Why do some Christians use Bible quotes as their arugement?

[Mortality]

I've been lurking around some forums I used to belong to and most of the arguments against Christianity and all that falls under that ends up with Christians making their point across with Bible Quotes. To my understanding, the Bible was written by people. It also contradicts itself a lot too. But back to the question, if I want evidence, I'm not asking for a quote pulled out of a book.

So simple, the title is my question.

[Darth_Revan]

I have family members like this, their entire life revolves around the bible, they look for certain lines and quotes to explain why certain things happen in their lives. I see that as a one of the causes they tend to use bible quotes in arguments.. That is just my personal experience with dealing people like that. Argument begins some what logical and reasonable then bam a bible quote comes out, I just think if their life revolves around the bible then more than likely they will use it for every aspect of their lives.

[Lordinquisitor]

Because there are no valid arguments.

[Prodigal]

Well, it is valid between Christians, but unless there is a verse that really strikes a chord wth someone, it's really futile. Of course citing it to refute some innacurate statement made about it is perfectly legitimate.

[rclegions]

You must understand that they use that to express what they're feeling, it is not to replace arguments with Bibles quotes. Those quotes are only expressions. Now, there are those who are fanatics, witch in my opinion they are not truely Christians. Well but this is only my opinion. And yes Im Christian, Protestant of course.

[The Dude]

Well the main reason is that a lot of people are not very logically gifted and they don't understand that you can't justify something by quoting it.

The other reason is that all religions, in the end, are prey to precisely that pitfall. There is no greater imperative that brought them into existence. Any particular religion can only attempt justify itself through itself. You're not going to find sufficient reason to take the Bible at its word in any source other than, you guessed it, the Bible.

[Monarchist]

I've been lurking around some forums I used to belong to and most of the arguments against Christianity and all that falls under that ends up with Christians making their point across with Bible Quotes. To my understanding, the Bible was written by people. It also contradicts itself a lot too. But back to the question, if I want evidence, I'm not asking for a quote pulled out of a book.

So simple, the title is my question.

Your understanding is incomplete. The holy Bible was written by people guided by the Holy Ghost. Catholics, at least, firmly confess that prophets, apostles, and such were "spoken through" by the third Person of the blessed Trinity. If you don't believe that, obviously you won't quote it verbatim, or perhaps at all. Christians who argue for Christianity using the Bible alone are being foolish, end of issue.

Also, I don't appreciate the fact that you made an unsupported statement, then changed the subject. "Also it contradicts itself a lot too but NEVER MIND BACK TO THE SUBJECT" is just a jab. Please refrain from such silliness.

You must understand that they use that to express what they're feeling, it is not to replace arguments with Bibles quotes. Those quotes are only expressions. Now, there are those who are fanatics, witch in my opinion they are not truely Christians.

Oh, come now. Protestants believe "sola scriptura", right? The whole reason logical arguments tend to be chucked out by radical/evangelical Christians is precisely because they've taken this Sola too far. Pre-Sola-Scriptura scholars like Anselm of Canterbury and Thomas Aquinas relied on reason, logic, tradition, scripture, and observation. Life is much more grand and glorious than the often-vague Biblical moralities. I firmly believe it is the word of God, inspired of the Holy Spirit of the same God, and spoken by the same Word of the same God, Three in One and One in Three. It is divine, and contains much wisdom.

Protestant of course.

I promise to consecrate you to the blessed Virgin and say 10 rosaries for your salvation, heretic!

Well the main reason is that a lot of people are not very logically gifted and they don't understand that you can't justify something by quoting it.

Actually, in the case of the Bible that is precisely what you can do - if you use the right angle. For example, quoting self-deprecating passages by the authors establishes some credibility on their part, from a psychological, human point of view. Looking at the entire narrative in the wider perspective, with morals that are often too good to have been thought up by humans (blessed are the poor in spirit? forgive all offenders 70 x 7 times?). The Bible is its own credit in the moral sense, even if not the archaeological or historical sense. It counts for something, rather than the nothing that it is often made to be.

The other reason is that all religions, in the end, are prey to precisely that pitfall. There is no greater imperative that brought them into existence. Any particular religion can only attempt justify itself through itself. You're not going to find sufficient reason to take the Bible at its word in any source other than, you guessed it, the Bible.

There's also history and logic... but Christians today aren't big on research or thinking. It's why things are in such a bad state!

[The Dude]

Actually, in the case of the Bible that is precisely what you can do - if you use the right angle. For example, quoting self-deprecating passages by the authors establishes some credibility on their part, from a psychological, human point of view. Looking at the entire narrative in the wider perspective, with morals that are often too good to have been thought up by humans (blessed are the poor in spirit? forgive all offenders 70 x 7 times?). The Bible is its own credit in the moral sense, even if not the archaeological or historical sense. It counts for something, rather than the nothing that it is often made to be.

I can't help but completely disagree. Even the best of biblical morals, fine as they may be, are not so out of our league that any truly independent thinker cannot come up with them on their own. I'm not going to bore with how you I came to similar conclusions and similar ideas through my own, entirely different train of thought. Nor am I going to pretend that I am somehow such a fine example of a human being that I can easily match myself with the authors of this book you value so much, but nothing about the bible's morality is too good to be thought up be humans.

[Monarchist]

Even the best of biblical morals, fine as they may be, are not so out of our league that any truly independent thinker cannot come up with them on their own.

Eh, I'm not sure about that. You're saying that with years and years of Biblical influence on the whole context of the society you grew up in. People before that time were only used to petty gods, usually facing a death without any hope, every deity pretty much being a total dick. It was out of our sphere to come into contact with a God who doesn't descend to Earth in the form of a bull and rape women. The very notion sounds ridiculous to us now, but that's because of Biblical morality. It has succeeded in being so widely disseminated that its enemies are now our enemies, and we hardly realise the fact.

I'm not going to bore with how you I came to similar conclusions and similar ideas through my own, entirely different train of thought. Nor am I going to pretend that I am somehow such a fine example of a human being that I can easily match myself with the authors of this book you value so much, but nothing about the bible's morality is too good to be thought up be humans.

Would you have come to these conclusions had you lived in a world without the Bible's influence? Perhaps you don't understand the breadth and depth of its influence on world history. Its ideas were totally novel at the time, which leads me to believe it is not entirely human.

[The Dude]

Would you have come to these conclusions had you lived in a world without the Bible's influence? Perhaps you don't understand the breadth and depth of its influence on world history. Its ideas were totally novel at the time, which leads me to believe it is not entirely human.

Wait, are you really seriously arguing that any completely novel idea must somehow not be entirely human? Or is that argument limited strictly to your own religion because you have a stake in its truth?

[XIII]

I can't help but completely disagree. Even the best of biblical morals, fine as they may be, are not so out of our league that any truly independent thinker cannot come up with them on their own. I'm not going to bore with how you I came to similar conclusions and similar ideas through my own, entirely different train of thought. Nor am I going to pretend that I am somehow such a fine example of a human being that I can easily match myself with the authors of this book you value so much, but nothing about the bible's morality is too good to be thought up be humans.

Actually, Christian Doctrine affirms that. Remember Paul talks about God's moral law being written in the hearts of all men. That a truly independent thinker can, theoretically, come up with a system of morality not unlike the Christian's is not only compatible, but even expected (to a degree) even on a Christian world-view.

[Monarchist]

Actually, Christian Doctrine affirms that. Remember Paul talks about God's moral law being written in the hearts of all men. That a truly independent thinker can, theoretically, come up with a system of morality not unlike the Christian's is not only compatible, but even expected (to a degree) even on a Christian world-view.

This is half-true. Our hearts are inscribed with the natural law, yes. We have the urge to do our works courageously (fortitude), with balance (temperance), at the right time and place (prudence), and with due proportion towards other subjects (justice). What we do not know inherently is the divine law, whether positive or divine-human. These things need to be gifted to us by a rational source.

[Prodigal]

Well, the problem with sola scriptura is that it breaks up whatever "church" believes in it. Sola scriptura is the issue, because there is no Holy tradition. With just the scriptures, without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it can be interepreted any number of ways. Thus sola scriptura is self-defeating, and is the main reason behind the hodge podge of "churches" that are seen today. I have a separate rant about Catholic "logic" and the west's constant striving to define God and Holy Mysteries in the Church, when they cannot hope to, and really should not hope to, because it is impossible.

[rclegions]

I promise to consecrate you to the blessed Virgin and say 10 rosaries for your salvation, heretic!

Heretic? I just believe in God and Christ. Not in the virgin and not in the big army of statues that Catholics have. Has the Bible says: they have eyes and do not see. Ears, but do not listen. Mouth and do not speak.

Plus I prefer to belong to the first True Church, not to the church the romans created to calm the pagan crowd.

[Prodigal]

You don't believe in the virgin? Well that just destroys the entire Bible story.

[rclegions]

I believe that God used the virgin to bring Jesus to save us. But it was not the power of the virgin that brought Jesus to Earth. x)

[Monarchist]

Oh dear, Kaitsar, this one is really far gone! We should direct him to the Church Fathers. Whatever our differences, at least Chrysostom makes a convincing argument for any Christian!

That reminds me: the Church Fathers are always a source for wisdom by true Christians. Quoting the Bible ad nauseam is not the only way!

[Mortality]

Well, its good to know your Catholic and didn't use a Bible Quote (Happened on my past forum. s.)

You did provide a good answer and I really thank you for that.

[Prodigal]

Yes, yes, especially all the pre-schism saints with Orthodox doctrine. ^_^

[Cooraan]

arguments against Christianity and all that falls under that ends up with Christians making their point across with Bible Quotes

Well considering, that the Bible is the basis of Christian belief and faith it would be odd if Christians didn't use it.