Is Believing the Bible a Fallacy of Argument from Authority?

The assertion that the Bible must be believed because it claims to be the word of God presents a problem, an argument from authority. This is often seen as a form of circular reasoning: the Bible is paramount because God wrote it, and God is authoritative because the Bible says he is. But is it really valid?

Dependence on Belief

The validity of this reasoning depends on your belief in the Bible and the existence of a divine entity that authored it. If you assume the Bible is the word of God, it ceases to be a fallacy of authority, hence removing the circular nature. However, this belief doesn’t guarantee the biblical truth. You still need to test this claim with evidence to determine its accuracy.

An even more concerning scenario arises in the event that a divine being created lies within its own authorship. If that divine entity lied in the Bible, he could easily fake the evidentiary situation. Why this would be a concern is beyond the scope of discussion here.

Given its illogic and absurdity, the Bible may as well be a work of the devil. The more reasonable stance seems to be that if such things are real, the book was authored by an evil entity with a purpose to deceive, rather than by a benevolent deity.

False Authority?

If you do not believe God wrote the Bible, the argument from authority is clearly fallacious. Some parts of the Bible, such as the New Testament, explicitly state that they are the works of individual authors and not divinely inspired. This means the Bible is largely incorrect about the world, raising questions about its divine authorship and the nature of God.

Religious Belief and Personal Choice

Believing the Bible as the sole source of salvation from death on Earth is a deeply personal choice. However, many individuals ignore the Bible simply because it conflicts with their desires. Perhaps they don’t want to feel judged or simply want what they want without external influence.

Understanding and engaging with beliefs from different religious and philosophical perspectives can help in addressing the issue of argument from authority more effectively. An argument from authority only carries weight if the audience acknowledges and respects that authority. Thus, a Christian’s argument based on the Bible might hold no water for an atheist or a Hindu, and vice versa.

Circular Reasoning and Faith

Believing something only because the Bible says so is a classic circular argument. Christianity stands or falls based on the resurrection of Jesus. If that event didn’t happen, the entire New Testament is invalid, as explicitly stated in 1 Corinthians 15:16-19.

A true biblical faith is more akin to trusting the manufacturer of a product. Understanding and accepting God’s character in the context of faith is important. While a manufacturer can explode like in a Michael Bay movie (hyperbole intended), faith in the Bible is not about those logical contradictions. Proper biblical faith involves trust in a divine being who is not afraid of questions, so long as they are asked in good faith.

Conclusion

Believing the Bible as an ultimate authority is problematic due to the clear argument from authority. The validity of the Bible’s claims hinges on evidence and personal belief. Understanding different viewpoints and using evidence to support claims is crucial. Ultimately, faith can be a powerful force but should be based on a clear understanding of its origins and claims.