Why You Should Study the Bible?

4 min read

Over the years, people have forgotten the distinction between religion and books at its core. They believe that by simply reading a book or exploring a new interpretation of any of the old texts, they'll lose sight of their primary beliefs. If not that, then the fear of going down a rabbit hole that would eat up their time and efforts day after day halts them in their pursuit. There is much to be said about the human fear that deters discovery.

Many Christians prefer to follow the interpretations and guidance of priests, scholars, and religious leaders, assuming that they would know better because of their education, status, and background. Even those who do not care for Christianity take help from scholarly notes to interpret the holy book. All things considered, one can confidently claim that most people's understanding of the Bible is simply borrowed and not acquired. Banking a lifetime of knowledge that was simply handed down to you in your early years (if you are a Christian) doesn't sound like something a sane and reasonable person would do.

The point is, studying a book that has been part of the world history for centuries should be a curious endeavor whether you decide to follow the religion of the book or not. Even when you are done, you don’t necessarily have to change your beliefs to feel accomplished. Just like any other book, if you manage to understand a few ideologies and agree with an instance or two, you'll be achieving something in the end.

It is imperative to remember that the Bible is a spiritual book, so whatever one learns from it is bound to strengthen the reader's spiritual essence. The various stories and orders mentioned in the book have the potential to provide you with clarity in your thoughts and help you discover your hidden motivations. Moreover, the text in many versions of the Bible is ancient, so by reading them, you are soaking the wisdom beyond your years.

The fact that many times the core beliefs and ideologies of the Bible are lost in the trustworthy interpretations of religious scholars is neither controversial nor outlandish. Even with an ordinary book, you’ll see a 1-star and 5-star review on the same site, proving the unreliability of individual perceptions. One book can change the life of many, and the same book can put another in a reading slump. One might ask that what if the Bible falls into the former category and turns out to be a 1-star read? Surely, a book that is loose in interpretations can't be anyone's guide? Yet, that is the catharsis of the Bible as it allows its readers to go beyond the norm and discover their own meaning of ancient words and ideologies. The freedom that comes with it proves that the book was never meant to be restrictive in its preaching but rather inclusive for everyone regardless of their background.

 The idea of the disparity in interpretation and the importance of studying the Bible is explored in great detail in Cletis McMurty’s book, "Is that really in the Bible?" As the name suggests, the book has gone over and beyond to convince its readers why a person of any belief but especially a Christian, should read the Bible. McMurty’s arguments are easy to comprehend and take into consideration as he has used extensive research and strong prose to drive his idea home. Not once throughout the book, McMurty has shied away from including examples from his life to explain how studying the Bible had helped him understand the many nuances of life.

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