Can you have an opinion that is contrary to your holy book?

Question

I asked this one earlier:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080829115158AAtokzC&r=w

I'm flabbergasted by some of the answers, that seem to suggest that their opinions are 100% in line with the Bible at all times. Is this not utter zealotry? The very concept of having an opinion seems to be completely foreign.

Answer 1

That is quite interesting. What is even more surprising is that the popular doctrines don't even come from the book, but from a distortion of the message.

To make that point: When is the last time you heard a Bible person quote the "Golden Rule?"

So you are right on the mark... but there is even more to it. Explained on my bio.

Answer 2

Sure I could, but why would I want to?

Answer 3

Funny, because I asked a similar question of Muslims the other week.

Anyway, I am one of those people who say "Because it's forbidden" when people ask me why Muslims don't drink.  For most things, I don't need an opinion.  I've had that get me into trouble in the past, questioning to the point where I am wondering too much.

There are things about which you can have an opinion, but I think there has to be a limit on it, or you get chaos.

Answer 4

It's a simple matter of REPLACING perceived reality with the simpler and more consistent "reality" of faith. That way there are no inconvenient conflicts or contradictions.  Drink the Kool-Aid and keep those goggles on!

Answer 5

This is why religion is so dangerous

It discourages free thought

Answer 6

No. The Bible is the Truth.

That's like giving an opinion that contradicts a science book.

Answer 7

yes, and someone usually pays for it to along with me ..

Answer 8

As a Catholic, I am bound to follow the Church's Dogmas and Doctrines.  Beyond that, I am free to make opinions of my own.

For example:

On the subject of Abortion, the Church has a firm Dogma in place that all Catholics must be against it.

On the subject of marriage and the Priesthood, the Church has a Doctrine in place saying "No" but that can be changed at a later date since it's not a Dogma, and I'm free to agree or disagree with it as long as I don't try to break that Doctrine.

But on the subject of Evolution, the Church allows Catholics to choose whether or not they subscribe to it.

Answer 9

Logically yes.  I'm not convinced Methusaleh lived 900 years, nor that the flood wiped out the entire earth (Mesopotamia, perhaps, which was quite a lot to Biblical writers).  The facts remain, however, that Jesus' truth is immutable; my opinions thereon are in line with the Gospels' message.

Answer 10

Yes.  I'm a Buddhist, but there are times that an issue is not addressed in the Pali Canon, or my opinion seems to fly in the face of it.  This is fine.  That's the nature of things.  Life isn't lived out of a book.  We have to engage it here and now.  We can look to our holy books, like the Bible or the Pali Canon for guidance, but in the end, we have to live in and expierience the world around us, and we have to see the reality of the world around us as it is.  If we don't, we can drive ourselves and the people around crazy with mental gymnastics to bend reality to fit our interpretation of the book, or we can drive them crazy denying the reality of what's right in front of us because it doesn't fit what (we think) the book says.

EDIT--That's a good question.  I've only begun reading the Pali Canon about three years ago.  It's so large, as you know, and many of the texts aren't available in English (so far as I know), that it will be some time before I finish it.  But there's nothing really to agree or disagree with so far as the Pali Canon goes.  There are only a few metaphysical claims.  The rest is general ethics and instructions for practice.  It's difficult to get trapped in doctrine.

Answer 11

It's the same as atheists thinking they are right 100% of the time without ever considering the possibility of being wrong.  They give logic and reason a bad name.

Answer 12

I am proof positive that one can have dozens.

Answer 13

Yes we can it may not always be a positive thing but we certainly can.

Answer 14

God is never wrong. If my opinion conflicts with God's word, then i am wrong.

Answer 15

I suppose you could, but then you'd have to put away your "Proud Fundie" or "Jesus is my homeboy" bumper sticker.

Those things are so effing hard to scrape off.

Answer 16

yes,i am aloud to have opinions that are different from the Holy Bible. God when He made me gave me free will. if i am wrong in something i feel or think then i will answer to my God for it when i die and i will gladly stand before Him and explain my reasoning, even though He already knows what it is. i am a Christian and i am a Catholic and iam proud of it.

Answer 17

I can't think of anything right off the top of my head, but as a fairly liberal democrat, I would say I'm sure I could. I'm sure you're surprised.........

Answer 18

  I don't have a "holy book'" . If I did,it would be Emerson's Essays.  

Answer 19

It's definitely possible. People tend to forget that these religious books were written thousands of years ago and do not mention everything going on in the world at the time they were written. There is also a possibilty that certain texts were omitted due to contradicting popular opinion of that time period. For example, there have been several ancient religious text that have been discovered over the last 60 years that are supposedly written by the Disciples and other important people that are not in the King James Version or newer versions of the Bible.  

Answer 20

Sure.  Of course, the way some people preach, their opinions will never differ from the bible, because they can twist any passage to suit their speech.

EDIT- I didn't really answer the question.  Yes, I have my own opinions and am able to think for myself.  I understand why you're asking, though.  I know a fundie who quotes the bible everytime I tell her my thoughts on a topic. Once, I told her about something that happened in Christian history, and she specifically said "If it's not in the bible, I don't know about it."

Answer 21

Well, at least we know those people have actually read the book.. or at least parts of it. Whether they understand the context and the intended meaning is a whole different question.

Theoretically, it's entirely possible to have an opinion that is contrary to your holy book(s). I'm sure there are at least some Christians who are pro-choice....

Answer 22

some people do but then they aren't True Christians™ or whatever faith

many claim that the bible is eternal but they don't know enough about the book for this claim to be believable

Fred Phelps has an opinion which is very in line with the bible and so does the popes and many others yet look at how many lies, bigoted nonsense, intolerance and hate they follow/promote

Answer 23

I have a number of opinions that have nothing to do with my "holy book(s)".  It's called being an open-minded person, and not just getting hung up on certain doctrinal things.

Answer 24

Sure you can. Whether or not it's right or wrong will most likely come up for debate at some time in the future.

Answer 25

Of course, that's why I'm Catholic.

I don't agree with slavery, stoning people, that "Rapture" stuff, and many other things.

Answer 26

No, zealotry is when I take those beliefs and force you physically to adhere to them.

My beliefs are just that, mine. Neither you or anyone else need mind yourself with them.

We hold our beliefs as tightly to us as you do your belief that there is no God..So what makes your brand of belief hold any less zeal?

Answer 27

I have no holy book and I am capable of independent thought; not that my thoughts are always right,  mind you..