How do we decide what acceptable behavior is? Is the Bible the major source of discerning acceptable behavior?

Is there any evidence that indicates the Bible is wholly true and accurate? Should we be using the Bible as a sole source for acceptable or moral behavior? Many people do?

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Depends on the culture. Sometimes religion, sometimes leaders decide, etc...

Of course not.

Of course not.

Of course not.

And it is a sad state of affairs.

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The definition of acceptable behavior is innate to all of us.

"that which you find hurtful, do not do unto your neighbor. The rest is commentary (Bible) now go study it. Rabbi Hillel

And it is amazing how the "golden rule" is found throughout most, if not all religions. So to study only the bible, would be extremely insufficient.

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Now just raise that to a scriptural truth....

Well it depends what you mean. The largest Faith on the planet is clearly Christianity. Does that mean that people are faithfully following all that is in it? As you said....


How do you measure it? It must be compared against something in order to be questioned. What is worthy to be matched against it? It doesn't have to be perfectly true to measure well against that standard - perfect vs overwhelmingly correct. Baha'i references speak of it as the "Holy Book of God, of celestial Inspiration. It is the Bible of Salvation, the Noble Gospel. It is the mystery of the Kingdom and its light. It is the Divine Bounty, the sign of the guidance of God."

But just having the Book in hand is not enough:

"It is true that there are foolish individuals who have never properly examined the fundamentals of the Divine religions, who have taken as their criterion the behavior of a few religious hypocrites and measured all religious persons by that yardstick, and have on this account concluded that religions are an obstacle to progress, a divisive factor and a cause of malevolence and enmity among peoples. They have not even observed this much, that the principles of the Divine religions can hardly be evaluated by the acts of those who only claim to follow them. For every excellent thing, peerless though it may be, can still be diverted to the wrong ends. A lighted lamp in the hands of an ignorant child or of the blind will not dispel the surrounding darkness nor light up the house—it will set both the bearer and the house on fire. Can we, in such an instance, blame the lamp? No, by the Lord God! To the seeing, a lamp is a guide and will show him his path; but it is a disaster to the blind."()

And specifically "Again, consider how much the principles of the religion of Christ have been forgotten, and how many heresies have appeared. For example, Christ forbade revenge and transgression; furthermore, He commanded benevolence and mercy in return for injury and evil. Now reflect: among the Christian nations themselves how many sanguinary wars have taken place, and how much oppression, cruelty, rapacity and bloodthirstiness have occurred! Many of these wars were carried on by command of the Popes. It is then clear and evident that in the passage of time religions become entirely changed and altered. Therefore, they are renewed."() (btw, "involving or causing much bloodshed"= sanguinary)


Of course about half the planet doesn't.

I think you miss the point. The Bible is commentary, only an enhancement. One can be totally sufficient without the Bible. We only need to be honestly introspective; If one would dislike having one's car torched then don't torch another's car, even if society tells you it is OK, you're the victim of oppression and only expressing your despair.

I didn't miss the point. Just added another. I agree with you wholeheartedly.

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Ohhh, OK. I'm not used to people agreeing with me, that threw me.

While I don't hold the Bible the sole source of truth, nor do I hold that simply one's conscience is enough - you offer that society can be an adjunct, but where does society get it's info from? And even discounting society, being the seeker after truth still means there is truth to be found, and by far the majority of the planet, directly or indirectly, has found that guidance on truth to be the religions of the world.