting which books to include. Additionally, there can be different variants of the
same book. A good modern-day bible will include all the text from all the different variations of a given book, highlight every portion which is not cannon and annotate where that portion came from. This is why I proffer the NIV, as the NIV is the most credibly translated and most inclusive of textual and transnational variants.
Lastly, there are over 20 sects of Christianity alone.
There are in-fact
hundreds.
Someone must have made a mistake somewhere, and if only one path leads to salvation people aren't gonna be lonely in Hell. How do we know religion isn't truly a tool used to manipulate and control others?
Since you rely so heavily on the bible, may I point out that according to James one doesn't have to believe in Christ, or any god, at all, in order to be on the right path.
Simply put, religion is a symptom of irrational hope and groundless faith.
It's a social structure found in every single culture all over the world.
Another thing I don't understand is why there are religious people in Academia. It makes no sense. In any sort of job that requires a functioning brain you rely on facts, logic, and reason to do it well. As Dean of Medicine you don't have your staff prescribe 3 sessions of prayer every day until the patients are cured. Praying doesn't heal sarcoidoma or neuropathy, etc. There's always an underlining reason(s) for a problem. The part I don't get is why a person with a job that requires rationality... decides to cling to an irrational faith.
Why do they believe? You wouldn't believe that 2 + 2 = 5, so why believe in a God?
Human beings are social creatures first. Religion often provides a very strong and vibrant social structure.
Children, less personal please.
