# What good is the Bible? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 5, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718 "2014-05-05T16:01:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/22 "2014-05-06T16:22:50Z")
If you have a [ganglion cyst on your wrist you can smack it with a Bible](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=274412)to make it go away. There must be endless uses for those things. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/23 "2014-05-06T16:33:17Z")
In a pinch, a bible page can be used to roll a joint. I’ve heard. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Ektar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Captain\_Ektar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Ektar)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/24 "2014-05-06T16:37:53Z")
> [@racepug](#): > > Does the Bible do more for you than just serve as a guide on how to behave towards others? Well as a Christian I would say that if the Bible were just a set of moral guidelines it wouldn’t be terribly valuable. There is no shortage of religions with lists of rules to follow. So it’s like, get in line, you know? But in fact the Bible tells us that man already has the basics of morality written in his heart - a Natural Law, so to speak. I think we see this manifested in the many common, core morals across diverse cultures. But getting back to the point, the Bible is not merely another list of do’s and don’ts, whereby we can make sure we have more tallies in the do column to avoid a firey fate. But rather, it is the story of God’s redemption of a mankind that is much more adept at the don’ts than the dos. A story of hope and forgiveness for people who have noticed that they are much better at selfishness, pride, greed, lust, and hate, than they are at sacrifice, humility, generosity, chastity, and love. It is the story of mankind consistently failing to live morally, and what God did about it. (Note: I have no illusions about this being a popular viewpoint on these boards) ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/25 "2014-05-06T16:40:00Z")
> [@racepug](#): > > I know I’m probably opening up a “can of worms” by asking this, but: Does the Bible do more for you than just serve as a guide on how to behave towards others? Yes. I use it as a method or guide to make prayer easier and allow God to speak to my heart. It’s not so much any specific word or phrase but the overall “voice of God” that comes through. I could probably use repetitive chanting or other means but reading a few passages lets me center and collect my thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/26 "2014-05-06T16:41:50Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > What good are _you?_ Wtf? We can discuss the worth of objects without having to demonstrate the worth of individual human beings. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/27 "2014-05-06T16:42:01Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > What good are _you?_ At least as much as YOU are, no doubt about it. Probably more. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/28 "2014-05-06T16:43:03Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > In a pinch, a bible page can be used to roll a joint. I’ve heard. Or shooting Brits ------------ maybe. Depends on who you believe. > **[Ancient Rare Bibles and Books: Antique Bibles and Theology Books](https://greatsite.com/ancient-rare-bibles-books/)** > > THE WORLD'S LARGEST DEALER OF RARE AND ANTIQUE BIBLES ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/29 "2014-05-06T17:19:47Z")
I was once high bidder on an EBay auction for a bible, autographed by author. The auction was pulled by EBay as being disingenuous. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/30 "2014-05-06T18:22:53Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > In a pinch, a bible page can be used to roll a joint. I’ve heard. How would you like your aorta pinched, pothead? :mad: ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/31 "2014-05-06T18:27:19Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I was once high bidder on an EBay auction for a bible, autographed by author. The auction was pulled by EBay as being disingenuous. ☹ “Disingenuous?” Try “surfeited with chutzpah”! ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/32 "2014-05-06T18:43:17Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > What good are _you?_ > [@dougie\_monty](#): > > How would you like your aorta pinched, pothead? :mad: Ease up, **dougie\_monty**. You can disagree without insults. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/33 "2014-05-06T19:11:05Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Ease up, **dougie\_monty**. You can disagree without insults. Well, I’ve had a long antipathy towards drug users and Bible haters…phrasing effective criticism of them is not easy. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/34 "2014-05-06T19:17:03Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Ease up, **dougie\_monty**. You can disagree without insults. Thank you E.C. I was trembling in my boots. Although I do not consider pothead an insult.🆒 [Cite for my buddy dougie.](https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100131154826AAUO9jw) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/35 "2014-05-06T19:26:32Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Well, I’ve had a long antipathy towards drug users and Bible haters…phrasing effective criticism of them is not easy. Not hitting “submit reply” is pretty easy for me but YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/36 "2014-05-06T19:32:47Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > [Cite for my buddy dougie.](https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100131154826AAUO9jw) Although I’m with you on the worth of the Bible, Yahoo Answers is almost the worst thing in the world to use as a cite. I think I’d cite a link to a YouTube comment before YA. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/37 "2014-05-06T19:37:30Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Ease up, **dougie\_monty**. You can disagree without insults. Not to junior-mod, but I think one can also disagree without threats, aortic or otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/38 "2014-05-06T19:48:30Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Although I’m with you on the worth of the Bible, Yahoo Answers is almost the worst thing in the world to use as a cite. It was a cite of worth equal to who it was proffered.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/39 "2014-05-06T20:21:44Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > In a pinch, a bible page can be used to roll a joint. I’ve heard. I don’t know about that. But there was an episode the other week of a TV program called The Americans in which the lead character (Matthew Rhys) used the bible to underscore a very dramatic point in the script. The use of the bible lent itself to making that point in a very emphatic way. I thought that it was used in a very valuable way and I can’t imagine any other way in which that point could have been made any more emphatically. It was a really great episode. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/40 "2014-05-06T21:09:03Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Thank you E.C. I was trembling in my boots. At least you didn’t admit to rolling joints with _The Watchtower_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718/41 "2014-05-06T21:15:35Z")
In the interest of keeping this factual, wouldn’t breathing in the burned up ink on the page be bad for you? I mean potentially worse than breathing in regular smoke with out any ink. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-good-is-the-bible/687718.md?page=3)