How to respond to the accusation that the Bible is a fictional book?

[Bluejay4]

I'd really appreciate some advice on how to respond to this claim in a logical and factual manner.

[RickD]

quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur.

If no grounds have been given for an assertion, then there are no grounds needed to reject it.

[Philip]

Start with simple questions:

Why do you believe that?

Do you believe in God?

Do you believe the universe had to have a cause?

Can you tell me of ANYTHING that is uncaused? That creates itself? That not only creates itself but THEN organizes with mind-blowing complexity, immense power, and according to laws (and where did THOSE come from???!!!) of great consistency and specificity?

If you can ever get someone to open the door to the realization that God at least MIGHT exist, then I would ask, "OK, so you do realize that any Being capable of creating, organizing and sustaining what we observe has no apparent limitations, correct? As this Being has done what we can't even truly understand or comprehend the scope and scale of, right? Therefore, isn't, when one contemplating such an all-powerful Being, from which ALL things sprung, foolish to say, "Yes, but even though God could create a universe and life itself, He couldn't have done this ___________ or that ____________ " - illogical, no? So, back to the person's comment about the Bible. What can a person plug into those blanks that, given such a powerful, incredible Creator, one could rationally say He cannot do?

To me, the above gives a person a choice: That either an uncaused universe suddenly popped into existence with immense power and THEN it organized itself with incredible complexity and design OR a God existed. Meaning, any metaphysical thing might be possible ("Do you believe in metaphysics?/miracles?), OR that a necessary Creator has some supposed limitations per what one reads about in the Bible. And so, WHICH is it???!!!

[SoCalExile]

A couple tools though:

Look up the 2520 Days Prophecy.

Also look up a documentary called "Patterns of Evidence: Exodus" on Netflix or whatever you have.

[abelcainsbrother]

I'd really appreciate some advice on how to respond to this claim in a logical and factual manner.

You probably need to take some time to read up on Apologetics and learn how to defend the bible and your faith in it. Now I don't know how much you know about the bible and biblical evidence but there is alot out there,it just takes time to research it and find it.It really depends on you and how much you want to get into Christian apologetics and how much research you're willing to put into it but the evidence is out there if you're willing to seek it out. However when dealing with atheists you need to be in control about biblical evidence,because evidence very rarely effects an atheist,it is more about having evidence to present at the right time to convince other people,not so much to change an atheists mind. Atheists will exclude themselves from needing any evidence yet expect you to prove God is real,it is just a evidence deny game they like to play with Christians,so don't be tricked into it,instead you be in control about when you present evidence or reasons to believe,otherwise you'll just get bogged down.One thing you can do that is fairly easy for now is to point out the lack of proof and evidence atheism is true.Atheists exclude themselves from needing to have evidence for atheism so you can really drive it home that atheism is just an opinion with absolutely no evidence behind it,even false religions have more evidence behind them than atheism.

[theophilus]

I would ask why he believes it. If he seems to be open to discussing the matter I would try to answer his reasons. If it appears that his mind is made up on the subject I wouldn't bother confusing him with facts.

Remember that we can't persuade unbelievers of the truth by logic alone because their minds have been blinded by Satan. We must ask God to guide us and show us how to respond.

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
(1 Corinthians 2:1-5 ESV)